097 - The Write Stuff, Fish Oil Debate, and Awe - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

Mind-Expanding Reads for Daily Life

This article reviews five essential psychology books that simplify complex theories into practical advice for daily life. Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman explores cognitive biases and decision-making processes. Carol Dweck’s “Growth Mindset” emphasizes the power of effort over innate ability. “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman highlights the importance of understanding and managing emotions. Angela Duckworth’s “Grit” focuses on resilience and perseverance. Finally, “Flow” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi delves into achieving optimal experiences. Each book, authored by experts, offers actionable insights to enhance personal and professional life. 5 applied psychology books for everyday life - Big Think.

Awe

Lori Santos covered the eight types of awe in her podcast The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos: The Power of Awe. Well worth a listen whether you are religious or not.

Gaslight, Camera, Action

Gaslighting, a manipulative tactic that makes victims question their reality, can profoundly affect mental health, leading to anxiety and depression. When confronted with gaslighting, experts recommend seven strategies to regain control and assert your truth. These include calmly stating your perspective, setting boundaries, validating your feelings, documenting events, suggesting neutral third-party mediation, using humor to defuse tension, and focusing on solutions rather than memory debates. These techniques aim to disrupt the manipulator’s control and provide clarity, helping you maintain your sense of reality and well-being. 7 Things to Say When Someone Gaslights You.

Unraveling Chronic Illness Misdiagnoses

Chronic illness symptoms are frequently dismissed as mere stress, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Amina AlTai, initially attributing her fatigue and brain fog to work-related stress, faced repeated dismissal from doctors despite worsening symptoms like hair loss and gastrointestinal issues. It wasn’t until thorough blood tests that she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease and celiac disease, severe autoimmune conditions. This case underscores the complex interplay between stress and chronic illness, highlighting the need for careful evaluation to distinguish between stress-related symptoms and underlying medical conditions. Why Chronic Illness Symptoms are Commonly Dismissed as Just Stress - The New York Times (gift article).

Weight Loss Woes

States like West Virginia are grappling with the high costs of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Despite their effectiveness, with some patients losing 15-20% of their weight, the prohibitive costs, reaching up to $1,400 a month, make them inaccessible for many. Canceling public funding programs exacerbates the disparity between those who can afford these medications and those who cannot. Critics argue that the situation mirrors past pharmaceutical crises, underscoring a broader issue of healthcare inequality in treating obesity, a condition classified as a complex disease. Some States Say They Can’t Afford Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Drugs - The New York Times (gift article).

Time for a Pill

MIT researchers have discovered that the effectiveness of medications depends significantly on the time of day they are taken due to circadian variations in liver function. Using engineered mini-livers, the study identified over 300 liver genes with circadian patterns, affecting drug metabolism and inflammation. These findings suggest that drug regimens could be optimized to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity. For instance, Tylenol’s breakdown is more efficient at specific times, and the liver’s susceptibility to infections like malaria varies with the circadian cycle. This research opens new avenues for tailoring drug administration schedules. Drugs are more effective at certain times of day | MIT Technology Review.

The Fish Oil Debate

The article explores the ongoing debate about the efficacy of fish oil supplements for heart health. Despite early enthusiasm sparked by Inuit dietary studies, recent research reveals mixed results. Some studies suggest omega-3s reduce coronary events, but many trials show no significant cardiovascular benefits. Additionally, fish oil supplements may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. Experts recommend obtaining omega-3s from dietary fish rather than supplements, emphasizing a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle for heart health. The article underscores the importance of relying on well-rounded dietary practices rather than supplements for optimal cardiovascular well-being. Is Fish Oil Helpful or Harmful for the Heart? - The New York Times (gift article).

Reclaim Your Work-Life Balance

In an era of remote work and constant connectivity, achieving work-life balance has become increasingly challenging. The article outlines five tech-based strategies to prevent work from encroaching on personal time. These include setting and communicating boundaries, scheduling messages during work hours, minimizing notifications, filling calendars with buffer times, and establishing emergency contact plans. By leveraging the same technology that blurs the line between work and personal life, individuals can regain control and ensure their jobs stay within the confines of a typical workday. How to get back your work-life balance with tech - The Washington Post (gift article).

AI: The Write Stuff

A recent study reveals that over 10% of scientific papers are co-authored by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, with fields like computer science showing even higher usage. Researchers from the University of Tübingen and Northwestern University utilized an excess-vocabulary method to identify unusual word frequencies in scientific abstracts. This method bypasses traditional detection algorithms, revealing the widespread integration of AI in academic writing. While LLMs enhance drafting efficiency, especially for non-native English speakers, their use raises concerns about biases, hallucinations, and the potential flood of low-quality publications. Academic policies on LLM usage remain inconsistent and evolving. At least 10% of research may already be co-authored by AI.

044 - Biophilic Design, Hallucinations, and Erasing Memories - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

Strobe Lights Induce Visual Hallucinations

Wired U.K. featured a story about Dreamachine, where people experience hallucinatory effects through stroboscopic lights and music. The project aims to explore the impact of stroboscopic lights on the brain and investigate the neural basis of visual experience. Participants, even with closed eyes, reported vivid and kaleidoscopic visual experiences. The Dreamachine's potential applications extend to mental health therapy due to the reported common emotion of peace experienced by participants. This Machine Makes You Hallucinate | WIRED

Erasing Psychedelic Trips for the Good of Science

To address criticisms of psychedelic research, scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances conducted a pilot study involving eight individuals, exploring the possibility of combining psychedelics with memory erasure. The study addresses the challenge of studying psychedelics in traditional randomized clinical trials due to the subjective nature of the experiences and the role of expectations. By exploring innovative study designs, scientists strive to better understand psychedelics' effects and potential therapeutic applications. Scientists Gave People Psychedelics—and Then Erased Their Memory

The Whimsy of Honoring Body Donors

Medical students and faculty members across the United States are organizing gratitude ceremonies to honor body donors who have contributed to medical research and education. These ceremonies involve music performances, speeches, and artistic expressions, allowing students to express appreciation for the donors who have served as their "first patients." The ceremonies aim to re-humanize the donors, recognizing their selfless acts and the sacrifice made by their families. The events provide closure and foster a sense of gratitude while imparting essential lessons in ethics and professionalism. Honoring the Body Donors Who Are a Medical Student's 'First Patient' (gift article)

Conversational Receptiveness: Mastering the Art of Disagreement

To have better disagreements, change your words – here are four ways to make your counterpart feel heard and keep the conversation going discusses the importance of changing our words and behaviors during disagreements to foster productive conversations. Instead of solely focusing on persuading others, the research suggests adopting a communication style called "conversational receptiveness." This style involves four key elements: hedging claims, emphasizing agreement, acknowledging the opposing perspective, and reframing to the positive. By employing these techniques, conversations become less confrontational and more constructive, allowing both parties to feel heard and maintaining relationships.

Rousing Revelations: Some Mental Illness May Have Autoimmune Origin

WaPo published a story about a groundbreaking case involving April Burrell, a catatonic woman diagnosed with schizophrenia. Researchers discovered that lupus, an autoimmune disease, attacked April's brain, leading to severe symptoms. After targeted treatments, including immunotherapy, April regained consciousness after being trapped in her mind for over two decades. This discovery has the potential to revolutionize the care for psychiatric patients worldwide and reshape the way mental illnesses are diagnosed and treated, bringing hope to "forgotten souls" who were deemed untreatable. How autoimmune disease can attack the brain, cause psychiatric symptoms - The Washington Post (gift article)

Function Over Flaws

A revolutionary new health metric called human functioning could alter the treatment of chronic illnesses. Traditionally, health has been measured based on morbidity and mortality rates, focusing solely on disease and death. However, the proposed metric considers a person's illness and available resources to gauge their condition's impact on daily life activities. This approach aims to shift the healthcare system toward a patient-centered approach, promoting well-being and enabling individuals to live their best lives. This New Metric For Health Could Revolutionize How We Treat Chronic Illnesses

Byte-Size Nutrition

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) nutritionist apps are revolutionizing healthy eating by offering personalized diet solutions. These apps use A.I. algorithms to analyze data on an individual's blood sugar, microbiome, and other metabolic measurements. By understanding how different foods affect each person's body, these apps can suggest healthier meal options. While personalized nutrition is still evolving, A.I. programs hold the potential for addressing obesity, heart disease, and other health concerns. Here Come the Artificial Intelligence Nutritionists

+A reminder, buyer-beware when it comes to A.I. advice (although the chatbot mentioned in this article is different than ChatGPT): An Eating Disorder Chatbot Is Suspended for Giving Harmful Advice^4a50c0

Music and Health: The Evidence

The NCCIH has a web page focused on Music and Health: What You Need To Know.

Nature at Home: A Prescription for Well-being

WaPo had an article about the science-backed concept of "biophilic design" that promotes connecting with nature indoors. 7 ways to bring nature into your home, according to science. (gift article)

Green Brain: Brain Aging Delayed with Mediterranean Diet

A recent study reveals that a Mediterranean diet can slow brain aging. The research indicates that a mere 1% reduction in body weight resulted in brains appearing almost nine months younger. Greener Diet, Younger Brain: Mediterranean Diet Slows Brain Aging.

Ultra-processed Food and Sleep Quality

"No study had previously investigated what happens if we consume an unhealthy diet and then compare it to the quality of sleep after that person follows a healthy diet." In this small preliminary study, an unhealthy diet impacted each individual's sleep quality. Junk Food vs. Sleep: New Study Reveals Impact of Diet on Sleep Quality.

042 - Quantum Biology, Wearables, and Birdsong - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

Quantum Biology

This scientist believes nature has harnessed "quantumness" and that our current beliefs about biology are sorely incomplete: Quantum physics proposes a new way to study biology – and the results could revolutionize our understanding of how life works.

Pushing Our Kids to Achieve

Do we do our kids a disservice by pushing them to achieve? This author thinks so: Opinion | What We Lose When We Push Our Kids to 'Achieve' - The New York Times (gift article)

The Newest College Admission Scam: Publish a "Scholarly" Paper

An emerging industry of research services is helping high school students produce and publish research papers to boost their college applications. Online programs, such as Scholar Launch, charge thousands of dollars to connect students with mentors who guide them in writing articles, which are then published in journals of questionable quality. The Newest Way to Buy an Advantage in College Admissions.

Resisting Alzheimer's

Patients whose health doesn't conform to expectations can offer new insight into a possible disease treatment. Such is the case with a man who, based on his D.N.A., "should of" developed Alzheimer's in his 40s but showed resilience to the disease. Mutation Protected Man From Alzheimer's Disease, Hinting at Treatment. (gift article)

WHO Says "No" to Non-Nutritive Sweeteners

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has cautioned against using artificial sweeteners for weight control and reducing the risk of noncommunicable diseases. The W.H.O. stated that these alternatives to sugar do not effectively reduce body fat in adults or children and could potentially increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. This recommendation contradicts previous studies that suggested no harm from sweeteners. Based on a comprehensive review, the W.H.O.'s advice emphasizes the importance of reducing overall sugar intake and relying on naturally occurring sugars found in fruits and unsweetened foods and beverages. World Health Organization Warns Against Using Artificial Sweeteners (gift article)

Therapy Unpacked

Therapy once stigmatized as a luxury for the neurotic, has gained acceptance and popularity over the years. This article explores the effectiveness of talk therapy in improving mental health. While studies suggest that therapy indeed works and yields positive results, there are ongoing debates and challenges in the field. Researchers are trying to determine the best types of therapy for different individuals and understand the impact of the therapist-patient relationship. Some argue for a shift toward more innovative strategies, while others believe therapy's potential hasn't been fully unlocked. Ultimately, the therapist's skills and the bond formed with the patient are crucial to therapy's success. Does Therapy Work? Let’s Unpack That. (gift article)

New Manuscript Defines Frequency of Chronic Pain

"New cases of chronic pain occur more often among U.S. adults than new cases of several other common conditions, including diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure." A new analysis points to the high disease burden of chronic pain in the U.S. U.S. National Survey Data Show High Rates of New Cases and Persistence of Chronic Pain.

The Slumbering Successes of Innovation in Nature and Culture

In his book "Sleeping Beauties: The Mystery of Dormant Innovations in Nature and Culture,", biologist Andreas Wagner discusses how many brilliant ideas and innovations fail immediately but instead emerge and persist in the shadows until the right time arrives for them to step into the limelight. Wagner argues that the success of an innovative product, whether it's a new form of life or a work of art, depends not only on its inner qualities but also on the right environment and timing. He emphasizes the importance of understanding delayed success and empathizing with oneself in the creative process. Why Many Brilliant Ideas Don't Succeed Immediately.

Patients Hack Wearables to Monitor Chronic Illness

"What we have right now is a health and wellness industry that provides data-driven insights and data-driven advice, so long as their physiology is typical." How Chronic Illness Patients Are 'Hacking' Their Wearables describes how patients are using consumer electronics, such as the Oura Ring, Fitbit, and Apple Watch to monitor less common chronic illnesses.

Burned-Out on Burnout

How to address physician burnout. discusses the issue of physician burnout and challenges the prevailing approach to addressing it by embracing the humanities. I think the article misses the point or at least gives only a partial solution. Rather than implying burnout is a personal failing, it should be considered a healthcare system failure. One of my favorite papers on this subject was written by Tait Shanafelt before the pandemic: Executive Leadership and Physician Well-being: Nine Organizational Strategies to Promote Engagement and Reduce Burnout.

Birdsong and Mental Health

Research has consistently demonstrated that more contact and interaction with nature improves physical and mental well-being. Scientists are examining whether birdsong contributes to nature's positive effects: Why birds and their songs are good for our mental health. (gift article)

Banning Food Dyes

"They have no known nutritional benefits and potentially carry several health risks." The Atlantic had a story on efforts around the world to ban artificial food coloring: The True Danger of Food Dye.

030 - Hard Dew, Endocannabinoids, and Thinking Like a Monk - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

ChatGPT Writes Obituaries Too

This author experimented with ChatGPT, having it write her eulogy: I Had An AI Chatbot Write My Eulogy. It Was Very Weird Although I found the concept of the article interesting, the author lost me with the last paragraph, "Regardless of how advanced these tools become, one thing should now be obvious: their well-documented biases and flawed decision-making abilities mean they should never be used to do anything of consequence." Totally disagree!

ChatGPT and Science

Are you using generative AI to generate research ideas and scholarly publications? It's already possible: "...a chatbot was deemed capable of generating quality academic research ideas." Why ChatGPT Could Usher in a New Era of Scientific Discovery

Tim Urban Writes a Book

I'm rarely excited by an upcoming book. But Tim Urban, the creative force behind Wait But Why (one of my favorite websites), is publishing a book this week (Amazon | Apple). In his latest blog post, A Short History of My Last Six Years — Wait But Why, he explains the six-year journey examining our society. "This book is my best crack at explaining what I think is an existential risk to liberal societies and what I think we need to do to get to that awesome future I used to be so excited about."

ME/CFS and the Microbiome

I've written about how Long Covid has ignited interest in a long-time ignored and misunderstood medical condition, ME/CFS. The NIH Director's blog mentioned recent clues to the disease in the microbiome: "... suggesting that imbalances in certain bacterial species inhabiting the gut could be used as measurable biomarkers to aid in the accurate and timely diagnosis of ME/CFS. It also points to a possible therapeutic target to explore."_ More Clues into ME/CFS Discovered in Gut Microbiome – NIH Director's Blog

Vibrating Pills for Constipation

Here is a new, FDA-approved medical device for the drug-free treatment of constipation: Vibrating Pill for Constipation Now Available This adds a whole new meaning to moving your bowels.....

You are not Your Attachment Style

I love the book Attached.. Here is an interesting article that offers an overview of Attachment Theory and some of the more common misperceptions: You Can Change Your Attachment Style

Friendship

The Atlantic curated a series of articles on enduring friendship: Why We Lose Our Friends as We Age - The Atlantic (subscription required)

Relationships and Serious Disease

Being diagnosed with a severe illness is challenging enough. But medical issues also can have a devastating effect on relationships/marriages: Why Men Leave Sick Wives - Facing Illness Alone

Optimism and Pessimism

"_Optimism and pessimism, it turns out, are all about the stories we tell ourselves after both our successes and our failures._" Are You (Still) an Optimist? These Questions Might Help Explain Why (gift article)

Six Steps to Improve Your Mood for Good

An academic happiness researcher advises on improving your life: The Key to Happiness: 6 Strategies To Boost Your Mood for Good

Asthma Drug Recovers "Lost" Memories (Pre-Clinical)

A side effect of sleep deprivation is amnesia, but whether memory loss is a storage or retrieval problem has been unclear. These scientists are zeroing in on the answer: "This study shows that neurons in the hippocampus retain the memories, albeit in an inaccessible state, but that they can be rescued artificially." Asthma drug brings back "lost" memories

Ultra-processed Foods and Obesity

Wired had a great overview of the impact of ultra-processed foods on body weight. "The results of the study surprised Hall. On the ultra-processed diet, people ate around 500 extra calories daily and weighed about two pounds more pounds." Fat, Sugar, Salt ... You’ve Been Thinking About Food All Wrong

Endocannabinoids and Health

Just like opiates, your body produces endogenous compounds that bind to the same receptors as compounds in marijuana. Research on endocannabinoids lags far behind opiates, but research has shown "An imbalance in the production of endocannabinoids, or in the body's responsiveness to them, can lead to major clinical disorders, including obesity as well as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases." People produce endocannabinoids – similar to compounds found in marijuana – that are critical to many bodily functions is a nice overview. For more on endocannabinoids, see: Why does running give you a high? A look at the science and Cannabinoids - HealthHippieMD

The Brain and the Immune Response

Nature had an excellent overview of efforts to unravel further how the brain affects immune function: Your brain could be controlling how sick you get — and how you recover (subscription required)

The Dark Side of Ketamine Telemedicine

Covid influenced many changes in medicine. One of those changes was a loosening of regulations surrounding the remote prescription of controlled substances. A Fraught New Frontier in Telehealth: Ketamine (gift article) talks about the dark side of the remote prescription trend.

The Book of Blue Zones

The Economist had an interesting article on Blue Zones, an area of the world with a disproportionate share of centenarians: Christian Californians may have a solution to America's obesity | The Economist (subscription required)

Hard Dew

I had no idea about the roots of Mountain Dew. I had no idea Mountain Dew was a nickname for moonshine. Why PepsiCo's and Coca-Cola's Alcohol Drinks Worry Health Experts (gift article) discusses the worrisome trend of "hardening" traditional soft drinks. Next up, marijuana tinged soft-drinks.....

Think Like A Monk

In addition to Tim Urban's book, I've started reading Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. I'm about three chapters in and enjoying the material. Highly recommended! (Thanks, Sandy!)

020 - Biohacking, Pheromones, Comfort Food, and Obesity - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

Long Covid and ME/CFS

More on how the phenomenon of Long Covid is shedding light on a disease that, until now, has lived in the shadows: myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS, for short. How long COVID reignites attention for chronic fatigue syndrome

What Causes Obesity? Scientists Still Don't Agree

The NY Times had an opinion piece on a recent attempt to develop a consensus statement on the cause of obesity which affects more than 40 percent of U.S. adults and costs the health system about $173 billion yearly. Scientists could not agree: Scientists Don't Agree on What Causes Obesity, but They Know What Doesn't.

Obesity Drugs

The estimated cost of obesity in the U.S. is over $170 billion. A new class of drugs, glucagon-like peptide-1s receptor agonists (GLP-1s), initially approved for diabetes, are increasingly prescribed off-label for weight loss. The drugs are effective in stimulating weight loss (some as much as 20%), now approaching the efficacy of bariatric surgery (the current gold standard). Earlier this year, the FDA approved Wegovy as a treatment for obesity. Despite the potential of these drugs to positively impact the obesity epidemic, they are considered non-essential "lifestyle drugs" and are priced financially out of reach to the general public. Most insurance companies will currently not cover GLP-1s for obesity, meaning out-of-pocket costs, even with insurance, of $1200-$1500 / month-another indicator of the misaligned incentives of much of our medical and pharmaceutical systems, prioritizing profit over the health of individuals. What Is Ozempic and Why Is It Getting So Much Attention?

+If you are taking one of the GLP-1 medications; all is not a bed of roses: 'I miss eating': the truth behind the weight loss drug that makes food repulsive.

Are Near-Death Experiences Real?

Big Think has an article on a scientist who studied more than 1000 near-death experiences. As with so many things, the more we know, the less we understand. Are near-death experiences real?

Telomeres and Cancer

I've seen lots of stories on telomeres lately. Here is one about how telomeres and telomerase influence different types of cancer. How cancer tumor cells can become immortal.

Navigating the Financial World After Death

The article, After someone dies: death certificates, bureaucracy, and grief (gift article) is a written experience of a woman who had the additional stress of financial and institutional red tape after her husband's death. Death is a depressing topic, but the article offers valuable advice on managing your important information now to minimize future stress on your loved ones.

Holidays for the Immunocompromised

Although the world is slowly returning to its pre-pandemic behavior for most individuals, there is a subset of the population, the immunocompromised, for whom very little has changed. How Immunocompromised Experts Will Celebrate Another Pandemic Holiday discusses the many challenges of navigating the holidays with an abnormal immune system.

How To Choose a Healthy Cooking Oil

The Washington Post's article offered an excellent overview of the many oils available in the supermarket. How to choose a healthy cooking oil.) (gift article). If you'd like to compare different brands of olive oil, head over to one of my favorite resources, ConsumerLab: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review & Top Picks. (requires a membership). ConsumerLab is a fantastic resource for sleuthing out dietary items and supplements: ConsumerLab: Independent Testing of Supplements and Botanicals.

Embracing Pheromones on the Farm

Wired had a piece on the effort to develop pheromones to combat infestations and limit the number of pesticides used in farming. To Ditch Pesticides, Scientists Are Hacking Insects' Sex Signals.

Love or Hate Brussel Sprouts? The Reason Might be Your Genes

Inverse had an interesting article on the genetic influence on taste and enjoyment of food: There might be a biological reason you hate Brussels sprouts.

Chronic Illness and the Holidays

Although some people say being diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness was good for them, others struggle with negative emotions, especially around the holidays: What if You Can't Find the Silver Lining in Your Illness?

Does Playing Pickleball Count as Vigorous Exercise?

Many of my friends are dropping other sports, such as tennis and racquetball, and instead playing pickleball. Is pickleball a good exercise? Yes, and no has some good information on this rapidly growing sport.

Advanced Glycation End Products and Cognitive Decline

Michael Greger had a good video on Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) and Cognitive Decline. I was surprised by order of food in a table he referred to listing foods highest in AGEs.

Biohacking and Health-Span

An interesting article in The Guardian, Who wants to live to 100 on a diet of lentil and broccoli slurry? Mostly rich men. "The goal shouldn't be to extend life endlessly but to create joy and purpose at every stage of it... What we need is to make life worth living." Different from the author, I'm in the camp of extending my health span AND creating joy and purpose at every stage. This article reminded me not to be draconian about my health regimen. Eighty percent adherence to healthy behaviors should significantly impact my health without sucking the joy out of life.

The Science of Comfort Food

Food takes a centerpiece in many of this season's holiday celebrations. The Science of Comfort Food (gift article) examines why certain foods give us so much pleasure.