Strong Link Between Even Modest Physical Activity and Lower Levels of Depression

A new metareview published in the highly-respected JAMA Psychiatry reveals that even modest exercise (less than recommended by public health guidelines) can have a major impact on mental health. Just 2.5 hours a week of brisk walking was related to a 25% lower risk of depression–and the biggest benefits were seen when moving from none to some activity (rather than moving from moderate to high…

MUST-READS FROM THE WELLNESS WORLD (May 18th, 2022)

What Dinner Will Look Like in the Next 100 Years, According to Scientists (and Sci-Fi Authors)Rejuvenation of woman’s skin could tackle diseases of ageing – Bon Appétit, April 26, 2022  The food industry is preparing for major disruptions to come, brought on by forces such as climate change and changing demographics. The resultant innovation is widespread, and concerns seeds, farming practices, technology, water, distribution, and…

Russia’s Aggression Stoking a Global Food Crisis and Major ‘Wellbeing Inequality’ Issue

Russia’s Aggression Stoking a Global Food Crisis and Major ‘Wellbeing Inequality’ Issue  By Thierry Malleret, economist Russia’s aggression is stoking a major global food crisis which hurts disproportionately the poorest nations and the poorest people. The conflict is constraining production and supplies in the Black Sea breadbasket region (which accounts for about a quarter of all grain trades) and is wreaking havoc on food and…

Asia’s $1.5 Trillion Wellness Economy Shrank the Least During the Pandemic

Asia’s $1.5 Trillion Wellness Economy Shrank the Least During the Pandemic     The GWI’s recent research report ranks 150 countries by their annual wellness spend. It also measures every global region’s spend and recent growth rates. The report finds that Asia-Pacific is the world’s largest wellness market ($1.5 trillion), followed by North America ($1.3 trillion) and Europe ($1.1 trillion).  Asia’s wellness market simply has the…

MUST-READS FROM THE WELLNESS WORLD (Week of April 20th, 2022)

Rejuvenation of woman’s skin could tackle diseases of ageing–BBC News, April 8, 2022  Cambridge United Kingdom (UK) researchers have rejuvenated a 53-year-old woman’s skin cells so they are the equivalent of a 23-year-old’s—and they believe that they can do the same thing with other tissues in the body, to develop treatments for age-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and neurological disorders. The technology is…

Psilocybin Therapy Spurs Rapid, Sustained Improvement in Depression

Psychedelics have shown promise in treating diverse mental health disorders, but exactly how they rewire the mind remains a mystery. A small 2022 study from Imperial College in London provides some answers. Patients with severe depression were given either psilocybin or a popular antidepressant (escitalopram). The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain activity pre-dose and three weeks after. The results were enlightening:…