Oct 3, 2023 06:47 PM
"Blue zones" have captivated health and longevity experts. But are they real or statistical grift?
https://www.salon.com/2023/10/01/blue-zo...cal-grift/
INTRO: Despite significant advances in medicine, living conditions and social safety nets over time, Americans continue to lag behind in terms of health and happiness. This comes in great contrast to certain regions of the world, where modern advances have largely been thwarted by enduring native practices – practices that may, in fact, lend insights toward living not only longer, but healthier and more fulfilling lives. Perhaps, therefore, it's time to reconsider the American approach to health and wellbeing by examining places known as blue zones.
Blue zones are pockets of the world where an unusually high number of people are reported to reach the age of 100 and beyond. These centenarians don't follow fad diets, take expensive supplements or keep up with the latest health trends — they stick to what's tried and true, largely living in the same manner (and often manor) as their ancestors centuries ago.
These so-called blue zones are scattered across the globe, spanning different cultures, environments and histories – likely ruling out the source of this phenomenon being a sole line of exceptional genetics. The five recognized blue zones of the world are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.
While there's ongoing debate over what factors allow inhabitants of blue zones to live longer, numerous investigations by researchers, demographers and medical experts have revealed common threads that provide a better understanding of aging and longevity. We can start by looking at some current pitfalls in America... (MORE - details)
Early risers and night owls: A neuroscientist explains who is happiest
https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/early-...s-happiest
EXCERPT: . . As for who is happier, many studies have indeed shown an association between being a morning person and greater happiness. For a recent example, consider a study of hundreds of medical students conducted at Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey – higher scores in morningness (ie, a self-reported preference for getting up early) were associated with scoring higher on a questionnaire measure of happiness.
Put differently, the 26.6 per cent of students categorised as owls scored lower on happiness than the group (6.7 per cent) categorised as larks as well as the remainder of students categorised as intermediates. Studies of older people too –among whom it is more common to be a lark –similarly show an association between morningness and greater happiness.
According to a study carried out at the University of Leipzig, lark emotional advantage also manifests in greater satisfaction with life and reduced vulnerability to mental health problems. Other studies suggest that people who are owls are more likely than larks to experience symptoms of depression, seasonal affective disorder and substance abuse problems.
Complicating the issue, this difference might be at least partly explained by people who are owls tending to have less sleep or more sleep problems –rather than there being something advantageous about being a lark per se. Other possible mechanisms explaining the lark advantage are they seem to have better emotional regulation skills and a more positive attitude toward time, as compared with owls... (MORE - missing details)
https://www.salon.com/2023/10/01/blue-zo...cal-grift/
INTRO: Despite significant advances in medicine, living conditions and social safety nets over time, Americans continue to lag behind in terms of health and happiness. This comes in great contrast to certain regions of the world, where modern advances have largely been thwarted by enduring native practices – practices that may, in fact, lend insights toward living not only longer, but healthier and more fulfilling lives. Perhaps, therefore, it's time to reconsider the American approach to health and wellbeing by examining places known as blue zones.
Blue zones are pockets of the world where an unusually high number of people are reported to reach the age of 100 and beyond. These centenarians don't follow fad diets, take expensive supplements or keep up with the latest health trends — they stick to what's tried and true, largely living in the same manner (and often manor) as their ancestors centuries ago.
These so-called blue zones are scattered across the globe, spanning different cultures, environments and histories – likely ruling out the source of this phenomenon being a sole line of exceptional genetics. The five recognized blue zones of the world are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.
While there's ongoing debate over what factors allow inhabitants of blue zones to live longer, numerous investigations by researchers, demographers and medical experts have revealed common threads that provide a better understanding of aging and longevity. We can start by looking at some current pitfalls in America... (MORE - details)
Early risers and night owls: A neuroscientist explains who is happiest
https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/early-...s-happiest
EXCERPT: . . As for who is happier, many studies have indeed shown an association between being a morning person and greater happiness. For a recent example, consider a study of hundreds of medical students conducted at Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey – higher scores in morningness (ie, a self-reported preference for getting up early) were associated with scoring higher on a questionnaire measure of happiness.
Put differently, the 26.6 per cent of students categorised as owls scored lower on happiness than the group (6.7 per cent) categorised as larks as well as the remainder of students categorised as intermediates. Studies of older people too –among whom it is more common to be a lark –similarly show an association between morningness and greater happiness.
According to a study carried out at the University of Leipzig, lark emotional advantage also manifests in greater satisfaction with life and reduced vulnerability to mental health problems. Other studies suggest that people who are owls are more likely than larks to experience symptoms of depression, seasonal affective disorder and substance abuse problems.
Complicating the issue, this difference might be at least partly explained by people who are owls tending to have less sleep or more sleep problems –rather than there being something advantageous about being a lark per se. Other possible mechanisms explaining the lark advantage are they seem to have better emotional regulation skills and a more positive attitude toward time, as compared with owls... (MORE - missing details)
