Parts of this post won’t be news to those who watched the Sunday Night program on channel 7 a few weeks ago, but for those who didn’t, it featured the increasingly popular 5:2 diet revolution. The diet and the research surrounding it recommends the benefits of regular fasting for a number of medical and performance benefits including (of specific interest to me in what I do) reduced risk of dementia, and increased brain processing capacity.
The strong theme in the documentary was based on the reality that our brains and bodies have evolved from hunters and gatherers and that our more recent interpretation of how our bodies respond under certain circumstances may be misguided.
The tradition of feasting and fasting is built into our genes. It is normal for us to go without food for periods of time, and then to literally feast when the spoils are brought home. But this is not something we do anymore.
Instead we have convinced ourselves that we need to be constantly feeding our bodies and brains to stay focused and alert. The hunters and gatherers were inevitably hunting and gathering when they were hungry, and hence needed to be at their most sharp and alert in order to eat. Recent studies show that when we are hungry, our brain cells are more active.
Our long-held beliefs about exercise are also being challenged – it’s believed that short sharp bursts of really intense exercise – 3 minutes a week – are far more beneficial than spending hours in the gym. The hunters and gatherers didn’t go to the gym!
These new discoveries are already changing the lives of many people for the better, and time will tell if this new science is the whole picture.
There is always something new to learn and understand about ourselves, and each new piece of the puzzle adds to our ability to take control and manage ourselves in our ever-changing environment.
I recently ran my first brainFIT Boot Camp with a delightful group of participants. You can read some of their testimonials at this link – LINK TO BRAINFIT BOOT CAMP
The purpose of the boot camp is to provide you with all the new information you need to ensure your own brain health and optimum brain capacity. My next program begins on 13 October if you are interested. But in the meantime, here are ten of my favourite bits of recently discovered brain information that may inspire you do things differently in your life.
1. Blue screen light can disrupt your sleep patterns – there are new apps you can use to mitigate that risk.
2. The brain needs oxygen to function well. Exercise helps, but vigorous exercise can divert valuable oxygen to your muscles rather than your brain. Sometimes, a slower walk is better for your brain than a run.
3. Technology now exists to put our brain at will into specific brain wave frequencies to suit our current circumstances e.g., to be alert, to rest or to be better tuned to learning or creativity.
4. Our minds naturally wander 46.9% of our wake time. And when they wander, if unchecked, they wander into negative territory. Mindfuless practice gives can give us back some control over this random mind wandering.
5. When we are socially engaged, our risk of demential is lower.
6. When we experience social pain (humiliation, embarrassment) the same networks in the brain light up as when we experience physical pain. Social pain hurts and can shut us down in the same was as physical pain can.
7. Information entering our short-term memory will likely be lost if not given focused attention or meaningful connection within 15 – 45 seconds.
8. Our brain is biased, it will actively seek to ignore information or evidence that does not align with our hardwired beliefs or values.
9. The more we ‘practice’ resisting our desires, the less we are able to resist. Our PFC (the inhibitor) runs out of fuel really quickly rendering ongoing attempts futile.
10. We are capable of literally changing our brain throughout our entire life. We have much more control than we ever believed possible in terms of creating who we are and who we want to be. It’s called neuroplasticity!
Have a brainy day!
Michelle