Welcome to the second issue of the Fair Oaks Health Newsletter.
It has been a busy couple weeks for me what with painting my family room, sanding down and refinishing the wood floor in my kitchen and entry, and entertaining my oldest son and his fiancée for the 4th of July weekend. Never-the-less there has been plenty of news to comment on and new things learned.
I have been reading a book called Brain Rules by molecular biologist Dr. John Medina, which focuses on just how the brain evolved and the rules that govern how it works. I wanted to share the first rule he discusses because it matches a body rule I have been telling patients for years: Move it or lose it. It seems that our brains were designed to function while we are in motion, and a lack of motion retards its functioning. As our brain was evolving we were walking up to 12 miles a day just to survive! We developed big brains specifically because we moved around so much. We survived by constantly moving into new environments and adapting to the challenges they provided. Most all other life on the planet settles into one ecosystem, and when weather changes disrupt that ecosystem, they die.
This “Move it or lose it” theory has been tested many ways and seems to be true. In every culture and setting, the more movement you get the better your brain functions. Your IQ goes up, your emotions improve, you are more creative, and your problem solving skills improve. This holds true for kids as much as adults. Movement not only helps your mental development, but it can also be used prescriptively for poor mental health. The effects of aging on the brain are greatly aided by just simply getting up and moving. As little as 20 minutes a day of walking shows marked improvement.
You already know how important movement is for your heart, muscles, and joints. If you have worked with Gypsy or myself on metabolic health issues then you have heard how important movement is for the health of your blood sugar levels, hormones, and internal organs. Now we have the last frontier of the brain that is significantly affected by movement. So get out and move!