Peak Health Wellness Insights Issue 13
Mental Resilience
Stress may have a link to our mitochondria
This new study provides an initial foundation for understanding how chronic stress influences anxiety on a genetic and cellular level.
Results showed that after being exposed to stress, the expression of genes related to the mitochondria and its functions changed. Additionally, there were differences between the gene expression in those known to be susceptible to stress vs those resilient to stress.
Sleep
Biopharma company, Aptinyx, has developed a novel oral receptor modulator, NYX-2925, that is demonstrating positive influence on sleep and mood.
Their research to date has shown the ability of NYX-2925 to enhance sleep quality, sleep duration, and mood, while also decrease drowsiness during wake and reverse sleep deprivation-induced deficits in learning.
Cooking food changes the gut microbiome
This new research shows there is a significant difference between the microbiome of both mice and humans that eat raw vs cooked vegetables. Specifically, in mice, there is a change in the composition of the microbiomes as well as the gene activity and metabolic products of the microbes. In humans, the specifics of the differences differed.
The researchers attributed this difference to the fact that cooked food allows the host’s small intestine to extract more calories from the food, while raw food has antimicrobial compounds that damages microbes.
Fitness
Exercise could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s
This encouraging study has proven that those already demonstrating Alzheimer’s markers who exercised regularly for a year, showed slower brain degradation in areas important for memory (specifically slower volume reduction in their hippocampus). For a condition that still does not have a cure, exercise is as promising a prescription as any for slowing the detrimental effects of Alzheimer's on the brain.
Productivity Tip
Try not to put a huge task on your to-do list as a single item. Instead, try to break it up into smaller tasks. This will help keep you motivated and on track to reaching your end goal.
Habit Hack of the week
Want to get rid of an unhealthy habit? Take advantage of new environments. Use a work trip, vacation, or office move to your advantage as a way to create new habit routines. If you don't have any of these things on the horizon, try simply a new journey into or home from work.
When you aren't surrounded by your normal triggers, your brain won't be able to kick into autopilot and get you stuck in any of your less than optimal behaviours.