Iceland

Today's resource comes from an actual book. Oddly enough, it's a kind of nutrition book for our modern era. I will admit that I have started watching a lot of videos on YouTube about diet and nutrition. They usually stray into talking about weight, and weight loss, but I'm picky about who I watch. I check out their credentials, and whether or not they are trying to make money off of it (books are allowed, product placements are not). I also listen to make sure they are offering sane ideas, and that they have research to back up what they are saying. I found Daphne Miller, MD this way, and her book "The Jungle Effect" which looks at diets for cold spots for disease. Believe it or not, Iceland is a cold spot for depression.

Iceland was actually one of the countries I've always wanted to visit. While I hate cold weather, I am intrigued by their hot springs, and the social culture that has grown around them (at least in books I read on the subject). Weather patterns also keep it warmer than its latitude would suggest, that helps, too. Iceland is also known as the land of the vikings, and they have a history of epic sagas to match. They are also billed as having the oldest democracy in the world.

The linked webpage talks about how the Icelandic people are a very homogeneous ethnicity. Thanks to "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me", I know that there was an app created for the people of Iceland to make sure that they are not hooking up with a relative since everyone is so closely related. Ah, the modern era. In reading further, I realize that I've been further north than Iceland. The arctic circle nearly touches the top of the country. I've sat on the arctic circle in Alaska, and been a bit further north than that. I will say that it is pleasant in the summer, but I certainly don't want to see the arctic circle in Alaska in the winter.

The book where I pulled this reference from posits that the low rates of depression have something to do with a diet high in omega-3 fats from all the fish they consume. As I was reading more about Iceland itself, I found that access to healthcare is cheap if not fully covered, and education through college is free. I can't help but think that those 2 factors would help contribute to  low rates of depression given how depressing our expensive healthcare and higher education systems are in this country. The author also talks about high antioxidant intake, in part from TEA! Yes, we had to get there eventually.



According to the highlighted blurb in the book, people often have a pot of Earl Grey bubbling away on the stove. Easy enough since I still have some loose leaf Earl Grey tea.




Just one more benefit of tea. Granted, staring down a cup of tea could be more depressing to people who don't like it, but I've started fantasizing about my annual birthday trip to one of my favorite tea shops (sorry, Earl Grey is not on my list to buy this year).

Comments

  1. Earl Grey is pretty popular in space, too, at least based on what I've heard about Star Trek.

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    Replies
    1. LOL, I haven't gotten as far as space yet. Someday I should watch Star Trek given where I live.

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