Dream your fears away

Study finds dreams play a crucial role in helping us process fear in our daily lives

Carrying a little extra weight around your middle and looking for motivation to shift it? Consider this: a recent US study found losing body fat and increasing muscle mass boosts brain power. Researchers found those in their 40s and 50s with a low muscle mass and high body fat had less ‘fluid intelligence’ (aka mental flexibility) than those who were lean and with a high muscle mass. With fluid intelligence being fundamental for logic, problem solving and also deductive reasoning, the mental benefits are certainly worth getting into the gym for! What exercise is best?

For women, experts recommend doing resistance training to build muscle.