"The Greatest Wealth is Health"
The idea that health is the foundation of wealth has been part of human wisdom for over 2,000 years, ever since the Roman poet Virgil famously said, “The greatest wealth is health.”
In today’s fast-paced world, how we prioritise our health depends on both conscious and unconscious choices we make—individually, within our communities, and as part of the wider global society.
Wellness can be understood as the foundation of intentional choices and actions that individuals or communities take to cultivate a balanced life. This encompasses physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and financial wellbeing. These interconnected branches of the “health is wealth” tree are all equally vital in navigating the complexities of modern life.
Yet, many factors in contemporary living can cloud the importance of wellness. This is evident in the rising rates of chronic physical and mental health conditions we face today.
Through my experience, I’ve identified three fundamental pillars that support the building and sustaining of positive, long-term lifestyle habits: diet and nutrition, sleep, and exercise.
The link between neuroplasticity and wellness
The phrase “neurons that fire together, wire together” was first coined by Donald Hebb in 1949 to describe how brain pathways are created, strengthened, and reinforced through repetition—forming lasting habits. This process is known as neuroplasticity.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy temporarily amplifies neuroplasticity, allowing new ideas, insights, and perspectives on life and purpose to emerge, alongside life-affirming values and belief systems. It is through this same neuroplastic process—and the principle that neurons that fire together wire together—that sustainable lifestyle habits can develop, grounded in the essential foundations of wellness: diet and nutrition, sleep, and exercise.
In recent decades, scientists have discovered that the hippocampus, a flexible and central part of the brain, plays a vital role in enabling neuroplasticity. It is also crucial for short- and long-term memory, emotional regulation, and mental health. Numerous studies have shown that diet, nutrition, sleep, and exercise have a direct impact on the size and function of the hippocampus.
Diet and Nutrition, Sleep and Exercise
Research has shown that a typical Western-style diet—high in saturated fats, refined sugars, and ultra-processed foods—can reduce the brain’s neuroplasticity potential and shrink the size of the hippocampus. This diet is also associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. In contrast, a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in whole foods, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, and antioxidants, has been found to increase hippocampal size and support the neuroplasticity process.
A sleep study conducted at the University of Cambridge found that during sleep, our memory undergoes a “deep clean” through the four distinct stages of sleep. Important neural connections tied to significant information are reinforced, while weaker connections formed from less impactful information are gradually pruned away. Each stage of sleep plays a crucial role in this memory maintenance process.
Exercise research has demonstrated that physical activity boosts cerebral blood flow, which stimulates neuroplasticity in the hippocampus. Additionally, exercise strengthens memory and learning abilities and increases levels of key mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters.
Sources
National Institute for Health (NIH)(.gov) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4535518/
Sciencedirect.com https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/hebbian-theory
Jacka, Felice. Prof. BRAINCHANGER. Macmillan, Yellow Kite. 2019. Page 117-121.
Spector. Tim. Prof. SPOONFED. Penguin. Vintage. 2022. Pages 185-188.
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology - 2018. Sciencedaily2024 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180315110640.htm.
National Institute for Health (NIH)(.gov) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6296269/.
National Institute for Health (NIH)(.gov) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693176/.
