Stand In The Place Where You Live: Get Up For Your Brain
You stand for a lot of things, now how about for your noggin?
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE
October 18 was World Menopause Day, though if you or someone in your home experiences hot flashes, brain fog, dry skin or any of the other 34 known symptoms (!) of this delightful phase of life, then every day is awareness day, which lands in the middle of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which really just reaffirms that humans with breasts and vaginas have a lot to keep track of in order to stay healthy so please just go and get all the things checked, and tell someone you love to do the same, k thx.
AURAL FIXATION
You may have noticed that a common theme here aside from wordplay and shameless self-promotion is exploring manageable tools that aim to prevent health issues before they start. I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with a range of experts in their field to discuss just such topics for my podcast. Here's what’s been covered in recent episodes, in case you missed it. A buffet of safety, if you will:
Author Jancee Dunn in a hilarious and eye-opening take on the modern menopause experience.
Microdosing 101: Mushrooms and LSD for mental well-being.
Dr Kellyann Niotis on what you can do TODAY to help stave off neurological disease in the future...hold for segue…
HERE'S A TIP, MAKE THAT CHANGE
It’s hard to overstate the critical work of researchers like Dr Niotis, who are helping us understand how to protect the brain against atrophy and diseases like Alzheimer's and Parksinson's. The good news: there are risk factors we CAN control, along with some sobering new truths. If sitting is the new smoking, then sitting for extended periods is the new smoking unfiltered cigarettes along with a dozen donuts and a Diet Coke. Said a different way: the more time spent sedentary, the higher the incidence of all-cause dementia. In this cohort of adults in their 60s, sitting ten hours per day had an 8% higher risk, 12 hours had a 63% risk, and 15 hours had a shocking 320% higher risk of dementia.
If these numbers sound like they don't apply to you, some quick math: sitting at a desk for seven hours, plus one hour in transit, plus an evening of TV on the couch–that’s conservatively ten sedentary hours. But it’s easier than you think to make a change: take calls on a walk, add a standing desk, or literally never sit down on the subway (like we need more of a reason). Even if we added up all the foods and pills and practices we know to ward off neurological decline, the best path remains clear. It’s still standing. (yeah yeah yeah).
Be well, and also have fun,
xo,
Erica
