Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! Walnuts are a holiday kind of nut. They come in all types
of flavors and in all sorts of holiday treats.
(And if they are not in your family recipe, add
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 study the effects of calming the gut and
the stomach to calm the brain. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office invites our
Groton stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find
their calm! The Groton chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A recent 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 tested stressed out college students. Academic stress was linked
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) Let’s find out how well it translates to holiday stress!
BENEFITS OF WALNUTS ON OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Holiday parties and events change normal
eating patterns for many of us, influencing our blood
tests and other issues. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office knows! An analysis of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported
that eating walnuts improved lipid profiles and lessened
cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, more and more studies
are being published on 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 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 actually a Walnuts and Health Aging study based on previous
studies’ documenting that walnut consumption lessened
oxidative stress and inflammation, recognized 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 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 keep doing their research
while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this Groton
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your
favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and
keep you a bit healthier
and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
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 Groton chiropractic
appointment now. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut treat!