Stressful 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’re 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. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa tempts our
West Des Moines stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find
their calm! The West Des Moines chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips 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 experimented
with 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 took part, 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 works
on 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. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows! An analysis of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported
that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and lessened
cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies
are being published on other benefits like enhanced
cognitive health, inflammation reduction,
glucose level regulation, body weight reduction, etc. (2) It’s
a good thing 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 progress
over a long period of time. Consuming walnuts for a long-time may postpone
or slow their appearance owing 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 counteracted
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 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 West Des Moines
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your
favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Executive Chiropractic of Iowa might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and
keep you a bit healthier
and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
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 incorporation
on the nervous system.
Schedule your West Des Moines chiropractic
appointment today. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut treat!