The body and physical health

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

Blurry photo through a shop window showing people on the street, a woman near the glass and pastry on display inside.

Mental health

idea

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

Coloured medical scan of human abdomen showing internal organs with blue and orange highlights, digital imaging.

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

Photo of two swimmers in orange caps at sunset in open water, with a cloudy sky in the background.

The body and physical health

guide

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

film

An Oscar-nominated animation that celebrates walking with humans

Directed by Ryan Larkin

Photo of a cyclist in a red polka dot jersey racing past a cheering crowd on a yellow bicycle.

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

Photo of assorted fresh foods on a wooden table including fruit veg cheese meat fish nuts spices oil bread and herbs.

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

Photo of a person at a computer by a window with potted plants, framed by rooftops outside, mug and French press nearby.

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

Photo of three people in swimsuits and felt hats sitting in a sauna. The atmosphere is warm and misty.

The body and physical health

idea

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

Photo of a person in a yellow jacket and turquoise hat running through a blurred forest path, conveying motion.

The body and physical health

idea

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

Photo of a person’s neck and shoulders illuminated with pink and blue light on a dark blue background.

Mind-body interactions

guide

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