Issue #89: Going Gray
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 20th. On this day 3 years ago, the U.S. Air Force Space Command was redesignated "Space Force" to be elevated to the 6th branch of the U.S. military.
“There’s many a man has more hair than wit.”
From the Lab: Why Hair Goes Gray
Take Action: The Natural Remedies
Speed Read: What is Fear Really?
Tuesday QR: Delicious & Healthy Black Bean Brownies
Bucket List: Aurora Borealis Hunting in Norway
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The average number of hair follicles on the human head. Hair grows at a rate of 0.35mm/day or 6in/year, and we shed around 100 hairs daily. (NIH)
From the Lab
One of my pet peeves was how early I had gray hair on the sides of my head. What's the deal with gray hair in your 30's?
Hair color is determined by melanin.
Gray hair comes from a loss of melanin, which happens when we lose stem cells that wear out over time. Our genes, specifically the IRF4 gene correlate with going gray.
But there is also research showing free radicals - damaging chemicals from stress, smoking, and radiation exposure - destroy melanocyte stem cells (the one's that produce melanin).
Scientists are working on gene manipulation to reverse gray hair. Until the future arrives, here’s the best we can do to give ourselves a fighting chance.
Take Action
Get sufficient Vitamin D3 & B12 (always test your blood levels first - see Issue #20)
Avoid Stress - there is some research to suggest there is a strong correlation here
Tied to the above - stick with a daily meditation (Issue #67)
Don’t Smoke (hope this is obvious for many reasons)
Avoid Toxins & Molds
BONUS: If you're committed to getting rid of the gray - use henna hair dye, not the traditional color dyes that are loaded with awful chemicals.
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
The Fear-Brain Pathway: Serotonin (specifically the 2C receptor) plays a role in a wide variety of neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety and PTSD. Scientists completed a study on mice with one cohort having their receptor removed and the other intact. They found the mice without the receptor exhibited less fear. (Big Think)
Messi-Ronaldo: Like Federer and Nadal, these titans are forever linked. In one stretch, Fed or Rafa won 23 of 26 grand slams. Starting in 2008, Messi (7) or Ronaldo (5) won the Ballon d’Or (essentially the world MVP trophy) 12 of 13 years (trivia answer = Luka Modric, 2018). Who's better? For now, just enjoy Andrés Cantor's winning call.
There’s Something About Mary: 7-min abs - not 5 or 6, but 7! Little did 1998 know, it takes just 3 min. What? A new study revealed that chasing a toddler, vacuuming with purpose, etc. for 3 min lowers your chance of premature death by 40%. Question: what does it say about our relationship with time that we thought up this study? (Washington Post)
Tuesday QR (Quick Recipe)
Lots of holiday parties happening. Want a delicious dessert that no one will be able to tell is actually healthy? Try these black bean brownies (I swear you'll have no idea there are beans in there).
Pro Tip: Coffee is optional - don't add more caffeine if this is an after-dinner dessert!
Bucket List
Aurora Borealis Hunting in Norway
What’s up with Scandinavia*? Why is everybody so happy? I want to find out. Let’s try Norway first…
We mentioned it last week, but the Aurora Borealis is one of those natural wonders that must be experienced in person. Lofoten is a remote archipelago off Norway’s northwest coast - how about a show from a hot tub in a fishing village with jagged mountain peaks and fjords as your backdrop.
Check out visitnorway.com!
*Little did I know that Scandinavia could be Denmark, Norway and Sweden...maybe add in Finland, and possibly Iceland. Even if we use the broadest definition, all 5 are still in the top 10 happiest countries.
Source: NYTimes
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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.