This Is Your Brain on Happy
It's tough to man a site that's so 'blah blah the joy of happiness' without any hard evidence to back it up. My own testimonial is enough to keep me moving forward, but I totally get it when it's met with a cynical "yeah, okay, show me the data" eye-roll. Luckily for me all of us, the data is there. A number of scientists are working to test theories that philosophers have been spouting for centuries. And I'm grateful that a lot of the work being done validates time-honored truths and teachings. Needless to say, the following video excites the nerd-center of my brain so. hard.It’s centered on neuroscientist Sandrine Thuret and her research, which suggests we may have more control over depression than we think. She believes that we can control our mood by adopting certain behaviors that promote nerve cell production in our brains.[ted id=2342]Here’s how it works, if you don’t have time to watch the video above.
#1: Adults CAN produce new nerve cells in the brain.
It has long been common knowledge that the brain stops developing at around age 26, meaning it no longer has the ability to produce new nerve cells. Thuret’s research proves this wrong. She was able produce evidence of new nerve cells in adult brains, particularly in the hippocampus—the part of the brain that controls memory and mood.
#2: There is a strong correlation between the ability to produce new nerve cells (aka neurogenesis) and happiness.
Meaning: If you’re not able to produce new nerve cells, you will likely feel depressed. Conversely, if you are able to produce new nerve cells, you will feel happier.
#3: Stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can slow the process of neurogenesis.
Not so shocking—doctors have been warning us about the risks of stress and sleep deprivation for years. Here Thuret links these risks with depression. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, your brain is going to have a harder time breeding those baby nerve cells… which can lead to depressed emotions. Pretty simple stuff.
#4: Sex, exercise, and learning can increase neurogenesis, even as you age.
Aging is working against us all, as neurogenesis slows over time, but there are behaviors and habits we can ramp up to help keep those baby nerve cells coming long into old age, like sex, learning, and exercise.Technically the ‘exercise’ employed in Thuret’s research was running (or as I like to call it: shoe-to-street-combat)—but she believes any activity that increases blood flow to the brain will help increase those levels of nerve cell creation. Not surprising, considering sex increases blood flow to the brain and also stimulates neurogenesis.And, I mean… when a neuroscientist tells you to have more sex, what better excuse do you have?
#5: Diet plays a role, too.
The ‘diet’ debate is forever in motion—what’s good for you, what’s bad for you, what could kill you, what could help you live forever? The questions are always the same, but the answers are constantly changing… and usually contradictory. It’s nice to have some explicit research on how food can affect our mood.
Thuret suggests the following dietary habits will HURT your ability to produce new nerve cells:
high sugar intake
saturated fats
ethanol (in alcohol)
vitamin E, A, or B deficiency
While these nutrients and habits can HELP promote neurogenesis:
omega 3 fatty acids
blueberries & flavonoids
zinc
folic acid (found in many dark green veggies like spinach)
caffeine
resveratrol (found in red wine)
intermittent fasting (waiting a while between meals)
Thuret also alludes to research that suggests crunchy foods (vs. soft foods) can make a positive impact on your brain. Real talk: I’ve always thought I was kind of a weirdo for being so attracted to crunchy food textures, but now I feel like a total genius. There is, of course, more research to be done, but these findings are so encouraging because they truly echo so many of the sentiments that the self-development community has been championing for years. It’s rewarding to feel like the scientific community is climbing on board to back it all up. What do you make of all this? Are you inspired to tweak any habits in your own life?