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Walnuts improve mental health

According to a University of South Australia study, walnuts can reduce the negative effects of academic stress on the body and mind. According to the research, university students might gain advantages from using walnuts in their everyday diet, especially as they get ready for tests.

In the course of their university studies, the researchers conducted a clinical trial with an emphasis on undergraduate students. The findings demonstrated a relationship between walnut consumption and enhanced indicators of mental health and general wellbeing.

According to Professor Larisa Bobrovskaya and PhD student Mauritz Herselman, the study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that eating walnuts promotes gut and brain health. According to earlier research, walnuts' omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, melatonin, polyphenols, folate, and vitamin E all have positive effects on the brain and the gastrointestinal tract.

Students encounter academic stress throughout their academic careers, which negatively impacts their mental health. They are especially sensitive at exam times, according to Herselman.

Eighty pupils were split into treatment and control groups for the experiment. They underwent three clinical evaluations: at the start of a 13-week semester, during examinations, and two weeks after tests. Over these three time periods, study participants in the treatment group consumed walnuts every day for 16 weeks.

The researchers concluded that walnut consumption of around half a cup per day was associated with improvements in self-reported mental health indices. Long-term improvements in metabolic indicators and overall sleep quality were also seen in walnut consumers.

Students in the walnut-consuming group did not experience the melancholy and tension that students in the control group did as exams approached.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 75% of mental health diseases afflict people under the age of 24. This makes undergraduate students particularly susceptible to mental health issues, according to Herselman.

The academic performance and long-term physical health of university students might be negatively impacted by mental health conditions, according to Professor Bobrovskaya.

Professor Bobrovskaya claims, "We have shown that consumption of walnuts during stressful times can improve mental health and general well-being in university students, in addition to being a healthy and delicious snack and a versatile ingredient in many recipes, to fight some adverse effects of academic stress.