SUBJECT: Recent additional readings from Roc Nutrition Investigator

So much good nutrition I am putting in my body; I also want you to be able to taste it. I) Nov/Dec Scientific American Mind is devoted to how to be more of a genius, II) a few insights from beginning “The Emotional Brain…” by UW brain expert Richie Davidson that describes the coming transformation of psychology using brain imaging, III) 50 and 80 year old top experts in vitamin D admit they take 3,000 IU daily, IV) Science has a full issue devoted to depression research, and V) the New Yorker had a wonderful article, Germs are us, related to my recent email about the microbiome.

I. This month’s Scientific American Mind Nov/Dec 2012 is a special edition with articles about “How exceptional intelligence and creativity arise!”

Three characteristics to cultivate to become more of a genius – 1)Autonomy – Pursue an activity because you want to, not because you are compelled to; 2) Value – Stay true to your beliefs.  Assigning value to an activity can restore your sense of autonomy; 3) Competence – As you devote more time to an activity, notice your skills improve. The next time you struggle and want to give up, ask yourself what is missing- feeling forced, finding an activity pointless, or doubting your capabilities [to learn with time]. “So you want to be a genius, pg. 49

Although the gift of gab is indeed important, being a good listener provides even more of an advantage to being influential, new research shows.  pg. 20

“[To be a genius, you] Must have hair going everywhere!” The iconic Albert Einstein hair implies irreverence and a touch of eccentricity…Openess to periphera ideas is common among highly innovative people. – pg.1

Those youths who had been involved in more educational activities and classes had, at age 33, a higher rate of notable accomplishments – pg54

You can’t evolve all of the computational systems for social intelligence until you have that tendency that you want to be close to others. –pg. 68

Treating problems of sleeping can dramatically decrease depression.

Researchers had one group meditate, one group exercise, and one group as a control.  Those who meditated missed 76% fewer days of work, those who exercised missed 48% fewer.

New research found that having a pet around, or even just in mind, helps people generate more goals, feel more confident about achieveing objectives, and handle stress better. They had lower blood pressure also. Simply picturing that slobbery face may be all you need to soothe your mind and boost productivity. – pg.19

II. QUOTES FROM “The Emotional Life of Your Brain”, Richie Davidson, 2012, Hudson St Press
Pg xii – Psychology has been churning out classification schemes with gusto lately, asserting that there are four kinds of temperament or five components of personality or Lord-knows-how-many character types….The popular media have a field day…these schemes are light on scientific validity because they are not based on any underlying brain mechanisms.
Pg 4 – [Davidson has developed a practical system of psychology by] systematic studies of the neural bases of emotion [using MRI brain imaging].  There are six dimensions to emotional style. These include your styles of 1)resilience; 2)outlook; 3) social intuition; 4) self-awareness; 5)sensitivity to context; and 6)attention.  [He provides quizzes through which you can assess your condition for each style.  For instance, outlook might be more positive or negative.  He finally explains how you can literally rewire your brain through meditation-like activities to permanently alter your emotional style to one you desire to have.] Pg. 174 – a group of pioneering psychologists taught patients with depression to regard depressive thoughts as simple electrical events in the brain.  [They] found that cognitive behavior therapy has a powerful effect… The therapy [altered brain activity in various key regions.] Patients ruminated less and no longer felt emotionally dead inside.  Their depression lifted, and in most cases it stayed lifted: Rates of relapse are much lower than with medication, which in any case seems to be no more effective than a placebo for anything but the most severe depression.

III. From my alumni magazine, UW-Madison Dept of Biochemistry, where Henry DeLuca was Chair of Biochemistry back in 1974. He has 1,500 patents on vitamin D, recently retired at 81. “if newspaper headlines are to be believed, we could be missing quite a lot…vitamin D’s protective role – carbiovascular disease, hypertension, cancers of the colon, breast, and prostate, cold and flu, asthma, autism, depression, osteoporosis, arthritis, neurodegenerative disease, type I diabetes…DeLuca said “I’m really worried about how much attention vitamin D has received lately…It’s completely off the radar screen now.” But he takes 3,000 IU daily, and another professor at UW who “wrote the book on vitamin D”, Wes Pike, also takes 3,000 IU daily. Nutrition investigator has shown the literature supports 2,000 IU for several years now.

IV. Science
The October 5 2012 issue contains a special section on depression. One article on page 72 is Depression and hippocampal neurogenesis: A road to remission? As mentioned by Davidson above, the brain is plastic and can be rewired. In addition, meditation is known to promote neurogenesis, and has been used to relieve to depression.

V. New Yorker 22 October 2012 pg 32(see early Nutrition investigator article on microbiome also)
In addition to our 10 trillion human cells, our bodies contain 100 trillion bacteria, about 10,000 species, that are vital to our health. In addition to our DNA’s 23,000 genes, we carry about 4 million bacterial genes. Yet every time we take antibiotics, or eat normal (industrial) beef or chicken or other meat that are fed high levels of antibiotics, we are killing those essential bacteria. The article goes on to explain how the obesity epidemic, the rise of diabetes, autism, high blood pressure, and more may be linked to individuals’ loss of beneficial bacteria. Critical to maintaining a healthy bacterial population in a baby is to have a vaginal birth and to breastfeed the child. Nutrition investigator was convinced in recent years to pursue the following objectives: eat yogurt daily and include fermented foods regularly in the diet; minimize consumption of animal products; eat local vegetables.

My nutrition class is currently editing a number of wikipedia pages related to nutrition, and I will send the links soon. Have a happy Halloween, if you are in a region where it is still celebrated.

*To review the disclaimer. *To ask Nutrition Investigator (Roc) a question.
Roc Ordman for appointments or phoning pls email 24hrs ahead
Professor, Biochemistry, Beloit College, fall schedule
Classes 10-12MWF; 1-3TR; 9-12T
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/Ordman/

“[To be a genius, you] Must have hair going everywhere!” The iconic Albert Einstein hair implies irreverence and a touch of eccentricity…Openess to peripheral ideas is common among highly innovative people. – pg.1 Scientific Am. Mind Nov/Dec 2012

“If you care what people think, like they supplied some missing link, they’ll just stand back and watch you sink so low.” Peter, Paul and Mary