1. Phenomenon you should be aware of…
There are processes called trophic cascades which “are powerful indirect interactions that can control entire ecosystems. Trophic cascades occur when predators limit the density and/or behavior of their prey and thereby enhance survival of the next lower trophic level.” The trickle down effects of removing a species for a particular ecosystem, or reintroducing it back in, are mind-boggling. An incredible example can be seen in this 5-minute video titled “How Wolves Change Rivers.” Remember… the human body is an ecosystem… therefore, when certain things are added or removed, the downstream effects are incomprehensible. So, the adverse effects of unhealthy living, popping pills, or living a life full of stress needs to be acknowledged and respected. On the flip side… every healthy choice you make comes with many, many more benefits than you can ever imagine or measure. Watch that video clip I mentioned above here, as it should get you thinking, and appreciating, trophic cascades, as well as the cascades that are occurring in your body every day.
2. Interesting suggestion…
I had a buddy who lived a very healthy lifestyle, yet had a heart attack at a fairly young age. He reached out to me afterward, asking me what I thought he could do differently. He is a doctor and very well educated in wellness, so I tried to think of something that might be getting overlooked. It dawned on me that, while we are all genetically similar as humans, our culture and ethnic backgrounds likely influence how our genes have been expressed to do better with certain foods over others. He is Lebanese. So my suggestion, as I felt he was doing everything else right, was to focus on consuming a diet more congruent with what his grandparents, great-grandparents, and ancestors ate. There are certain foods that have been staples in our ethnic backgrounds that our ancestors, native to where we originated, had heavy access to. This lead to, not genetic changes (as genes don’t change), but changes in the expression of certain genes, to maximize the nutritional qualities specific to the food we had most available (look up the word epigenetics to learn more about changing gene expression). I made this suggestion probably ten years ago, basing it solely on common sense and logic, as I did not look into the science. I say this because the science is starting to emerge and experts are starting to suggest this. Consider it. If you’re Polish, Slovenian, Iranian, Indian, or have any other strong nationality in your blood, start incorporating more of the foods your ancestors ate for thousands of years. (And for you Irishmen… beer is not a superfood of your ancestors! Haha!)
3. Quote I love…
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
– Viktor Emil Frankl (Author of “Man’s Search for Meaning,” which everyone should read, and you can buy here)
This is one of my absolute favorite quotes, and one that I think about possibly more than any other. One of the most powerful things for us as humans is having that ability to choose our response to what happens to us. Our reaction to what happens to us in life is often automatic. We simply respond out of habit, mimicking what we know best from what we’ve seen most. If you can stop simply reacting to what happens to you and start utilizing that space between the stimulus and your response, you can begin having much more productive, meaningful, and powerful outcomes. Really think about this quote, as it is one that I have used heavily in my quest to improve the way I live my life. And remember, what happens to us is often out of our control, but how we respond to what happens is not. Even in the worst of circumstances, we can choose to respond in a way that strengthens, motivates, and empowers us, rather than weakens, defeats, and enslaves us. And it’s a perfect quote to ponder this week as we celebrate our freedom and independence.