Optimal Being

 A volley of new insights reignites the debate over whether our choices are ever truly our own. You ’ re thirsty so you reach for a glass of water. It ’ s either a freely chosen action or the inevitable result of the laws of nature, depending on who you ask. Do we have free will? The question is ancient — and vexing. Everyone seems to have pondered it, and many seem quite certain of the answer, which is typically either “ yes ” or “ absolutely not. ” One scientist in the “ absolutely not ” camp is   Robert Sapolsky . In his new book,   Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will , the primatologist and Stanford professor of neurology spells out why we can ’ t possibly have free will. Why do we behave one way and not another? Why do we choose Brand A over Brand B, or vote for Candidate X over Candidate Y? Not because we have free will, but because every act and thought are the product of “ cumulative biological and environmental luck. ” Sapolsky tells readers that th...

Have you ever wondered if the place you call home is truly conducive to your overall well-being?   Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, suggests that the climate of your surroundings can significantly impact your health. In essence, the location you choose to live in can either support or hinder your journey to a balanced state of well-being. Ayurveda emphasizes the connection between climate and the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha —each of which represents a unique combination of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether). Your current state, known as vikruti, plays a crucial role in determining the ideal climate for you, while your natural tendencies, or prakriti, also hold significance in this equation. Let’s delve into Ayurvedic wisdom to explore the best climates for each dosha: 1. Vata Dosha: Ideal Climate: Warm, moist, and not too windy. Best Locations: Tropics with lush growth; avoid windy islands or cold, dry, windy plains. For those with a pred...

  Fresh insights into accessing optimal psychological states. KEY POINTS During a flow state, individuals become deeply engrossed in an activity, losing their sense of time and self, which results in peak performance. Flow is influenced by nine precursors that encompass psychological, environmental, and social elements. Fully immersive experiences create lasting memories and contribute to identity development. Flow and mindfulness are incompatible. Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, inventor of Flow Theory, would have been 89 on September 29, 2023. Now, you have undoubtedly tasted the sweet nectar of flow. It's that magical sensation when, 37 seconds into sharing an anecdote with friends, swinging a pickleball paddle, savoring a delectable meal, or simply observing a beaver's leisurely stroll through the grass, you become one with the moment. Time? It gracefully decelerates. Your ego and selfhood? They vanish, leaving only action and awareness in harmonious convergence. The outcome? A s...

It is imperative to use strengths-based ways to cope with life stressors. Key Points Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, or various types of stressors. Resilience is important for optimal physical and mental health functioning. Meditation, stress management, and accepting mistakes can help you cultivate resilience. Resilience is important for optimal physical and mental health functioning across a variety of populations and settings, and across the human life span (Tsai and Freedland, 2022; Koliou et.al., 2020). The American Psychological Association defines individual resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress—such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors. As much as resilience involves “bouncing back” from these difficult experiences, it can also involve profound personal growth (APA, 2020). Psychologi...

Supplementation with spermidine may slow down cardiovascular aging. This is suggested by a German animal study, published in GeroScience, in which researchers gave mice a fairly high dose of spermidine. Study German molecular scientists from Hanover Medical School gave middle-aged to elderly mice spermidine via their drinking water every day for 6 months. A control group was given drinking water without any additives. After 6 months of supplementation, the researchers compared both groups of mice with each other - and with a group of relatively young mice. Results Old mice lose some of their fur, but spermidine supplementation counteracted this. In the heart muscle of older mice in the control group, the researchers found signs of mild and severe degeneration due to aging. However, spermidine supplementation reduced the signs of severe degeneration. At the molecular level, aging leads to a decrease in the telomeres in the DNA of the cells. The more intense aging processes, the faster t...

  Prof Georgina Ellison-Hughes: targeting cell senescence using senolytics can rejuvenate the aged heart’s regenerative capacity. Speaking at the  Longevity Leaders  conference earlier this year, King’s College London Professor Georgina Ellison-Hughes shared a fascinating insight into her work to establish the adult heart as a self-renewing organ with regenerative capacity. Longevity.Technology: The heart is generally considered a “post-mitotic” organ, or one without regenerative capacity. As we age and encounter chronic disease, senescent cells accumulate in the heart, just as they do in other tissues and organs. Ellison-Hughes’ work has shown that cellular senescence may impact the efficacy of regenerative therapies, and that senolytics have the potential to rejuvenate the heart’s capacity to regenerate. We caught up with the professor to learn more. Cellular senescence  is one of the nine  hallmarks of aging . It occurs when our cells stop reproducing and ent...