Montreal Holiday Stress? Eat Walnuts!

Stressful holidays? Eat walnuts! Walnuts are a holiday kind of nut. They come in all sorts of flavors and in all sorts of recipes. (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 report on the effects of calming the gut and the stomach to calm the brain. Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic tempts our Montreal stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless you’re allergic to them!) to find their calm! The Montreal chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good info 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 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 took part, but researchers documented that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress markers. Researchers closed their paper stating that eating walnuts may well be protective 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 change normal eating patterns for many of us, making changes in our blood tests and other issues. Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic knows! A review of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and lessened cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies are being published about other benefits like improved cognitive health, reduced inflammation, 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 arise over a long period of time. Eating walnuts for a long-time may postpone or slow their appearance 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 prior research documenting that walnut consumption reduced 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 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 Montreal holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and keep you a bit healthier and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!

CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic

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.

Make your Montreal chiropractic appointment now. Share with us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut treat!