San Jose Holiday Stress? Eat Walnuts!

Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! Walnuts are a holiday type 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, put them in 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 report on the effects of calming the gut and the stomach to calm the brain. Chiropractic Solutions invites our San Jose stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless there is an allergy!) to find their calm! The San Jose chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!

THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS

A new study based on prior studies that linked the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota and the beneficial effect of consuming walnuts on mental health tested stressed out college students. Academic stress was associated with poorer mental health in college students, with their choices of foods, their worse 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) Chiropractic Solutions 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. Chiropractic Solutions knows! A review of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported that eating walnuts enhanced lipid profiles and decreased cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies are being published on other benefits like improved cognitive health, inflammation reduction, glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, etc. (2) It’s a good thing walnuts appear in many holiday goodies!

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. Consuming 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 prior studies’ 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 didn’t appear to affect healthy elders but suggested a delay in those who were 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 continue their research while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this San Jose holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Take your pick! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Chiropractic Solutions might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and keep you a bit healthier and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!

CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions

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 San Jose chiropractic appointment soon. Share with us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut treat!