Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! Walnuts are a holiday type of nut. They come in all sorts
of flavors and in all sorts of recipes.
(And if they’re 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 study the effects of calming the gut and
the stomach to calm the brain. Vancouver Disc Centers tempts our
Vancouver stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless there is an allergy!) to find
their calm! The Vancouver chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good info like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A recent study based on earlier
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 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 participated, but researchers recorded
that walnut consumption enhanced these metabolic and stress
markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating
walnuts may well protect against academic stress. (1) Vancouver Disc Centers
and our chiropractic family can see 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, making changes in our blood
tests and other issues. Vancouver Disc Centers knows! An analysis of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented
that eating walnuts improved lipid profiles and decreased
cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies
are being published on other benefits like improved
cognitive health, inflammation decrease,
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 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 onset 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 did not appear 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 Vancouver
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your
favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Vancouver Disc Centers 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 Vancouver Disc Centers
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.
Make your Vancouver chiropractic
appointment soon. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut recipe!