378: Marta Zaraska - Growing Young Through Friendship, Optimism & Kindness

Marta Zaraska (IG: @mzaraska) is a Polish-Canadian science journalist published in the Washington Post, Scientific American, New Scientist, the Atlantic, and Discover.

Her first book, “Meathooked: The History and Science of Our 2.5-Million Year Obsession with Meat” was chosen by the journal Nature as one of “the best science picks” in 2016.

Her second book, “Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100” is a Globe and Mail bestseller. It’s a research-driven case for why optimism, kindness, and strong social networks will keep us living longer than any fitness tracker or superfood.

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In this episode, we discuss:

Marta’s father influenced her interest in diet and exercise
The transition from Poland to Canada as a freelance science journalist
Friendship, kindness, and optimism are free
The culture in France makes it easier for children to eat properly
The strength of community
The most important thing you can do for your longevity
Men benefit more from a happy marriage than women do
What defines a happy marriage?
Friendships are extremely important for health & longevity
How many friends does one person need?
Facebook friends don’t replace real friends
What is phubbing?
Turning off your phone improves relationships
Scheduling time for friends
What it means to be conscientious
Being neurotic/narcissistic is negative for your health
You can improve your personality traits
Would you pay to hug a stranger?
A boost of oxytocin makes you feel more connected
Our gut microbiome is impacting our brain
What is the vagus nerve?
A healthy way to exercise the vagus nerve
What is heart rate variability (HRV)?
The Roseto effect
A snapshot of Marta’s diet
Marta’s 1-day superfood experiment
Combining exercise and an act of kindness
The caregiving network
The benefits of changing your perspective
The random acts of kindness “experiment”
Are telomeres impacting your behaviour?
Doing new things together as a couple boosts your connection

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Related episodes:

365: Dr. Uma Naidoo – This Is Your Brain On Food
346: Leon Logothetis – The Kindness Diaries, Finding Inner Peace, Go Be Kind
287: Dr. Steven Gundry – The Longevity Paradox • Exercise Impacts Your Microbiome • Top Sources Of Polyphenols
172: Charlie Hoehn – Play Your Anxiety Away • Find Work That Doesn’t Feel Like Work • Intentional Acts Of Kindness
144: Dr. Sara Gottfried – How To Look And Feel Younger

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