Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday kind of nut. They come in all sorts
of flavors and in all types of holiday treats.
(And if they are not in your family recipe, put them in
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. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre tempts our
Toronto stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find
their calm! The Toronto chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good info 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 consuming walnuts on mental health tested stressed out college students. Academic stress was associated
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 found
that walnut consumption enhanced these metabolic and stress
markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating
walnuts may well be protective against academic stress. (1) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
and our chiropractic family can see how well it works
on holiday stress!
BENEFITS OF WALNUTS ON OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Holiday parties and events impact normal
eating patterns for many of us, influencing our blood
tests and other issues. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre knows! An analysis of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported
that eating walnuts improved lipid profiles and lessened
cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, more and more studies
are being published on other benefits like enhanced
cognitive health, reduced inflammation,
glucose level regulation, body weight reduction, etc. (2) Fortunately, walnuts appear in many holiday goodies!
WALNUTS AND COGNITION
Other research has documented 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 appearance due to walnuts’ protective
role against inflammation and oxidative stress. (3) There is actually a Walnuts and Health Aging study based on previous
research 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 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 keep doing their research
while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this Toronto
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre 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 Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
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 Toronto chiropractic
appointment now. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut treat!