Good Morning! 🌞

Here’s a refreshing take on self-improvement by relationship therapist Esther Perel. Check out some of her other videos! Esther has helped me tremendously in having better relationships, both with my partner and my friends & family.

Health Science

How to Cut Your Risk of Prostate Cancer by a Third

A study conducted by a Swedish research team, and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, discovered a significant link between increased cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) activity and a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Specifically, men who enhanced their CRF by 3% or more annually were found to be up to 35% less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The research aims to motivate men to boost their fitness levels as a preventive measure against the disease, especially considering the limited known risk factors for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer stands as the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among American men, trailing only behind lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, this year alone, prostate cancer will claim the lives of 35,000 men and nearly 300,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States.

Although the link between physical activity and decreased risk for several types of cancer is well-documented, the relationship between exercise and prostate cancer has remained ambiguous. Prior research primarily focused on assessing fitness at a single moment, without examining the effects of fitness improvement on prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates.

To fill this gap, the team from the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH) set out to investigate if enhancements in men's fitness levels could reduce their risk of contracting the disease. "This is the largest study to examine the relationships between change in CRF and cancer incidence and mortality, and the first study to examine change in CRF specifically on prostate cancer incidence and mortality," explained Dr. Kate Bolam, one of the study's lead authors from the Department of Physical Activity and Health at GIH. She emphasized the importance of promoting cardiorespiratory fitness improvements among adult men to potentially lower their prostate cancer risk.

The researchers analyzed data from Sweden's national occupational health records, which included details on physical activity, lifestyle habits, health perceptions, body measurements, and results from at least two CRF tests involving stationary bike exercises to measure CRF performance in Zone 2 and VO2 max among 57,652 Swedish men.

Participants were categorized based on changes in their fitness levels and monitored from their last fitness assessment until their prostate cancer diagnosis, death, or the end of the study on December 31, 2019. Over an average follow-up period of nearly seven years, 592 men, or 1% of the participants, were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 46 succumbed to the disease.

The findings revealed that men whose CRF improved by 3% or more annually had a 35% lower risk of developing prostate cancer compared to those whose fitness levels declined, after adjusting for other influential factors. However, the observational nature of the study means it could not determine causative or genetic influences linking CRF and cancer risk.

Entertainment

Shogun - War, Passion, and Power

I recently saw the trailer for an upcoming historical drama. And it looks really good!

The upcoming TV show "Shogun" is a historical drama limited series based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell. The novel is renowned for its detailed exploration of Japanese culture and the complexities of political intrigue in the early 17th century, specifically around the year 1600. This period was crucial in the history of Japan, marking the beginning of the Edo period under the shogunate established by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The show is set to premiere on February 27, 2024, and will be available in the United States on Hulu, Disney+ (via the Hulu hub), and FX.

"Shogun" aims to transport viewers to feudal Japan at the dawn of a century-defining civil war, featuring a storyline that revolves around the power struggles, alliances, and cultural exchanges between the Japanese samurai and the foreign elements arriving on their shores.

The adaptation seeks to bring to life the intricate details of the novel, focusing on the clash and melding of Eastern and Western cultures, the strategies of survival and dominance, and the personal stories of love, ambition, and honor.

I will link the main trailer here if you want to check it out. Do note that the rating for the show is TV-14. So expect some depictions of violence and use your judgement accordingly.

If you are really into history like I am, or just want to learn some interesting things, I would recommend this YouTube channel’s reaction and review of the historical accuracy.

World News

Holocaust Survivor Discovers Long-Lost Cousin After 80 Years

Ann Meddin Hellman had pretty much given up on finding out more about her dad's family, thinking she lost them all during the Holocaust. But then, about five months ago, she found out she has an 83-year-old second cousin and Holocaust survivor in Israel.

“We knew his family was wiped out in the Holocaust,” the South Carolina mom and grandma told NBC News. “That’s been the family story I heard forever.” Thanks to a MyHeritage DNA test, she found Shalom Koray and learned about his tough survival story, adding a new chapter to their family history.

“We would have never found him,” she said. “No way I could have looked him up in a phone book or found him any other way. … I bet there would have been no other way besides DNA.”

Koray, who moved to Israel in 1949, was found abandoned in a potato sack in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1941 at 2 years old. Lena Küchler-Silberman, a well-known Jewish teacher and psychologist, saved him and around 100 other kids during the war. Now, more than three-quarters of a century later, a researcher digging into the history of those kids got Koray to take a DNA test, and Hellman got a second cousin alert.

“That’s pretty high up for not knowing who this person is. That’s a close relation,” she said. Hellman screamed when she heard about the discovery.

“My brother [Stuart] looked just like him,” she said. “He is definitely a Meddin.”

The plan is for them to meet in person, along with a bunch of other family members, this summer in Charleston. In a MyHeritage video, Koray said, “I was born into this reality and never knew anything else. I didn’t even know the concept of parents.” Now, Hellman is promising “the biggest hug” when they all get together, defying the odds that once seemed impossible.

Sports

Hamilton to race for Ferrari in 2025

Lewis Hamilton has announced his move to Ferrari in 2025, describing it as the realization of a "childhood dream." This major shift comes after an 11-year successful stint with Mercedes, where he claimed six of his seven Formula One world titles. His transition to Ferrari, set for next season, took the racing world by surprise, particularly since he had just extended his contract with Mercedes in August for an additional two years.

Speaking for the first time since the announcement, Hamilton conveyed his feelings through social media, expressing a deep sense of appreciation for this new chapter in his career. He stated, "I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfill another childhood dream, driving in Ferrari red." This move, according to Hamilton, represents one of the most challenging decisions he has ever had to make.

Hamilton also took a moment to honor his time at Mercedes, specifically acknowledging team principal Toto Wolff and the late team advisor, Niki Lauda, for their significant contributions to his career. Despite Mercedes' recent performance dips, Hamilton clarified that his decision wasn't influenced by these struggles but was instead motivated by the desire for a new challenge and environment in what he anticipates will be the concluding phase of his racing career.

Echoing his earlier career move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, which was met with skepticism, Hamilton highlighted the similarities in his decision-making process: "The time is right to make a change and take on a new challenge. I still remember the feeling of taking a leap of faith into the unknown when I first joined Mercedes in 2013... I’m excited to see what I can bring to this new opportunity and what we can do together."

Mercedes' team principal, Toto Wolff, has expressed unwavering confidence in Hamilton's commitment to the team for the upcoming season. Hamilton reaffirmed this sentiment, focusing on the immediate future with Mercedes: "I’m not thinking about 2025. My focus is on the upcoming season and getting back out on track with Mercedes. I am more driven than ever, I am fitter and more focussed than ever and I want to help Mercedes win once again. I am 100% committed to the job I need to do and determined to end my partnership with the team on a high.”

Mind Stretchers 

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What is the smallest number that increases by 12 when it is flipped and turned upside-down?

The answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretcher was:
The word “and” 😆

This riddle tricked a lot of people. The most popular answer was by far “Death”. Which more people guessed than the correct answer. Albert Knox was the first to get the correct answer.

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to this email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.