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 recipes.
(And if they are not in your family recipe, add
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 report on the effects of calming the gut and
the stomach to calm the brain. Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation invites our
Carrolltown stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find
their calm! The Carrolltown chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A new study based on prior
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 associated
with poorer mental health in college students, with their diet
and food choices, their poorer gut microbiota, and their moods.
More females than males joined, 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 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. Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation knows! A review of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented
that eating walnuts improved lipid profiles and lessened
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) Fortunately, walnuts are in many holiday goodies!
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 arise
over a long period of time. Eating walnuts for a long-time may delay
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
studies’ 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 appear to impact
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 Carrolltown
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation 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 Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates the benefits of gentle, safe chiropractic treatment
with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management integration
on the nervous system.
Make your Carrolltown chiropractic
appointment now. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut recipe!