Sitka Holiday Stress? Eat Walnuts!
Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! Walnuts are a holiday kind of nut. They come in all types of flavors and in all types 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 makes sense 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. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka tempts our Sitka stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find their calm! The Sitka chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A new study based on previous studies that connected the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota and the beneficial effect of eating walnuts on mental health experimented with stressed out college students. Academic stress was linked 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 found that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating walnuts may well protect against academic stress. (1) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka 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 change normal eating patterns for many of us, making changes in our blood tests and other issues. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka knows! An analysis of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and decreased cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, more and more studies are being published about other benefits like improved cognitive health, inflammation reduction, glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, 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. Eating 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 studies’ documenting that walnut consumption thwarted oxidative stress and inflammation, recognized contributors to cognitive decline. An fMRI study of participants after 2 years’ consumption found that the trial did not seem 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 keep doing their research while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this Sitka holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and keep you a bit healthier and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
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 incorporation on the nervous system.
Schedule your Sitka chiropractic appointment soon. Share with us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut recipe!
