In case you needed more proof that the connections between your physical, mental, and emotional self are unavoidable, new research published in the Journal of Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology provides evidence that your decision making is mechanistically related to levels of inflammation. In the study, levels of experimentally-induced inflammation (measured by levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the saliva) predicted something called “temporal discounting,” or the tendency to make decisions that favor smaller, more immediate rewards over larger rewards in the future.

While this is only one study and much more remains to be discovered, the implications here are powerful.

Opting for another scoop of ice cream now over a healthier you in the future? Sounds a lot like temporal discounting -- immediate (small) reward in favor of delayed (greater) reward. Those cravings you have when you’re sick? It just so happens that you’re inflammatory levels are higher when your immune system is fighting something off. The snowballing effect of eating a high sugar diet that leads to increasing cravings, or the perpetual listlessness that comes with a week of being sedentary, or the decisions you make when you’re stressed? These poor habits set off an inflammatory response, and the cycle continues. Feel free to let your imagination soar on the ways that your decision making is very likely affected by your general health.

There are no quiet, protected corners where your decisions exist without consequences. Good, bad, or ugly, it’s all connected.

- PS

6/6/19

• 3 rounds:

• 1 min max strict ring rows

• 1 min rest

• 1 min max strict HSPU

• 1 min rest

• * record total reps of each exercise

Then...

• 4 rounds of:

• 90s AMRAP

• 4 SB over shoulder (AHAP)

• 8 KBS (AHAP)

• 90s rest