Welcome! … and thanks for reading!
This is the first post of the substack/newsletter. The thing about first posts, there will NEVER be another first post, so I better make it good! As in life, I may fail…. but I will, “do my best!” :)
List of Topics in this Issue
Red Red Wine
Meat and Mental Health
Insulin Thread (Discussion) on Twitter
The Effect of Wine on Consciousness
One might think that I’m attempting to pander to the audience with my first article being a wine post. However this was the first study I read this morning, thanks to a tweet from @FusionProgGuy and a retweet from @mike_broadley.
From the study:
Red wine increased pleasure and arousal, decreased the awareness of time, slowed the subjective passage of time, increased the attentional focus on the present moment, decreased body awareness, slowed thought speed, turned imagination more vivid, and made the environment become more fascinating.
Red wine increased insightfulness and originality of thoughts, increased sensations of oneness with the environment, spiritual feelings, all-encompassing love, and profound peace.
Comment: I like to think that I ‘question everything’ but for brevity I’m going to assume this study is true. While the study was conducted with red wine, I’ve noticed similar effects with any low-carb alcoholic beverage.
I have experienced all of the effects mentioned in the study personally after consuming red wine. However, as pleasurable as drinking in wine bars can be… below is my reply to this study.
Studies have shown a psychological benefit to spending time outdoors, it’s been my experience that combining adult beverage consumption with nature is even more therapeutic.
I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) the effects of adult beverages while experiencing the wonder and awe of nature. For the last couple of years my friend Kelly and I have enjoyed weekly campfires, where we grill meat, play music and maybe … even dance a little. :)
Pictures from our most recent #FireNight
Notes:
I’ll explore the unhealthy aspects to alcohol consumption down the road, but I don’t think moderate alcohol consumption is overly harmful. The last study I read showed 2 drinks for women per day and 4 drinks for men were ok.
Alcohol and Blood Sugar: Alcohol tends to lower blood sugar levels. While the liver is ‘processing’ the alcohol consumed, the alcohol blunts the liver’s production of glucose and therefore “can” cause your blood sugars to go lower. There are many possible confounders (like mixers if any) so your mileage will vary!
Vodka Sodas are my favorite adult beverage these days, and it consists of vodka, carbonated unsweetened water and lime juice. That’s it, almost -0- carbs. Nice and ‘clean’, and I only consume once or twice a week.
Red Wine has about 5 grams of carbs per glass… so just be aware. As always your mileage may vary when it comes to the blood sugar affects of food and drink. What works for me, may not work for you.
Meat and Mental Health
Key Points:
Meat consumption was associated with lower depression and lower anxiety compared to meat abstention.
Compared to vegans, meat consumers experienced both lower depression and anxiety.
Sex did not modify these relations. (I can’t be certain, but I don’t think they are referring to sexual acts. I’m pretty sure they are saying that the results of the study were same for both men and women.)
Briefly, we found that the majority of studies showed that meat abstainers (vegetarians and vegans) had substantially higher rates or risk of depression, anxiety, and/or self-harm (e.g., suicide) (Baines, Powers, and Brown 2007; Hibbeln et al. 2018; Matta et al. 2018; Michalak, Zhang, and Jacobi 2012). Additionally, these groups were more likely to be prescribed medication for mental-health issues (Baines, Powers, and Brown 2007).
Comment: Meat has what our bodies require… to THRIVE! Animal based foods provide us with the nutrients we need… complete, more bioavailable proteins… and fats.
While I am a fan of eating meat and believe it’s vitally important, especially as we age, there is a lot more ‘meat’ on this bone (or topic). I’ll dig deeper in a later post.
Why is meat, especially fatty meat important for diabetics?
Protein gives our bodies what it needs to maintain (and build) muscle. Muscle is the largest user of glucose! The more muscle you have, the better your body can process glucose and maintain truly normal blood sugars!
Fat gives your body fuel. We do NOT need to eat carbs for energy, our body’s liver produces all the glucose we need through the process called gluconeogenesis. Don’t believe me… look it up!
Take home message: EAT YOUR MEAT PEOPLE… I do. 😀
This study was shared on Twitter by @GHGGuru.
Insulin Discussion on Twitter
Judging by a brief glance at this thread, it looks very interesting. I’m sharing this for the thread, but the original post is interesting as well.
I didn’t have time to read these, I’ll be discussing this in a later “Daily BS”.
Note: Twitter is an important information source for me. I follow many knowledgeable, credentialed people whom I may or may not agree with… but I appreciate their insightful thought provoking posts.
Tip of the hat to @raphaels7
Daily BS #1 Wrap Up
That’s all for today! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I sincerely hope you found it worth your time. If you did, feel free to share this with others who may need to hear what I’m laying down. 😀
PLEASE feel free to let me know what you like, dislike and I’d love to hear topic suggestions.
Be careful… it’s a jungle out there. ❤ - Steve
I've been told by my endocrinologist that I shouldn't eat red meat anymore. I get tired of eating food where I don't use my jaw much and I tire of the same flavours, garlic, onions and a few others with fish and chicken.
Give me a beautiful steak with salt and pepper or other flavours.
I like variety and steak and I would love to get back to knowing each other again !!!
Thanks