News Team member Diyya Ganju recommends the 2014 book "The Martian" by Andy Weir. Its fictional stranded protagonist's prioritizing of mental health and connection offers lessons for real life.
Health Beyond the Blog: The Huberman Lab – A Trustworthy Exploration of Health
by Cora Bainum
An estimated $450 billion is spent annually on health and wellness in the US and is only predicted to rise. Primarily prompted by the pandemic, people are spending more on fitness, nutrition, appearance, sleep, and mindfulness. In response to this heightened demand, new supplements, health foods, and workout plans marketed as beneficial to health and longevity are everywhere. Yet, how many of these products are helping? Is consumer money well spent, or is this a marketing scheme?
The Huberman Lab podcast uses science-supported data to advise listeners and combat health misinformation. Andrew Huberman, the host and a neuroscientist and professor at Stanford School of Medicine, uses real-life examples and everyday language without oversimplifying the science; instead, he teaches listeners what they need to know before explaining its impacts. The Huberman Lab is understandable whether people have a background in organic chemistry or failed high school biology.
In the recent episode, “Sleep Toolkit: Tools for Optimizing Sleep & Sleep Wake-Timing,” Huberman argues that sleep may be the most important factor in recovery, mood, and neurological function. However, it is often overlooked or viewed as secondary to life’s physical, social, and work demands. Then, people turn to melatonin supplements, scented pillow sprays, and noise machines to help them sleep better. Huberman then goes on to describe multiple peer-reviewed sleep studies as well as the biological and neurological processes related to sleep. He explains how regulating one’s circadian rhythm by simply getting natural sunlight first thing in the morning is, according to scientific evidence, the most effective way to regulate and improve sleep quality.
Unlike other health and science-based media, The Huberman Lab podcast is not based upon the goal of selling a product or idea. Nor is it trying to promote a particular lifestyle. Huberman outlines how one can incorporate science-based tools into a range of different lifestyles and how one can modify them for different goals. Most importantly, the information in the podcast is credible. It is derived from peer-reviewed studies, interviews with experts, and agreed-upon scientific truths. According to Huberman, this is motivated by his goal of providing accessible and accurate health education to the public.
It is a must-listen for anyone curious about physical, mental, and emotional health and those seeking to improve one or more areas. Find out how to approach health and well-being in a balanced, effective, and sustainable way on The Huberman Lab podcast.
New episodes are released every Monday. Listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, YouTube, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.