Who We Are with Rachel Lim  cover image

Who We Are with Rachel Lim

#28: The Science of Well-being with Top Psychiatrist Dr Anders Hansen

Oct 14, 2024
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Anders Hansen, a leading Swedish psychiatrist and author of "The Mind-Body Method," shares his groundbreaking research on the link between physical activity and mental health. He unpacks the evolutionary roots of anxiety, highlighting its protective role. Dr. Hansen debunks common exercise myths and reveals how movement enhances cognitive functions. He provides practical tips for simple lifestyle changes to boost overall brain health while addressing the importance of managing stress and understanding our 'storytelling' brains.
26:47

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Regular physical activity is crucial for improving brain function and emotional health, enhancing cognitive abilities like focus and memory.
  • Understanding anxiety as an adaptive survival mechanism can help individuals confront it with resilience and shift their perspective on mental health.

Deep dives

The Interconnection of Mind and Body

Physical activity plays a pivotal role in enhancing brain function and emotional health. Engaging in regular exercise boosts cognitive abilities such as focus, creativity, and memory by increasing blood flow to the brain, which can improve overall mental performance. Studies show that consistent walking can even increase the size of the hippocampus, a critical area for memory, defying the natural decline typically experienced with aging. For example, participants who engaged in fast walking showed a 2% growth in hippocampal size over a year, compared to a reduction in those who performed stretching exercises.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode