Peak Health Wellness Insights Issue 14

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Mental Resilience

Expressing gratitude is important for close relationships

This research shows that in newlyweds, expressing gratitude for you partner to a high degree was associated with greater and more stable marital satisfaction over time. However, the opposite was found to be true if either partner’s gratitude was low. 

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Sleep

A new survey shows that those who read before bed sleep better, are more satisfied with their sleep, eat healthier and make more money.

While we cannot infer causation from this study, what we can take away is that those who sleep before bed report feeling more relaxed and less stressed, two things that would no doubt help with a more restful night of sleep. Next time you catch yourself scrolling through your phone screen before bed, try picking up a book instead. 

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Nutrition

A neurological explanation for why food tastes better when we are hungry

This recent study has identified a specific neural circuit in the hypothalamus that increases sweetness preferences and decrease sensitivity/aversion to bitter tastes. The neurons responsible are activated during hunger states. From this work, researchers are excited to next investigate if and how this pathway differs in obese or diabetic patients. 

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Fitness

Overtraining (a form of burnout) can impact economic decision making.

This study found that overtrained athletes were more impulsive during economical choice tasks, preferring immediate rewards over delayed rewards. Further, they found that overtrained athletes showed decrease activation in the lateral prefrontal cortex, a brain region implicated in higher-order cognitive control. These results could perhaps be extended to other kinds of burnout, including in the work setting.


Productivity Tip

If you desire to master any new task, consistency is key.

Habit Hack of the week

Try to start a two-minute walking habit for every hour that you sit. You can set a timer on your phone, or schedule your day so it requires you to get up every hour for a meeting or the like.

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