Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! Walnuts are a holiday kind of nut. They come in all sorts
of flavors and in all sorts of holiday treats.
(And if they are not in your family recipe, put them in
them this year!) Research links the gut and the brain, so it
seems logical 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. Amelia Chiropractic Clinic invites our
Fernandina Beach stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find
their calm! The Fernandina Beach 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 connected 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 associated
with poorer mental health in college students, with their choices of foods, their poorer gut microbiota, and their moods.
More females than males took part, but researchers found
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 translates to holiday stress!
BENEFITS OF WALNUTS ON OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Holiday parties and events affect normal
eating patterns for many of us, influencing our blood
tests and other issues. Amelia Chiropractic Clinic 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 improved
cognitive health, inflammation reduction,
glucose level regulation, body weight reduction, etc. (2) It’s
a good thing 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 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 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 subgroups 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 Fernandina Beach
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Amelia Chiropractic Clinic 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 Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
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 Fernandina Beach chiropractic
appointment now. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut treat!