Brain fertiliser - The good kind...
I was seeing Greg for treatment the other day, and like most sessions with him, I left with some brain food.
This time though, the brain food was quite literal.
We got talking about something called BDNF, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.
Never heard of her? Me neither. But here we are.
The Phys has this way of casually dropping knowledge bombs that make you rethink everything you thought you knew about performance and recovery. He’s part physio, part philosopher, part nerd who clearly spends too much time reading PubMed.
He was explaining how BDNF works, and I found myself fascinated. The way he described it was simple:
BDNF is like fertiliser for your brain.
It helps your neurons grow, repair, and connect better, the same way a good strength program helps your muscles adapt. It’s the reason why exercise sharpens your mind, why learning new skills sticks faster, and why sleep and sunlight feel like magic for your body and soul.
So yes, Greg is a nerd. A very smart, loveable nerd.
What does BDNF actually do? Here’s the straightforward version that my little brain can understand...
BDNF is a protein that lives in your brain and central nervous system. Its job is to help your brain grow and adapt.
Every time you train, learn, move, rest, or eat well, you give your brain a dose of this stuff.
It improves:
- Memory and learning
- Mood and motivation
- Recovery and resilience
- Long-term brain health
It’s the reason people who train regularly tend to think clearer, feel better, and stay sharper as they age. It’s not just the exercise, it’s what the exercise does to the brain.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need a lab coat or a neuroscience degree to boost your BDNF.
You just need to live like a human was meant to live. Do these 6 things often...
- Move – Strength, conditioning, play, walk. The more you move, the more your brain adapts.
- Sleep – Seven to nine hours is your brain’s growth window. Don’t skip it.
- Eat real food – Omega-3s, colourful veggies, berries, and good fats all feed your brain.
- Get sunlight – 15–30 minutes outside each day does wonders for mood and BDNF.
- Learn new things – A new skill, language, sport, or even a random hobby keeps your neurons firing.
- Connect – Deep conversations, laughter, and gratitude all improve brain health (and make life better).
At Virtus, we talk a lot about being Better Every Day.
That’s not just a feel-good motto, it’s a biological reality.
Every rep, every breath, every night of decent sleep literally changes your brain.
BDNF is proof that the habits you build don’t just make you stronger, they make you smarter, calmer, and more adaptable.
So next time Greg is elbow-deep in your hamstring talking about brain fertiliser, remember: the real lesson might not be about your muscles.
It might be about growing your mind.
And maybe thank the Phys for being a beautiful nerd who keeps us all feeling better, and fixed, body and brain.
Keep being wonderful
Lachie