St Peters Holiday Stress? Eat Walnuts!
Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! Walnuts are a holiday kind of nut. They come in all sorts of flavors and in all varieties of recipes. (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 report on the effects of calming the gut and the stomach to calm the brain. Old Mill Chiropractic tempts our St Peters stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find their calm! The St Peters chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good info 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 eating 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 poorer gut microbiota, and their moods. More females than males participated, but researchers documented that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating walnuts may well protect against academic stress. (1) Old Mill Chiropractic and our chiropractic family can find out how well it translates to 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. Old Mill Chiropractic knows! An analysis of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported 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 reduction, etc. (2) It’s a good thing walnuts appear 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 arise 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 actually a Walnuts and Health Aging study based on prior 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 seem 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 continue their research while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this St Peters holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Old Mill Chiropractic might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and keep you a bit healthier and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT Old Mill Chiropractic
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.
Schedule your St Peters chiropractic appointment today. Share with us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut treat!
