Australian researchers assure that these dried fruits can help fight stress related to studies, and especially university exams.
This is the review Nutrients which relays the conclusions of a study conducted by researchers at the University of South Australia. While a large majority of students say they are stressed throughout their college years, incorporating nuts into their diet would be enough to help combat this anxiety, according to these scientists.
56 grams of nuts per day
To reach their conclusion, the researchers involved 80 undergraduate students. From this panel, two groups were formed.
While the participants in the first favored the consumption of a two-ounce (or 56 gram) serving of nuts per day and for 16 weeks, the participants in the second did not have to make any changes to their usual diet.
Evaluation of the level of anxiety
Then the stress level was assessed at three times: at the beginning of the semester, during the exams and two weeks after the exam period.
The authors summarize:
We found that those who ate about half a cup of nuts each day showed improvements in self-reported mental health indicators. Walnut eaters also showed improved metabolic biomarkers and overall long-term sleep quality.
Nuts: Vitamins and trace elements
We know that nuts are excellent allies for our health. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, they also contain melatonin, which reminds us of WhyDoctor, which is the hormone that contributes to falling asleep and therefore better sleep quality.
Professor Larisa Bobrovskaya, co-author of the study, summarized the interest in this research as follows:
We have shown that consuming nuts during times of stress can improve the mental health and overall well-being of college students—in addition to being a healthy and delicious snack and a versatile ingredient found in many recipes—and help combat certain negative effects of school stress .
But she points out that further studies will have to clarify the conclusions.