Over time I am learning that I can’t prevent colds but I can make them infinitely more bearable. All the main symptoms of cold that make them so difficult come not from the cold itself but the bodys immune system response to it. Essentially it’s the build up of phlegm and it’s removal that cause most of the aches and …
Being more active improves your ability to prevent damage and recover
The overwhelming feeling I get when reviewing all I’ve learned about the benefits of exercise is that the most important benefit you get is the ability to recover from any risk you take or damage or injury you incur. Take this tweet Kimberly Stein, PhD @kimwhitestein 11 hrs FFA transporters move to the plasma membrane during endurance exercise to bring more fat …
Nutrition: A problem of supply and demand
A core concept to understand in maximising health is that our bodies are constantly managing supply and demand. We have evolved to expect continual change and be ready for both the best and the worst which requires the ability to predict future demand. This is as true for energy as it is for other nutrients like vitamins and minerals. All nutrients are …
How can Tai Chi help my daily life? Flow more, Force less
I’ve always wanted to learn about Tai Chi but never found the time. I saw a great deal from TennisOne for a course teaching Tai Chi in relation to tennis. So I thought I would take this as an opportunity to learn Tai Chi while also improving my tennis game. Continually moving towards your goals is a principle of Cell …
Brain’s motor cortex uses multiple frequency bands to coordinate movement
How and why we move is a fascinating topic. We have long known that muscle movement is coordinated through systematically triggering muscles. The trigger pattern determines the type of movement produced. New research has uncovered how this pattern is widespread throughout the brain structures involved with movement. Synchrony is critical for the proper functioning of the brain. Synchronous firing of …
Exercise may slow progression of retinal degeneration
That is the finding of a study in the Journal of Neuroscience. Exercise appears to preserve the structure and function of nerve cells in the retina after damage. Moderate aerobic exercise helps to preserve the structure and function of nerve cells in the retina after damage, according to an animal study appearing February 12 in TheJournal of Neuroscience. The findings …
Low Back Pain
I find Dr Mike Evans presentations excellent. Back problems often come when the infrastructure of the back doesn’t work as it should. This happens for many reasons and the fix is generally to do with getting the whole system to work in a coordinated fashion again. Mikes video is an excellent thorough intro that gives you the clear details you …
Can training your nerves improve athletic performance?
In the last post I asked Why train your nerves? It was a precursor to explaining the value of a healthy and strong nervous system to athletic performance. In fact it is little known that the reason sedentary people improve so much when they begin exercising is because their nervous system adapts very quickly. The reason for the inevitable plateau is …
Why train your nerves?
For many years I’ve noticed the forgotten aspect of training your nervous system and the adaptations it makes to support your activity underpins all the improvements you see. I read a beautiful research article named how brain cells change their tune and I felt it was time to explain mytheory that learning a skill depends on training our nerves.
Is the quality of energy supply crucial to the effects of Parkinsons and related heart failure.?
Following on from the finding that the ability of your brain to harness energy could explain age related mental decline? there is similar evidence that problems with energy provision could be a factor in Parkinson’s disease and heart failure. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis investigating mouse and fruit fly hearts, found that a protein known as mitofusin …
Fitness: Could your brains ability to harness energy explain age related mental decline?
Everyone seems to assume that your mind must degrade with age. I’ve never seen convincing evidence for that. I simply see that increasing age requires increasing maintenance since our parts and code get old. In otherwords, You are only as old as the lifestyle you live. So it is that I am good at finding evidence that shows this to …
Functional medicine: an alternative treatment for cancer: Fitter Food Radio episode 11
I’m listening to Fitter Food Radio episode 11 with Jo Gamble on Embracing Nutrition. It is quite fascinating. Focusing on Jo Gamble explaining the value of functional medicine for health. Jo is a nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner who specialises in alternative treatment for cancer. I’m getting to know the show so I can only comment on this episode. I’m …
Is Gently Cooked Food Better for You?
I just came across Is Gently Cooked Food Better for You? from the excellent Marks Daily Apple. Something I’ve wondered for a long time. Given the chance I prefer gentle cooking. I feel flavours and textures are best with this approach. My wife is the opposite. She prefers quicker cooking and loves well done steak. The article reminded me of Advanced …
Are home schooled children leaner than traditionally schooled kids?
I saw the article Home schooled children leaner than traditionally schooled kids and just had to share and keep it. It is just one study but it’s an important consideration. The impact of school on socialisation and health. The study makes clear these results came before the latest health standards were implemented at school but also makes clear the dependence you …
What pedometer tracks daily life?
I’m looking for something cheap and simple to start tracking the steps in my daily life. I can’t believe I don’t already have one but I was hoping to do this through my smartphone. It’s never really worked out like that for a bunch of reasons so I’m just going to get something and start monitoring my daily activity. Tracking …