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, save money, and make day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable.
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2-Part Podcast Series I’m Listening To:
Don’t worry, I’m still a regular listener of Andrew Huberman and two of his latest podcasts centered around microplastics were truly bombshells.
The first thing he made clear was just how widespread these things are.
From the air we breathe, water we drink, and things we put on our body – microplastics are present.
In fact, recent research shows that many embryos contain microplastics which is quite an eye-opener.
But are they harmful or just part of life nowadays?
It seems certain that it’s the former.
The primary concern is the effect microplastics have on the reproductive system.
Due to their chemical makeup and structure, they have a profound ability to impact hormonal pathways – a key player in regulating our internal bodily state which also encompasses our mood and energy levels.
Although the research is still in its early stages, the smartest thing to do right now is to avoid ingesting microplastics as much as you possibly can.
This doesn’t mean to be extreme and take paper vegetable sacks into the supermarket and never ever drink out of plastic water bottles again. Yet if that’s your thing, more power to you.
Hopefully it’s well-known by now that using plastic food storage, cups, and utensils should absolutely be avoided when practical.
But what are some other super simple ways you can limit the health impact microplastics have?
Avoid non-stick cookware as it is riddled with harmful compounds.
Avoid touching receipts as they contain microplastics, too.
Be cautious about using any hygienic products and/or topicals that have added scents – once again, microplastics are likely present.
And finally, the one that surprised me the most was to ditch sea salt and instead opt for a variety such as Redmond Real Salt. Apparently, the dumping of wastes into the ocean has now caused a major uptick in the microplastics present, who woulda’ thought?
How I’m Getting More Protein During Breakfast:
This one is going to sound a little extreme at first.
I was skeptical as well when first made aware of it.
But as the ol’ saying goes – don’t knock it till you try it and try it I did.
Breakfast is one of the most challenging times to get in a meaningful amount of protein from whole foods. This is simply due to the common food choices we have out there that are designated as “breakfast items”. Jumping off topic, who even decides what constitutes a breakfast food anyhow?
Eggs are great, yes.
However, they only contain 6 grams of protein each. And as a rather large individual trying to consume 50 grams of protein at each meal, eating 9 eggs is a little excessive.
This is where the trick comes in.
When you mix up your scrambled eggs, throw in some cottage cheese.
Sounds wild but it mixes really well and actually makes normal scrambled eggs even better because of the creamy texture they take on when you do so.
Mindset I’m Embracing:
Although I mentioned on 4MF months ago that I read it, I left out an incredibly important quote that struck a chord with me so much that I made note.
“It” being the memoir Open by Andre Agassi – a tennis phenom in the 1990s and early 2000s who had quite the eventful upbringing.
In one chapter, Agassi mentions how he views and approaches fear.
And it’s probably the best analogy I’ve ever heard.
He says fears are like gateway drugs – once you give into one, you’re soon giving into bigger ones.
Read that again.
Although we often don’t want to believe so, this couldn’t more true.
Whether it be something as simple as not speaking up during a meeting to declining a life changing opportunity because it means you’ll have to move away from an area you’re comfortable in, avoiding fears sets us up for failure.
Once our brains start to grow accustomed to giving into fears, doing so becomes an everyday occurrence.
But on a more positive note, the opposite holds true as well.
Once you push through a fear and choose action regardless of those unpleasant feelings, you start tackling bigger ones.
And it becomes a little easier each and every time you make that decision.
Therefore, go out and do stuff that is uncomfortable for you.
If you don’t, the fears add up and you often get stuck in a rut that you don’t want to be in.
What else?
If you’re still getting up earlier than usual because of the time change last week, keep this schedule! Use that extra free time in the morning to get in a workout, read something educational, or even step outside for some morning sunlight to set your circadian rhythm.
Take one action that’s uncomfortable today.
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DISCLAIMER
This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.