Issue #344: 8 Reasons We're Underpowered
Good morning. It’s Saturday, May 18th.
Stat of the Day
Revisit
This week we covered the benefits of adaptogens and how to cycle without breaking the bank.
Issue #342 - the stress-buffering powers of adaptogens with a deep dive into ashwagandha's benefits for memory, stress management, and overall health
Issue #343 - ginseng and maca - two powerful adaptogens that boost energy, cognitive health, immune function, and more
Click HERE to check out the entire Thrive25 archive.
Focus
A Loss of Power
The single biggest cause of all our chronic diseases and health problems is an underpowered cell.
That’s the thesis from Dr. Casey Means in her new book, Good Energy.
When cells aren’t given what they need they sound the alarms and the calvary - our immune cells - comes running. Unfortunately, these immune cells aren’t equipped to help the cells in need.
So we’re left with rampant inflammation from our body fighting itself without a solution to the problem.
Why are our cells feeling a lack of power?
Our mitochondria turn food energy into cellular energy. This process creates ATP - giving us the energy we need to get through our day and thrive.
This energy is also what enables our cells to perform all the required tasks - make proteins, repair DNA, signal other cells and transport molecules across our body.
But we’re not giving the right fuel to our mitochondria and we’re poisoning it to the point where it can’t really do it’s job.
8 Reasons We’re Underpowered
1. Overnutrition - we eat 20% more calories and up to 3,000% more fructose than just 100 years ago (thanks to processed food being more addictive and not sending us signals that we’re full)
2. Nutrient Deficiency - at the same time we aren’t getting minerals and vitamins that we need for the electron transport chain that creates ATP
3. Lack of Movement - exercise signals to the cells we need to produce more energy and is a positive signal to our mitochondria
4. Chronic Stress - cortisol inhibits the genes that produce new mitochondria
5. Drugs - most medications (statins, antibiotics, pain relievers) have a negative effect on our mitochondria
6. Sleep Deprivation - we’re sleeping less and messing up our circadian rhythm, creating free radicals in our cells which inhibit our mitochondria
7. Toxins - chemicals are wreaking havoc on our mitochondria, like PFAs, pesticides, and cigarette smoke
8. “Thermoneutrality” - it’s the concept of living our life in 73° indoor temps without regular access to the outdoors and the elements. Cold stimulates us to generate heat (boosts mitochondria) and hot temps activates heat shock proteins (HSPs) that protect mitochondria from damage
This sounds dire. But none of these are very surprising - we know most of the reasons we’re crushing our health.
But the optimistic thing is that if it’s a single root cause of what crushes our health - everything from autoimmune conditions, sinus infections, chronic pain, depression, acne and even wrinkles - then it’s a single solution to Good Energy.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
Michelin starred restaurants are switching to Zero Acre Farms. “From fine dining to fast food, Bay Area chefs are switching to this new ingredient.” - San Francisco Chronicle.
Good food, good fat from Zero Acre Farms. Finally, a cleaner all-purpose cooking oil with even more good fats than olive oil, a neutral taste, and a tiny environmental footprint.
Click HERE to get 15% off your order with code THRIVE25 at Zero Acre Farms. Good for you, good for Earth, good for cooking. #EatBetterFat
Read
More practical than most of the other health/wellbeing books out there - Good Energy makes the science easy to understand and the solutions are something you can actually do.
It’s an interesting perspective from a doctor who was at one time an ENT surgical resident at Stanford and saw hundreds of patients with inflammation across their nasal and sinus cavities. She left to answer the question no one was asking - why are so many of us dealing with these problems?
She also addresses the issue of the misalignment of incentives with the current healthcare system. In one example she points out:
Elevated LDL cholesterol has a 1.3 hazard ratio for heart disease (30% higher risk). But elevated triglycerides have a 1.8 hazard ratio.
Why don’t we hear about triglycerides the way we do cholesterol? Because there’s a statin drug for cholesterol, but no pill to prescribe for triglycerides.
In the end, there’s a plan - based on science - to get to Good Energy and power up your cells to get us back to being metabolically healthy.
Explore
Manchester
As we mentioned in Issue #339, our intrepid travel correspondent, Max, just returned from Manchester…
It was a quick 3-day trip centered on the Man City - Wolverhampton match, but still left a few impressions.
Man United - anytime we had on blue we’d get a subtle jab about the real team in Manchester…United. Of course, Man City has a dig too since United is technically based in Stretford, not Manchester. They will forever be known as Stretford United in our house.
PS - the best jab was airport security after my roll-aboard was selected for screening. After the agent finished, he said, “the bag was flagged because of the Man City granny scarf.”
Construction - the city is a magnet for people looking for more affordable options than London. It’s growing quickly, leading to a construction boom - cranes are everywhere! But don’t worry, you still get the culture and traffic of London.
Dining - we didn’t take in the renowned music scene outside of street-performers and some open-air venues, but we walked everywhere and ate some great food. The culinary scene rivaled Chicago with several hubs like the Northern Quarter, Spinningfields and Rusholme - with cuisine from around the world, there’s something for every taste bud.
Football - both the first and last point…it’s a football crazed town with two of the world’s most famous clubs. The sporting spirit is palpable - with historic Old Trafford on one end and futuristic Etihad on the other, with the National Football Museum, an interactive set of exhibits, right in the middle.
If anyone wants to go to a game, let me know!
Tour of Etihad Stadium
Brain Games
Kyodoku
It’s back. In this 6x6 grid, you need to use logic to find nine unique numbers (1 to 9) so that each row and column has a sum of 9 or less. It’s kinda like sudoku, but with more distractions. The 7 highlighted in yellow is given.
Here’s a little help to get started. Because we know 7 is given, we can’t use 7 again (gray boxes) and we can also eliminate any numbers that would make the sum of the row or column with the given 7 more than 9 (blue boxes). Have fun and use that brain!
Credit: Brainzilla
**For answer, scroll to the bottom of the post
Product Recs
♨️ Caraway - good looking, clean cooking. Non-toxic cookware made modern - non-toxic cooking surfaces and thoughtful design lead to cleaner cooking. Click HERE to cook with confidence
💊 Momentous - unlock your peak performance with Momentous supplements: scientifically proven, clinically backed, and patented formulas. Exclusive offer for Thrive25 subscribers: enjoy a 15% discount off the entire product portfolio. Use Code Thrive at checkout. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your performance journey - shop now!
🍴 Primal Kitchen - Primal Kitchen redefines flavor with a healthy twist, offering an array of irresistible options. Enjoy a 10% discount off your entire order at Primal Kitchen. Don’t miss out - click HERE to claim your discount today!
Thanks for another great week!
Check out the latest videos on our YouTube channel
Got feedback, recommendations or stories to share? Tell us what’s on your mind here
Want this direct to your inbox? Sign up here
** Brain Games Answer **
Here’s the answer. In this grid, the keys were 9 and 3 - figure out where they fit and you were golden. How did you solve it?
Why Thrive25
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.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
Sign up for free:
The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.