Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! They
are a holiday type of nut. They come in all types
of flavors and in all sorts of recipes.
(And if they’re not in your family recipe, put them in
them this year!) Research connects the gut and the brain, so it
seems logical 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. Back And Neck Care Center invites our
Severna Park stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find
their calm! The Severna Park 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 connected the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota
and the beneficial effect of eating walnuts on mental health tested stressed out college students. Academic stress was linked
with poorer mental health in college students, with their diet
and food choices, their worse gut microbiota, and their moods.
More females than males took part, but researchers documented
that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress
markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating
walnuts may well be protective against academic stress. (1) Back And Neck Care Center
and our chiropractic family can find out how well it translates to 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. Back And Neck Care Center knows! A review of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented
that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and lessened
cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, 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 reported on 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 postpone
or slow their appearance due 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 counteracted
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 impact
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 Severna Park
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Back And Neck Care Center 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 Back And Neck Care 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.
Schedule your Severna Park chiropractic
appointment soon. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut recipe!