Issue #71: Boost Your Oxytocin
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, November 22nd. Remember that Plank Challenge from Friday's workout? (No - well it's in Issue #69). No weights - no problem, just get creative with what you put on your back. 👨👧👦
Ryan's Plank Challenge with 70 lbs
“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.”
From the Lab: Fill Your Plate With Oxytocin
Take Action: Get Silly
Speed Read: Lab Grown Meat
Tuesday QR: Pre-Thanksgiving Salad
Bucket List: Travel the World
The age of Mexican goalkeeper, Alfredo Talavera. The oldest player at the World Cup. Germany's Youssoufa Moukoko just turned 18 and is the youngest. Check out the average age of all the teams HERE.
From the Lab
One reason human connection is so good for our health - it creates a steady stream of oxytocin (Issue #19).
This essential hormone, which declines with age, is good for the entire body. It guards against chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, as well as mental ailments like dementia and depression. (Source)
Fortunately, it’s easy to boost oxytocin when we connect with people around us. Touch is the most obvious way to get oxytocin going, but even eye contact has a positive effect - for both people.
One thing that amazed me - when you get an oxytocin jolt it not only benefits your epigenome (Issue #1), but even the epigenome of the people around you. What? When you and your kid (or someone unrelated) both get oxytocin throughout the day together - you create a shared genetic expression and stronger bond.
So make sure to have some real fun at Thanksgiving this week with everyone you see. Growing up, my family turned it into a game night with the dessert course. At least for a little while before the tryptophan really kicked in and we became lifeless on the couch watching football.
Oh and for you parents out there who will have many days with the kids at home between now and New Years - great news! The steady stream of oxytocin from parenting means we live longer. Try to remember this during the 6am wake ups and mini-tantrums for no apparent reason.
Take Action
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
FDA Approves Lab Grown Meat: No, this isn't about the plant-based Impossible Burger or Beyond Meat. Get ready to see meat created from animal cells cultivated in a lab. All that stands behind this hitting the shelves is a USDA inspection of the facility and final product. So how does it work? Basically cells are taken from animals and then put into a bioreactor to divide and grow to be large enough to harvest meat. (Full Story - Wired)
Don’t Inhale…Anything: A recent study published in Radiology demonstrated higher rates of emphysema and airway inflammation from marijuana smoke compared to tobacco. Two weeks ago, voters in MD and MO passed proposals to legalize recreational marijuana - that brings the total to 21 states + DC (see map). More to come on the cost/benefit of weed, but maybe consider an edible before you inhale. The CMO of the American Lung Association reminds - inhaling any heated substance is bad for you. (WSJ)
All the Single Ladies: (And guys) want deeper connections. Single people had a lot of time to think at the start of the pandemic, and evidently it resulted in different tastes in a partner. People are less interested in looks, and more interested in connection and commitment. Even views on waiting to have sex after a first date were turned on their head…men (40%) and women (33%). (WSJ)
Tuesday QR (Quick Recipe)
Here's a healthy, but filling salad to enjoy for the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Get your protein and nutrients before the big meal. The Brussels Sprouts pack in potassium, Vit C, B6, A and K1, plus a ton of fiber. Check out all the benefits HERE.
Thanks to Gimme Some Oven for the recipe and inspiration!
Bucket List
With all this talk of spending time with family - how about the Bucket List of taking a year and traveling the world?
No better education than seeing everything planet Earth has to offer - villages in Central America, European History, Asian culture, and our own National Parks here in the U.S.
Where would you go if you had a year to travel??
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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 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.