009 - Doritos Dementia, Pain Clocks, and Forest Bathing - HealthHippie Week In Review - September 11, 2022

Random Acts of Kindness

Prosocial behaviors are good for you and the recipient of your generosity. The article, The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness, talks about the phenomenon. I learned that many underestimate how much the receiving party appreciates a small act of kindness.

Compassion

Empathy, the ability to feel someone else's pain and take on their burdens, is a valued trait in society. There is evidence that empathy comes at a cost. Instead, we should strive for compassion. Are You Empathetic? Try Compassion Instead. discusses the differences between empathy and compassion and offers practical advice on how to cultivate compassion in one's life.

Building a Simple Life

The article, 5 rules to build your version of the simple life, offers some helpful advice on how to decrease complexity day-to-day and live a better life. "By dedicating yourself to less, you do those things better. What activities and pursuits you decide to cut should result from a long, honest self-examination of the things that are important and meaningful to you." I've touched on many of the topics covered in the article: Dark Horse: Purpose, Fulfillment, Success (and Ikigai), Time Poverty: a significant threat to wellness, and ZigZag Project - ZigZag Podcast.

Mucus, Slime, and Snot

The article, Slime keeps appearing in nature and scientists are just starting to figure out why, discusses the ubiquity of this biological product of proteins and sugars found everywhere, from our saliva to snail trails.

+More on snot: The Science Behind Why We All Have Snot

Immortal Jellyfish

The article, This Jellyfish Can Live Forever. Its Gene May Tell Us How, was interesting. The report covers the research into why the jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii, is essentially immortal. Although scientists doubt there is generalizability in humans, the study is interesting nonetheless.

Optimizing Forest Bathing

Numerous scientific studies reveal the physiological and psychological benefits of time spent among trees. Japanese doctors go as far as prescribing "forest bathing:" Take a Walk in the Woods. Doctor's Orders There is not yet an understanding of how different kinds of treescape affect us. Scientists Are Unlocking the Secrets of Why Forests Make Us Happy, focuses on some of the issues. The article does not mention the microbiome. The microbiome is involved in mood: Gut Feelings: The Role of the Microbiome in Behavioral Health. I've often wondered if the inhaled and ingested products of the forest (bacteria, fungi, etc.) play some role in the beneficial effects of nature on physiology and psychology. I'm willing to bet they do. Give me a holler if you're interested.....

Measuring Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence positively influences health, relationships, and how well one does personally and professionally. Some research suggests people with emotional intelligence have enhanced resilience to stress. Interestingly, scientists cannot agree on a definition of emotional intelligence. A unified theory of emotional intelligence is important because the theory determines what must be measured. Emotional intelligence might make you more resilient, but there's a catch.

Are we in a Psychedelic Bubble?

The Wired article, Is the Psychedelic Therapy Bubble About to Burst, , offers an alternative view to the current hype surrounding psychedelics. The report is well worth the read.

Synthetic Microbiomes

An article on a Stanford group that successfully developed a stable microbiome when transplanted into bacteria-free mice: Scientists Have Made a Human Microbiome From Scratch. The article summarizes the recent manuscript published in Cell: Design, construction, and in vivo augmentation of a complex gut microbiome. I have yet to read the paper, but the initial thought that grabbed me was questioning how generalizable this tool could be. The assemblage of microorganisms in the gut microbiome has many interdependencies. Thus, if even a single resident ordinarily present in the gut is missing in the model, any conclusions reached could be erroneous. I hope this is used as a research tool, not just a way to cash in on the microbiome gold rush.

Cognitive Biases, Brain Biology, and Stubborn Minds

"People form opinions based on emotions, such as fear, contempt, and anger, rather than relying on facts. New facts often do not change people's minds." Cognitive biases and brain biology help explain why facts don't change minds, is an interesting article that gives some insight into biology and psychology of polarized thinking.

Science-Backed Friend-Making

I've enjoyed a new podcast find, Healthier Together (except for the advertisements). Making friends as an adult is hard. The recent episode, Science-Backed Secrets For Making Friends As An Adult with Dr. Marisa G. Franco, offered many insights and tips. The interview, along with a recent article prompted me to purchase Dr. Franco's book, Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends I'll let you know what I think.

+More on making friends as an adult (listen to this first): The Secret to Making Friends as an Adult.

The Pain Clock

We have known patients experience increased pain at night, which was assumed to be due to sleep deprivation. But a recent small study, Circadian rhythmicity of pain sensitivity in humans, hints that the periodicity may be due to circadian rhythms. The study's findings are summarized in Why Pain Feels Worse at Night. Although the study was small and performed only in men, it offered plenty of food for thought.

Doritos Dementia

Yet another reason to put aside processed food in favor of whole plant-based foods. The article, More Evidence Ultraprocessed Foods Detrimental for the Brain, summarizes a recent study presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. The study showed that a higher intake of highly processed foods was associated with a faster executive and global cognitive function decline. _"Participants who reported consumption of more than 20% of daily calories from ultra-processed foods had a 28% faster rate of global cognitive decline and a 25% faster decrease of the executive function compared to those who reported eating less than 20% of daily calories from ultra-processed foods." _

Quote of the Week

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." — Ruth Bader Ginsburg