The Healing Power Of Music: How Your Favourite Songs Boost Your Mood, Mind & Mobility with Dr Daniel Levitin #623

Why do we find it so hard to exercise despite knowing how good it is for us? Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 514 of the podcast with Professor of Biological Science and Professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, Daniel Lieberman. Daniel is the author of the brilliant book Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved To Do is Healthy and Rewarding. In this clip, he reveals a fascinating truth: we didn’t evolve to exercise, but movement is key to living well. He challenges some common beliefs that exist around exercise and we discuss simple, practical ways of building sustainable movement habits into our daily lives. Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠https://drinkag1.com/livemore Show notes and the full podcast are available at https://drchatterjee.com/514 Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore⁠⁠ For other podcast platforms go to ⁠⁠https://fblm.supercast.com. DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Mel Robbins is one of the most sort after motivational speakers in the world. Her TED talk has been viewed almost 27 million times and she's also the best-selling author of several books, including her latest one, The High Five Habit: Take Control of Your Life With One Simple Habit. In today's conversation, Mel explains that all of us know what we need to do for the best in any given situation but it’s acting on that knowledge that’s hard. It’s so easy to be impulsive or fall into old habits. And I think this is where Mel really comes into her own. Her approach is all about practical, real life advice that busy people with busy lives can easily implement. A prime example is something that Mel calls the five second rule. This is a rule that stops negative thinking in its tracks, and immediately breaks the feedback loop of procrastination and moves us into taking action. It changes a bias of thinking into a bias of action, giving you the confidence to try when you're full of doubt. In fact, it's so simple that my 11 year old son has already seen its benefits in his own life over the past few weeks. We also talk about The High Five Habit (which is the title of Mel’s new book) - this is the idea that by simply giving yourself a high five in the mirror each morning, you can experience transformative effects in your life. This simple exercise is about recognizing yourself and asking yourself what the person looking back at you in the mirror really needs and by doing so, Mel explains that you are retraining your brains neural pathways and convincing your subconscious that you are someone who is worthy of celebration. This really is a wide ranging and in-depth conversation. There is something quite unique about the connection that Mel has with her audience and the way she delivers her message. I think a lot of it comes down to her raw honesty, and the fact that all of her methods are borne out of her own lived experience. She's been there and she is very happy to share her struggles, her insecurities and her battles. I certainly got a lot out of this conversation and I think you will as well.   Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Thanks to our sponsors: https://thewayapp.com/livemore https://ag1.com/livemore   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/622   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Is your ‘healthy’ breakfast actually dessert in disguise? Why is it that so many of us are struggling these days with our metabolic health? Today’s clip is from episode 545 with medical doctor and best-selling author Dr Mark Hyman. For many years, Mark has been leading a global health revolution around using food as medicine -  to support longevity, energy, mood and happiness. In this clip, he shares practical, evidence-based ways to improve your metabolic health, starting with what’s on your plate. Mark is passionate about empowering people to take charge of their health and his accessible approach offers practical steps anyone can take.   Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠https://thewayapp.com/livemore  Show notes and the full podcast are available at https://drchatterjee.com/545 Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore⁠⁠ For other podcast platforms go to ⁠⁠https://fblm.supercast.com. DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

When it comes to feeling better, many of us instinctively start with our minds. We think about our thoughts, our beliefs, our stress levels. But what if a huge part of our emotional and psychological experience is actually being held in our bodies – quite literally – in a remarkable tissue called fascia? This week, I’m joined by Jason van Blerk, one of the co-founders of Human Garage - a global self-care movement that aims to inspire 1 billion people to heal themselves, through simple, accessible movement practices, that they call Fascial Manoeuvres. In our conversation, we explore what fascia actually is, why modern science is only just beginning to catch up with what many practitioners have observed for decades, and how emotions and past experiences may be stored in our physical structure. Jason also shares how different areas of the body seem to relate to different emotional patterns, why posture and mood are so tightly linked, and how changing one can often influence the other. We also talk about stress, and why so many of us feel tense, disconnected, and stuck in our own lives and Jason explains how simple rotational movements, combined with specific breathing patterns, can help “unwind” the body, reduce stress, and leave you feeling lighter, calmer, and grounded. The thing I love the most about Human Garage’s philosophy is that they want to empower people to heal themselves. This is not about needing lifelong treatment, or becoming dependent on a therapist or HCP - it’s about learning a set of practical moves that you can use anywhere, anytime AND with no equipment, to start healing your body and calming your mind. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: Peloton https://onepeloton.co.uk Heights https://heights.com/livemore   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/620   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Longevity is a hot topic these days. We’re obsessed with anti-ageing, as if getting older should be avoided or even reversed at all costs! Of course, we can’t do that and I’m not sure we’d really want to. But today’s guest brings valuable insights about what we can do, to make sure we age healthily and happily.    Professor Rose Anne Kenny is a medical gerontologist and Regius Professor of Physic and Chair of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin. She’s the Founding Principal Investigator of Ireland’s largest population study of ageing (TILDA) and the author of the international bestseller Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life.  In this conversation, Professor Kenny reveals that while 20 percent of ageing is genetic and can’t be changed, 80 percent is epigenetic – in other words, we have the power to influence how quickly or how slowly we age. Her number one recommendation is having good quality friendships and relationships throughout our lives. Then follows a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and reducing stress. So nothing too surprising, perhaps. But what might surprise you is just how far reaching the effects of these relatively simple measures can be – and how much what you do in your 20s can impact your 80s. We talk about how to avoid metabolic syndrome and why it’s important to know key biological markers throughout life. We take a deep dive into the benefits of community, family, volunteering and inter-generational friendships, and discuss the undercurrent of ageism that prevails in society. Loneliness increased threefold during the pandemic, according to the TILDA study, and it’s left some people feeling afraid to reconnect. Yet isolation is known to cause inflammation, suppress immunity and speed ageing. Professor Kenny believes we should flip convenience on its head when it comes to exercise. Instead of taking the easy option that means moving less, we should look at the ‘harder’ options, such as taking the stairs or carrying heavy bags, as convenient ways to build activity and strength training into our lives. She also shares excellent advice on sex and intimacy, sleeping better, laughing more, and finding purpose all around you. This really is a wonderful and practical conversation that is going to give you a variety of simple ways to play the long game when it comes to ageing. And the empowering message is that it’s never too early and it’s never too late to start.    Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: https://ag1.com/livemore https://thewayapp.com/livemore   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/619   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.