Wasteland to forest, food pyramid, melatonin

Happy Friday my friend,

Meet the 71-year-old Turkish man who’s spent decades transforming this barren wasteland into a thriving forest of 11k trees. "I don't make any money from this, but it gives me happiness.” 🌲

ECL TRIVIA: What is the waxy protective layer on leaves that helps prevent water loss called? (Answer below)

🌎 Planet Health

🌎 INSPIRING SOLUTIONS: Countries around the world are solving environmental problems thought too big to tackle. Click here to learn about the cleanest and low-waste country in Africa, find out which country runs on almost entirely renewable energy, and where “record levels” of forest cover have been restored in one of the most densely populated countries on Earth.

🐆 NOT EXTINCT: For the first time in 30 years, this unique looking wild cat has been spotted in Thailand, giving hope to scientists and projects like Panthera, a wild cat conservation program, revived in 2021 by a former billion-dollar diagnostics company chairman— turned wildlife champion!

🌊 OCEAN PROTECTION: Across our global oceans, an area twice the size of Russia has been designated as a Marine Protected Area. 200 nations committed to protecting 30% of the land and seas by 2030 in 2022. Read more about the challenges and progress towards this goal here.

🧑‍⚕️ Human Health

🥕 NEW FOOD PYRAMID: New Dietary Guidelines for Americans were unveiled this week, prioritizing real, whole nutrient-dense vegetables, fruit, protein, dairy, and healthy fats, and explicitly discouraging refined carbs, added sugars especially for children under 10, and warning about the dangers of highly processed foods. Hit reply to let me know if you think it’s an improvement, or what you would have changed.

🧠 ULTRA-PROCESSED BRAIN HEALTH: A Harvard psychiatrist is warning that ultra-processed foods (high in sugar, additives, and low in real nutrients) can negatively affect mental health, perhaps more than previously thought. These foods increase inflammation, disrupt the gut-brain connection, and worsen mood, anxiety, and depression.

💤 MELATONIN RISKS: A new large study reveals an association between chronic melatonin intake among those with insomnia and heart failure risks. “Those who took melatonin for at least a year had a 4.6% risk for heart failure within the next five years compared to 2.7% for those who did not use melatonin,” this article states. “This research also highlights the importance of ruling out different causes of insomnia, particularly since the treatment market for insomnia aides [like melatonin] is not strongly regulated,” says a heart failure and transplant specialist.

23 Worst Products That Cause Inflammation In Your Body (New Checklist)

We’re swimming in synthetic stuff these days, and a lot of it lives right where we least expect it: our homes. The tricky part is not trying to be perfect. It’s simply learning the biggest “worst offenders” – and swapping them for cleaner options that actually make life easier.

That’s why I want you to grab Brian Vaszily’s new guide + printable checklist (Brian’s one of the most steady, research-minded voices I know in the longevity space).

Inside, you’ll learn to spot things like:

• Everyday kitchen items that can leach unwanted chemicals into food

• Laundry products that leave residues on fabric and in your air

• “Freshening” scents that quietly load your home with VOCs

• Common cooking materials linked to chronic inflammation signals

• Simple, safer replacements that don’t require a lifestyle overhaul

Get the book and get complimentary access to the World’s Best Longevity Summit happening soon!

Photo of the week

Trivia Answer:

The cuticle. This thin coating helps plants retain moisture and also acts as a first line of defense against pathogens.

🎥 PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE MUFFIN RECIPE

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...and a healthier planet:

• • Improve health awareness: Deep Dive articles & recipe videos
• • Protect ecosystems: expert video tutorials with leaders around the world
• • Prioritize mental health: custom meditations for relieved stress
• • Camaraderie: likeminded community (app coming soon!)
• • Inspiration: members-only ebooks, personal picks, and DIY ideas
• • Portion goes to support independent films, local food projects, and planting trees