The body and physical health

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

Mental health

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The brain’s reading of the body’s state is key to mental health

The neural basis of ‘interoception’ – the interpretation of bodily signals – is affected in many mental health conditions

by Camilla Nord

Medical imaging scan showing the internal organs of a human torso, including intestines highlighted in blue and other organs in shades of red and orange.

Mind and brain

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To grasp how serotonin works on the brain, look to the gut

A new perspective uses an analogy between digestion and cognition to help explain the function of a key neurochemical

by James M Shine

A woman swimming at dawn wearing an orange swim cap and goggles with a cloudy sky in the background.

The body and physical health

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How to breathe

Whether your aim is improved health, mental calm or achieving transcendence, breathing techniques can help you get there

by Martin Petrus

Abstract watercolour painting of figures walking in different directions on a white background.

Play

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An Oscar-nominated animation that celebrates walking with humans

Directed by Ryan Larkin

Cyclist in a white polka dot jersey racing during a cycling event, with a crowd of spectators cheering in the background.

Sports and games

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Physical fatigue is in the brain as much as in the body

The idea of ‘mind over muscle’ is more than motivational rhetoric – exercise science shows how the brain manages fatigue

by David Robson

Various fresh foods, including vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, bread, cheese, nuts and spices, arranged on a wooden table.

Pain

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Solving chronic pain via the kitchen, not the medicine cabinet

While medicine still struggles with the mystery of chronic pain, simple dietary changes can bring much-needed relief

by Rowena Field

Person working on a laptop, seated by a window with potted plants and a coffee press, overlooking rooftops and brick buildings.

The body and physical health

guide

How to live with chronic illness

Whatever your own experience of long-haul sickness, a shift in perspective could help you enjoy a full and happier life

by Jennifer Crystal

A muscular man sits shirtless on outdoor gym equipment in a park, with weightlifting bar and chains in background.

The body and physical health

film

A gym built of Soviet-era scraps is a creative community hub in Kyiv, 2019

Directed by Gar O’Rourke

Three people wearing bathing suits and felt hats sit on a wooden bench in a sauna. The sauna is filled with steam, making the ambience hazy. The woman on the left is holding a bundle of twigs, likely for traditional sauna rituals. The mood appears relaxed and warm within the wooden interior.

The body and physical health

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You are your body: here’s how to feel more at home in it

Just because you live in a body, doesn’t mean you feel at one with it. Embodiment psychology can help you reconnect

by Elna Schütz

Person in a yellow jacket and blue hat jogging through a forest, with green foliage in the background.

The body and physical health

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Even a single exercise session can help shift depression

The long-term benefits of regular exercise for mood are well-known. What’s surprising is that just one session can help

by Matthew Bourke & Rhiannon Patten

A close-up photo of a person’s neck and upper chest, illuminated by blue and pink lighting, against a dark background.

Mind-body interactions

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How to trust your body

Your heart, lungs, abdomen and gut are trying to tell you something. Learning to tune in can significantly boost your health

by Saga Briggs

Close-up of a woman with curly hair playfully biting a man’s shoulder while both are smiling.

Love

film

In the bliss of budding love, a couple becomes – quite literally – entangled

Directed by Ben Brewer