The Hidden Health Epidemic Nobody Is Talking About (& 6 Ways To Protect Yourself From It)

Ben Greenfield Life

I’m an introvert through and through.

A multitude of personality tests that I’ve taken, including the Quiet Revolution test and the Myers-Briggs analysis, have backed this up.

Perhaps it’s genetics or perhaps it’s because I was homeschooled K-12 in rural Idaho.

Whatever the case may be, I’m “that guy” at busy conferences who ducks away to my room to go recharge my batteries every few hours – something I can only accomplish by escaping the crowds and being entirely by myself. I thrive on long walks, multi-hour hikes and extended bike rides – usually alone.

I become exhausted at networking events and cocktail parties and often slip away early to sleep, to curl up with a good book, or simply to meditate and breathe.

Even at family events, I can often be found off in some quiet corner reading or strumming on my guitar or ukulele. As a matter of fact, when I was a child, my parents had to coax me, persuade me and yes, even threaten me with punishment, to actually get my nose out of my book and be gracious enough to ever so briefly emerge from my bedroom to say a quick hello to any guests we had at the house, after which I would subsequently rush back to my room and curl up once again with my book (I’d often read until 3 or 4am and consume several books each day and night!).

But at the same time, even though I’m completely happy being a loner, I now go out of my way to ensure that (as uncomfortable or unnatural as it was for me initially) I spend plenty of time carving out a couple hours each night for a family dinner and nighttime family rituals, for connecting with old and new friends, for attending networking events, for scheduling plenty of book signings and meet-and-greets, for traveling to crowded conferences and for actively engaging in local church, community and charity events.

In fact, if one didn't know better, they might honestly mistake me for a bit of a social butterfly.

So - aside from my desire to not be an arrogant, hard-to-approach, uncommunicative @$$hole - why have I begun to incorporate such a strong emphasis in my life on optimizing friends, charity, community relationships and love?

As it turns out, there is a fascinating link between love, family, social connectedness and relationships and a longer lifespan. I'm about to supply you with a host of practical love tips to include in your own life for a longer lifespan and better health.

After all, owning an amazing body and a sharp mind can all be for naught if loneliness, sadness, inflammation, high blood pressure and accelerated aging are all occurring due to a lack of friendships, social relationships, community, charity and love.

This podcast will teach you exactly why and how to include these important components into your own body, mind and spirit routine.

During this solosode, you'll discover: -How loneliness, or "social isolation" negatively affects your physical health...8:30

• Becoming more and more of a problem worldwide
• Correlated with the increased use of "social" media
• Physicians are simply not trained how to deal with it
• Can affect anyone, anywhere. Not limited to a particular demographic, i.e. introverts, socially awkward, depressed, etc.
• Affects a person physically as well as emotionally
• Ancestral roots of our social needs; "loneliness" meant the tribe had abandoned you.
• Dunbar's Number:
  • Total # of companions we can effectively socialize: 150
  • 12 people in an "inner circle"
• Social media is effective for facilitating community, but lacks the deep connections you get from face to face
• We don't know our neighbors by name and by face
• We're not experiencing relationships the way we're programmed to
  • Signals and "vibes" we give off in face to face

-The correlation between smartphone prevalence and loneliness...16:15

• Smartphone addiction and social anxiety
• Kids who spend more than 3 hours per day on a phone are at higher risk of suicide and depression
• "Not an exaggeration to say the iGen is on the brink of the worst social mental health crisis in decades..."
• Is it possible to develop personal relationships via an impersonal medium made up of algorithms?
  • Book: Reclaiming Conversations (link)
• Use of email depersonalizes social interactions
• Emotional intelligence suffers
• Book: I'd Like You More If You Were More Like Me (link)

-Practical things you can do to fight loneliness...24:12

• Book: Blue Zones "The power of love"
• It's more efficacious to give love than to receive love from others
• Expressing gratitude increases your empathy toward others
• Altruism: Helping others who are stressed helps with your own stress levels
• Don't be kind, help others etc. because you think it's going to improve your health; do it because you want to do it.
• Book: Never Eat Alone (Link)

-The chemistry behind face to face interactions...38:20

• Pacinian corpuscles; travels to the Vagus nerve
• Release of oxytocin (don't have sex before buying a used car)
• Seratonin (similar to anti-depressants)
• Pheromones

-6 ways to enhance your life and longevity with love...47:15

• Volunteer your time
  • Parents
  • Local schools
  • Churches
  • Nursing homes
  • Coach sports
  • Tutor
  • Deliver meals
• Throw dinner parties
• Find Meetups
  • meetup.com
  • Reddit
  • Apps: Scout, Excuses to Meet, etc.
• Church activities
• Renew forsaken family relationships
  • Family conflicts engender anger, bitterness, etc.
  • Direct eye contact significantly helps to communicate in difficult circumstances
  • Acknowledge your faults;
  • Book: The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Green (link)
• Reclaim real conversation
  • Louis C.K. with Conan: Digital conversations are less empathetic
  • Real conversation begins with solitude and self-reflection
  • Turn off notifications on your phone
  • Apps: App Detox, Flipped, Onward, Forest

-And Much More!!! Resources from this episode:

-The Christian Gratitude Journal

Episode sponsors:

-Kion Ancestral nutrients, modern molecules, clean energy bars and the purest coffee you'll find anywhere!

-Onnit 6 Kettlebell Transformation Program. A full-body, transformative workout you can do in the comfort of your own home in just six weeks. Receive 10% off your entire order from Onnit when you use my link!

-MVMT Watches Make your wrist a conversation piece. Take advantage of MVMT's year-end sale and take an additional 15% off your order when you use my link!

-WHOOP By wearing WHOOP 24/7, you'll unlock the secrets your body is trying to tell you. Get a $30 discount on your first 6 month membership, which includes the wristband, when you use code "ben" at checkout!

Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for me? Leave your comments at http://bengreenfieldfitness.com/friends and I will reply!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.