SACRAMENTO, Calif.--May 27, 2003--Although the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have captured media and public attention, many consumers are not aware that walnuts are a convenient and delicious plant source of these essential fatty acids. Our bodies can't create omega-3 fatty acids, so we have to get them from the foods we eat.

For those who can't or don't want to eat fish every day, walnuts are an excellent alternative. According to family nutrition expert, Liz Weiss, MS, RD, "Americans eat virtually no omega-3s on a daily basis, yet this fat is surprisingly easy to include in the diet. It's simple. All you have to do is grab for a handful of walnuts and enjoy them as a snack or toss them over your breakfast cereal or into your salad at lunch. It's that easy."

Dubbed the 'Mega Nut by many leading scientists because of their highly concentrated omega-3 content, eating just one small handful a day meets the Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Science (NAS) guideline for omega-3 intake ... and without a lot of fuss.

Clinical studies have proven that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends a diet rich in seafood, walnuts, and other foods rich in omega-3 fats. In addition to lowering blood lipid levels, reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death, and lowering blood pressure, these essential fats have also been shown to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and depression. Their importance in the diet is so strong that last year, the NAS recommended a daily intake of 1.6 and 1.1 grams for men and women, respectively.