Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday type of nut. They come in all varieties of flavors and in all types of holiday treats. (And if they are not in your family recipe, add 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 watch the effects of calming the gut and the stomach to calm the brain. New Hampshire Spine and Sport tempts our Southern New Hampshire stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless there is an allergy!) to find their calm! The Southern New Hampshire chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good info like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A new study based on prior studies that connected the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota and the beneficial effect of consuming walnuts on mental health tested stressed out college students. Academic stress was associated with poorer mental health in college students, with their choices of foods, their worse gut microbiota, and their moods. More females than males participated, but researchers recorded that walnut consumption enhanced these metabolic and stress markers. Researchers concluded that eating walnuts may well be protective against academic stress. (1) New Hampshire Spine and Sport and our chiropractic family can 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, influencing our blood tests and other issues. New Hampshire Spine and Sport knows! An analysis of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented that eating walnuts improved lipid profiles and reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, more and more studies are being published about other benefits like improved cognitive health, reduced inflammation, glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, etc. (2) It’s a good thing walnuts appear 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 actually a Walnuts and Health Aging study based on previous studies’ documenting that walnut consumption reduced 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 Southern New Hampshire holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” New Hampshire Spine and Sport might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and keep you a bit healthier and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT New Hampshire Spine and Sport
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 integration on the nervous system.
Schedule your Southern New Hampshire chiropractic appointment today. Bring us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut treat!