Exercise the Wonder Drug: Move the Body, Heal The Brain

Original Air Date Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Plenty of information exists about how exercise can boost our immune system and add years to our lives.Emerging research shows that physical movement can also ward off dementia, increase creativity, and help us manage stress.

To work out how movement and exercise may be the wonder drug to heal our brains and reduce the need for pharmaceuticals, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen, speaks with two authors whose work focuses on the connection between how moving the body can heal the brain.

Dr. Jennifer Heisz describes the research that inspired her book, Move The Body, Heal The Mind: Overcome Anxiety, Depression, and Dementia and Improve Focus, Creativity, and Sleep. During the conversation, she shares the physiology behind why the brain makes it hard for some of us to get moving and how moving more improves our mental health.

Journalist Caroline Williams details the evidence behind the findings included in her book, Move: How the New Science Can Set Your Mind Free, and shares the neuroscience of how dance and movement can increase human connection and help us manage stress.

Tune in:

Lisa Cypers Kamen · Exercise the Wonder Drug: Move the Body, Heal The Brain with Dr Jennifer Heisz & Caroline Williams

Meet Our Guests:

Dr. Jennifer J. Heisz is an expert in brain health. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University and directs the NeuroFit Lab. Dr. Heisz received her Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience (McMaster) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Brain Health and Aging at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Hospital (Toronto). Her research examines the effects of physical activity on brain function to promote mental health and cognition in young adults, older adults, and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

Book: Move The Body, Heal The Mind: Overcome Anxiety, Depression, and Dementia and Improve Focus, Creativity, and Sleep

Dr. Jennifer Heisz — Move the Body. Heal the Brain:

Why the brain does its best to keep you on the couch and ways to trick it into submission. {2:13}
The connection of exercise and mental health: Ways to keep the darkness at bay. {5:34}
Dementia research looks at physical inactivity and genetic disposition: the finding that moving reduces dementia risk. {19:13}
The effect exercise has on sleep, creativity, and focus. {22:24}
Jennifer Heisz’s book, Move the Body and Heal the Mind, offers a compassionate approach to healthy aging and life extension. {27:01}

Follow Dr. Jennifer Heisz:

Caroline Williams is a science writer, journalist, and author. She is a consultant for New Scientist magazine and her work has also appeared in The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, and on the BBC,among others. She is the author of two books, Move! and Override.

Book: Move: How the New Science Can Set Your Mind Free

Caroline Williams— Reduce Stress with Exercise:

Caroline Williams was interested in what happened between the body and the brain and the relationship between exercise and creativity. {31:55}
The movement of our feet has a huge impact on the amount of blood that gets to our brains. {34:56}
Charles Darwin built a walking path to achieve the ideal headspace for problem-solving. {40:34}
Caroline explains the emerging links between core exercise and stress management. {44:45}
How physical strength translates to self-esteem and self-confidence. {48:45}
The neuroscience behind the power of dance. {52:54}

Follow Caroline Williams:

Shareables:

“The brain is hard-wired to conserve energy and, essentially, that means it makes us lazy.” @jenniferheisz on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “Exercise is the medicine we all need.” @jenniferheisz on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “Our brains evolved to inform our movements in the world.” @ScienceCaroline on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “Whenever you are stuck. Go out and move. Think on the move.” @ScienceCaroline on @HHTalkRadio Share on X

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Grab More Joy Below:

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