022 - The Science of Swearing, Hobbies of Geniuses, and Cultivating Flow - HealthHippieMD Week In Review
Image generated by DALL-E (picture in the forest incorporating, health, wellness, and technology).
I will be taking a couple of weeks off from curating. The newsletter will return on January 1, 2023. Have a safe and healthy holiday season!
OpenAI
I've been seeing a lot of press lately about the OpenAI project. The OpenAI project will force us to rethink what it means to be creative and will offer a new set of challenges for education, academics, and intellectual property: ChatGPT's Most Charming Trick Is Also Its Biggest Flaw. For more on using ChatGPT in creative writing, see Structuring Creativity: Poetry Generation with ChatGPT. For generative art, see: DALL-E I had to try it out.
+More on ChatGPT and education: Will ChatGPT Kill the Student Essay?
Forever Chemicals and the Kitchen
Following up on an article I mentioned in 018 - Living Medicines, Dangerous Cookware, and Toad Licking, an article in the Guardian, Wooden spoons and glass mugs: how to avoid toxic chemicals in your Kitchen has some valuable advice on how to minimize your exposure to forever chemicals. (thanks, Lauren!)
Whole Grains
The good news: Americans are eating more whole grains than ever before. The bad news? Because of imprecise labeling, no one is sure exactly how much: What Are Whole Grains and How Many Should You Eat? - The New York Times (gift article).
Solitude and Single-Person Dates
Take Yourself on a Date is an article on solitude and how (and why) to enjoy dating yourself. The article mentions a must-read book: The Artist's Way.
The Science of Swear Words
I loved this article looking at the commonalities of cussing across different cultures: Scientists want to know why swear words share this one universal trait
Opinion Piece on Human Composting
Dying is expensive. I had no idea a burial plot in Manhattan (before other funeral expenses) could run up to $1 million. The author of Opinion | Human Composting Should Be an Option for New Yorkers - The New York Times (gift article) thinks New York should be the sixth state to legalize terramation. See also: 014 - Terramation, Farmacies, and Edible Cities and 015 - Deja Vu, Pilates, and Recycling Theater.
The Dark Side of Body Building
The Washington Post had a long, interesting article on how many bodybuilders go to great extremes to compete: Extreme training techniques push bodybuilders to death, or close to it. (gift article)
Stretching for Better Sleep
Stretching and meditative movements (like yoga) before bed can improve the quality of your sleep. The New York Times offered an article with eleven stretches to incorporate into your evening routine: 11 Exercises For Better Sleep - The New York Times (gift article).
Entering Flow States
As part of my research, I spent a lot of time studying positive psychology. One of my favorite concepts is "flow," where one becomes so involved in the task that the world melts away and time is distorted. Here are some ways to increase flow in your life: We all can reach a "flow state." Here's how. If you'd like to learn more about positive psychology, a great place to start is Martin Seligman's Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being.
The Hobbies of Geniuses
I enjoyed reading The hobbies of 5 great geniuses.. I was especially interested in Albert Einstein's love of music. Einstein, a talented musician, carried "Lina," his violin, everywhere he went. He used music to help him think: Inside Einstein's Love Affair With 'Lina'—His Cherished Violin. _"Life without playing music is inconceivable for me," Einstein declared. "I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music … I get the most joy out of music." _
Silent Synapses and Memory Generation as an Adult
A recent paper published in Nature used mice to understand memory generation and recall as we age: How adult brains learn the new without forgetting the old | The Economist
Ultraprocessed Foods and the Aging Brain
A study published in JAMA Neurology, consisting of 10,775 adults, showed that higher intake of UPF was significantly associated with a faster decline in executive and global cognitive function. The article, Ultraprocessed Foods Tied to Faster Rate of Cognitive Decline, discusses the findings and shortcomings of the study.
Gatorade of the Ancients
Here is a strange article about posca, the hydration used by Roman soldiers: My Favorite Beverage Is a 2,000-Year-Old Energy Drink From Ancient Rome If you'd like to taste posca, the article contains a recipe.......
Vitamin D and Cognition
A recent study from Tufts, Brain vitamin D forms, cognitive decline, and neuropathology in community‐dwelling older adults found a correlation between higher levels of vitamin D in their brains and better cognitive function. The article, Brains With More Vitamin D Function Better, discusses the findings.