Just One Thing
Many of us in the UK - and even in the wider world community - were very sad to learn of the recent death of Dr. Michael Mosely while walking in the Greek Island of Symi during a heatwave.
He was a very well known TV doctor and presenter with several successful series to his name.
I knew him best from his Just One Thing radio programs over the past few years and on July 12th, the BBC organized a Just One Thing tribute to him when listeners and presenters shared the "Just One Thing" that had meant most to them...
Popular among all the Just One Things was standing or balancing on one leg with the suggestion of doing this for that two minutes of brushing your teeth.
Here are a selection of Dr. Michael Mosley's Just One Things
Walking backwards
How this exercise trick could improve your balance, waistline and reduce lower back pain.
Having a laugh
A daily dose of laughter can sharpen your memory, reduce stress and help your heart.
Walking in the rain
Striding out for a walk during the rain or after rainfall can improve your mood and immune system. That special smell of rain is known as petrichor (from the Greek word 'petra' meaning stone and 'ichor' the fluid that in Greek mythology flowed through the veins of the immortals).
Its main component is a chemical called geosmin made by bacteria in the soil. It is said that inhaling geosmin has health benefits too, adding to your feeling of wellbeing by raising the levels of the mood-boosting chemical serotonin in your blood and reducing levels of C-reactive protein (a marker for inflammation that's linked to depression).
Listening to music
Hearing your favorite tunes can improve your mood, reduce pain and benefit your brain.
Breathing through your nose
Using your nose instead of your mouth can benefit your gums, your lungs and even impact your memory.
Going for a swim
Swimming is good for your blood vessels, your joints and your mental agility.
Swimming is a great workout because you need to move your whole body against the resistance of the water. Swimming helps with all round exercise, including the heart, lungs and muscles - but with very little joint strain.
It conditions the whole body and the best strokes for this are freestyle, breast stroke and backstroke. And don't forget that even if laps are not your forte, there are plenty of other good swimming exercises.
Try walking or running in water, which many people find easier to do than on land. Treading can be exhausting but it will help tone your legs and arms.
Taking a daily teaspoon of turmeric
This will boost your mood and memory, reduce inflammation and act as a painkiller.
Eating slowly
This will help to improve your digestion and lower your blood sugars and there are other benefits too!
- Weight loss
- Enjoyment
- Reducing stress
- Training in self-discipline
- Selecting healthier foods. For example, natural foods such as fruits and vegetables are particularly vibrant when you take your time to eat them.
- Being sociable
- Better hydration
So, how do you force yourself not to give in to the tendency to gobble your food?
One of the things to help you is making slowing down purposeful. Set a minimum number of bites to chew and count to ten in-between each bite. Eating slowly has definite benefits, and it comes with determined, deliberate practice. Take your time and notice an overall difference in your health.
Practising Yoga
This form of exercise to boost your brain, lower your stress levels and even reverse signs of aging.
Reading a poem
Reading poetry aloud can help to boost your mood and relax your body as well as a whole list of benefits:
- It can deepen your understanding and engagement with the text of the poem itself.
- It can improve your literary and language skills.
- It can help to improve your speaking and listening skills.
- It can help you to increase your appreciation of poetry and
- It can improve your speaking voice.
SOURCES:
Dr Michael Mosley's 7 best science-backed tips to improve your health - BBC Science Focus Magazine
Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley on Apple Podcasts
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.