Augusta Holiday Stress? Eat Walnuts!

Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday kind of nut. They come in all types of flavors and in all sorts 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 study the effects of calming the gut and the stomach to calm the brain. Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic tempts our Augusta stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find their calm! The Augusta 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 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 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 joined, but researchers documented that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress markers. Researchers concluded 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. Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic knows! A review 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 about other benefits like enhanced cognitive health, inflammation reduction, glucose level regulation, body weight reduction, etc. (2) It’s a good thing walnuts are in many holiday foods!

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 develop over a long period of time. Eating walnuts for a long-time may delay or slow their onset 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 lessened 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 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 Augusta holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic 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 Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic

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 Augusta chiropractic appointment today. Share with us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut recipe!