Yakibest Brand – Happy Belly California Walnuts, Halves and Pieces, 40 Ounce

This brand is excellent. The walnuts are fresh and delicious, and i will definitely purchase this product again.

I have never been particularly fond of eating walnuts raw, but roasted, they are absolutely delicious. In the toaster oven, i spread them in a thin, single layer and bake them at 400 degrees f. For about 8 minutes. Watch them closely until they roast to your preferred level of brownness, because even 30 seconds too long can burn them. In my air fryer, i roast them at 400 degrees for 4 minutes.

Walnuts are also fantastic chopped up and put in all kinds of dishes, from sweet to savory. They are particularly good sprinkled on top of salads, either green leafy or fruit salads. They can also be ground into a powder and substituted partially for flour in baking, especially in cookies, muffins and brownies.

I have been doing a lot of research lately on the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids (see below), and it turns out that, more than any other nut, walnuts contain a great deal of this very healthy type of fat. In addition, 1 ounce (28 grams) of walnuts contains 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of vegan protein.

Information about omega-3 fatty acids

there are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids whose health benefits have been well researched. These include dha, epa and ala:

eicosapentaenoic acid (epa) and docosahexaenoic acid (dha) are called marine omega-3 fatty acids, because they are found, fully bioavailable, in fatty fish and certain algae, most especially the vegan algae, schizochytrium.

Alpha-linolenic acid (ala) is found in plant sources such as green leafy vegetables, soybeans, walnuts, and seeds such as chia, flax, and hemp, with flaxseeds containing the highest amount of omega-3. It is important to note that, in order to obtain omega-3 health benefits from these sources, the body must first convert the ala into epa and dha, and this conversion process is inefficient in humans. On average, only 1-10% of ala is converted into epa, and only 1-5% into dha. The amount of the conversion is also impacted by the availability in the body of adequate amounts of the following nutrients: b6, b7, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron, which most vegans and vegetarians probably already supplement in their diet (especially b vitamins). Note that the u.s institute of medicine recommends a daily ala intake of 1600 mg. Per day for men and 1100 mg. Per day for women. It is difficult to obtain remotely enough ala simply from leafy greens because, for example, 1 cup of raw spinach only has 40 mg. Of ala, and 1 cup of raw kale only has a little more ala at 120 mg. But if a vegan or vegetarian is willing to add the following seeds and nuts to their diet on a regular basis, it is easily possible to obtain an adequate dose of epa and dha from the diet alone:

one ounce (28 grams) of flaxseeds contains 6,388 mg of ala. The body would convert this to between 64-640 mg. Of epa and 64-320 mg dha.

One ounce (28 grams) of hemp seeds contains 6,000 mg of ala. The body would convert this to between 60-600 mg. Of epa and 60-300 mg dha.

One ounce (28 grams) of chia seeds provides 4,915 mg of ala. The body would convert this to between 49-490 mg. Of epa and 49-245 mg dha.

One ounce (28 grams) of walnuts contains 2,542 mg of ala. The body would convert this to between 25-254 mg. Of epa and 25-127 mg dha.

Health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids

research has indicated that the most health benefits are obtained from omega-3 supplements, or the above food sources, which offer a combination of epa and dha. Some of these benefits include:

1. Anti-inflammatory. Research indicates that omega-3 can help reduce inflammation. This is very important because, over the course of many decades, an abundance of scientific research has indicated that inflammation is either the direct cause or a major contributing factor in virtually all disease, including especially: cancer, heart disease and autoimmune disorders such as arthritis. This is very likely why omega-3 has been directly found to help improve or heal all of those diseases.

2. Prevents heart disease and stroke. Research indicates that omega-3 can help reduce ldl cholesterol and triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and increase blood flow by improving the ability of blood vessels to dilate normally.

3. Improves eye health. Research indicates that omega-3 can help reduce the incidence of dry eyes, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

4. Improves brain function. Research indicates that omega-3 can help improve mental clarity and lower the risk of dementia and depression.

5. Improves bone health. Research indicates that omega-3 can help prevent osteoporosis.

References

age-related eye disease study 2 research group. Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the age-related eye disease study 2 (areds2) randomized clinical trial. Jama. 2013;309(19):2005-2015.

Appleton, k., et al. Omega-3 fatty acids for depression in adults. Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2015;(11):cd004692.

Aung, t., et al. Associations of omega-3 fatty acid supplement use with cardiovascular disease risks. Meta-analysis of 10 trials involving 77,917 individuals. Jama cardiology. 2018;3(3):225-234.

Balk, e., et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: an updated systematic review. Evidence report/technology assessment no. 223. Rockville, md: agency for healthcare research and quality; 2016. Ahrq publication no. 16-e002-ef.

Kwak, s., et al. Efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid supplements (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Archives of internal medicine. 2012;172(9):686-694.

Lee, y., et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis. Archives of medical research. 2012;43(5):356-362.

Orchard, t., et al. A systematic review of omega-3 fatty acids and osteoporosis. British journal of nutrition. 2012;107(suppl 2):s253-s260.

Querques, g., et al. The role of omega-3 and micronutrients in age-related macular degeneration. Survey of ophthalmology. 2014;59(5):532-539.

Rizos, e., et al. Association between omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and risk of major cardiovascular disease events: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Jama. 2012;308(10):1024-1033.

Sublette, m., et al. Meta-analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (epa) in clinical trials in depression. Journal of clinical psychiatry. 2011;72(12):1577-1584.

Sydenham, e., et al. Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2012;(6):cd005379.

These are very fresh and often provide good value for walnut halves & piece’s! They are ( like almost all major brands of walnuts) pasteurized w/ live steam. This kills surface bacteria (salmonella and other pathogens) while extending their shelf life. Additionally flash steam pasteurization delays rancidity from setting in prematurely! According to their supplier a 60 sec.flash steam pasteurization process is used. My research revealed it does reduce the nutritional value and omega-3 levels slightly (according to many food nutrition experts) but imo it’s a worthwhile trade-off for shelf life extension and food born illness safety protection? California law requires pasteurization specifically for the almond industry because of their history with foodborne pathogen issues.
I prefer bigger walnuts halves because they have less exposed surface area, in this form this additionally slows oxidation and protects the interior ala omega-3 fat content from premature and inevitable nutrient decomposition.

Visually, large whole walnut halves also look more elegant on top brownies.

Chopping or crushing halves and larger pieces just prior to using results in a higher quality fresh taste profile. Imo it’s worth the effort!
I crush these and put them into steel cut oatmeal in the last 3 minutes of its preparation to reduce nutritional value and flavor loss! This method works well.

Happy belly contains fewer whole halves but tastes as good or better than the more costly fisher and diamond products. Happy belly content sizing and taste were equal to trader joes. From my past experiences, happy belly walnuts are better than most private label store brand generic offerings in the sizing and fresh taste categories of their comparable products!
If you use a lot of walnuts regularly like i do, additional savings can sometimes be captured with subscribe&save. Pay attention to your subscription pre shipment notification because amazon inventory supply and consumer demand pricing has widely varied lately. Go nuts and enjoy!

This is a big bag of walnut halves, 2.5#. A great value! I intend to separate into 3 or 4 smaller foodsaver freezer bags so i can keep them fresh and use as i need them for baking although the bag is resealable for those who use a lot of walnuts and wouldn’t require freezing for longer term freshness. I did a taste test as soon as they were delivered because i was concerned about a few reviews i had read that they weren’t fresh, or all broken up, etc. Complete opposite….these nuts are fresh tasting and smelling, all halves as i can see into the bag, no little pieces, crispy and better tasting than the bag of walnuts i purchased the other day in my supermarket. Nuts are a product of usa and the expiration date was nov. 2023. I’m completely pleased with my purchase and will not hesitate to reorder nuts from amazon in the future.

I recently purchased a bag of california walnuts and i have to say, they are fresh, yummy, and tasty! The texture is perfect and they have a great flavor. I’ve been using them in my morning oatmeal, adding them to salads and baking with them as well. They add such a nice crunch and depth of flavor to any dish.

I also appreciate that these walnuts are sustainably grown in california. The packaging is also very convenient and easy to store in my pantry. Overall, i am very happy with my purchase and will definitely be buying these walnuts again in the future. I highly recommend giving these a try if you haven’t already!

I will never again buy walnuts at the market. When i was shopping for walnuts, i thought this was a good deal so took a chance and purchased. When i received, i was shocked to see what i had received for the price!!! My gosh the bag is huge!!! The nuts are super fresh and large . Best thing i’ve ever purchased online. I will be back and happily purchase again.

So fresh, tasty, and such a good on sale price. I ordered 3 bags of these walnuts and am so happy i did. The bags i received have large walnuts many of them whole, not little bits and pieces. Don’t hesitate to purchase these walnuts. The negative reviews gave me slight pause to order this item; however, knowing the happy belly brand well i knew i would be happy with this item.

Honestly, these are some of the best walnuts i have bought…hands down. Of note, the expiration date on my bags is october 23, 2023! Yummmmmmmmmm

Never thought i would get positively positive about a bag of unsalted walnuts, but here you go there is a first for everything.
I had real reservations about ordering a product that is identified with the word ‘pieces’ in it. It didn’t sound very appealing. Several reviewers, however, noted that the majority of the walnut pieces were just fine, plump, fresh and tasty. I am working on a healthier approach to snacking, generally like walnuts and was getting tired of a steady diet of almonds. Those reviewers are on target.
The happy belly walnuts are damn good!

I order walnuts all the time from a couple of different sources and these were pretty darn tasty fresh out the bag. I gotta say i was impressed and involuntarily said “mmm mmm mmmmmmm, these are good”

this is my first order from this brand, so there is still a small chance that this may not be the norm but i don’t think i’ve had a walnut so fresh and tasty. I will edit to let ya know how the next ones are but for now, this here is the one.

In fact, they’re so good, i will order these exclusively regardless of the price.

I have purchased the walnuts twice in the last few months, both times the have not been disappointed at all in the high quality of the product. Will continue to be a customer in the future. Great price too.

These walnuts taste so fresh compared to what you buy in the grocery store. The price is excellent, too. You will love them for snacking right out of the bag! Big pieces, too. Halves and large pieces!

Was well pleased with these

Nice large pieces

When purchasing, it says 2 1/2 pounds. It just delivered today and it’s only 2 pounds?

Good

I really enjoyed my walnuts. They are not salted. Which is good for anyone with high blood pressure.

These came and the bag seemed to not be airtight. I could gently squeeze it and the air would slowly leak out. So, the nuts tasted a bit stale and not super crispy. We transferred them into a new zip bag and froze them and they are okay but not as fresh as many walnuts we have enjoyed before.

The product was fresh. Time to order more!

Great price for the amount of walnuts

It’s ok but not best

Great value if you are a walnut fan. Halves and pieces- perfect!