Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Recent scientific evidence suggests that movement can offset genetic vulnerabilities to physical and mental illness. A study by He et al. found that higher genetic risk for certain diagnoses was mitigated by increased steps and moderate-to-vigorous activity. This indicates that physical activity can positively impact mood and well-being, even for those with genetic predispositions.
Genetics actually works for us and against us in an invisible pattern that we still have little understanding of. Only recently have we started discovering that there are certain genetic patterns that will give us a certain predisposition or propensity for physical and mental illness. This can feel a bit overwhelming as you ponder the accumulation of potential stacked issues you might have accumulated since before you were even conceived. However, you also might have good genetic markers as well, so perhaps they wash out.
Anyway, there has been recent scientific evidence that we can do certain things to offset genetic vulnerability. One of those is movement. In a recent study by He et al., researchers analyzed 23,517 adults with whole-genome sequencing, electronic health records, and long-term Fitbit data, averaging 582 days of wear. Higher genetic risk predicted diagnosis, while more steps and moderate-to-vigorous activity predicted lower risk.
Now, this is far from conclusive, but this does indicate that movement does have an impact and that impact can offset a tendency toward things like depression. You remember when your mom would tell you to go outside? Well, maybe she had a point. The more you move around, the less likely these tendencies that you may have been born with will surface.
This strikes close to home. I keep close track of my mood swings, my feelings of well-being, and my health vitals. As I have been monitoring this, I have noticed a strong trend, which is that when I am running more often, especially outdoors, I have an uptick in my mood. The pattern is undeniable and repeats frequently. Now that is interesting to hear, because I view running as work most of the time, which according to this pattern I think I need to view it as something completely different.
The real takeaway here isn't about forcing yourself to feel a certain way, or even about cracking some secret code to happiness. It's more about noticing what happens when you just do things. When you move, when you get outside, when you engage with the world in a physical way, it often just shifts things. It's not a magic bullet, and it won't erase every tough day, but it's a pretty reliable lever. And sometimes, that's all you need: a simple, accessible way to nudge things in a better direction.
The 365 Commitment Podcast focuses on helping people make and keep life changing commitments.
It this is day 3217. Keep moving.
you know genetics works against works for us and against us and an invisible pattern that we still have little understanding of
only recently we started discovering that there are certain genetic patterns that will give us a certain predisposition or propensity for physical or mental illness.
This can feel a bit overwhelming as you Ponder. The accumulation of potential stacked issues. You might have accumulated since before you were even conceived.
However, you might also have good genetic markers as well. So perhaps they all wash out. I don't know in my in my case. It feels like I'm on the losing battle.
But anyway, there's been recent scientific evidence that there that we can do certain things to offset genetic vulnerability.
One of those is movement.
In a recent study that I linked in my blog.
adults with hole that the researchers analyzed like 24,000 adults
With whole genome sequencing electronic health records and long-term Fitbit data over a span of 600 days or so.
Higher genetic risk predicted diagnosis while more steps and moderate to vigorous activity predicted lower risk.
Now this is far from conclusive evidence.
But this does indicate that movement does have an impact and that impact can offset a tendency towards things like depression.
You remember when your mom would tell you to go outside? Well, maybe she had a point.
The more you move around the less likely these tendencies that you might have.
That you might have been born with Will surface.
The strikes close to home for me.
I keep close track of my mood swings my feelings of well-being and my help my health vitals.
As I've been monitoring this I've noticed a strong Trend, which is that when I am running more often, especially outdoors. I have an uptick in my mood.
The pattern is undeniable and it repeats frequently.
Now this is interesting for me to hear because I view running his work most of the time which according to this pattern. I think I need to view it as something completely different.
The real takeaway here isn't about forcing yourself to feel a certain way or even about cracking some secret code to happiness.
It's more about noticing that what happens when you just do things when you move around when you get out outside, when you engage with the world in a physical way it often just shifts things. It's not a Magic Bullet and it won't erase every tough day for you.
But it's a pretty reliable lever and sometimes it's all you need a simple accessible way to nudge things on on a little better Direction.