£299 for a full-body AI health scan

+ drugs or dishes?

Good morning all. I’m delighted with October so far. It’s my comfort month. I’m turning 32 by the end of it and it feels like a big difference compared to being 31. A good difference. I’m looking forward to it.

I’ve noticed a shift in my workout preferences in the past year: less gym, more full-body engagement like pilates, climbing, yoga and running. It seems that by listening to what my body needs, I’ve automatically shifted focus from ‘making my body work’ to ‘making sure my body works well’. Let’s call it intuitive exercise.

Bonjour from my race last Sunday

This week’s newsletter includes

• How travel can make us age slower or faster.

• What makes ayahuasca so popular amongst highly educated 49-year-olds?

• Longevity studios have arrived and they’re amazing. (below paywall)

• Fascia – a thing you’ve never heard of is holding your entire body together. (below paywall)

News

• Sam Altman, 39-year-old CEO of OpenAI, praises ayahuasca. While CEOs might be using the drug to open up new mental pathways for more creativity (and clout), I believe it is part of a wider trend seeing people turn to the spiritual realm for guidance, renewal and peace. My feed is flooded with kundalini yoga retreats, embodiment getaways in Ibiza and breath work courses that end in tears of liberation. While I think venturing into oneself is a great feat, I had to chuckle and wholeheartedly agree with this one “Everybody wants to do ayahuasca but nobody wants to do the dishes.”

  

  @fortune @fortune ♬ original sound - Fortune Magazine

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  Ayahuasca is a South American psychoactive beverage that is made mainly of vine leaves from the Amazon rainforest. A recent study in the Netherlands shows the average user in their sample to be 49 years old and highly educated. Research also shows that, despite 30% of users having done ayahuasca more than 100 times, 56% reported adverse mental health effects for which 12% had to seek out professional help. I think I’ll stick to meditation, and the dishes.

  

  Okay Germany?

  

  Most users report highly spiritual experiences, quitting alcohol and resolving interpersonal conflict.

• Travelling can slow down the ageing process better than any supplement has ever proven to do. Researchers found a significant link between good travel experiences and low-entropy states. This basically means that the body’s self-regulating systems work better when experiencing positive travel, and this slows down the ageing process. I think the biggest take-aways here are: could we recreate some of these experiences at home, and, we should never waste money on longevity supplements but buy plane tickets instead. Travel therapy.

  

  Positive travel experiences are described as novel surroundings, physical activities, healthy eating, social interactions, therapeutic destination landscapes and supportive facilities.

• October is breast cancer awareness month. Experts are calling for the recommended age to start screening to be lowered.

Chiquita bananas supporting breast cancer awareness month by tweaking their logo – a great reminder to check yourself.