Winter reading suggestion – A Brain for Life

Dr Nicola Gates, a regular guest speaker at Golden Door, has a book giving you secrets for a long healthy life. Although the book is called ‘A Brain for Life’ and discusses how to reduce risks for dementia, it is really a guide to living well – by caring for your brain, your body and mind will also flourish.  Gate’s book is an easy read as she translates the hard neuroscience into practical terms and includes inspiring true stories of people who have made changes to their lifestyle to thrive, as well as a few forewarning tales of what can occur if you don’t.

One interesting takeaway from the book was the fact that what you do from your mid years – starting from age 30 to 65 – profoundly determines your health today and in the longer term.  Importantly the messages of healthy diet, regular exercise, and relaxation of the Golden Door philosophy and experience are totally reinforced in the book with scientific research and medical evidence.

A calm body and mind make us feel in control and relaxed. That is because our brain is unencumbered by the stress response and we can think clearly. Reducing the burden of stress protects the brain. Dr Gates goes on to explain how meditation and mindful practices change the body, mind and brain in many positive ways, including reducing clinical dementia.  She ends by saying, “Imagine being able to engage in a peaceful relaxing activity, thereby reducing stress, improving mental and physical health, and at the same time improving brain power”.

A Brain for Life is published by ABC Books, and on sale now.