Healthy New Brain Food for Stressed University Students
With 8 out of 10 students experiencing regular episodes of stress and 61% seeking treatment for anxiety, sadness, or other disorders, university life may be tremendously, Healthy New Brain Food for Stressed University stressful. [1]
According to a recent study, undergraduate university students who consumed two ounces of walnuts daily for 16 weeks saw improvements in their self-reported mental health indicators, protection from some of the negative effects of academic stress, and improved self-reported sleep quality over the long term. The study was just published in the journal Nutrients by scientists at the University of South Australia. [2]
Healthy New Brain Food for Stressed University
‘ve always known that walnuts are a healthy food, but the design and length of this study truly paint a picture of how a simple food like walnuts may help combat stress,’ says Mauritz F. Herselman, a PhD student who collaborated on this study.
The participant group who consumed walnuts also saw an elevation in metabolic markers associated with stress resistance in this randomized clinical trial. The University of South Australia and the California Walnut Commission jointly financed the study.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA),
a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid, 2.5g, 4g of protein, 2g of fiber, and 45mg of magnesium are all present in 1 ounce of walnuts.
Additionally, eating walnuts may have mitigated the detrimental effects of academic stress on the variety of gut microbes in females alone.
“University students are a special group of people who enter maturity while finishing their degrees, which can be difficult and demanding. According to Larisa Bobrovskaya, PhD, Associate Professor of Clinical and Health Sciences at the University of South Australia and principal investigator on the study, “the pressure on students to complete and find desirable jobs is high and can have an effect on their mental and physical health as well as their overall well-being.
Therefore, it’s crucial to manage academic stress, and students can use a variety of ways to get through their university careers. One such tactic that can improve students’ cognitive health is dietary intervention, but it is frequently disregarded by students, she continues.
Trial Overview
For the 16 weeks of this study, university students between the ages of 18 and 35 were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group.
Pre-portioned walnuts were given to the treatment group, and they were instructed to eat one portion (corresponding to around 56 grams) each day. For the same time period, no nuts of any kind or fatty fish were allowed in the control group.
Three times throughout the trial, participants gave blood and saliva samples and answered self-report questions about their sleep patterns, overall well-being, and mental and emotional health. At each clinical appointment, a minority of individuals additionally gave fecal samples. The study was completed by 60 participants—30 from each group.
Promising Results for Walnuts
Compared to the control group, the walnut-eating group appeared to benefit from a protective effect against some of the detrimental effects of academic stress on mental health. The box below contains a summary of the study’s findings.