Brain Science Podcasts

Everything we know about the brain!

Dr. Ginger Campbell on her website BrainSciencePodcast.com hosts over sixty free podcasts related to the brain and how it regulates our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, memory, motivation, and everything else about our lives.  Start with episode one and move through the sequence of pod casts until you learn the basics. This is a phenomenal resource thanks to Dr. Campbell.

Diagnosing Alzheimers

Take a Tour of the Brain!

Liz Bennett writing for the Health Leader, an online wellness magazine provided by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, briefly describes Alzheimer’s Disease and provides links to an article ‘Seven Questions’ and link to a terrific ‘Brain Tour provided by the Alzheimer's Association.

Be sure to check out the Health Topics A - Z offered on the Health Leader website.

Past and Present Wellness Models

Seven Wellness Diagrams

Don Ardell’s weekly report to the world displays diagrams and brief explanations used over the years defining wellness, still a vague term for many people. Don’s book High Level: Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs and Disease, launched the wellness movement which has evolved for over 30 years.

Colon is a Mighty Big River (fun video)

Colonoscopy explained musically

Bowser and Blue sing a tribute to the colon and the colonoscopy. Enjoy this fun instructional, finger-snapping, toe-tapping video.

Then, hold on to your seat... Bowser and Blue's Colo-rectal Surgeon song is funny from beginning to end.

Worksite Wellness Programs

Now is the time!

Health Care Reform legislation passed by congress is paving the way for more workplaces to offer comprehensive wellness promotion programs for employees and their families.

Here are a variety of blogs and websites addressing wellness programs, resources, health promotion, more resources, and more.

Stress Gets Under Our Skin

Mindbody Affected by Excess Stress

Newswise reports research from UCLA identifying the neurocognitive pathways that might be involved in inflammatory responses to acute social stress.

Lead author George Slavich noted, "frequent or chronic activation of the system may increase risk for a variety of disorders, including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and even depression.

"Although the issue is complex, one solution is not to treat negative thoughts as facts." suggested Slavich. "If you think you're being socially rejected, ask yourself, what's the evidence? If there is no evidence, then revise your belief. If you were right, then make sure you're not catastrophizing or making the worse out of the situation."

Touch Your Heart with Music (videos)

Sing Along -- Elevate Your Love

Wellness is expressing sad and lonely emotions in ways that stir the heart, creating hope. Here are three songs to help you reflect on people you have lost. Bring them back into your heart with songs by the Kelly Family… the Platters… and who else, the Righteous Brothers. Feel the love.

BREATHE

Breathe To a Calmer Workplace

The International Workplace blog transforms work one conversation at a time. Many exceptional wellness articles are presented. The article on breathing is comprehensive with exercises to follow.

Waking Up is Hard to Do (fun video)

Tribute to Anesthesia (a real gas!)

Let’s give it up for people who successfully put us down, keeping us alive and well during surgery.

Let’s give them a hand for holding our lives in their hands.

Stop Diabetes at the Worksite (webinar)

A Look at What Works

Rebecca Smith and Steven Aldana from WellSteps lead this webinar describing the causes and significance of diabetes. Ninety-one percent of diabetes is caused by poor lifestyles. Inadequate exercise and diet are main causes.

Described is "One of the best worksite Diabetes programs ever," according to WellSteps, the program creator. Classes were offered dealing with portion control, aerobic exercise, stress management, nutrition pyramid, reading food labels, strength training, behavior change, and good and bad fats. Hear what else was done to assure program success. Statistics showing the scope of Diabetes as a global health crisis are dramatically shown. The graphics are compelling.

Get a Virtual Workout! (videos)

JOIN IN and Exercise Your Muscles

Live Health Club website helps you target muscles and watch strengthening exercises. Choose your gender, then select exercises rated from beginner to intermediate. Take care as you follow along, adapting each exercise to your current fitness level.

Always seek advice from your health provider before beginning, if you are out of shape, over 40, or have a physical condition.

Pink Glove Dance (video)

Breast Cancer Awareness

Providence ST. Vincent Medical Center staff members have created breast cancer awareness with their lively Pink Glove Dance.

Superstar Anti-Aging Foods (video)

Check out this wellness website!

Dr Ann Kulze, M.D., delivers wellness pure and simple with dozens of free videos addressing anti-aging, kids nutrition/health, weight loss/appetite control, general nutrition tips, fruits and vegetables, pregnancy, exercise/fitness, immunity, cancer, supplements, and beverages. Dr. Ann’s articles are worth reading as well.

Smart Phones Aid Health

Health Promotion using Mobile phones

Lauran Neergaard reports that Mobile Phone Fitness, ‘mHealth’ is showing promise. Diabetics use the technology to help control their blood sugar. People’s medical history can be downloaded electronically over their phone. The phone can signal when to take your meds, how far you walked during your exercise, and many other healthy applications. Questions remain regarding effectiveness of these mHealth promotion tools over the long run.

Learning Styles a Hoax?

Latest Research Suggests Much

Eric Jensen’s article cites research suggesting that Learning Styles may be more a myth than reality; makes one wonder about educational theory and practice based on learning styles.

I Will Fly with You (music video)

Time to Move

Gigi D’ Agostino performs music for you to express yourself, joyously. Feel your wellness come alive!

Brain-Based Education & Exercise

Research - Exercise is Vital!

Eric Jensen, reports in the Phi Delta Kappan, a comprehensive review of the body and brain’s role in learning. Notice the studies linking cognition and exercise, validating the key role Physical Education and sports play on academic excellence. Read more of Eric Jensen’s in depth articles on his BrainBased Jensen Learning Blog.

Eat More to Lose Weight (video)

Healthy eating tips help trim calories

RealAge video compares different plates of food showing how wise food choices provide more food, and more nutrition with fewer calories. That’s especially good news for those of us working to lose or maintain body weight. Healthy cooking tips are also shown on various RealAge videos.

Sexual Addiction (audio)

Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets

Just listened to a satellite radio program, ‘One Hour At a Time’ with Mary Wood interviewing Claudia Black, author of 'Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets’. To those of us pursing Mindbody health, this topic is of particular interest. It describes the shame-based... fear-based behaviors typically involved with addicted behaviors.

It is likely that people with sexual addictions repeat the same scenario as deception and betrayal repeats itself. Lonely, confused, isolated feelings often persist. The potential for violence and suicide is real. Codependent partners need to hang on to their own truth... believe in their intuition in the face of denial and rationalization. A therapeutic separation can buy time for both partners to work on issues with professionals working in the field. It is important to read books about sexual addiction, visit Sexaholics Anonymous and Cosa-recovery.org for Codependents, and other sites addressing this issue. Be concerned for children of sexual addicts as dysfunctional behavior takes a toll.

Brain Fireworks! (video)

Spark the body and brain

with music and movement

1812 Overture performed to fireworks! Why not create your own sparkle, mimicking my complex movement routine and echoing the lyrics.

Engage your pre-frontal cortex, motor cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, visual, auditory, vestibular and kinesthetic body brain systems. This is the same body brain network that involves academic performance skills. Ka boom! Give your brain a blast of mind-stimulating chemicals!

Fearing – The Amygdaloids (video)

Must see this musical lecture on fear

Joseph LeDoux, author of the Emotional Brain and Synaptic Self uses music to present mini lectures on fear and the amygdala. Read the text shown below the video for additional clarity. I marvel over LeDoux’s masterful work.

Nourish – Protect – Renew Your Brain

Enjoy this vast brain website

The Franklin Institute has amassed a comprehensive website revealing the awe-inspiring human brain. Start with the Brain Food Pyramid showing the role of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, micronutrients and diet needed for optimal brain health. Protect the Brain section is outstanding as is

Brain Renewal citing the importance of exercise, stress and sleep.

Join the Muvement

Muve Towards Gruve Solutions

Gruve is not the latest fruit, and Muve is not a dyslexic version of move. These terms are part of a fascinating way people can track their daily exercise on line. Instantly, people can see how they are tracking toward their daily caloric burn goal. I am eager to try this out. What a brilliant way to use technology to inspire Muvement!

REAL Wellness!

Real Wellness or Woo Woo?

Don Ardell literally launched the wellness movement over 3 decades ago with his best-selling book, High Level Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs, and Disease. It is fascinating to hear Don speak today of the wellness movement, citing his concerns over ways people have used the word ‘wellness’ at times to sell their ‘woo woo’ goods and services.

Don does a masterful job distinguishing between health-risk reduction and medical treatment… often confused with REAL wellness practices leading towards happiness, reason, exuberance, vitality, love, friendship, freedom, joy and serenity—as much as possible.

Read Don’s insightful, delightful, hard-hitting articles. Subscribe to the free Ardell Wellness Report dedicated to the idea that, ‘REAL Wellness is Too Important to Be Presented or Lived Grimly.’

Senior Moments (fun video)

Are You Lonesome Tonight

Dave William’s song making fun of aging is so true for us seniors, ha! This is a masterpiece… “does your back give you pain… do your knees predict rain… tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight.”

Great job Dave Williams! Pass this video on, if you can remember. By the way, if you are lonesome tonight, perhaps Dave’s rendition of “If Not You” may ease the pain.

Fix Neck Pain (free e-book)

Request a free e-book!

John Miller from ‘down under’ is on top of his profession helping people relieve body pain, (back, neck, shoulder, wrist, hip, calf) not through drugs or shake and bake, but with well conceived stretching and strengthening exercises putting muscles and joints back into alignment.

I requested and read my free eBook ‘Fix Neck Pain’ and found John’s approach very helpful. I was able to quickly diagnose the cause of my pain, then stretched and strengthened my muscles in the neck and further down the body to relieve the problem. John’s website articles include ‘Principles of better musculo-skeletal function’ – excellent material and ‘Fact Sheets’ covering various wellness topics. John is direct and humorous… a master Physical Educator and exceptional self-healing advocate.

Healthier Students are Better Learners

A Missing Link in School Reforms
To Close the Achievement Gap

Charles Basch from the Teachers College, Columbia University offers a comprehensive essay on effective School Health programs. Topics including vision, asthma, teen pregnancy, aggression and violence, physical activity, breakfast, and inattention and hyperactivity are addressed. Thanks to Charles for offering this Research Initiative of the Campaign for Educational Equity.

Bottom line – “Healthier Students are Better Learners!”

Best Brain Foods

Eat healthy to keep your mind sharp!

Everyday Health features an article by Katherine Lee focused on a healthy diet for brain fitness. This article is a good summation of both healthy and unhealthy foods and beverages. I wonder if you’ll need the product advertised on the website if you follow the nutritional guidelines offered?

Physical Activity for Seniors

Free CHAMP Manuals and Great Resources!

How cool! Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors, CHAMPS, offers a free manual helping you conduct an effective exercise program for seniors in your community. The CHAMPS II Program Manual, (2003) was produced by the University of California, San Francisco: Institute for Health and Aging, San Francisco, CA. Check out the many resources for physical activity and wellness targeting older adults on the CHAMPS website! Wow!

Physical Activity Campaigns

Recommended ways to promote

physical activities and physical fitness

Task Force on Community Preventive Services provides free research and publications helping people choose programs and policies to improve health and prevent disease within their community. More than 200 interventions have been reviewed by the Task Force on Community Services. Free Community Guides are available addressing 19 health topics including physical activity. Strong evidence suggests using a community-wide campaign to increase physical activity and improve physical fitness among adults and children. Now is the best time to act using these best practices.