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Exercise Your Mind – Adult Summer Reading Program, Depression and Its Antidote
Staff at the Library have selected some of books, dvds, and audio books that are relevant to our “Exercise Your Mind” summer theme and have put them on top of the dvd shelf. These and other titles from our collection are available for you to check out. We’ve tried to include a selection of theoretical books, practical how-to books and dvds, puzzles, skill-building guides and fiction with a twist of one kind or another. We also have a sheet for suggestions for additions to our collection, if there’s a book you’d like to read or listen to, or a type of exercise or meditation you’d like to try.For every book that you read, on any subject, you have the opportunity to write and submit a review. Your review may be selected in a drawing at the end of the reading program and you may win either a gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods or a FitBit Charge HR.
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED SO FAR:
Last week we learned the basics of brain anatomy and function, and learned that we have the capability to continue learning throughout life, that such learning helps to keep our brains healthy, and that good nutrition and physical activity are essential components of good brain health throughout our lives. Some fun facts we learned were that we have at least 400 miles of blood vessels in our brains, which are about 75% water. The dry weight of the brain is about 60% fat. Our brains have about 100 billion neurons, each with 1,000 to 10,000 synapses. The brain uses about 20% of our total energy and oxygen intake, in spite of being only 2% of our total weight. All of this is in a small package of about 3 pounds. Here are some more facts about the brain: http://www.nursingassistantcentral.com/blog/2008/100-fascinating-facts-you-never-knew-about-the-human-brain/ . These facts help to explain why staying hydrated and eating well is so important.
GET INSPIRED:
This week on Thursday at 7:00 PM we welcome Dick Sederquist who will talk about his recovery from depression by hiking. Dick will bring along his book “Hiking Out”, and will donate the proceeds of its sales that evening to the library.
While it would be simplistic to suggest that exercise is a panacea for all that ails us, a number of studies continue to find links between specific kinds of exercise and some mental illnesses.
Dick’s personal experience underlines what the research has shown about how physical activity can do a great deal to alleviate depression in many people. http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-and-depression-report-excerpt
