Awe can feel like something that happens to us by accident — on a mountaintop, in a concert hall, or while staring up at the night sky. But according to psychologist Dacher Keltner, PhD, it may also be a skill we can practice. In Super Age’s self-paced mini course, The Power of Awe, Keltner draws on more than two decades of research to teach readers how to find more awe in everyday life through five short lessons and guided practices. Learn more about the course here.
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Nutrition
Your Diet Might Be Playing a Bigger Role in Heart Disease Than You Think
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Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Diets high in ultra-processed foods have repeatedly been associated with poorer health, although scientists are still debating how much of the risk comes from processing itself versus factors like added sugar, sodium, saturated fat, and low fiber. A new modeling study estimates that ultra-processed food consumption may account for between 23% and 38% of cardiovascular disease cases and deaths among Canadian adults.
The Study: Researchers combined Canadian dietary data from 2015 — when ultra-processed foods supplied 43.4% of adults’ daily calories — with national cardiovascular statistics and estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study. Their model suggested that reducing UPF consumption by 20% to 50% could have prevented approximately 16,800 to 45,900 new cases of heart disease and stroke, along with 3,100 to 8,300 cardiovascular deaths, in Canada in 2019.
The Takeaway: Even a relatively modest population-wide reduction in ultra-processed food consumption could potentially prevent thousands of cardiovascular cases, according to the model.
Keep in Mind: These are hypothetical estimates, not cases and deaths directly observed in people who changed their diets. The analysis relied on older dietary data, observational risk estimates and several modeling assumptions. Ultra-processed food intake also overlaps with other cardiovascular risk factors, including overall diet quality, smoking and socioeconomic disadvantage.
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Personal Growth
The New Wellness Trend? Going Back to Basics
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The Trend: More isn’t always better, and Americans are embracing that mindset in their wellness routines. More than half plan to make changes this year, with 44% prioritizing better sleep, regular movement, and healthy eating over more complicated wellness practices (21%), according to data from Talker Research on behalf of The Vitamin Shoppe. In other words: the basics of a healthy life are returning to front and center.
What People Are Saying: With greater access than ever to health information, tools, and supplements, wellness can start to feel like another stressor instead of something that’s supposed to make us feel good. Jordan Lee Dooley, author of Be Good to Your Body, writes, “In a world of endless fads and health trends, my best advice to reduce overwhelm is to prioritize the big stuff first.”
That’s exactly what this trend of selective wellness — forgoing the latest “hack” or “maxxing” craze in favor of simple yet effective habits — exemplifies. “People are realizing that better health doesn’t always require a complicated solution,” says Dr. Sarah Jamison, a member of The Vitamin Shoppe Wellness Council, on why fiber is having a moment.
What to Know: You don’t need to shun every wellness trend. Some, like TikTok’s 3x3 by 12 trend, are actually helpful. But, in truth, you probably don’t need to buy another wearable.
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Nutrition
Does Alcohol Really Cook Out of Food?
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You Should Know: Love a good chicken marsala, bananas foster, or penne alla vodka? The common thinking is that the alcohol in dishes like these evaporates during cooking, making it OK for kids and non-drinkers to consume. While heat does reduce the alcohol content, it doesn’t always remove it completely.
Going Deeper: Not all of the alcohol dissipates during cooking — and a substantial amount could remain. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data lab, you’d need to cook a dish for at least three hours to fully eliminate any trace of booze. How much alcohol remains in the finished meal depends on the cooking temperature, length of cooking time, and the surface area of the pan.
Takeaway: Every dish is different. Long-simmered recipes like beef bourguignon lose most of their alcohol, but dishes cooked or baked for 15 minutes retain 40% of the alcohol, and even after an hour, about 25% may remain. Dishes that have alcohol added near to the end of cooking could retain as much as 85%.
Bottom Line: If you’re cooking for children or for someone who’s sober, skip these and prepare one of the scores of dishes that don’t contain any alcohol instead.
This salad packs a refreshing bite, is loaded with crunch, and requires no cooking or chopping. Toss shredded rotisserie chicken with coleslaw mix, mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, and broken ramen noodles for a mix of sweet, savory, and various textures. A simple sesame-soy dressing ties everything together, making it an easy warm-weather meal that still feels hearty.
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This, Not That
Eat Away From The Office
THIS
NOT THAT
Getty Images/Unsplash, Olivia Cooper/Unsplash
This: Take a real lunch break Not That: Eating over your keyboard like a goblin
Even 10 minutes away from your desk can make lunch feel more like a meal and less like a task you completed with one hand. Step outside, sit somewhere else, or close the laptop. Your inbox will survive the sandwich.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Make Your Walk Slightly Social
A walk counts whether you do it alone or with company. But if you’re struggling to get out the door, make it social: call a friend, walk with a neighbor, bring your partner, or take the dog on the longer route. Movement is easier to repeat when it gives you something besides steps.
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Final Thought
A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.”
