Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday kind of nut. They come in all varieties
of flavors and in all varieties of holiday treats.
(And if they’re 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 watch the effects of calming the gut and
the stomach to calm the brain. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC invites our
La Grande stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating
some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find
their calm! The La Grande chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A new study based on previous
studies that linked the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota
and the beneficial effect of eating walnuts on mental health tested 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 found
that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress
markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating
walnuts may well protect against academic stress. (1) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
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 impact normal
eating patterns for many of us, making changes in our blood
tests and other issues. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC knows! A review of
published research on walnut consumption since 2017 documented
that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and decreased
cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, more and more studies
are being published on other benefits like improved
cognitive health, inflammation decrease,
glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, etc. (2) Fortunately, walnuts appear 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 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 actually a Walnuts and Health Aging study based on previous
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 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 La Grande
holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.” Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
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.
Make your La Grande chiropractic
appointment now. Bring us your holiday stress…and
your favorite tasty walnut treat!