Plainville 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 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 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. Layden Chiropractic invites our Plainville stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find their calm! The Plainville 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 experimented with stressed out college students. Academic stress was linked with poorer mental health in college students, with their choices of foods, their worse gut microbiota, and their moods. More females than males participated, 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 find out how well it translates to 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. Layden Chiropractic knows! An analysis of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented that eating walnuts improved lipid profiles and reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies are being published on other benefits like improved cognitive health, inflammation decrease, glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, etc. (2) It’s a good thing walnuts appear in many holiday foods!

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 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 prior studies’ documenting that walnut consumption counteracted oxidative stress and inflammation, well-known contributors to cognitive decline. An fMRI study of participants after 2 years’ consumption found that the trial did not 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 Plainville holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Layden Chiropractic 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 Layden Chiropractic

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 Plainville chiropractic appointment today. Bring us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut treat!