“Your mind can cut your chances of catching a cold by 40 to 50 percent.” Really? Yes – according to a recent ABC News report by Susan Ince entitled, “15 Ways To Prevent Colds and Flu” which lists meditation along with other methods of prevention such as exercise, getting enough sleep, and frequently washing one’s hands. Here’s
Picture courtesy of Flickr user Jacobunny
When thought meets exercise, exercise is more beneficial.
“A particular mind-set or belief about one’s body or health may lead to improvements in disease symptoms as well as changes in appetite, brain chemicals and even vision, several recent studies have found, highlighting how fundamentally the mind and body are connected” writes Shirley S. Wang in an article in the Wall Street Journal today.
A 1999 study conducted by James A. Blumenthal, PhD at the Duke University Medical Center found that older patients with major depression experienced therapeutic benefits from an exercise program equal to what others received from antidepressant medication.
Stairs in the Michigan Capitol
I was sitting in the back by the door. After the meeting, and after many there had left, as two Michigan House Health Policy Committee members were walking out of the room one suggested that they take the stairs and the other concurred.
In the committee meeting, Meghan Swain of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health shared that childhood obesity has tripled in the state and adult obesity has doubled. A member of the committee shared that some of the members of the committee are now encouraging one another to take the stairs instead of the elevator.
The point was made that it’s not enough to talk about the importance of these things as they work to improve health in the state, but that they need to do something.