Issue #265: How Our Health Changes How We See the World
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, November 14th.
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: Our Bodies Affect Our Minds
Speed Read: New Research on Sleep Duration
Tuesday QR: Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
The percentage of how much we see that is reality. Our brains process an image that it sees after only 13 milliseconds. Are your eyes open during the day? That’s too much to process, and why 90% of what we “think” we see is our brain forming a coherent series of images for us to make sense of the world. (Source)
From the Lab
There’s no “one” reality - we all live in our own perception of reality, literally.
Our eyes take in endless amounts of data. It would be literally impossible to make sense of every single snapshot of what hits our retina.
Instead, our brain takes in pieces of this information and creates a coherent story for what we think we’re seeing. In any given moment it’s actually the average of what we saw in the past 15 seconds.
It’s like when CBS creates a 5 second delay to make sure we don’t hear or see anything inappropriate during the Super Bowl halftime show.
In other words - our brains take us back in time to what we think we saw.*
But what we think we see isn’t just based on our eyes…
“What we perceive in any given moment is not only determined by sensory input, but by our personal physical abilities, energy levels, feelings, social identities, and more.”
That really stuck with me - our physical ability and energy affects how we view the world around us.
How does that play out?
If two people see a steep hill (I live in Florida so I have to go back and remember what it was like living by the Golden Gate Bridge in SF), their guess at how steep the hill is will change based on whether or not they are in good shape.
A person who can’t really imagine climbing the hill will see it as being significantly steeper than it really is, while someone ready to start going up will see it as being flatter.
“Our walking ability shapes the apparent walkability of the hill, which determines how we see it. You do not see the hill as it is but rather as it is seen by you.” (Perception - How Our Bodies Shape Our Minds)
One hill, two realities.
The same is true for distances - those of us in worse physical health see things as being farther away.
So this means when we don’t optimize our health, when we don’t focus on our daily energy, the world becomes a much more intimidating place.
On the other hand, our physical abilities are at their peak, then we feel like the world is easier. When Steph Curry is on a hot streak, the basket actually looks bigger to him. When Rory McIlroy has his putter going, the hole really does look bigger than a 4.25 inch cup.
Take care of your health - it will literally change how you see the world.
*Craziest concept of a time machine - the new Webb telescope is so powerful that it can see galaxies 250 million light years away. That means we’re actually seeing something 250 million years in the past. That galaxy might not even exist anymore. Check out these crazy photos HERE.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
Speaking of perception - staring at a computer doesn’t help. Remember to take breaks and control your reality - it’s the counterintuitive way to increase productivity.
Check out breathing.ai. It's a free browser extension that reminds you to take breaks, personalizes the color of your screen, and offers relaxing music to help you stay focused.
Get a gentle guide to breathe better, a quick reminder to drink more water, or simply improve your posture. Your body and mind will thank you for it. Download the free browser extension now and give it a try.
Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Consistency Over Length: A new study finds that how much you sleep is not as impactful on lifespan as a consistent schedule. Of course, 7-9 hours + consistency is best. We’ll argue the type of sleep is extremely important too (Issue #99) - the ability to get enough full sleep cycles and reach deep sleep to repair your brain. (WSJ)
Why a High-Protein Breakfast?: When breaking that fast, either at 7a or 12p, do it with protein. It avoids cereals that are high in carbs and sugar, helping to stabilize your blood sugar and energy. Going with protein first helps maintain muscle, it lowers your blood pressure, and helps regulate your appetite all day long. (Outside)
Exercise Makes it Easier to Exercise: A new study on mice reveals how muscle inflammation from exercise prompts the activation of T regulatory cells (Tregs), related to the immune system, which combat overall inflammation and enhance the muscle’s ability to utilize energy. This improves overall function - so exercise to improve your immunity, and to improve your ability to exercise. (Technology.Networks)
Tuesday QR | Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Check out this low-carb alternative to chicken wings - Buffalo Cauliflower Bites. These oven-baked delights bring a spicy kick and a health boost from cauliflower, garlic, and onion powder, offering a guilt-free, mouthwatering snack. Simple to prepare, these bites are a game-changer!
Pro Tip: check out this great article from Eat This on the best and worst hot sauces - go with Melinda’s or good ‘ole Tabasco.
The Kitchn
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We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
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To health!
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.