Insulin: • Yes we need insulin. Without it, our cells could not go into storage mode and the first winter humans encountered would have been our last. Problem of course is that now we have no winter (metaphorically). We don’t have a period of a few months with less food availability (and cold exposure). So…
Alcohol and Sleep: • The interplay between alcohol and sleep is complex and problematic. We have all seen the data showing sleep deprivation to be as detrimental to driving ability as alcohol. This study looks specifically at how alcohol and sleep deprivation cause cognitive impairments. It appears that both cause changes in the adenosine receptor, and have…
Around the World: • Cool studywith a mathematical model on worldwide pandemic diseases. They assert that the ubiquitous travel of millions of people around the world protects against global pandemics like the 1918 influenza. “Frequent travel between subpopulations can lead to widespread immunity to the high virulence strain, driven by exposure to the low virulence strain.”• Can…
Learn Serve Lead: • Attended the AAMC annual conference in Austin, TX over the weekend. High quality conference. One of the keynote speakers was Dr. Angela Duckworth who wrote Grit. • Wellness was a recurrent theme in several lectures and panel discussions. Many focused on burnout, but some on wellbeing. One great slide said 1 in 5…
Move: • Do you have plantar fasciitis? Do you have calves? If you answered yes to one of these questions, check out this calf stretch from Brad Kearns.• Kearns is an accomplished runner who no longer ever has plantar fasciitis pain. He performs this calf stretch a few times a day. I have worked it into my day…
Gross and Net: • No matter your income, you can judge a prospective purchase by how much work you would have to perform to buy it. Thoreau said “the price of anything is how much life you exchange for it.” • Well something you might not consider is the gross versus net issue. Imagine you want to buy…
Grit: • In a group of students, athletes, children who all have talent, how can you predict who succeeds? McCarthy genius award winner Angela Duckworth argues that grit is the most important characteristic. Grit is a combination of passion and perseverance. As much as we all love “naturals,” most talented people who rise to the top (and change the…
Boxing: • Did you want the fitness benefits of boxing without the concussions? Try 9 Round. This is an international phenomenon with many locations in Louisville. My wife just began her membership and LOVES it. 27 minutes (9 three minute rounds) of intense exercise, but the time flies by. You can get a little aggression out and burn some…
Financial Health: • Solid article published in a pathology journal, advising residents (but applicable to students and anyone else) on financial health. Some take home points: be careful who you choose as an advisor, manage medical school debt early, buy enough insurance, ignore the Joneses, and buckle down and budget. Free full text at the link above. …
Snacks:• Finding new go to snacks / meals takes a patience. For instance, this recipe from MDA for healthy peanut butter cookies was very unsuccessful. Sticky and nonformed no matter how much protein powder or almond flour I added. Maybe just mix protein into peanut butter and eat with a spoon.•BUT this recipe for homemade pickles is easy and delicious.…
