Unlocking the Power of Music for a Longer Life

Music can welcome a wave of fond memories and drastically change our mood in an instantaneous moment. Music can make us feel grateful for all the events and life lessons we have experienced. Music has such a profound ability to bring peace, motivation, tears, happiness, and or all of the above to us during any moment of the day.

And music will increase healthy longevity!

Brain scans reveal that your brain sparkles like a disco ball at Studio 54 when you listen to music!  Music is an activity that unites both sides of the brain, aiding in the building of new neural pathways. The auditory system's activation when listening to music helps the brain create and strengthen neural connections, enabling more efficient information processing. Since music requires the brain to focus on multiple stimuli simultaneously, listening can makes the brain more active and running at its highest potential.

How can you incorporate music in your life to increase longevity? 

  1. Music will improve memory through playing an instrument or singing in a band or choir. So go dust off that guitar sitting in the attic and start playing if you are not already. And even if you have little musical skills, just playing a beat on an upside pot with spoons will stimulate your brain. 

  2. Music will improve memory by memorizing lyrics of songs. So, try listening to your new favorite song over and over to engage your noggin. 

  3. Deciphering lyrics will engage your brain. Have a conversation with someone and interpret your different subjective meaning behind some tunes. 

  4. Study music theory, which there are a ton of free basic videos online.

  1. Music will increase your productivity but it has to be music favored by the listener. So if heavy death metal rock is not your thing, it is probably going to hurt your productivity! 

  2. Learning new dance moves while listening to music helps to exercise and strengthen your memory by challenging you to recall and execute the movements.

What Are the Health Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushrooms?

Consider this mushroom the King of the Forest

Lion's Mane, aka Hericium Erinaceus, is a cool-looking mushroom that has been treasured for its various health benefits for thousands of years. It grows on the trunks of old or dead broadleaf trees in forests across North America, Asia and Europe. Deeply rooted in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, The mushroom has long used to treat ailments related to the nervous system and digestive system, and to support overall well-being. In Chinese medicine, the mushroom is believed to nourish the "shen," or spirit, and is used to improve cognitive function, memory, and overall vitality.

Above, a Lion’s Mane mushroom grows on a tree trunk.

In the last decade or so, the West has taken note. The mushroom’s popularity has grown, research has been conducted, and lion’s mane is increasingly being recognized as a natural remedy for various conditions.

So what can the mushroom do?

According to a 2015 abstract in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistryresearch suggests that Lion’s Mane has antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antifatigue, antihypertensive, antihyperlipodemic, antisenescence, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective properties, as well as properties supporting the improvement of anxiety, cognitive function, and depression.

Compelling? We think so!

According to Forbes Health, the mushroom is a source of natural bioactive compounds, which imbues it with those disease-fighting properties, as well as the power to:

  • Regulate blood sugar

  • Reduce high blood pressure

  • Promote healthy energy levels and combats fatigue

  • Help to prevent excess blood lipid accumulation

  • Protect heart health

  • Slow biological aging

  • Protect liver health

  • Protect kidney healthLion's Mane has been shown to have neuroprotective properties, and a study published in the Journal of Neurochemistry, summarized here in Medical News Today, shows that Lions Mane consumption may double neuron growth and enhance cognition. It helps in the regeneration and growth of nerve cells, which can potentially benefit conditions like Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Studies around Lion’s Mane and Alzheimer’s are currently underway. It is also currently being studied as an alternative treatment for depression and anxiety disorders.

That is not vanilla ice cream above, that is Lion’s Mane!

The mushroom can be eaten raw, but we suggest you cook it, as it may upset some people’s stomachs. It can also be purchased as tea, in powder form, and in supplement form. Here at A&P, we try to stick to the real thing. Lion’s Mane pizza, anyone? Here is a link recipes for Lion’s Mane.

If mushrooms aren’t your thing, OM Mushroom Superfood suggests 2-4 grams earlier in the day to get the cognitive benefits. Here is Health News top 6 lion’s mane supplements for 2023. Expect two weeks of dosage before you experience benefits.

Until next week, Age and Prosper!