Mindfulness can motivate you to exercise and other things we learned about our bodies this week
If one of your resolutions for 2024 is to get a better handle on your health in the new year, you're not alone. While there's plenty of well-known health advice out there — say, that regular movement and eating vegetables are nonnegotiables — there’s also research coming out every day that gives us insight into our health. This week, new studies reveal some intriguing information about the mind-body connection, as well as a surprising way to protect your lungs. Here’s what to know.
Your beliefs about drugs may affect how drugs work.
Can your perception of a drug affect how your brain responds to it? A new study from researchers at Mount Sinai says yes. The researchers conducted a study with nicotine-dependent participants and told them that they were vaping e-cigarettes with different nicotine strengths — even though, in reality, the nicotine level remained constant. The results showed that the thalamus — a key binding site for nicotine in the brain — responded to participants' beliefs about the nicotine strength, rather than the actual nicotine in the e-cigarettes. The study suggests that our beliefs about drugs have more impact on our brain than we realize and could play a role in the treatment of substance use disorders.
Eating heart-healthy fats may improve your lung health.
Researchers at the University of Virginia have found a potential connection between omega-3 fatty acids — which are commonly found in nuts and fish — and the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, a serious disease marked by scarring of the lungs. The findings suggested that higher omega-3 levels were associated with better lung function and increased survival in those who did not undergo a lung transplant. While more research is needed, it’s possible that treatments that increase omega-3 levels could offer protective benefits to patients with pulmonary fibrosis and other chronic lung diseases.
Whether or not you suffer from a lung condition, you likely can benefit from boosting your omega-3 game. Eating more omega-3-rich foods, like salmon, walnuts or flaxseed, can help lower your triglyceride levels and improve brain function, including memory and thinking skills.
Mindfulness can help you stick with exercising.
Want to exercise and enjoy it more in 2024? Start by practicing mindfulness, suggests a study published in the academic journal Mental Health and Physical Activity. Practicing mindfulness with a focus on mental health and well-being — such as with an audio app, like the one used in the study — can help people tune into their bodies and be less judgmental when dealing with an uncomfortable experience (which exercise can be for some). Mindfulness can make people more likely to have the motivation to work out and reap its health benefits. The practice can also make people more likely to stick with an exercise plan once they get started.
This latest research highlights just one of the many benefits of mindfulness. Previous studies found that mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, can help alleviate anxiety and depression, as well as provide pain relief. Kids even benefit from practicing mindfulness, which can help them learn how to emotionally regulate themselves.
