The Livelong Newsletter

Hello livelongers

Welcome to this week’s newsletter. For those of you able to experience Monday’s eclipse, it was a sight to behold. As it turns out, awe is actually an essential part of human longevity, says Paul Piff, UC Irvine professor of psychology and social behavior. 

The week of April 8. Today’s email:

5 strategies for healthy aging, according to Dr. Michael Greger.

Chores for better sleep: Was my mom onto something?

Cannabis works for sleep in the majority of people.

The most sleep-deprived state.

And more…

We love to hear from our community. Please share your feedback, stories, questions, testimonials, ideas and more with us at [email protected].

Dr. Michael Greger says “Legumes for longevity” 

Renowned physician, Dr. Michael Greger, recently spoke at the Livelong Summit^TM about the health benefits associated with whole-food plant-based eating and other affordable ways to promote healthy aging. We’ve curated a list of key takeaways from his presentation:

Live longer, together

Living longer is better with the ones you love. Share this newsletter sign up page with your family, friends, or colleagues to help us grow a community that celebrates good life and good health.

Mom was right about daily chores

Low-intensity exercises like daily chores can improve the quality of your sleep, according to results from a recent longer-term study. Both low and moderate to vigorous physical activity (i.e., running) promote prolonged time in deep sleep, but low-intensity exercise was particularly good at reducing stress the following morning.

How was the study conducted?

Researchers used Fitbit Inspire H wearable devices to calculate the amount of time a person was in each sleep stage (via heart-rate and movement data), their physical activity (low-intensity [i.e. household chores, slow walking] versus moderate-to-vigorous intensity). Researchers also evaluated the participants' mood in the morning.

What did researchers find?

Both low and moderate to vigorous exercise increased sleep time in non-REM sleep (deep sleep) and reduced sleep time in REM sleep — when the brain is really active and mirrors brain activity when we are awake. Physical activity also boosted mood and energy, as well as reduced morning stress and feelings of sadness and loneliness.

Our take

These results are actually quite exciting because they tell us that 1) wearables can be a valuable noninvasive tool to track sleep quality, and 2) low-intensity exercise is a form of physical activity that is accessible to nearly anyone, and 3) my mom was onto something.* 

Big picture

Exercise and sleep reduce risk of chronic conditions and promote brain function and mental health (reducing risk of anxiety, depression, and mood disorders) and they are vital to living a healthy life.

The latest physical activity guidelines (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) emphasize amount of activity over duration, so doing chores and getting exercise (whether it's technically considered ‘exercise’ or not) can promote better sleep and contribute to longevity.

*To all mothers out there, you are always right.

Stats for your thoughts

1. Oklahoma + Maine have the highest percentages of medical marijuana patients in the US, according to 2023 estimates.
   

2. Nearly 70% of people who used medical cannabis had better sleep, according to a recent study.
   

3. Approximately 50% of adults in Hawaii do not get the minimum recommended amount of sleep, making it the most sleep-deprived state, according to the most recent data.

What’s in our wellness toolkit: Insight Timer

In other news

Western Pennsylvania city had the worst air pollution in 2023, according to a yearly air quality report (IQAir). Last year, states in the Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic suffered the most from wildfire smoke that drifted from Canada. Read here.

Stanford and other top universities now offer courses in integrative medicine for students in medical school– integrative medicine is a treatment style that combines conventional and alternative treatments. Read here.

Too much wishful thinking can actually hurt you, according to a new study looking at the repercussions of wishful thinking in the face of real-world hardships. Read here.

Upcoming events

Last month, we wrapped up the first Livelong Summit^TM and were blown away by the turnout, collaboration, and sincere need for action and education in this space. That’s why we’re already planning the next event – so we can get together again and continue to help you learn to live the life you want. The next event will be in Los Angeles on August 2-3, 2024. Stay tuned for more details. You'll be the first to know.

Q & A

Does drinking extra water reduce the health risk from alcohol?

Answer: It’s not proven… BUT water may:

• Limit the number of beverages you consume overall, which may help you to reduce the risk of overindulging, which can lead to hangovers.

• Reduce the body’s dehydration hormones, which may mitigate the health risk and hangovers.

• Help the body to get rid of alcohol via urination, encouraging speedy recovery.

Don’t forget to access your free longevity starter guide!

The Science of Health: A Guidebook
Livelong founder, Brad Inman, has created The Science of Health: A Guidebook to help you understand the latest longevity trends.

Look good, feel better, live long,
Erin Hunter, head editor

About Livelong

Longevity science can feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland at times— it is a rabbit hole of intrigue, but laden with misinformation: where 1 magic pill claims to make you bigger, another makes you smaller. Our goal at Livelong is to provide you with credible and actionable information about health and longevity so you can live a longer and healthier life and guide you toward making insightful decisions that support you during your health and longevity journey. 

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provider.