Issue #304: More Touch and Sex
Good morning. It’s Thursday, February 15th.
Stat of the Day
Increased likelihood that an individual would be alive 15 years after coronary bypass surgery if they were highly satisfied with their marriage. (source)
Learn
Our First Language
Touch - it’s one of our five senses. But it’s not just how we experience the world - it’s one of the primary ways we feel what we feel.
Humans used touch before language to communicate and it’s the first sensation experienced by babies before they’re born.
“It’s the earliest and our most fundamental language of social connection.”
It’s also thought that having fur - mammals were the first animals with fur - increased our sensitivity to touch and this is connected with our larger brains.
There was a study done back in the 1950’s where baby monkeys could either cuddle with a wire cylinder that gave them milk or a warm, blanket-covered cylinder without milk.
Both were supposed to act as stand-ins for their mother. Despite needing the milk, the babies all selected the soft cylinder, feeling the need for touch.*
Just imagine how you feel after a hug when something shitty happens.
We immediately feel a greater sense of calm. What’s happening inside is that our cortisol goes down because we no longer feel a direct threat, our oxytocin goes up, and our parasympathetic nervous system gets activated - removing us from fight or flight mode.
What About Sex?
Having a healthy sex life is one of the keys to a healthy life.
Need some added incentive for a little foreplay - sex not only decreases stress and improves happiness, it lowers our blood pressure (top cardiovascular risk) and it boosts our immune system.
A study found that people who have sex 1-2x per week had higher levels of immunoglobulin A (lgA) - an antibody that fights off microbial infections.
But look you can find lots of studies that connect health with more sex. There’s even a study that suggests people that have sex 3x per week or more look 7-12 years younger than their age.
But these are all observational studies. That is these studies aren’t tracking twins with the same genetic code, who look the same, earn the same amount of money, hold the same level of confidence and same lifestyle except for the frequency of sex.
So it’s correlation, not causation - having more sex won’t magically make you look 12 years younger (I don’t think, hmmm 🤷🏻♂️).
But there’s no arguing that sex does correlate with massive health benefits and just a happier life. The point is - if you’re making an effort to have awesome sex, then you’re also more likely to live a more vibrant life and experience all life has to offer.
Unfortunately even with the best intentions, kids and lifestyle can erode the frequency of sex with our partner. But at least try to stop staying up late watching Greselda on Netflix. Instead - make dinner for your parter, have a real conversation, find the connection that brought you together, and go “to bed” early.
* Thankfully, despite the benefits that tell parents you can’t “over cuddle your kids” and disproving the theory of “overindulgence,” experiments like this on monkeys aren’t common anymore.
Try
More Touch & Sex
Sex at least 1x per week.
If this isn’t happening - make sure you put it on the calendar. No, not just to have sex - just get the date night (which can be a night in) so that you get in quality time, which might lead to more quality time.
BONUS: Touch doesn’t have to be sex - don’t let the day slip away without holding your partner’s hand, hugging them, and kissing them good morning and goodnight.
“I regret often holding my partner’s hand and giving them too many hugs.”
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
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Eat
Dark Chocolate
Did someone special get chocolate yesterday?
It’s no Halloween, but Valentine’s Day is the next most popular time to buy chocolate. There are several kinds - but the main types are white, milk and dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is actually much different from milk chocolate - it’s got at least 50% cocoa content (chocolate from cocoa beans) and often much less added sugar.
Umm…white chocolate doesn’t even have cocoa - it gets its name from the cocoa butter extracted from cocoa liquor. I wouldn’t, but your call.
The More Cocoa the Better
Most of us, unlike Max (and his mom), enjoy chocolate.
When looking for that go-to sweet - go with dark. The more cocoa, the more health benefits - cocoa is high in antioxidants, particularly flavonoids. In cocoa, these polyphenols have anti-cancer effects and improve vascular health. Look, it’s not a superfood, but it is good for you and it includes minerals like iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and others.
How to Eat
Serving size: 1-2 oz, roughly the size of a small square or two from a chocolate bar (ahem - not the whole bar)
When to eat: the best time to eat dark chocolate is early afternoon - later in the day and the caffeine can affect your sleep
Pairing: have your dark chocolate with fruits like strawberries or oranges to enhance iron absorption and increase flavonoids, or with nuts to add healthy fats that increase satiety and nutritional intake
What to Look For
70%+ cocoa
Sugar under 10g per serving
No added flavor, preservatives or unnecessary ingredients
Here’s a list of some brands worth checking out - I’ve gotten Alter Eco, Beyond Good, Endangered Species, Theo
What to Look OUT For
Heavy metal problem: 23/28 chocolate bars analyzed by Consumer Reports included cadmium and/or lead above California’s maximum allowable dose level (MADL) - not good!
BONUS: It’s not necessarily as nutritious - but the brand Tony’s is worth checking out because it exists in an attempt to eliminate child labor on cocoa farms. Here’s the segment from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Cook
Chicken Mole Enchiladas
Looking for a recipe with dark chocolate that isn’t a dessert? Try these delicious chicken mole enchiladas. Besides the health benefits of dark chocolate - organic chicken includes essential amino acids, garlic helps with immune function and lowering blood pressure, and the blend of the herbs and spices are full of vitamins and minerals that help your metabolism and fight inflammation. It’s a perfect blend of healthful flavors - these enchiladas are a must-try!
Pro Tip: to save time, use an organic rotisserie chicken for the shredded chicken
In the News
What’s a Bullet Journal?: Evidently a way to simultaneously practice mindfulness and increase productivity. Maybe you missed the craze like me last year - does it work? It aligns with Max’s goal this year, so he’s giving it a go. (Outside)
The Power of Sports Psychology: In competitive sports, the slightest physical or mental edge can make all the difference. A meta-study reviewed 150 papers on sports psychology and determined self-confidence, coping with pressure and a pursuit for perfection helped athletes perform their best in stressful situations. (Knowable)
The Way to a Rats Heart: After a heart attack (myocardial infarction - MI), responders typically restore blood flow to the myocardium, the heart’s muscle, to keep people alive. But this rush of blood causes reperfusion (RI) - injuring up to 50% of the heart. Is there an alternative we can eat instead? (Lifespan.io)
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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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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.