1/ Healthy: Biological vs. Chronological Age — the race against time
We’re all racing against time, but not necessarily the clock. One key to healthy aging lies in tracking your biological age. Unlike chronological age, which simply reflects the years you've lived, biological age reflects the functional health of your body. The lower your biological age compared to your chronological age, the better. This means you're at a lower risk for age-related health problems compared to others your age.
Why It Matters: Chronological age is inevitable, but biological age isn't. By understanding your biological age, a marker of cellular health, you gain control over your health span – the years you can expect to live vibrantly.
The Quest to Reverse Aging
The potential of biological age reversal has captured the imagination of many, including tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who has invested heavily in research and interventions aimed at lowering his biological age. The clinical results of his own protocol over 3 years show that he has reduced his biological age by an estimated 31 years! The protocol and measurements are worth a dive. Long-term effects remain to be seen.
Taking Action: Track and Improve Your Bio Age
Whether you're fascinated by the science or simply want to optimize your health for a longer, healthier life, there are steps you can take. Biological age testing is a necessary starting point. Consider a blood-based test like Thorne's offering (<$100) to gain insights into your cellular health and identify targeted areas for improvement.
Remember: The focus isn't on chasing youth, but building a healthier, more resilient you for the years to come. The core pillars of healthy aging – diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management – remain key strategies to optimize your biological age, regardless of the test results.
2/ Wealthy: Avalanche Method vs. Snowball Method - debt reduction tactics
Debt is a factor of modern life, but making meaningful reductions can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some tactics to apply if you want to dig yourself out.
The Avalanche Method: This strategy prioritizes debt elimination based on interest rate. You tackle the debt with the highest interest rate first, regardless of the balance amount. This saves you money in the long run by minimizing interest paid.
The Snowball Method: This approach focuses on paying off the smallest debt first, regardless of interest rate. Each conquered debt provides a psychological boost, motivating you to tackle the bigger ones.
Putting it into Action:
The Choice is Yours:
Both methods can effectively reduce debt. Consider your financial goals and personality. The Avalanche method might appeal to those seeking the fastest way to save money, while the Snowball method could be a better fit for those needing a motivational boost.
3/ Wise: Processing Fluency - the science of effortless communication
Take two brand names: "Xylophone Technologies" and “PlayTunes”.
Which name are you more likely to remember and engage with later?
This example is a demonstration of processing fluency in which our opinion of something is influenced by how easily our brain processes and understands it. We prefer things that are simple to understand and will even find simple information more believable. An intuitive design, or a coherent piece of advertising copy, represents high processing fluency.
Low processing fluency occurs when we find something difficult to interact with or understand. This causes us to expend more effort, resulting in negative feelings and associations.
More than a marketing trick. Processing fluency benefits everyone, from teachers crafting clear lessons to public speakers delivering impactful presentations. Even in everyday conversations, using simpler language and avoiding jargon can enhance communication and understanding. By presenting information in an easily digestible way, we can improve engagement, recall, and ultimately, the impact of our message.
Stay healthy, wealthy, and wise.
With warmth,
Fernando R.F.
(Note: This blog is not written by a medical or financial professional. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. They can provide personalized guidance tailored to your individual needs. It is important to do your own research and determine the best course of action together with an expert.)
Go Deeper:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12849085/
Earls J, Rappaport N, Heath L, et al. Multi-Omic Biological Age Estimation and Its Correlation With Wellness and Disease Phenotypes: A Longitudinal Study of 3,558 Individuals. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2019;74(Suppl_1):S52-S60. doi:10.1093/gerona/glz220
Levine M. Modeling the rate of senescence: can estimated biological age predict mortality more accurately than chronological age? Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biomedical Sciences and Medical Sciences 2013;68.6: 667-674.
Belsky D, Caspi A, Houts R, et al. Quantification of biological aging in young adults. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015;112(30):E4104-E4110. doi:10.1073/pnas.1506264112
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6598638_Reversing_the_Truth_Effect_Learning_the_Interpretation_of_Processing_Fluency_in_Judgments_of_Truth
https://www.wellsfargo.com/goals-credit/smarter-credit/manage-your-debt/snowball-vs-avalanche-paydown/#:~:text=In%20contrast%2C%20the%20%22avalanche%20method,on%2C%20until%20you%20are%20done.