Members get a daily Covid-19 topic focused on Covid in Tennessee.
Supporters are part of a self-improvement sub-group where value is dispensed daily on personal growth in all aspects of life, informed by many sources. New members welcome!
A "technical issue" is preventing Tennessee Covid numbers today.
A most interesting study in pre-print out of Stanford, entitled "SARS-CoV-2 infects human adipose tissue and elicits an inflammatory response consistent with severe COVID-19," has been catching the attention of the media. It purports to show that one of the reasons that obese people are more prone to serious illness and death from Covid-19 is that the virus, SARS-CoV2, is able to infect fat cells, also known as "adipocytes."
We have known for years that fat is a functioning endocrine organ, creating hormones and pro-inflammatory signaling molecules. This new finding may help explain the pathways that lead to the higher risk factor for obese people.
We have been aware for well over a year that blood type had some connection to risk factor, and, specifically, the A-antigen (i.e. Type A and Type AB blood). That pathway appears to provide the virus with additional target molecules for viral spike protein to attach to.
By the same token, having a 50lb organ spread within one's body and providing safe harbor and factory tools for this virus would imply higher viral load and more chance of uncontrolled inflammatory response. (Remember cytokine storms?)
Now, just for fun, I'm going to toss in a little bit of speculation: Recall that studies found that brains of people who died from Covid-19 contained the virus within the brain tissue? Most of the weight of brain tissue is made up of fat. Fats are integral to efficient nerve fiber conduction. I wonder if we will find that the same pathways that allow visceral fat to be a target of SARS-CoV2 also work within brain tissue.
This is fascinating.
It's also even more reason for people carrying unnecessary body fat to make the decision to lose weight.
Also in the news, the FDA approved the administration of Pfizer vaccine booster doses for 16- and 17-year-olds today.
In case you're wondering my position on boosters, I see a value for them in high risk individuals. That would be immune compromised people, obese people, people over 65 years old, and people with other known risk factors for severe Covid disease.
I personally have not yet become convinced of the value of boosters for healthy people, and especially for those who do not have occupational exposure hazard.
The weekend is almost here!
Stay healthy!
I'm on a weekend night call schedule this weekend, which always leaves me feeling under-rested and generally icky.
But I wanted to remind you that outdoor exercise without screens is really good for your mental health.
Go outdoors, preferably into the woods.
Get in tune with those surroundings, the sights, the sounds, the smells, even the movement of air and the varying temperatures as you walk.
We were made to be outdoors.
We were definitely not made to work in cubicles.
One Degree!
What you want from your body will dictate what you need to set as goals, and the goals will determine what you'll end up having to change to attain them.
I've spoken many times about systems being better than goals, and my position has not changed.
But goals are easier to discuss and to understand, so for this week, we'll be very specific about goals.
Do you want more muscle mass?
Do you want to be stronger?
Do you want to run faster?
Do you want to gain weight?
Do you want to lose weight?
Do you want to improve general fitness?
Do you want longevity?
Do you want strong bones?
Do you want to earn a Black Belt?
Understanding the benefits and costs of each particular goal may help you decide what you want.
For example, if you want to compete in body-building competitions, you'll not be doing the same thing as if you were focused on longevity. Same with strength competitions.
But general fitness and longevity go fairly well together.
Running is great but will increase the likelihood of needing knee or hip ...
I'll make this one short and to the point.
Spring time change is hard on all of us. Having to get up an hour early doesn't make going to bed an hour earlier much easier.
Yes, it's nice to have more productive time in the evening.
But it's at the cost of forcing us out of be an hour earlier, as we all know.
Our challenge is to adjust our circadian rhythm to match the world's expectations around us.
My main strategy is supplementing with a dose of melatonin about a half hour before I need to be asleep. It helps most people fall asleep more readily.
If you need a nap during your day, take it between mid-morning and early afternoon. Limit it to 20 minutes.
Taking a longer or later nap may make it even harder to get off to sleep in time.
All of the other normal advice applies even moreso:
- Take a 20-minute walk after supper.
- No screen time for the last hour before bed.
- Listen to calm music after supper.
- Don't eat for 2 hours before bed.
- Don't have conflict-laden conversations ...
