Baton Rouge Holiday Stress? Eat Walnuts!

Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday type of nut. They come in all types of flavors and in all varieties of holiday treats. (And if they’re not in your family recipe, add 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. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers tempts our Baton Rouge stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find their calm! The Baton Rouge chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good info 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 eating 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 participated, but researchers documented that walnut consumption enhanced these metabolic and stress markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating walnuts may well protect against academic stress. (1) Let’s see 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, making changes in our blood tests and other issues. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers knows! An analysis of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, more and more studies are being published on other benefits like enhanced cognitive health, inflammation reduction, glucose level regulation, body weight reduction, 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 develop over a long period of time. Eating 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 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 did not appear to affect healthy elders but suggested a delay in subgroups at higher risk of cognitive decline. (4) A delay in cognitive decline is good!

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 Baton Rouge holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers 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 Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers

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 Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment today. Bring us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut recipe!