Immune Booster, Life Enhancer and Joyful Stress-Free Living

By:  Julia Tyack

Neuroplastic research spin off is providing amazing insights for Living Well

”A new study from investigators at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center finds that eliciting the relaxation response—a physiologic state of deep rest induced by practices such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing and prayer—produces immediate changes in the expression of genes involved in immune function, energy metabolism and insulin secretion.

“Many studies have shown that mind/body interventions like the relaxation response can reduce stress and enhance wellness in healthy individuals and counteract the adverse clinical effects of stress in conditions like hypertension, anxiety, diabetes and aging,” said Herbert Benson, HMS professor of medicine at Mass General and co-senior author of the report. Benson is director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute.

“Now for the first time we’ve identified the key physiological hubs through which these benefits might be induced,” he said.” Harvard Medical School.

“Over-coming the minds imperfections is essential to our survival…History’s glowing chapters weren’t written by our mind’s flaws, they were penned by our ability to overcome those flaws. The invention of the wheel and the discovery of fire, farming, automobiles, the Internet, missions to the furthest reaches of the solar system – these countless human accomplishments testify to our ability to transcend our limitations, collaborate and create a whole much larger than the sum of its parts. Magical as it may seem, this triumph is so universal I call it “common magic”. How fortunate we are that we hold the power. Dr. Amit Sood, M.D., M.Sc The Mayo Clinic guide to Stress- Free Living page 30.

Neuroscience’s knowledge is turning over almost daily. The human brain is being studied, higher definition imaging providing science with new clarity, improved monitoring, highly collaborating studies of brain imaging with function of associated psychological states.  As never before, even in the last few months, neuroscience is taking giant steps in giving us up-dated instructions for managing the most amazing entity known in the universe.  Many of us are running on and rearing our children on outdated instructions as we move ever faster towards a more complex world and society. The challenge is for each of us, “How do we want to live?  How much joy and pleasure do we want in our daily living?  How much does being part of a better world and brighter future for our children do we wish to capture?

Medical authors at the very top of the research tree such as Dr. Amit Sood M.D., M,Sc and Dr Pascal Benson deliver courses and write texts that give us a way forward.  They tell in these texts how this neuroplasticity research knowledge has changed their own lives. They are more joyful, kind, attentive, relaxed, and enjoying the pleasure of stress-free living even while functioning in what are regarded as  high stressed medical careers.

Dr. Amit Sood tells in his book on Stress-Free Living that the brain operates in two modes; focus and default.  Human self-consciousness has the ability to choose which mode to be in and when.  Being in the default mode for two long can become a black hole that sucks in energy at tremendous rates and leaves life depressed and drained.  Do we want to choose fatigue or high energy living? Mostly the choice is ours.

“Your brain and mind work very hard to keep you stressed.” Says Dr Sood Stess-Free Living (preface). “If you are willing to learn, then no matter your age, the best is yet to come.” Page 11. Studies are showing that focused living in and for the moment calms the stormy background firing of brain neurons and enables high efficiency function. When parents reclaim their own mind’s gifts children learn to relate to the world differently and recapture the novelty in the world of childhood wonder. Leaning how the brain under higher self-conscious guidance defaults to novel and pleasure (rather than the ancient fear default) changes our world and relationships.

The entry door to this new mental world is attention.  Now attention at first takes discipline. How do we, when we are already tired and stressed find energy for attention. Dr Sood lists the lifestyle points that Centres like the Mayo Clinic and Tyack Health has spent years developing interdisciplinary medicine to prevent disease, have a healthy future and support  us all in achieving a life that is above all expectations.

  1. Eat healthy, nourishing food.
  2. Sleep seven to eight hours a day.
  3. Keep company with good people.
  4. Avoid news overdose. (seek knowledge, good news stories, and inspiring authors)
  5. Follow an exercise routine.
  6. Do something meaningful each day.
  7. Think good thoughts for others.

“Each of these steps, individually and together, will increase your energy.” Dr. Amit Sood page 63.  From such a platform of body well-being mind enhancement and stress-free-living more easily springs.

I trust you will join me in the absolute awesome excitement that human self-consciousness holds the keys to a better brighter future for us all and human societies. The Mantra for the future “ Survival of the kindest”, Dr Sood, who is but one of voices all over the world showing modern man a way to a life of true lasting pleasure, love and kindness with the best is yet to come .