035 - Dumb Questions, Gallows Humor, and Synesthesia - HealthHippieMD Week In Review
In Pursuit of the Perfect Shot of Espresso
Understanding Espresso: A Six-Part Series Explaining What It Takes to Pull the Ideal Shot includes videos on "how to choose the right dose of coffee, ratio between the amount of ground and liquid coffee, brew time, grind size, brew temperature, and pressure."
The Wisdom of Dumb Questions
"Can you explain this to me like I barely know anything about this subject?" Asking "dumb" questions is an effective way to bring out the knowledge of experts: Stop Trying to Ask 'Smart Questions'
Exercise May Counteract the Negative Effects of Too Little Sleep
"a new study suggests that exercise could potentially help counteract the health consequences of not getting a proper amount of sleep." Exercise May Help Counteract the Toll of Poor Sleep, Study Suggests(gift article)
The Science of Habits
Are you trying to develop a good habit or break a bad one? Here are some science-backed tips to help: The science of habits. See also Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones.
Bad Actors of Health Insurance
Here's an article from ProPublica on how commercial health insurers automatically deny claims and how Cigna developed an incentive system that encourages the behavior. How Cigna Saves Millions by Having Its Doctors Reject Claims Without Reading Them
The Strange Benefits of Gallows Humor
"The most surprising result is that subjects which show the highest values with respect to black humor preference … show the lowest values regarding mood disturbance and aggression." Gallows humor: The surprising benefits of dark laughter
Cockroaches Diminishing Sweet-Tooth
Here is an interesting article about the cat-and-mouse game of cockroaches and human endeavors to eliminate them: Cockroaches have outsmarted us again
Aging and Microgravity
Microgravitational environments have all sorts of effects on the body. These scientists are trying to unravel the impact of space travel on aging: New Study Suggests One Aspect of Space Travel Can Accelerate Aging
Science-Backed Approaches to Depression
The incidence of depression increased during the pandemic. Here are some science-backed tips for combatting the blues: These Science-Backed Strategies Can Help "Hard to Treat" Depression
Measuring Fitness Minimizing Attention to Weight
Here are some factors to focus on instead of the scale: How Fit Are You? 3 Ways to Measure Without Focusing on Weight - The New York Times
Multiple Sclerosis: What the Science says about Complementary Approaches
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health published a great resource : Multiple Sclerosis and Complementary Health Approaches: What the Science Says
Friendship Recession
Americans without friends have increased by 250% in recent years. Lacking friends is as bad as smoking more than a dozen cigarettes daily. BigThink tackles the phenomenon: The friendship recession - Big Think
A Doctor's Experience with Ozempic
I read an interesting article by a physician who hopped on the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist train--the weight loss drug taking the world by storm: What's It Like to Take Ozempic? A Doctor's Own Story
American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8
The AMA published a study looking at eight lifestyle factors and their association with life expectancy and chronic disease: Life's Essential 8: Higher Scores Extend Health Span
Ultra-processed Food and Cancer Risk
"A new analysis suggests that replacing even a small amount of ultra-processed foods with an equal amount of minimally processed options may reduce certain cancer risks." Ultraprocessed Foods and Cancer: Small Changes May Lower Risk
The Power of Walking
The NY Times had an ode to walking: Opinion | Whatever the Problem, It's Probably Solved by Walking (gift article)
How to Tell If Your Brain Needs a Break
We all suffer from brain slumps that impact our ability to do quality work. This is what to do when you're in one: How a Brain Break Can Increase Focus and Productivity
Synesthesia
What do Billy Joel, Billie Eilish, and Vincent van Gogh have in common?-They all experience(d) music in colors. Big Think explores the phenomenon of synesthesia: Billie Eilish, van Gogh, and the trippy science of synesthesia