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Walnuts Improve Age-Related Motor and Cognitive Shortfalls

Walnuts are said to be rich in fiber, vitamin B, magnesium, and antioxidants such as Vitamin E. They are also loaded with more omega 3 fatty acids than any other types of nuts. Omega 3 fatty acid has been shown to lower cholesterol. In addition, walnuts assist in reducing the risk of heart disease by improving elasticity of blood vessels and reducing plaque accumulation.

Furthermore, the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts has conducted a study observing
the effects of walnut consumption on behavioural and motor skills.

Our brain ages with us and as such, changes occur that alter or impair neurons in our brain. The synaptic connections in the brain can become weak or change entirely altering the functions of relative connections. Increased oxidative damage to neural tissue also alters the way in which our brain functions. In the study, aged rodents displayed these types of changes behaviorally through impairments in performance on age-related tasks such as balance, coordination, and spatial working memory.

The study consisted of 4 distinct groups of aged rats of similar weight. The diet of the first group of rats consisted of a chow mix containing 2% walnuts, the second 6%, third 9% and fourth 0%. The rats were then subjected to a battery of memory and motor tests. In comparison, the group that ingested 6% walnut in their chow mix would be equivalent to a human eating 1 ounce or 7 to 9 walnuts per day.

“The study found that in aged rats, the diets containing 2 percent or 6 percent walnuts were able to improve age-related motor and cognitive shortfalls, while the 9 percent walnut diet impaired reference memory.”

It seems that a healthy diet and 7 to 9 walnuts per day could be beneficial in reducing the effects of aging on motor and behaviour skills.

Health Benefits of Walnuts
Adding Walnuts To Good Diet May Help Older People Improve Motor And Behavioral Skills

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GUEST POST: “Stressing” on Good Mental Health

Wise men tell you that it’s not good to let stress affect you, but there are times when you’re caught in a Catch 22 situation that puts you between the devil and the deep sea. You’re in a bind no matter which way you turn, like when you love your job but can’t stand your boss. You can’t quit because the pay’s good and because you really enjoy what you do, but it’s getting harder by the day to avoid the stress that your boss is causing by constantly looking over your shoulders, finding fault with you or waiting to do so, and belittling you at every chance he/she gets.

This and other similar situations can really play havoc with your mental health, and you find yourself getting angry for no reason at all, taking out your frustrations on other people and other situations, and building up your blood pressure in the process. If there are stressful situations that you can’t beat, you must find a way around them, with subtle nudges rather than brute force. And to do that, you need to learn how to:

• Focus on the good parts: It’s always better to perceive the glass as half full rather than half empty. When you take an optimistic view and focus on all that’s good in your life, you don’t feel the effects of stress all that much. If your boss is the problem, do all it takes to shut him out mentally and concentrate instead on getting your work done. This way, you’re in a better frame of mind at the end of each day.


• Keep yourself busy: When you have something to do all the time, you don’t let mental stress and anxiety get to you. You have less time to sit and brood over all that you think is wrong with your life. Besides, when you keep yourself busy, you feel a sort of achievement at the end of the day, an emotion that makes you feel good about yourself.


• Do something you love: If you’re really stressed out, get out and do something you really love but have very little time for. It could be your treat to yourself. The only thing you have to remember is that this little treat shouldn’t be something that will end up making you feel worse once you’re finished doing it. If so, it’s back to square one all over again.


• Sweat it out: There’s nothing like exercise to help you chase the blues away. You could hit the gym or take up a sport; either way, you’re going to feel great, lose weight, and get fitter in the process. Exercise helps you feel better when you’re down; it gives you enough energy to sustain you throughout the day; and it makes you feel good about yourself. So make some time to sweat it out every day or at least thrice a week.

Mental health is extremely important, because without it, we are nobody. And it’s up to us to keep ourselves in a positive frame of mind so that we’re able to tackle all that life throws at us, no matter what the circumstances.

By-line:

This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of MRI technologist schools at her blog MRI Tech's Health Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com.

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