Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday kind of nut. They come in all types
of flavors and in all varieties of recipes.
(And if they’re 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 watch the effects of calming the gut and
the stomach to calm the brain. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center tempts our
Manahawkin stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless there is an allergy!) to find
their calm! The Manahawkin chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips 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 linked
with poorer mental health in college students, with their diet
and food choices, their poorer 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 be protective 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, making changes in our blood
tests and other issues. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center knows! A review of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported
that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and decreased
cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, more and more studies
are being published about other benefits like enhanced
cognitive health, reduced inflammation,
glucose level regulation, body weight reduction, etc. (2) It’s
a good thing walnuts appear 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 develop
over a long period of time. Consuming 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
research 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 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 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 Manahawkin
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Manahawkin Chiropractic 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 Manahawkin Chiropractic 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 Manahawkin chiropractic
appointment today. Share with us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut recipe!