Manchester Holiday Stress? Eat Walnuts!
Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! They are a holiday kind of nut. They come in all types of flavors and in all varieties of recipes. (And if they are not in your family recipe, put them in 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. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries invites our Manchester stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find their calm! The Manchester chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A new study based on earlier studies that linked 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 diet and food choices, their poorer gut microbiota, and their moods. More females than males joined, but researchers recorded that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating walnuts may well be protective 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 affect normal eating patterns for many of us, influencing our blood tests and other issues. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries knows! A review of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported that eating walnuts improved lipid profiles and reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies are being published about other benefits like improved cognitive health, inflammation decrease, 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 progress over a long period of time. Consuming walnuts for a long-time may delay 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 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 impact 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 continue their research while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this Manchester holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries 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 Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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 Manchester chiropractic appointment soon. Bring us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut treat!
