Can CGF & Poker Help You Live Longer with a Better Brain?

We all love poker and we all want to play it for as long as possible. We also want to live long and happy lives in general. We go to great lengths in order to remain healthy for as long as we live – we reduce our caloric intake, we exercise, we keep track of our macros, we take supplements, we make smoothies, we try and eat more greens, drink more water etc. However, it seems that we forget something in that fitness rush; we forget the fact that we are simply humans. And humans need much more for happy lives than just fitness, proper hydration and the balance of carbs, fats and protein. In fact, by nature, humans are social beings with extremely complex brains. This means two things. First, social interaction, as opposed to isolation, is essential for our health and well-being. Secondly, our super brains need stimulation in order to remain fully functional into our later years.

So, did you know that being social is in correlation with the quality of our health and life expectancy? There have been several studies confirming this statement. Like Harvard Women’s Health Watch reported, “Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer.” Even more interesting is the fact that  the difference in survival occurred regardless of people’s age, gender, health practices or physical health status. Moreover, those with close social ties and unhealthy life-style – smoking, lack of exercise, excessive food intake, alcohol consumption – tend to live longer than those with fewer social ties but healthy life-style. Of course, those having a great social life in conjunction with healthy habits are the grand winners in terms of health and life expectancy. We have a good news for you, playing poker, and  why not, at the Cash Game Festival, may give you the health boost you have been longing for.
The Nature magazine is reporting similar findings between social isolation and health. Namely, in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, the researchers evaluated social isolation on the basis of the amount of contact participants reported having with family, friends and civic organizations, and they assessed loneliness using a questionnaire. They tracked sickness and mortality in study participants from 2004 to 2012. It was found that social isolation was correlated with higher mortality but loneliness was not. So, irregardless how lonely you feel, the amount of contact with other people has an effect on your heath and life expectancy. The more you interact with other people, the more you benefit from it.
How does the Cash Game Festival fit in with the research on health and life expectancy? Simply join the Cash Game Festival at least a couple of times a year and you will increase the amount of social interactions you have, increasing your likelihood of longer and healthier life. Moreover, our festival with its relaxed friendly atmosphere and fun social side events certainly promotes smiling, the pleasant physical act that comes with the health benefits of its own. Namely, according to Psychology Today, there is magic in our smile. First, every time we smile, we basically release the feel-good hormones that relieve stress and relax our bodies. Secondly, according to a study on primitive emotional contagion, smiling is, indeed, infectious. Let’s smile more, so we can make other people smile and feel good. So, by using the magic of smiling, we can turn ours and our friends’ day around.
Besides having multiple social interactions a day and smiling more, people also benefit from having hobbies. According to Linkedsenior.com, having hobbies is truly important as, in addition to being fun, hobbies can refresh our mind and body. It is a proven fact that spending time doing the things that we enjoy can help delay signs of aging and the pleasure in participating can lead to positive feelings that can help fight against some illnesses. So, defy the future sings of aging by finding an enjoyable activity already today when still young.
In fact, poker is almost a perfect hobby to have. Firstly, being a very social game, it automatically increases the number of social interactions you have. Secondly, the game is good for your brain. It can help to train your memory and even protect you from Alzheimer’s disease.  Namely, Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, a leading Alzheimer’s disease researcher, has concluded that playing poker is protective against the devastating brain disease that is typically associated with old age. Use it or lose it – keep your brain active and it is significantly more protected against age-related disease and slowdown. Thirdly, poker can make you better in business since, according to Inc.com, business and poker both require you to assess risk, analyze competition, and be aggressive. As Geoff Woo, co-founder of Nootrobox, a San Francisco startup that makes cognitive supplements, puts it, “It’s a great way to train your assessment and decision making with incomplete information,”. Entrepreneurs who play poker say the game has helped them run their companies better. As you can see, there are many good reasons to come and play poker with us. Indeed, we play a lot of poker at the Cash Game Festival; in fact, aiming at 24/7 cash games at any chance we get. Gotta keep them brains in perfect shape!
In conclusion, the Cash Game Festival does contribute to your overall health and well-being 🙂 The social interaction at the festival will keep you healthier and living longer while poker is keeping your brain shipshape. All the reasons to find some time for poker and play it with like-minded poker-loving people just like you.
Many happy poker nights!
Yours,
Cash Game Festival Team

FESTIVAL REGISTRATIONS

www.yourid.se or info@www.cashgamefestival.com

CGF SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

Give a “Like” on Cash Game Festival FACEBOOK Page
Follow Cash Game Festival on TWITTER @CashFestival
See the videos on Cash Game Festival YOUTUBE Channel
Follow on INSTAGRAM @cashgamefestival & #cashgamefestival
See Cash Game Festival live streams during live festivals on TWITCH