Q: I make a point to go to the gym at least 3 times a week. It’s been one of my New Year’s resolutions, and so far it’s going great. It’s just that I get pretty bad gym anxiety when I’m there. There are a few things that set it…
Health & Exercise
When you think of the gastrointestinal tract, you might not immediately think of emotions and mood disorders, but the worlds of GIs and psychologists are starting to collide in important ways. The all-important gut-brain axis refers to the communication pathways between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system….
Biohackers and neurohackers are tech-inspired problem-solvers who want to find DIY ways to “upgrade” their biology and cognitive abilities. Biohacks run the gamut from the socially acceptable (exercise, coffee) to the extreme (hyperbaric chambers, microchips embedded under the skin). The concept of biohacking can make us explore what we value…
A form of “mental dieting” known as dopamine fasting has quickly become popular with millenials. While it’s impossible to “fast” from a naturally occurring brain chemical, that doesn’t stop some people from trying. This strict practice aims to restore the brain’s natural flow of dopamine by restricting the dopamine faster’s…
Seniors should eat more mushrooms—a six-year study from the National University of Singapore says doing so could prevent cognitive decline. Researchers were shocked to find that seniors who consume more than two portions of mushrooms each week may have 50% fewer odds of experiencing mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, even one…
Long work days can increase your risk of stroke. This, according to a new study published in Stroke, a journal by the American Heart Association. Researchers analyzed questionnaires completed by 143,592 participants, which gathered information on age, sex, smoking, and work hours. Researchers also considered stroke history and cardiovascular risk…
Many Americans don’t get enough sleep, nor do they consume enough vitamins and minerals. A new study conducted by Pharmavite LLC, a dietary supplements company, says the two might be connected. Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). They saw that US adults who got…
Many people develop mental and neurological disorders as they enter old age, depression, dementia, and anxiety being among the most common. These challenges often go underrecognized, but it’s important we stay on top of our mental, emotional, and physical health as we age. Take care of yourself throughout life by…
Make a habit of exercising—keeping up with exercise throughout life can slow down aging, according to new study. More specifically, older adults who exercised for most of their lives aged at a significantly slower pace than those who didn’t exercise regularly. They realized this after studying 125 amateur cyclists between…
There might be a link between mental health and allergies. This, from researchers at Technical University of Munich. Researchers interviewed more than 1,700 people about their allergies and their mental health. Participants reported seasonal allergies like pollen, perennial allergies such as dust and animal hair, and allergies to other substances…
Exercise improves self-esteem and mood of patients in psychiatric care facilities. This, according to researchers at the University of Vermont. Researchers built a gym in the university medical center’s inpatient psychiatry unit and introduced 60-minute exercise regimens into each patient’s treatment plan. The team surveyed patients on their mood, self-esteem,…
Past research has shown that physical activity has a direct effect on our mental health. A new study, however, says the reverse: that our mental wellbeing directly influences our physical activity. Researchers from the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland conducted questionnaires and interviews to analyze the effects of mental…