Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! They
are a holiday type of nut. They come in all types
of flavors and in all varieties of holiday treats.
(And if they are not in your family recipe, add
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 study the effects of calming the gut and
the stomach to calm the brain. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center invites our
Pensacola stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless there is an allergy!) to find
their calm! The Pensacola chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good info like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A new study based on earlier
studies that connected 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 poorer gut microbiota, and their moods.
More females than males participated, but researchers recorded
that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress
markers. Researchers concluded that eating
walnuts may well protect against academic stress. (1) Let’s find out 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, making changes in our blood
tests and other issues. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center knows! An analysis of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported
that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and reduced
cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies
are being published on other benefits like improved
cognitive health, reduced inflammation,
glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, etc. (2) It’s
a good thing walnuts are in many holiday foods!
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. Consuming walnuts for a long-time may postpone
or slow their appearance due 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 counteracted
oxidative stress and inflammation, well-known contributors to
cognitive decline. An fMRI study of participants after 2 years’ consumption found
that the trial didn’t appear to affect
healthy elders but suggested a delay in those who were 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 continue their research
while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this Pensacola
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your
favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Pensacola Spinal Rehab 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 Pensacola Spinal Rehab 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 incorporation
on the nervous system.
Make your Pensacola chiropractic
appointment soon. Share with us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut treat!