Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday type of nut. They come in all sorts
of flavors and in all types of holiday treats.
(And if they are not in your family recipe, put them in
them this year!) Research connects the gut and the brain, so it makes sense that if the brain is stressed, the gut is, too.
Researchers now watch the effects of calming the gut and
the stomach to calm the brain. Wilson Family Chiropractic tempts our
Millville stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find
their calm! The Millville chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A recent study based on earlier
studies that linked the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota
and the beneficial effect of eating walnuts on mental health experimented
with stressed out college students. Academic stress was associated
with poorer mental health in college students, with their choices of foods, their worse gut microbiota, and their moods.
More females than males participated, but researchers documented
that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress
markers. Researchers concluded that eating
walnuts may well protect against academic stress. (1) Let’s see how well it works
on holiday stress!
BENEFITS OF WALNUTS ON OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Holiday parties and events impact normal
eating patterns for many of us, influencing our blood
tests and other issues. Wilson Family Chiropractic knows! A review of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented
that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and reduced
cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, more and more studies
are being published on other benefits like enhanced
cognitive health, reduced inflammation,
glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, etc. (2) Fortunately, walnuts appear 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 develop
over a long period of time. Consuming walnuts for a long-time may delay
or slow their onset owing to walnuts’ protective
role against inflammation and oxidative stress. (3) There is an actual study
called the Walnuts and Health Aging study based on previous
research documenting that walnut consumption lessened
oxidative stress and inflammation, recognized contributors to
cognitive decline. An fMRI study of participants after 2 years’ consumption found
that the trial did not seem to impact
healthy elders but suggested a delay in those who were at
higher risk of cognitive decline. (4) A delay in cognitive decline is good!
ADD SOME WALNUTS TO YOUR CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH PLAN
Let the researchers continue their research
while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this Millville
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your
favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Wilson Family Chiropractic might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and
maintain your health and happiness this and future holiday season(s)!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT Wilson Family Chiropractic
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 Millville chiropractic
appointment soon. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut treat!