Using your mind to move your body
Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
In “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” the fourth book in J.K. Rowling’s blockbuster series, Harry eats a plant called gillyweed that allows him to grow fins and gills so he can swim underwater for an hour.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could change your body so that you could swim better or run faster when you worked out? Well, now Canadian researchers have shown that you can do just that by tapping into mental and physical powers you never knew you had!
For the study, scientists had trained cyclists do a strenuous workout in a hot room (95 degrees, phew!) with 50 percent humidity. Then, one group got nine training sessions in motivational self-talk. They were taught to think things like, “I’m doing well” or “I can handle this” and to make sure they didn’t think, “My legs are killing me” or “I’m sweating so much.” The second study group trained as usual. After two weeks, everyone went through the tough, hot workout again. This time, the participants who had practiced motivational self-talk handled the discomforts better and were able to continue cycling for 25 percent longer than they did earlier.
The lesson: Your mind really can win out over matter, but you gotta believe. So the next time you’re walking or jogging and feel like you’re just not going to make it through the next mile, allow your brain to think, “I can do this!” — chances are good your body will follow right along.
Get rewarded for your community involvement
In an episode of the comedy “Parks and Recreation,” the main character, Leslie Knope, fills her time during a two-week suspension from her job as deputy director of the Pawnee City Department of Parks and Recreation by forming a citizens’ action committee. She calls it PCP: Parks Committee of Pawnee, “because, like the drug PCP, we are so fast-acting and powerful we should be illegal.”
Knope is the epitome of an involved (although sometimes not evolved) member of the community — and it’s not just good for a laugh.
A recent study published in BMC Psychology followed over 9,000 people and found that those who were involved in civic groups at ages 33 and 50 scored higher on cognitive tests than those who weren’t. And for every extra group a person was involved with, his or her cognitive powers increased. The groups included anything from a political party or a trade union to an environmental organization and a church group.
If that’s not reason enough to get involved in your community, research has shown that when you make an effort to provide support to others, you gain increased longevity and better mental health, as well as greater life satisfaction and a stronger sense of purpose! Plus, folks 50 and older who volunteer regularly are less likely to have high blood pressure.
So, find a group that advocates for a cause you care about. Not only will others benefit from your service, you’ll be helping yourself to a healthier life and a younger RealAge.