Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday type of nut. They come in all types
of flavors and in all sorts of recipes.
(And if they’re not in your family recipe, add
them this year!) Research connects 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. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn invites our
Ashburn stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless there is an allergy!) to find
their calm! The Ashburn chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips 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 poorer gut microbiota, and their moods.
More females than males joined, but researchers found
that walnut consumption enhanced these metabolic and stress
markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating
walnuts may well protect against academic stress. (1) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
and our chiropractic family can find out 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. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn knows! A review 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 are 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 arise
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 an actual study
called the Walnuts and Health Aging study based on previous
studies’ documenting that walnut consumption reduced
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 impact
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 Ashburn
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your
favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and
keep you a bit healthier
and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
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.
Schedule your Ashburn chiropractic
appointment soon. Share with us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut recipe!