Beyond Exercise and Diet

Siddhartha Raj

When we talk about health and fitness, the conversation almost always revolves around exercise, yoga, and diet. We hear it everywhere—work out regularly, eat a balanced diet, practice mindfulness through yoga.

But does the road end here? Is this all we need for a truly healthy life? What about mental health? What about emotional well-being?
Does these shape your physical and medical heath as well?

These questions don’t always get the attention they deserve. In a world where physical appearance is often overvalued, we sometimes forget that what happens within our minds and hearts is just as critical to our well-being. Mental health can often feel like a more complex, elusive concept. Does it really require psychiatrists, medication, or wellness sessions? Perhaps for some, it does. Others might find healing in different ways. While I won’t justify one path over another—opinions may vary depending on individual experiences—it’s important to reflect on where the need for medication might end and where love, compassion or connection can begin.

The Power of Love and Connection

As Indians, many of us resonate with the idea that a mother's love can shape the destiny of her child. But what happens when even a mother's love seems futile in the face of tragedy? This reminds me of a powerful story, shared in “The Rabbit Effect”, which sheds light on the incredible, life-changing power of human connection. A mother named Kate Ogg gave birth prematurely to twins. While one twin, Emily, survived, the other, Jamie, was declared dead by doctors. But Kate wasn’t ready to let go. She asked to hold her son one last time. She unwrapped him from his blanket and held his fragile body against her chest. Together, Kate and her husband, David, huddled close to their lifeless son, pouring out their love. They spoke to him, told him his name, and shared how hard they had fought for him. In those tender moments of love and connection, something remarkable happened—Jamie started to move. What had seemed like reflexes of a dying child turned into signs of life. Against all odds, Jamie grew stronger, and today, he is a healthy, thriving child.

Was this a miracle? Could medical science explain what transpired?

Love and compassion have long been considered powerful forces, but they are often difficult to measure scientifically. However, modern research is beginning to show that emotions like love and nurturing care can indeed influence health in profound ways. This is evident not just in extraordinary cases like Jamie’s but in everyday life as well. Let me take you back to Indian history for a moment. We’ve all heard the story of Abhimanyu (the son of Subhadra), who learned about breaking the Chakravyuh (a complex military formation) while still in the womb, as his father, Arjuna, narrated it to his mother. This legend highlights the emotional and psychological connection between mother and child, even before birth.
But I know, the stories are ever ignored, so, let's have a scientific exploration around it.

The Science of Love: How Nurture Shapes Destiny

In The Rabbit Effect, there’s another fascinating case study by Dr. Moshe Szyf and Dr. Michael Meaney, who explored the profound impact of a mother’s love on her offspring. Dr. Meaney observed that some rat mothers were more nurturing than others. The more affectionate rat moms—those who licked and groomed their babies frequently—raised more relaxed pups, while the less affectionate ones raised anxious and aggressive offspring. This prompted a deeper investigation. Could nurture truly override nature? To answer this, they swapped baby rats between nurturing and non-nurturing mothers. The results were astounding: pups raised by nurturing mothers, regardless of their genetic background, grew into calmer, more resilient adults. The opposite was true for pups raised by less nurturing mothers.

What’s happened love and nurturing alter the nature but how? The genetic code cannot be changed and how exactly it happens?

Yes, genetic codes cannot be changed but additional strands of information can be added anytime, these are in terms of small ‘Methyl strand’ (CH₃). In simple words, environmental factors, such as love and stress can add information strands to the DNA, the process called as DNA Methylation. This is was exactly happened with those pups. I know who ever is reading it, are not babies now, so this doesn’t end here.

The Hidden Power of Connection: It's Not Just for Babies only

A fascinating study explored how the brain waves of couples synchronize when one partner experiences pain. Twenty-two couples wore EEG caps, and researchers applied heat to one partner's arm. Surprisingly, the more empathetic the partner felt, the more their brain waves synced up. Even when they weren’t touching but were simply in the same room, their brains aligned. As the brain waves synchronized, the partner experiencing pain reported feeling less discomfort. This biological connection, much like fireflies blinking in unison, showed the remarkable way we are emotionally and biologically linked to each other.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University explored how hugs, social support, and illness interact by exposing 404 healthy adults to the common cold through nasal drops. First, blood samples confirmed the participants were not immune, and over 14 days, they were surveyed about conflicts and the number of hugs they received daily. After exposure to the virus, the volunteers were quarantined, and their symptoms were monitored, such as mucus production. The findings revealed that those who received daily hugs were 32% less likely to get sick, and if they did, their symptoms were less severe, and they recovered faster. Even a single hug per day made a significant difference in health outcomes.

The Conclusion

There are 100’s of research which can be put against this but eventually the moral lies that We are not only shaped by the food we eat or the exercise routines we follow, but by the love we give and receive, the compassion we show, and the touch we share. The story of Jamie Ogg, saved by the power of his parents' love, is a poignant reminder that sometimes the most powerful medicine is connection. In our modern world, we often turn to technology, diets, or fitness plans, but we forget that something as simple as a hug or a moment of empathy or a moment of meaningless compassionate conversation, can be just as vital to our health.

As adults, we may think we're beyond needing nurturing, but the science proves otherwise. Whether it’s the synchronization of brain waves with a loved one, the healing touch of a massage, or the protective power of a daily hug, connection is a cornerstone of human health. We are wired to thrive on love, compassion, and empathy—and this truth transcends age, status, or condition. So, as we strive to live healthier lives, let’s not neglect the emotional bonds that truly nourish us.

Connection is not just a feel-good idea; it’s a biological imperative!

References

[1] Harding, K. (2019). The Rabbit Effect

Siddhartha

An Insight Story

Beyond Exercise and Diet: The Overlooked Aspects of a Healthy Lifestyle