Hello and welcome to 4-Minute Friday where I share, in four minutes or less, the latest things I’m doing to enhance my health, develop a better mindset, make day-to-day life easier, and other shenanigans.
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A Frustrating Sight:
I flew into Boston late last Wednesday night and was hoping to grab something halfway healthy at my hotel to have ready for breakfast prior to an early wakeup the next morning.
And yes, I did follow my own advice and packed beef jerky for a healthy snack but was afraid my stomach might flip inside out if I took down half a pound of sweet n’ spicy mango habanero beef at 5am… eastern time, to be precise.
I was ecstatic when I walked off the elevator to find a vending machine just across the hall from my room.
Only to have my mood crushed when I set eyes on the options…
I would’ve settled for a processed granola bar at this point but instead was forced to weigh the decision of either having Funyun breath all day or spending $5 on a package of gummy worms.
Kidding aside, I’m a huge believer that people should have agency with their health decisions.
And no, I don’t think Funyuns should be outlawed, nor do I believe gummy worms should have a 50% tax placed on them to prevent people from buying them.
However, it’s also preposterous not to have at least the CHOICE to make a healthy decision for a quick snack option.
Something must change and hopefully with more conversations than ever around prioritizing the health of Americans, it will soon enough.
Thankfully that half pound of morning jerky sat just fine with my intestines.
In More Positive News:
After loads of pushback, the FDA made the decision to ban the use of Red No. 3, a color-enhancing dye, in both food and drug products.
This comes after more than one study demonstrated Red No. 3 led to an increased risk of cancer in male rats when consumed at high doses.
Yes, this was a rat study and some will argue that humans don’t consume near enough of the dye to actually have an effect.
Which may in fact be true.
But are you really willing to sacrifice even a slight increase in your cancer risk just so those Lucky Charm marshmallows look a little more vibrant?
I hope you all just said no.
…… and aren’t eating Lucky Charms on a consistent basis, either.
I’m hopeful this trend continues, and more discussion is initiated regarding what goes into our consumable products and how long-term consumption may impact our health.
In the meantime, keep reading those ingredient labels.
What I’m Revisiting:
This week I stumbled upon an old writing from my undergraduate days which now seems like eons ago.
It was for an assignment in one of my kinesiology courses related to the psychological aspects of exercise. Specifically, it was in response to a Ted Talk by Kelly McGonigal regarding making stress your friend by shifting your perspective.
Here it goes:
Kelly McGonigal made many noteworthy remarks in her Ted Talk titled “How to Make Stress Your Friend”. She proposes that the amount of stress we have is minuscule when compared to the way we, as humans, respond to stressors in our lives. Redirecting stress and seeing it in a positive sense can have a remarkable impact on one’s health as outlined in the studies McGonigal shared. When doing this, not only does a person’s psychological response change, but also their physiological response adapts to this new profound state of mind.
Another interesting theory that McGonigal presents is that stress boosts social interaction by triggering oxytocin release in the brain. This hormone influences an individual to seek help, become more compassionate, and crave physical contact and interaction with the people closest to them. Relating to this idea, McGonigal remarks “Chasing meaning is better for your health than avoiding discomfort.” This resonated with me because it exemplified that a fulfilled life is not one that is always comfortable and free of conflict.
Instead of taking the road of least resistance, I vow to take the one where I might fail, make mistakes, and face intense stress. In all of this, McGonigal’s paradigm will come to great use – change your mind about stress, and your body’s response will change with it.
A good reminder for all of us.
What else?
Spent some time in Indiana and Wisconsin this week. Traveling makes maintaining healthy habits a challenge, but you feel accomplished even more when you do! Plan your travel in a way that makes this easy.
Restructure how you perceive stress and life becomes easier.
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DISCLAIMER
This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.
Very timely revisit! Thanks as always brother