Australian scientists report on walnuts, a new brain-boosting food for pre-exam college students

Stressed college students may want to include walnuts
in their daily diet in the weeks leading up to their next exam.
A new clinical trial conducted in college students while studying at university showed that walnut consumption had a positive effect
on self-reported biomarkers of mental health and general health.

The study, published by the University of South Australia in the journal Nutrients, also showed that walnuts can counteract the effects of academic stress on the gut microbiome, especially for
women.

Lead researchers Mauritz Herselman and Larisa Bobrovskaya, doctoral students, said the results are further evidence that walnuts are associated with
improved brain and gut health.

"Students experience academic stress throughout their studies, which has a negative impact on their mental health and is particularly vulnerable during exams
," Herselman said.

Eighty undergraduate students were divided into treatment and control groups and clinically assessed
at the beginning of the 13-week college semester, during exams, and two weeks after exams.
People in the treatment group ate walnuts every day for 16 weeks
during these three time periods.

"We found that those who ate about half a cup of walnuts per day reported improvements
in mental health measures.
Over the long term, walnut consumers also showed better metabolic biomarkers and overall sleep quality
.
”

Students in the control group reported increased levels of stress and depression before exams, while students in the treatment group did not
.
Compared to the control group, walnut consumers also reported a significant decrease
in mood associated with depression during the first and last visits.

Previous studies have shown that walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, melatonin (sleep-stimulating hormone), polyphenols, folate, and vitamin E, all of which promote brain and gut health
.

"The World Health Organization recently stated that at least 75 percent of mental health disorders affect people under the age of 24, making undergraduates particularly vulnerable to mental health problems," Herselman said
.

Associate Professor Bobrovskaya said mental health disorders are common among college students and can adversely
affect students' academic performance and long-term physical health.

Associate Professor Bobrovskaya said: "We have shown that eating walnuts during stressful times can improve the mental health and overall well-being of college students, and that walnuts are a healthy and delicious snack and a versatile ingredient in many recipes to combat some of the negative effects
of study stress.
Due to the small number of men participating in the study, more research is needed to determine the gender-dependent effects
of academic stress in walnuts and college students.
It is also possible that the placebo effect played a role, as this is not a blind study
.
”