Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! Walnuts are a holiday type of nut. They come in all varieties
of flavors and in all types of holiday treats.
(And if they’re not in your family recipe, put them in
them this year!) Research links the gut and the brain, so it makes sense that if the brain is stressed, the gut is, too.
Researchers now report on the effects of calming the gut and
the stomach to calm the brain. New Roads Chiropractic Center tempts our
New Roads stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless there is an allergy!) to find
their calm! The New Roads chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A recent study based on previous
studies that linked the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota
and the beneficial effect of consuming walnuts on mental health experimented
with stressed out college students. Academic stress was linked
with poorer mental health in college students, with their choices of foods, their worse gut microbiota, and their moods.
More females than males took part, but researchers recorded
that walnut consumption enhanced these metabolic and stress
markers. Researchers concluded that eating
walnuts may well be protective against academic stress. (1) Let’s find out how well it translates to holiday stress!
BENEFITS OF WALNUTS ON OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Holiday parties and events change normal
eating patterns for many of us, making changes in our blood
tests and other issues. New Roads Chiropractic Center knows! An analysis of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented
that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and reduced
cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies
are being published on other benefits like enhanced
cognitive health, inflammation reduction,
glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, etc. (2) Fortunately, walnuts are in many holiday goodies!
WALNUTS AND COGNITION
Other research has documented the
influence of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation on aging, mild cognitive
impairment, Alzheimer’s another brain disorders, all issues that progress
over a long period of time. Eating walnuts for a long-time may delay
or slow their onset owing to walnuts’ protective
role against inflammation and oxidative stress. (3) There is actually a Walnuts and Health Aging study based on prior
research documenting that walnut consumption thwarted
oxidative stress and inflammation, well-known contributors to
cognitive decline. An fMRI study of participants after 2 years’ consumption found
that the trial did not seem to affect
healthy elders but suggested a delay in subgroups at
higher risk of cognitive decline. (4) A delay in cognitive decline is a
good outcome!
ADD SOME WALNUTS TO YOUR CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH PLAN
Let the researchers keep doing their research
while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this New Roads
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” New Roads Chiropractic Center might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and
keep you a bit healthier
and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT New Roads Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the benefits of gentle, safe chiropractic treatment
with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management integration
on the nervous system.
Schedule your New Roads chiropractic
appointment soon. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut treat!