How Exercise and Nutrition can Effect the Role of the Immune System in Mental Health Disorders

Previous posts on our site have talked about the impact of nutrition and exercise on mental health disorders. In the research, for both of those posts, a common theme was the link between the immune system and mental health. The immune system is the body’s protective mechanism from damaged cells, pathogens and other compounds [3]. However, there can be circumstances where the immune system can be compromised and can become over or underactive. Increased activity of the immune system can lead to mental health disorders and psychiatric disorders [4]. These mental health disorders occur due to a series of changes which take place neuroimmune changes which take place, leading to reductions in the production of neurotransmitters. This article is going to talk about the immune system’s role in mental health disorders, how exercise and nutrition improve immunity, and why. Read more…

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6 Considerations for New Years Resolutions

Even if there are still some tight restrictions in the new year we need to be able to work around them and set targets for ourselves to keep pushing forwards. This is something people do every year and we call it our “New Years Resolutions”. The problem is that even in easier years, by comparison, in most cases, they are never stuck to. A reason for this is that the resolutions people may have set for themselves may not have been thought through enough for them to be actionable and capable to the individual. Another reason is that they may have just not made the target a priority and it just faded away over time due to not having someone to keep them accountable and on target. This is why in this post, I will talk through 6 things to do when making resolutions for the new year. Read More…

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17 Facts on Exercise and Mental Health

This post is going to discuss exercise and how it can benefit your mental health. The physical benefits of exercise such as lower risk and prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and Alzheimer's, are well known but the real evidence behind the effects of exercise on a person’s mental health may be less clear [1]. After reading this post, and my previous, I hope you all will have a better understanding of the small changes you can make to increase your mood and feel better within yourself. Read more…

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Nutrition, Depression, and Other Mental Health Disorders

Our mental health plays a massive part in all our lives and as time goes on, we are learning more and more about what affects our mental health and how we can improve it. A major complication of not being in an optimal mental state is the risk of depression increasing which can lead to suicide; the cause of death for 788,000 in 2015 [6]. In addition to the talk therapies I mentioned in my previous post on PTSD, there are other, most likely more accessible, avenues to improving your mental health. It was postulated at the 2016 Nutrition Society Winter Meeting that food and nutrient-based approaches by being able to curtail the burden of neurological and mental disease [7]. Other studies have found micronutrient treatment to alleviate psychological systems like depression, anxiety, rage, irritability, and attention problems [8]. In this post, we will talk about how the nutrients in your diet can affect and improve your mental health. Read more…

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25 Facts about PTSD

During the lockdown, there was a 25 push up challenge aimed at raising awareness for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When I was challenged by a friend from university on my Instagram @pendulum_fitness I thought I would do something different so I decided every day, along with my 25 push-ups, I would also post a fact I had researched about PTSD to further increase awareness and understanding of the condition. I didn’t realize the frequency of the occurrence of this condition as I had previously associated it mainly with war veterans. From the research I have done I have come to realize that this condition is very prominent in all populations and has the potential to affect everybody. With this list of facts on the condition, I hope to bring some clarity to what PTSD is, how it affects people, and some of the signs and symptoms to look out for, and what can affect it. Read more…

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Why Train Plyometrics and Power

Plyometrics and Power are two components of performance which are super important in sporting scenarios. Power Training is an aspect of resistance training and aims to reduce the amount of time it takes to produce the greatest amount of force. Plyometric Training aims to increase the speed at which you can move your body on and off the ground. Both of this are great for increasing your running speed and jump performance. At Pendulum Fitness I ensure all of the athletes I work with have these training methods implemented into their training programmes. Read more…

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Why is Stretching Important?

Stretching is a great tool which requires little to no equipment and can be performed at any time and at any place. Although it is such a useful tool, many people feel then do not have time for it before and after they perform. However it is important to remember that as long was you stretch with purpose, intent, and do it regularly, it does not need to take more than a few minutes depending on the goal. It can be used to assist in warm ups, cool downs, increasing muscle length and reducing pain and soreness, and even to aid in relaxation. Different types of stretching are used to facilitate these different effects. Read more…

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