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.

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

Show sponsors:

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Related links:

Marta Zaraska - Growing Young (book)

Marta Zaraska's website

Follow Marta Zaraska on Instagram and Twitter

Marta Zaraska - Meathooked (book)

Michael Pollan (books)

The Gottman Institute - The Four Horsemen: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling (article)

Robin Dunbar - How Many Friends Does One Person Need (book)

Roseto effect (wikipedia)

My Random Kindness "Experiment" Cortisol Results

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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