lewrockwell--2020-07-27--How Intellectuals Cured ‘Tyrannophobia’

How Intellectuals Cured ‘Tyrannophobia’

Almost 400 years ago , English philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote a book scoffing at tyrannophobia—the “ fear of being strongly governed.
” This was a peculiar term that Hobbes invented in Leviathan , since civilized nations had feared tyrants for almost 2000 years at that point .
But over the past 150 years , Hobbes ’ totalitarianism has been defined out of existence by apologists who believe that government needs vast , if not unlimited power .
Hobbes ’ revival is symptomatic of the collapse of intellectuals ’ respect in individual freedom .
Writing in 1651 , Hobbes labeled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God.
” Leviathan signifies a government whose power is unbounded , with a right to dictate almost anything and everything to the people under its sway .
Hobbes declared that it was forever prohibited for subjects in “ any way to speak evil of their sovereign ” regardless of how badly power was abused .
Hobbes proclaimed that “ there can happen no breach of Covenant on the part of the Sovereign ; and consequently none of his subjects , by any pretense of forfeiture , can be freed from his subjection.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas Best Price : $ 2.48 Buy New $ 6.98 Hobbes championed absolute impunity for rulers : “ No man that hath sovereign power can justly be put to death , or otherwise in any manner by his subjects punished.
” Hobbes offered what might be called suicide pact sovereignty : to recognize a government ’ s existence is to automatically concede the government ’ s right to destroy everything in its domain .
Hobbes sought to terrify readers with a portrayal of life in the “ state of nature ” as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that made even perpetual political slavery look preferable .
John Locke , in his Second Treatise of Government published a few decades later , scoffed at Hobbes ’ “ solution ” : “ This is to think that men are so foolish that they take care to avoid what mischiefs may be done them by polecats and foxes , but are content , nay think it safety , to be devoured by lions.
” As Charles Tarlton , a professor at the State University of New York in Albany , noted in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Political Thought , Hobbes “ despotical doctrine ” rests upon “ an absolute and arbitrary political power joined with a moral demand for complete , simple and unquestioning political obedience and , second , the concept that no action of the sovereign can ever be unjust or even criticized.
” Hobbes ’ treatise succeeded in making “ Leviathan ” the F-word of political discourse .
In the century after Hobbes wrote , there was rarely any doubt about the political poison he sought to unleash .
David Hume , writing in his History @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s politics were fitted only to promote tyranny.
” Voltaire condemned Hobbes for making “ no distinction between kingship and tyranny … With him force is everything.
” Jean Jacques Rousseau condemned Hobbes for viewing humans as “ herds of cattle , each of which has a master , who looks after it in order to devour it.
” Terrorism and Tyranny : ... Bovard , James Best Price : $ 1.80 Buy New $ 12.84 Hobbes ’ views were derided as long as political thought was tethered to the Earth .
Unluckily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sever ties to both history and reality .
The most influential political philosopher of the 19th century may have been Germany ’ s G.W.F .
Hegel .
Hegel proclaimed , “ The State is the Divine Idea as it exists on earth ” and is “ the shape which the perfect embodiment of Spirit assumes.
” Hegel also declared that “ the State is … the ultimate end which has the highest right against the individual , whose highest duty is to be a member of the State.
” Hegel had a profound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and fascism .
Political scientist Carl Friedrich observed in 1939 , “ In a slow process that lasted several generations , the modern concept of the State was … forged by political theorists as a tool of propaganda for absolute monarchs .
They wished to give the king ’ s government a corporate halo roughly equivalent to that of the Church.
” By the twentieth century , as Tarlton noted , “ Hobbes ’ s interpreters and commentators had worked to make Hobbes ’ s appalling political prescriptions more palatable.
” Experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed tyrants were necessary to “ fix ” humanity .
The Best of James Bovard

Almost 400 years ago, English philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote a book scoffing at tyrannophobia—the “fear of being strongly governed.” This was a peculiar term that Hobbes invented in Leviathan, since civilized nations had feared tyrants for almost 2000 years at that point. But over the past 150 years, Hobbes’ totalitarianism has been defined out of existence by apologists who believe that government needs vast, if not unlimited power. Hobbes’ revival is symptomatic of the collapse of intellectuals’ respect in individual freedom.
Writing in 1651, Hobbes labeled the State as Leviathan, “our mortal God.” Leviathan signifies a government whose power is unbounded, with a right to dictate almost anything and everything to the people under its sway. Hobbes declared that it was forever prohibited for subjects in “any way to speak evil of their sovereign” regardless of how badly power was abused. Hobbes proclaimed that “there can happen no breach of Covenant on the part of the Sovereign; and consequently none of his subjects, by any pretense of forfeiture, can be freed from his subjection.” Leviathan (Penguin Cla... Hobbes, Thomas Best Price: $2.48 Buy New $6.98 (as of 03:30 UTC - Details)
Hobbes championed absolute impunity for rulers: “No man that hath sovereign power can justly be put to death, or otherwise in any manner by his subjects punished.” Hobbes offered what might be called suicide pact sovereignty: to recognize a government’s existence is to automatically concede the government’s right to destroy everything in its domain. Hobbes sought to terrify readers with a portrayal of life in the “state of nature” as the “war of all against all” that made even perpetual political slavery look preferable. John Locke, in his Second Treatise of Government published a few decades later, scoffed at Hobbes’ “solution”: “This is to think that men are so foolish that they take care to avoid what mischiefs may be done them by polecats and foxes, but are content, nay think it safety, to be devoured by lions.” As Charles Tarlton, a professor at the State University of New York in Albany, noted in a superb 2001 article in The History of Political Thought, Hobbes “despotical doctrine” rests upon “an absolute and arbitrary political power joined with a moral demand for complete, simple and unquestioning political obedience and, second, the concept that no action of the sovereign can ever be unjust or even criticized.”
Hobbes’ treatise succeeded in making “Leviathan” the F-word of political discourse. In the century after Hobbes wrote, there was rarely any doubt about the political poison he sought to unleash. David Hume, writing in his History of England declared that “Hobbes’s politics were fitted only to promote tyranny.” Voltaire condemned Hobbes for making “no distinction between kingship and tyranny … With him force is everything.” Jean Jacques Rousseau condemned Hobbes for viewing humans as “herds of cattle, each of which has a master, who looks after it in order to devour it.” Terrorism and Tyranny:... Bovard, James Best Price: $1.80 Buy New $12.84 (as of 03:10 UTC - Details)
Hobbes’ views were derided as long as political thought was tethered to the Earth. Unluckily for humanity, philosophers found ways to sever ties to both history and reality. The most influential political philosopher of the 19th century may have been Germany’s G.W.F. Hegel. Hegel proclaimed, “The State is the Divine Idea as it exists on earth” and is “the shape which the perfect embodiment of Spirit assumes.” Hegel also declared that “the State is … the ultimate end which has the highest right against the individual, whose highest duty is to be a member of the State.” Hegel had a profound influence on both communism (via Marx) and fascism. Political scientist Carl Friedrich observed in 1939, “In a slow process that lasted several generations, the modern concept of the State was … forged by political theorists as a tool of propaganda for absolute monarchs. They wished to give the king’s government a corporate halo roughly equivalent to that of the Church.”
By the twentieth century, as Tarlton noted, “Hobbes’s interpreters and commentators had worked to make Hobbes’s appalling political prescriptions more palatable.” Experts scoffed at “tyrannophobia” because they believed tyrants were necessary to “fix” humanity.
Read the Whole Article
The Best of James Bovard


lewrockwell--2020-07-27--Going into Wal-Mart Without a Mask

Going into Wal-Mart Without a Mask

Go to NoMask.info for our main index page , which contains a concise list of medical studies , testimony from medical experts , etc .
Previous : Entry Into Wal-mart Without A Mask ( 4 Video Interviews with non-mask wearers inside Wal-Mart ) You know , I ’ ve been going into Wal-Marts and other stores across the country without a mask since all this insanity began in March .
But when everyone started really cracking down and Wal-Mart enacted their new nationwide mask policy on July 20 , I wasn ’ t sure how things would go .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norman Vincent Best Price : $ 2.72 Buy New $ 5.95 I ’ m not one to shy away from confrontation by any means , ( some would even say I relish it- See this . )
but there ’ s something disturbing and evil about this whole forced-masking dynamic .
It ’ s very sad that we have to get ‘ a knot in our stomach ’ just going to get groceries .
Who would have ever dreamt even six months ago that we ’ d have to ‘ get ready for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle ’ to ‘ exert our rights ’ every time we went to the darn grocery store ?
In the past decades since 9/11 , perhaps such contentious and stress-causing confrontations only occurred when the TSA tried to grope us at the airport or if we got pulled over by a revenue agent traffic cop .
[ See this . ]
Yet here we are , and we have the choice to either ‘ take it easy and comply ’ , or to exert our God-given rights to breathe normally and be treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So the good news is , , as I began to do this more often , it became easier .
I think it ’ s very important to remain extremely calm and confident , that will give you the upper hand .
Try praying to God , your guardian angel and Saint Michael before you go in .
We ’ ve all seen these videos the corporate media loves to play , of alleged anti-maskers screaming like lunatics or getting violent .
We should avoid that at all costs .
Firebrand : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New $ 21.13 Last time I went into Wal-mart was in Missouri ; today it was Nebraska .
The store in Nebraska City , Nebraska , was astounding , it appeared to have 120 % compliance with the face diaper rule .
I was the only person without a mask .
The face mask ambassador at the door was very pleasant , no problemo .
Remember , Wal-Mart states on their own website : “ We know it may not be possible for everyone to wear a face covering .
Our associates will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce friction for the shopper and make the process as easy as possible for everyone.
” The Deep State : How an ... Chaffetz , Jason Best Price : $ 5.03 Buy New $ 17.05 Power Grab : The Libera ... Chaffetz , Jason Best Price : $ 9.54 Buy New $ 18.06

Go to NoMask.info for our main index page, which contains a concise list of medical studies, testimony from medical experts, etc.
Previous: Entry Into Wal-mart Without A Mask (4 Video Interviews with non-mask wearers inside Wal-Mart)
You know, I’ve been going into Wal-Marts and other stores across the country without a mask since all this insanity began in March. But when everyone started really cracking down and Wal-Mart enacted their new nationwide mask policy on July 20, I wasn’t sure how things would go.
The Power of Positive ... Peale, Dr. Norman Vincent Best Price: $2.72 Buy New $5.95 (as of 04:30 UTC - Details) I’m not one to shy away from confrontation by any means, (some would even say I relish it- See this.) but there’s something disturbing and evil about this whole forced-masking dynamic. It’s very sad that we have to get ‘a knot in our stomach’ just going to get groceries.
Who would have ever dreamt even six months ago that we’d have to ‘get ready for a fight’ and ‘go into battle’ to ‘exert our rights’ every time we went to the darn grocery store?
In the past decades since 9/11, perhaps such contentious and stress-causing confrontations only occurred when the TSA tried to grope us at the airport or if we got pulled over by a revenue agent traffic cop. [See this.]
Yet here we are, and we have the choice to either ‘take it easy and comply’, or to exert our God-given rights to breathe normally and be treated as a creature of God with dignity.
So the good news is,, as I began to do this more often, it became easier. I think it’s very important to remain extremely calm and confident, that will give you the upper hand. Try praying to God, your guardian angel and Saint Michael before you go in.
We’ve all seen these videos the corporate media loves to play, of alleged anti-maskers screaming like lunatics or getting violent. We should avoid that at all costs. Firebrand: Dispatches ... Gaetz, Congressman Matt Buy New $21.13 (as of 04:27 UTC - Details)
Last time I went into Wal-mart was in Missouri; today it was Nebraska. The store in Nebraska City, Nebraska, was astounding, it appeared to have 120% compliance with the face diaper rule. I was the only person without a mask.
The face mask ambassador at the door was very pleasant, no problemo.
Remember, Wal-Mart states on their own website:
“We know it may not be possible for everyone to wear a face covering. Our associates will be trained on those exceptions to help reduce friction for the shopper and make the process as easy as possible for everyone.”
Originally published on NoMask.info.
The Deep State: How an... Chaffetz, Jason Best Price: $5.03 Buy New $17.05 (as of 02:10 UTC - Details) Power Grab: The Libera... Chaffetz, Jason Best Price: $9.54 Buy New $18.06 (as of 04:27 UTC - Details)


lewrockwell--2020-07-27--Mental Health and the Pandemic: What Preppers Need To Know

One side effect of the pandemic and subsequent restrictions isn ’ t physical or financial – it ’ s mental .
Last month , The Psychiatric Times published an article about the “ mental health pandemic ” that came along with COVID-19 .
The health and financial costs of COVID-19 have resulted in widespread feelings of helplessness and overwhelming anxiety and despair in response to circumstances over which we have little or no control .
Chronic exposure to severe stress in the absence of control among countless millions constitutes a perfect storm , with severe mental health consequences on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depressed mood , suicide , and posttraumatic stress disorder .
Individuals who were already struggling with mental illness before COVID-19 are now facing even greater challenges… Historically , increases in rates of severe mental illnesses have often followed in the aftermath of national crises .
For example , during the decade of the Great Depression from 1929 to 1939 , the suicide rate rose from 13.9 to 17.4 per 100,000 .
Traumatic memories of surviving years of hardship during the Great Depression resulted in high rates of anxiety and depressed mood for generations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and well-being of the lower income segment of the population , all socioeconomic groups are negatively impacted .
Long Term Dehydrated F ... Buy New $ 375.00 A second wave of the pandemic will be driven by intense feelings of anxiety and despair in a world that is no longer predictable and safe due to high rates of unemployment and homelessness coupled with traumatic memories of surviving one ’ s own brush with COVID-19 or the death of a partner , parent , or loved one .
( source ) Mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best of times in the United States ( here ’ s a pill for that ) , and this certainly isn ’ t the best of times .
People have self-reported significant increases in feelings of depression , anxiety , and hopelessness .
Certain groups are having a more difficult time than others : healthcare workers , mothers , college students , and pregnant women are struggling to deal with uncertainty , fear , and loss .
Alcohol sales have skyrocketed and social isolation has been linked to an increase in suicidal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are at higher risk of a bad outcome if they get COVID .
The elderly and those who have chronic health conditions , in particular , are dealing with stress and isolation .
Their loved ones are staying away to keep them safe , but perhaps the loneliness is just as dangerous in another way .
I ’ ve got friends who have relatives in nursing homes who haven ’ t been able to see family members for six months , and those patients are declining fast without the love and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preppers ready for this ?
Even among those of us who are prepared for interruptions in our day to day lives , the effect on mental health has been something many didn ’ t expect .
I ’ ve written a bit about the emotional aspects of the pandemic .
I wrote an article about how , even though I ’ d planned for this and prepared for it , it still felt somewhat unreal to me .
I also wrote about how the uncertainty of the situation was taking a toll on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The comments on both of these articles told me I was not alone in the way I felt .
Mental health , however , was the one aspect many preppers weren ’ t quite ready for : how do you help someone accept that the life they had planned is no longer an option , at least not now ?
How do you help someone accept the fact that the world will never go “ back to normal ?
” 12 Rules for Life : An ... Jordan B. Peterson Best Price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the same time , there are many people in the preparedness and survival world who are dealing with the pandemic by denouncing it as a fraud or a hoax .
It could be that the government response was inappropriate , but being angry about it doesn ’ t change it .
Just because preppers didn ’ t get the apocalypse they ’ d planned for doesn ’ t mean that this situation is not life-altering .
We still have to cope with a whole new set of rules and norms or risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can rage on the internet all you want , but it doesn ’ t change these facts : • Masks , and whether or not you agree to wear them have become a symbol that is almost tribal in nature .
• There are many businesses and public buildings you can not enter without a mask .
( Walmart and McDonalds have recently announced this requirement ) • Workplaces may require masks , gloves , temperature checks , and other measures for employees .
• Travel outside the United States is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been lost and are never coming back .
• Schools are reopening in ways that are unrecognizable .
• Nursing homes and hospitals are not allowing visitors and loved ones are dying alone .
All of these changes are difficult for just about anyone , and particularly so for those who disbelieve the seriousness of the virus .
I recently spoke to a person in her 80s who said , “ It feels like they ’ re taking away my whole life.
” How can you help those who are struggling with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s you or someone you love , there are some things you can do to help those who are currently feeling the effects of fear , depression , anxiety , uncertainty , and isolation .
Some of these things I ’ ve mentioned in previous articles but they bear repeating .
Make sure the person knows they are not alone .
It can help to know that others are feeling the same emotions and stresses .
As well , regular phone calls , chats on VOIP platforms like Skype , and socially distanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bright spot for someone who is feeling isolated .
Wise Company Emergency ... Buy New $ 219.99 ( $ 1.96 / oz ) Stop focusing on things “ going back to normal.
” If you keep wishing for things to go back to how they were before , I ’ m afraid you ’ re going to be in for a constant disappointment .
Many aspects of our lives have changed irrevocably .
One of the things that Selco talks about over and over is the importance of adapting to the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this one is no different .
Make plans every day .
If you aren ’ t working , or if you ’ re working from home , you still need to make plans .
Create a schedule for yourself .
Don ’ t just lay there on the sofa watching Netflix and Amazon Prime all day long .
It ’ s not good for you .
Get up and get dressed ( not necessarily office-dressed but don ’ t wear the same thing to live in and sleep in for three days in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nutrient-rich meals you ’ re going to make that day .
Think about how you ’ ll exercise – will it be a walk with the dogs around the neighborhood or will you go to a nearby hiking trail ?
What work do you need to get accomplished ?
What room are you going to deep clean ?
Write it all down on a whiteboard or a piece of paper on the fridge so everybody knows what ’ s on the day ’ s agenda .
Don ’ t lay around watching television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at which you ’ ll watch a movie or show online .
I ’ ve worked from home for years , and one rule I ’ ve held for myself throughout it is that we don ’ t turn on Netflix until it ’ s getting dark .
That means in the summer , it ’ s later because we can spend time doing things outdoors during the nice weather .
If you start watching while you have lunch it ’ s way to easy to get sucked into a series and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s bedtime and you never accomplished anything .
This isn ’ t healthy mentally or physically so I strongly advise that if you are a television viewer or a person who likes to stream shows you limit this to evenings .
Prepare for what you can .
We all know that we need to prep with the basics of food , water , seeds , tools , and the like .
This doesn ’ t really change , regardless of what the future holds .
So keep doing what you can to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of things are out of our hands but you can control what is within your power .
We know that things will most likely continue to deteriorate and that we could be in for a second wave .
So continuing to stock up as you can ( even a little bit at a time ) is just as important as ever .
Don ’ t consume a constant diet of bad news .
I spend a lot of time researching this virus , the effects on our economy , how it has decimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heartbreaking stories of loss .
I ’ ve been doing this since January 20th , when it first really appeared on my radar .
I do not advise it to anyone .
It can be hard to see the light when you spend your time delving into the darkness .
I ’ ve been doing this for years and can compartmentalize to some degree , but this has been a long haul .
Limit the amount of time you spend reading about this outbreak and the difficulties surrounding it .
Unless your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about COVID-19 and its effect on the world , you can stay informed reading about it for 30 minutes a day instead of 6 hours a day .
Trust me when I say this : your outlook will become much brighter when your day is not filled by press conferences , the follies of incompetent government officials , and stories of suffering .
Here are some tips on handling a barrage of terrible events .
Fortitude : American Re ... Crenshaw , Dan Buy New $ 24.26 Enjoy making healthful , home-cooked meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you didn ’ t have time to cook ?
Now , if you ’ re currently out of work , you finally have time to cook .
Don ’ t just heat up frozen pizza after frozen pizza !
Get in that kitchen and whip up all those tasty delights you ’ ve wanted to make for years .
Learn to bake bread if you don ’ t know how to do so .
Cook things that take half a day to prepare .
Make every tiny detail from scratch .
Set the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your food the showcase it deserves .
Work on some projects you never had time to do before .
What projects have you always put off because you didn ’ t have the time ?
We ’ re currently converting a storage room in my daughter ’ s small apartment into a second bedroom since it looks like I ’ m going to be here for a while .
We ’ ve been going through the boxes of our past and enjoying the walk down memory lane .
I ’ m finally getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re devising clever storage methods and purging things we don ’ t need .
Soon we ’ ll have an adorable tiny room off the laundry room for some much needed extra space .
After that , we ’ re building some shelves with curtains in front of them for the kitchen to put away our canned and boxed goods , hidden from prying eyes .
We also each have some craft projects on the go for entertainment because productive hobbies are always a great idea .
Spend time outdoors .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time outdoors .
You can still be socially distant while getting fresh air .
Avoid the clusters of humans and walk the challenging trails at your local hiking place .
Or go early in the day while everybody else is still sleeping in .
Getting some fresh air , exercise , and sunshine is healthy for both your body and your mind .
If you can ’ t go out for a walk , at the very least , sit on your balcony or patio and read for a while .
Find something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
An attitude of gratitude makes tough times easier to stomach .
Even now , there are things for which we can be grateful .
I am spending time with my daughter and talking regularly on the phone to my other daughter .
I am enjoying the blossoming of the spring flowers – always a favorite time of year for me .
I am grateful that for now , I still have work online .
I ’ m grateful my daughter is no longer working in retail during this outbreak and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m grateful I have the time to cook delicious meals , experience my daughter ’ s cooking ( she ’ s really good at it ) , and spend some bonus time with her .
We have two dogs to walk and two cats to cuddle .
Life could be much , much worse so take a moment to appreciate what you have right now .
Focus on the things you can do something about .
We can ’ t change the government ’ s response to the virus .
We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shortages or the increasing cost of just about everything .
But we can control what we plant in our garden , what books we read , and the skills we learn .
Here are some more thoughts about what you can change and what you can ’ t .
Make sure your loved ones know that they are loved .
Check up on them , even if you ’ re feeling blue yourself .
Don ’ t let too much time go past without a phone call or an email .
Reaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it is for them .
LifeStraw Personal Wat ... Best Price : null Buy New $ 14.99 Get professional help .
If you or someone you know is truly struggling and it is beyond the help of these small steps , don ’ t be afraid to get professional help .
Interestingly , mental health care is actually a bit easier to access now with the advent of telehealth and online counseling .
Depression , anxiety , and PTSD are not things of which you should be ashamed and you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Below , find some numbers and websites where you may be able to access assistance for yourself or a loved one .
• SAMHSA ’ s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP ( 4357 ) – they can help you find resources for mental health crises or addiction either nearby or online • Call 1-800-273-TALK ( 8255 ) ; En Español 1-888-628-9454 The Lifeline is a free , confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day , seven days a week .
The Lifeline connects callers to the nearest crisis center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals .
People who are deaf , hard of hearing , or have hearing loss can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889 .
• Text “ HELLO ” to 741741 The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day , seven days a week throughout the U.S .
The Crisis Text Line serves anyone , in any type of crisis , connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information .
• Call 1-800-273-TALK ( 8255 ) and press 1 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a free , confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day , seven days a week with a trained responder .
The service is available to all veterans , even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare .
People who are deaf , hard of hearing , or have hearing loss can call 1-800-799-4889 .
• Disaster Distress Helpline Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “ TalkWithUs ” to 66746 The disaster distress helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helpline is free , multilingual , confidential , and available 24 hours a day , seven days a week .
View the NIMH 5 action steps for helping someone in emotional pain infographic to see how you can help those in distress .
( source ) The takeaway from all of this Please know that there is absolutely no shame in struggling with your mental health .
Sometimes it ’ s a chemical imbalance – and that is completely outside of your control .
Other times it ’ s situational – and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside your control .
Reach out to your doctor or to one of the resources above if it is too much to handle on your own .
As well , we need to understand that this event has been SHTF-lite .
While many of our lives will never be the same , due to the loss of a loved one , the loss of financial security , or the loss of a business , we aren ’ t dealing with an apocalyptic scenario in which resources are so limited that people are willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were planning to give your family for dinner .
We still have access to an abundance of resources where we can get help or help the people we love .
It ’ s better to understand now how we deal with crisis scenarios and learn to prepare for it .
Don ’ t hesitate to get the help you need and don ’ t hesitate to encourage the ones you love to reach out for help either .
This can help us better predict how we and the ones we love will react @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can use this time to become better prepared for the possibility of mental health effects during a future crisis .
Reprinted with permission from The Organic Prepper .
The Best of Daisy Luther

One side effect of the pandemic and subsequent restrictions isn’t physical or financial – it’s mental.
Last month, The Psychiatric Times published an article about the “mental health pandemic” that came along with COVID-19.
The health and financial costs of COVID-19 have resulted in widespread feelings of helplessness and overwhelming anxiety and despair in response to circumstances over which we have little or no control. Chronic exposure to severe stress in the absence of control among countless millions constitutes a perfect storm, with severe mental health consequences on a global scale, including increased rates of depressed mood, suicide, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Individuals who were already struggling with mental illness before COVID-19 are now facing even greater challenges… Historically, increases in rates of severe mental illnesses have often followed in the aftermath of national crises. For example, during the decade of the Great Depression from 1929 to 1939, the suicide rate rose from 13.9 to 17.4 per 100,000. Traumatic memories of surviving years of hardship during the Great Depression resulted in high rates of anxiety and depressed mood for generations. Although economic downturns disproportionately affected the health and well-being of the lower income segment of the population, all socioeconomic groups are negatively impacted. Long Term Dehydrated F... Buy New $375.00 (as of 04:28 UTC - Details) A second wave of the pandemic will be driven by intense feelings of anxiety and despair in a world that is no longer predictable and safe due to high rates of unemployment and homelessness coupled with traumatic memories of surviving one’s own brush with COVID-19 or the death of a partner, parent, or loved one. (source)
Mental health issues have not be handled well in the best of times in the United States (here’s a pill for that), and this certainly isn’t the best of times. People have self-reported significant increases in feelings of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. Certain groups are having a more difficult time than others: healthcare workers, mothers, college students, and pregnant women are struggling to deal with uncertainty, fear, and loss. Alcohol sales have skyrocketed and social isolation has been linked to an increase in suicidal behaviors.
Others who are suffering are people who are at higher risk of a bad outcome if they get COVID. The elderly and those who have chronic health conditions, in particular, are dealing with stress and isolation. Their loved ones are staying away to keep them safe, but perhaps the loneliness is just as dangerous in another way. I’ve got friends who have relatives in nursing homes who haven’t been able to see family members for six months, and those patients are declining fast without the love and presence of their family members.
Were preppers ready for this?
Even among those of us who are prepared for interruptions in our day to day lives, the effect on mental health has been something many didn’t expect.
I’ve written a bit about the emotional aspects of the pandemic. I wrote an article about how, even though I’d planned for this and prepared for it, it still felt somewhat unreal to me. I also wrote about how the uncertainty of the situation was taking a toll on members of my family and my friends. The comments on both of these articles told me I was not alone in the way I felt.
Mental health, however, was the one aspect many preppers weren’t quite ready for: how do you help someone accept that the life they had planned is no longer an option, at least not now? How do you help someone accept the fact that the world will never go “back to normal?” 12 Rules for Life: An ... Jordan B. Peterson Best Price: $8.00 Buy New $11.56 (as of 10:53 UTC - Details)
At the same time, there are many people in the preparedness and survival world who are dealing with the pandemic by denouncing it as a fraud or a hoax.
It could be that the government response was inappropriate, but being angry about it doesn’t change it. Just because preppers didn’t get the apocalypse they’d planned for doesn’t mean that this situation is not life-altering. We still have to cope with a whole new set of rules and norms or risk financial – or even criminal – repercussions. You can rage on the internet all you want, but it doesn’t change these facts:
All of these changes are difficult for just about anyone, and particularly so for those who disbelieve the seriousness of the virus. I recently spoke to a person in her 80s who said, “It feels like they’re taking away my whole life.”
How can you help those who are struggling with mental health issues?
Whether it’s you or someone you love, there are some things you can do to help those who are currently feeling the effects of fear, depression, anxiety, uncertainty, and isolation. Some of these things I’ve mentioned in previous articles but they bear repeating.
Make sure the person knows they are not alone. It can help to know that others are feeling the same emotions and stresses. As well, regular phone calls, chats on VOIP platforms like Skype, and socially distanced visits that take place outdoors can be a bright spot for someone who is feeling isolated. Wise Company Emergency... Buy New $219.99 ($1.96 / oz) (as of 04:28 UTC - Details)
Stop focusing on things “going back to normal.” If you keep wishing for things to go back to how they were before, I’m afraid you’re going to be in for a constant disappointment. Many aspects of our lives have changed irrevocably. One of the things that Selco talks about over and over is the importance of adapting to the new rules when your situation changes, and this one is no different.
Make plans every day. If you aren’t working, or if you’re working from home, you still need to make plans. Create a schedule for yourself. Don’t just lay there on the sofa watching Netflix and Amazon Prime all day long. It’s not good for you. Get up and get dressed (not necessarily office-dressed but don’t wear the same thing to live in and sleep in for three days in a row.) Figure out what nutrient-rich meals you’re going to make that day. Think about how you’ll exercise – will it be a walk with the dogs around the neighborhood or will you go to a nearby hiking trail? What work do you need to get accomplished? What room are you going to deep clean? Write it all down on a whiteboard or a piece of paper on the fridge so everybody knows what’s on the day’s agenda.
Don’t lay around watching television all day. Set yourself a time at which you’ll watch a movie or show online. I’ve worked from home for years, and one rule I’ve held for myself throughout it is that we don’t turn on Netflix until it’s getting dark. That means in the summer, it’s later because we can spend time doing things outdoors during the nice weather. If you start watching while you have lunch it’s way to easy to get sucked into a series and the next thing you know, it’s bedtime and you never accomplished anything. This isn’t healthy mentally or physically so I strongly advise that if you are a television viewer or a person who likes to stream shows you limit this to evenings.
Prepare for what you can. We all know that we need to prep with the basics of food, water, seeds, tools, and the like. This doesn’t really change, regardless of what the future holds. So keep doing what you can to build up supplies and skills. A lot of things are out of our hands but you can control what is within your power. We know that things will most likely continue to deteriorate and that we could be in for a second wave. So continuing to stock up as you can (even a little bit at a time) is just as important as ever.
Don’t consume a constant diet of bad news. I spend a lot of time researching this virus, the effects on our economy, how it has decimated other parts of the world, reading the heartbreaking stories of loss. I’ve been doing this since January 20th, when it first really appeared on my radar. I do not advise it to anyone. It can be hard to see the light when you spend your time delving into the darkness. I’ve been doing this for years and can compartmentalize to some degree, but this has been a long haul. Limit the amount of time you spend reading about this outbreak and the difficulties surrounding it. Unless your job depends on you knowing every detail about COVID-19 and its effect on the world, you can stay informed reading about it for 30 minutes a day instead of 6 hours a day. Trust me when I say this: your outlook will become much brighter when your day is not filled by press conferences, the follies of incompetent government officials, and stories of suffering. Here are some tips on handling a barrage of terrible events. Fortitude: American Re... Crenshaw, Dan Buy New $24.26 (as of 02:51 UTC - Details)
Enjoy making healthful, home-cooked meals. Remember all those times you said you didn’t have time to cook? Now, if you’re currently out of work, you finally have time to cook. Don’t just heat up frozen pizza after frozen pizza! Get in that kitchen and whip up all those tasty delights you’ve wanted to make for years. Learn to bake bread if you don’t know how to do so. Cook things that take half a day to prepare. Make every tiny detail from scratch. Set the table with the nice china and give your food the showcase it deserves.
Work on some projects you never had time to do before. What projects have you always put off because you didn’t have the time? We’re currently converting a storage room in my daughter’s small apartment into a second bedroom since it looks like I’m going to be here for a while. We’ve been going through the boxes of our past and enjoying the walk down memory lane. I’m finally getting all this stuff into scrapbooks. We’re devising clever storage methods and purging things we don’t need. Soon we’ll have an adorable tiny room off the laundry room for some much needed extra space. After that, we’re building some shelves with curtains in front of them for the kitchen to put away our canned and boxed goods, hidden from prying eyes. We also each have some craft projects on the go for entertainment because productive hobbies are always a great idea.
Spend time outdoors. If your municipality allows it, spend some time outdoors. You can still be socially distant while getting fresh air. Avoid the clusters of humans and walk the challenging trails at your local hiking place. Or go early in the day while everybody else is still sleeping in. Getting some fresh air, exercise, and sunshine is healthy for both your body and your mind. If you can’t go out for a walk, at the very least, sit on your balcony or patio and read for a while.
Find something to be thankful for as often as possible. An attitude of gratitude makes tough times easier to stomach. Even now, there are things for which we can be grateful. I am spending time with my daughter and talking regularly on the phone to my other daughter. I am enjoying the blossoming of the spring flowers – always a favorite time of year for me. I am grateful that for now, I still have work online. I’m grateful my daughter is no longer working in retail during this outbreak and that she’s safely home. I’m grateful I have the time to cook delicious meals, experience my daughter’s cooking (she’s really good at it), and spend some bonus time with her. We have two dogs to walk and two cats to cuddle. Life could be much, much worse so take a moment to appreciate what you have right now.
Focus on the things you can do something about. We can’t change the government’s response to the virus. We can’t change the supply chain or the shortages or the increasing cost of just about everything. But we can control what we plant in our garden, what books we read, and the skills we learn. Here are some more thoughts about what you can change and what you can’t.
Make sure your loved ones know that they are loved. Check up on them, even if you’re feeling blue yourself. Don’t let too much time go past without a phone call or an email. Reaching out is just as good for you as it is for them. LifeStraw Personal Wat... Buy New $14.99 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details)
Get professional help. If you or someone you know is truly struggling and it is beyond the help of these small steps, don’t be afraid to get professional help. Interestingly, mental health care is actually a bit easier to access now with the advent of telehealth and online counseling. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are not things of which you should be ashamed and you don’t have to handle it alone.
Resources
Below, find some numbers and websites where you may be able to access assistance for yourself or a loved one.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – they can help you find resources for mental health crises or addiction either nearby or online
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454
The Lifeline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lifeline connects callers to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889.
The Lifeline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lifeline connects callers to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. Crisis Text Line
Text “HELLO” to 741741
The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the U.S. The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information.
The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the U.S. The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information. Veterans Crisis Line
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 or text to 838255
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a trained responder. The service is available to all veterans, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can call 1-800-799-4889.
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a trained responder. The service is available to all veterans, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can call 1-800-799-4889. Disaster Distress Helpline
Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746
The disaster distress helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. The helpline is free, multilingual, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Augason Farms Lunch an... Buy New $62.68 (as of 04:28 UTC - Details )
View the NIMH 5 action steps for helping someone in emotional pain infographic to see how you can help those in distress. (source)
The takeaway from all of this
Please know that there is absolutely no shame in struggling with your mental health. Sometimes it’s a chemical imbalance – and that is completely outside of your control. Other times it’s situational – and in our current scenario, this is also outside your control. Reach out to your doctor or to one of the resources above if it is too much to handle on your own.
As well, we need to understand that this event has been SHTF-lite. While many of our lives will never be the same, due to the loss of a loved one, the loss of financial security, or the loss of a business, we aren’t dealing with an apocalyptic scenario in which resources are so limited that people are willing to kill to get the food you were planning to give your family for dinner.
We still have access to an abundance of resources where we can get help or help the people we love. It’s better to understand now how we deal with crisis scenarios and learn to prepare for it. Don’t hesitate to get the help you need and don’t hesitate to encourage the ones you love to reach out for help either. This can help us better predict how we and the ones we love will react during a more extreme scenario and we can use this time to become better prepared for the possibility of mental health effects during a future crisis.
Reprinted with permission from The Organic Prepper.
The Best of Daisy Luther


lewrockwell--2020-07-27--The Right Kind of Stress Can Make You Resilient to COVID-19

Siim Land has written an excellent book called “ Metabolic Autophagy : Practice Intermittent Fasting and Resistance Training to Build Muscle and Promote Longevity.
” 1 It ’ s a valuable synergetic companion to “ Fat for Fuel , ” as it delves into some areas I did not cover .
It compiles and presents all the basic science you need to know in a digestible format .
Here , we discuss his latest book , “ Stronger by Stress : Adapt to Beneficial Stressors to Improve Your Health and Strengthen the Body , ” 2 which came out July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really important concepts of hormesis and antifragility .
As it pertains to COVID-19 , evidence suggest if you can get two key variables right — a vitamin D level of at least 30 ng/mL ( 75 nmol/L ) and metabolic flexibility — your chances of getting sick from SARS-CoV-2 infection is fairly remote .
But improving your resilience against stress is also important .
Antifragility is a term coined by economist Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book , “ Antifragile : Things That Gain From Disorder.
” The term describes a state that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describes how stress makes you stronger rather than breaking you down or apart .
One of Land ’ s favorite tools for health and longevity is intermittent fasting , or more accurately termed , time-restricted eating , and one of the reasons for this is because it allows you to become metabolically flexible and insulin sensitive , which builds your antifragility .
So , time-restricted eating is a great way to get the benefits of calorie restriction without experiencing the negative side effects from it , because extreme and prolonged calorie restriction can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by triggering muscle loss , for example .
That will actually shorten your life span and make you more vulnerable to potential dangers in your environment , such as falling and breaking your hip .
Intermittent fasting can sidestep these negative side effects .
A persistent question surrounding intermittent fasting is what the best strategy is .
Should you eat just once a day , or can you get away with two or more meals as long as you eat it all within a certain time window ?
And , if so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Land comments : Now , if your intention is to build muscle , having two meals a day , within a six- to eight-hour window , would make more sense .
Having just one meal a day is likely better if you are seeking to lose weight , but might be challenging .
This is likely for the simple reason that you ’ re only going to build muscle when you activate mTOR , and to activate mTOR you need to introduce protein and leucine or branched-chain amino acids , along with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , six hours apart , you can activate mTOR twice a day , thus allowing you to get better muscle-building benefits .
As explained by Land : I found this advice personally helpful as I was pushing my eating window to four hours , but after Land related this commonsense strategy , I extended it to six to eight hours , which actually is easier on the kidneys .
Also , as noted by Land , pushing your eating window to be excessively narrow can backfire and slow down your metabolism .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if your body becomes too accustomed to the fasting because you ’ re eating only one meal a day all the time , then that can eventually slow down your metabolism and lower thyroid functioning .
This in turn makes you more prone to insulin resistance , which is exactly what you ’ re trying to avoid by eating just once a day .
KetoFast : Rejuvenate Y ... Mercola , Dr. Joseph Check Amazon for Pricing .
While carbs have gotten a bad rap , they are still an important part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you ’ re seeking to stimulate mTOR , carbs may be just as important as protein , because insulin secretion is a powerful activator of mTOR .
I believe carb cycling can be highly beneficial in this respect .
If you ’ re chronically low-carb , it will provide you with significant benefits initially , but long-term , it can backfire .
Land explains : KetoFast Cookbook : Rec ... Dr. Joseph Mercola , Pe ... Best Price : $ 7.32 Buy New $ 8.35 Land ’ s explanation above caused me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a more optimal schedule .
While nothing is set in stone and listening to your body is important , if you are not insulin resistant , I believe cycling in carbs once or twice a week and remaining low-carb , below 50 grams per day , the rest of the week is a good strategy , as nutritional ketosis has so many profound metabolic benefits .
That said , if you ’ re already insulin resistant , as 90 % of the population is , or diabetic , then adding carbs will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assess your individual situation .
If your metabolic flexibility is already good , then being on a restrictive low-carb diet isn ’ t really necessary anymore .
One excellent reminder in Land ’ s book is the importance of hydroxy methylbutyrate ( HMB ) , a metabolite of the branched-chain amino acid leucine , which is the most potent stimulator of mTOR .
To activate mTOR and boost muscle protein synthesis , you need a significant quantity of leucine , at least 3 grams .
I have a kidney damage from mercury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounts of protein .
The beautiful thing about HMB is it doesn ’ t stress the kidneys .
After reading “ Stronger by Stress , ” I started adding HMB to my breakfast as I wasn ’ t getting the minimum dose of leucine needed to activate mTOR .
Since then , I ’ ve noticed a significant change in my body ’ s ability to create more muscle mass .
Land comments : The Benefits of Heat-Shock and Cold-Shock Proteins “ Stronger by Stress ” also delves into the science of heat-shock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure to heat and cold respectively .
Heat-shock proteins repair misfolded proteins and RNA , increase glutathione and promote autophagy , among other things .
Cold-shock proteins also activate antioxidant defense mechanisms , and lower inflammation and oxidative stress .
Born and raised in Estonia , Land is familiar with the cold , and embraces cold exposure for its physical conditioning and mental toughness benefits .
In the interview , Land reviews some of his recommendations for high-intensity resistance training , such as doing multiple sets , split training and other strategies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As noted by Land , maintaining muscle and keeping physically active is probably one of the best things you can do to extend both your life span and health span .
Age-related muscle loss , called sarcopenia , is a significant threat to health that virtually no one can escape .
Use it or lose it applies here , and muscle is far easier to lose than gain , and its lost much faster than you can build it .
For this reason , I strongly recommend strength training for all ages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is you can effectively build muscle without risking injury from heavy loads by using blood flow restriction ( BFR ) training .
In Japan , where the technique was developed , it ’ s known as KAATSU .
You can learn more about the fascinating history of BFR in my interview with Steven Munatones , who brought this fitness system to the U.S.
It ’ s important to realize that sarcopenia is not just cosmetic , and it ’ s not just about frailty .
Your muscle tissue , which makes up about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is a metabolic organ , an endocrine organ .
Your muscle tissue makes cytokines and myokines , and is a sink for glucose .
Insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes accelerate sarcopenia , and research shows glucose fluctuations are independently associated with this condition .
As noted in one 2019 study,3 “ glucose fluctuations were significantly associated with a low muscle mass , low grip strength , and slow walking speed.
” The effectiveness of BFR for the prevention and reversal of muscle wasting is directly addressed in an April 2019 study4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Muscle : For a detailed discussion about the benefits of BFR and how it can be done , see “ Build Muscle Faster , Safer and Easier With BFR Training.
” In brief , BRF involves exercising your muscles while partially restricting arterial inflow and fully restricting venous outflow in either both proximal arms or legs.5 Venous flow restriction is achieved by using thin elastic bands on the extremity being exercised .
By restricting the venous blood flow , you create a relatively hypoxic ( low oxygen ) environment in the exercising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of physiological benefits , including the production of hormones such as growth hormone and IGF-1 , commonly referred to as “ the fitness hormones.
” 6 It also increases vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) , which acts as “ fertilizer ” for growing more blood vessels and improving their lining ( endothelium ) .
I believe BRF is one of the best strategies available to address the epidemic of sarcopenia,7 and for most people who are not competitive athletes it may be the only form of resistance training they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big fan of the KAATSU system,8 and uses it every day .
Bad Fats Are Worse for You Than Sugar Land also discusses the benefits and importance of omega-3 fats , and the hazard of vegetable oils and oxidized , rancid fats .
It ’ s important to realize that both omega-3 and omega-6 oils are integrated into your cell membranes .
While omega-3s make your cell membranes healthier , omega-6 fats from vegetable oils wreak havoc with your cellular metabolism , and have a half-life of 600 to 680 days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Knobbe .
I firmly believe , as does Land , that harmful oils and fats are far more hazardous to your health than added sugar and grain carbs .
One simple way to tell whether you might have a lot of bad fats in your system is to look at your skin .
The dark so-called “ age spots ” or “ liver spots ” many have are caused by lipofuscin .
Those spots can eventually disappear if you clean up your diet .
We cover a lot of ground in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the topics Land covers in his book .
For example , we touch on the harmful impact of high iron , which in conjunction with lipid peroxidation is particularly disastrous ; the importance of sleep and nose breathing ; and how to avoid mouth breathing while asleep .
We also discuss senolytic therapies — strategies that remove senescent ( old , damaged ) cells , thus providing antiaging benefits .
One of the most effective senolytic therapies , in Land ’ s opinion , is intermittent fasting .
Cyclical ketosis also helps clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as curcumin , EGCG , quercetin , resveratrol , sulforaphane and allicin have senolytic effects .
Because fasting is a powerful senolytic therapy , these compounds are best taken while you ’ re fasting .
So , for example , provided you ’ ve eaten your last meal early enough in the evening , take your supplement right before you go to bed .
That way , it can work for another several hours while you ’ re sleeping .
Land also discusses how autophagy and nutritional ketosis may help protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about all of these topics that we ’ ve merely scratched the surface of here , be sure to pick up a copy of “ Stronger by Stress , ” 9 which is a great follow-up to and continuation of “ Metabolic Autophagy : Practice Intermittent Fasting and Resistance Training to Build Muscle and Promote Longevity.
” 10 Both are excellent and well worth reading .
In closing , Land reminds us : The Best of Joseph Mercola

Siim Land has written an excellent book called “Metabolic Autophagy: Practice Intermittent Fasting and Resistance Training to Build Muscle and Promote Longevity.”1 It’s a valuable synergetic companion to “Fat for Fuel,” as it delves into some areas I did not cover. It compiles and presents all the basic science you need to know in a digestible format.
Here, we discuss his latest book, “Stronger by Stress: Adapt to Beneficial Stressors to Improve Your Health and Strengthen the Body,”2 which came out July 26, 2020. It reviews the really important concepts of hormesis and antifragility.
“Part of the reason I wrote the book was to help people become more resilient and more robust, because the world we live in is full of unpredictable challenges,” Land says.
“Pandemics and viruses are part of them, but there’s also other potential dangers like global warming or fluctuations in temperature, different kinds of physical challenges that have been a part of the human condition for eons. Stronger By Stress: Ad... Land, Siim Buy New $34.99 (as of 04:39 UTC - Details)
The modern human has become somewhat more fragile towards those things, and this kind of goes to show why most people just overreacted to the coronavirus and were really scared.
The book itself was meant to create more resilient people in the face of these unavoidable challenges of life, because you can’t really avoid them. You can’t create this bubble society where everything is perfect. We all come across different kinds of stressors all the time.”
Stronger by Stress
As it pertains to COVID-19, evidence suggest if you can get two key variables right — a vitamin D level of at least 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) and metabolic flexibility — your chances of getting sick from SARS-CoV-2 infection is fairly remote. But improving your resilience against stress is also important.
“If your body is unfit or lacking key nutrients, then even the smaller stressors in your life are going to become more dreadful. You’re going to experience chronic stress, and you’re going to overactivate the sympathetic nervous system, even if you’re stuck in traffic or if you spill a cup of coffee or whatever it is.
These small stressors can become really massive if your body is incapable of dealing with those stressors. On the other hand, if your body has been exposed to the right amount of stress at the right time, then it has also built up this higher level of stress adaptation and resilience. So, the small stressors are becoming literally meaningless. You have a bigger capacity to face even the larger stressors.”
What Is Antifragility?
Antifragility is a term coined by economist Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book, “Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder.” The term describes a state that is the opposite of fragility. Antifragility describes how stress makes you stronger rather than breaking you down or apart.
“[Antifragility] isn’t precisely the same thing as robustness or resilience,” Land says. “Something that is robust is something like a piece of stone or a metal. You can heat it, you can drop it on the ground. It’s not going to break, but it’s going to stay the same, it’s not going to change, whereas something that is antifragile is going to gain from the stress.” Metabolic Autophagy: P... Land, Siim Best Price: $13.48 Buy New $34.99 (as of 04:39 UTC - Details)
Time-Restricted Eating Builds Antifragility
One of Land’s favorite tools for health and longevity is intermittent fasting, or more accurately termed, time-restricted eating, and one of the reasons for this is because it allows you to become metabolically flexible and insulin sensitive, which builds your antifragility.
“A [2019] study in the New England Journal of Medicine found intermittent fasting mimics a lot of the same effects of calorie restriction. It can actually be somewhat more beneficial because it not only has life extension benefits, but it also turns on certain key defensive mechanisms inside a body that make it more antifragile and also provide additional health benefits.
One of those things has to do with autophagy, but there’s also things like increased glutathione, increased NRF2, sirtuins and NAD and many other longevity-boosting and immune-strengthening pathways that get activated when you’re fasting that don’t necessarily get activated when you are restricting calories.”
So, time-restricted eating is a great way to get the benefits of calorie restriction without experiencing the negative side effects from it, because extreme and prolonged calorie restriction can also leave you vulnerable and more fragile by triggering muscle loss, for example.
That will actually shorten your life span and make you more vulnerable to potential dangers in your environment, such as falling and breaking your hip. Intermittent fasting can sidestep these negative side effects.
Time-Restricted Eating for Muscle Building
A persistent question surrounding intermittent fasting is what the best strategy is. Should you eat just once a day, or can you get away with two or more meals as long as you eat it all within a certain time window? And, if so, how long can that window be? Land comments:
“I think there isn’t inherently much difference between eating one meal a day or doing the 16-to-8 type of intermittent fasting where you eat twice a day within eight hours because, already, if you’re fasting within one 24-hour period, then the fast itself isn’t substantially different. The amount of autophagy wouldn’t matter that much either in such a short timeframe, as long as you’re still healthy.” Fat for Fuel: A Revolu... Dr. Joseph Mercola Best Price: $7.40 Buy New $11.89 (as of 10:20 UTC - Details)
Now, if your intention is to build muscle, having two meals a day, within a six- to eight-hour window, would make more sense. Having just one meal a day is likely better if you are seeking to lose weight, but might be challenging.
This is likely for the simple reason that you’re only going to build muscle when you activate mTOR, and to activate mTOR you need to introduce protein and leucine or branched-chain amino acids, along with some healthy carbohydrates.
If you eat twice, six hours apart, you can activate mTOR twice a day, thus allowing you to get better muscle-building benefits. As explained by Land:
“What determines your muscle growth throughout the 24-hour period is the balance between mTOR stimulation and autophagy. So, if you’re eating only once a day, then the amount of mTOR stimulation is relatively small compared to eating twice a day or three times a day.
That’s why if someone has the goal of increasing their muscle mass, maintaining muscle mass or preventing sarcopenia, then for them it is much wiser to incorporate more frequent meals. For them I would say that a 16-to-8 type of fasting where they eat twice a day is perfectly suitable, and is actually better than the one meal a day.
It becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain muscle mass if you’re already predisposed to sarcopenia and you’re eating once a day, because there’s a threshold of how much mTOR you can stimulate per meal, and how much muscle protein synthesis you can create per meal as well. It doesn’t have to mean that you start eating six times a day. Increasing the eating window is generally a better idea.
For most people, I would say that the 16-to-8 type of fasting, where they fast for 16 hours and eat within eight hours, is a really good balance between getting a daily stimulation in autophagy, while at the same time also stimulating enough mTOR and being able to build muscle.”
I found this advice personally helpful as I was pushing my eating window to four hours, but after Land related this commonsense strategy, I extended it to six to eight hours, which actually is easier on the kidneys. Also, as noted by Land, pushing your eating window to be excessively narrow can backfire and slow down your metabolism.
In the context of stress adaptation and antifragility, if your body becomes too accustomed to the fasting because you’re eating only one meal a day all the time, then that can eventually slow down your metabolism and lower thyroid functioning. This in turn makes you more prone to insulin resistance, which is exactly what you’re trying to avoid by eating just once a day. KetoFast: Rejuvenate Y... Mercola, Dr. Joseph Check Amazon for Pricing.
Carbs Aren’t All Bad
While carbs have gotten a bad rap, they are still an important part of your diet. In fact, when you’re seeking to stimulate mTOR, carbs may be just as important as protein, because insulin secretion is a powerful activator of mTOR.
I believe carb cycling can be highly beneficial in this respect. If you’re chronically low-carb, it will provide you with significant benefits initially, but long-term, it can backfire. Land explains:
“Carbs can be useful for muscle growth, but they’re not a necessary part of it. You can stimulate mTOR and build muscle with protein only … but the insulin is still a very powerful anabolic hormone and it does help. It is possible to build muscle with a low carb or a ketogenic diet, but at the same time carbs can be also useful.
I do believe that chronic ketosis isn’t necessarily the best solution either, especially for metabolic flexibility because there are a lot of studies showing that chronic ketosis can eventually lead to insulin resistance or some mild forms of it …
I believe a more flexible approach is better in the long-term because you’re able to still use both. You’re still able to become a fat burner while at the same time you don’t become insulin resistant towards carbs either, and you can incorporate both.
In practice that would mean that people can do some form of cyclical keto diet, where they eat keto on some days but also incorporate some days where they eat more carbs to kick themselves out of ketosis, as well as break this mild insulin resistance that may develop. I myself like to eat keto on days where I’m not working out.
So, on my rest days where I don’t have a lot of physical activity, then it’s perfect to stay in ketosis and eat low carb because my body isn’t burning that many carbs for fuel either, whereas on days where I do high-intensity training or some resistance training, or on days when I want to really stimulate mTOR, and on those days, I’ll just have more carbs because the body uses carbs and glycogen during a workout.
If you eat carbs after a workout, then the body is already primed to use those carbs more efficiently instead of storing them as fat or instead of developing diabetes from it. So, it’s a perfect time to strategize or time your carbohydrate intake around your exercise.
Your body is the most insulin sensitive after a workout because the muscle contractions activate the glucose transporter GLUT4. Then you don’t even need insulin to shuttle carbs into muscle cells either. So that’s why having some carbs around a workout itself won’t necessarily be harmful as long as you are still metabolically flexible and you have metabolic health.”
KetoFast Cookbook: Rec... Dr. Joseph Mercola, Pe... Best Price: $7.32 Buy New $8.35 (as of 03:40 UTC - Details) Land’s explanation above caused me to change my own carb cycling to a more optimal schedule. While nothing is set in stone and listening to your body is important, if you are not insulin resistant, I believe cycling in carbs once or twice a week and remaining low-carb, below 50 grams per day, the rest of the week is a good strategy, as nutritional ketosis has so many profound metabolic benefits.
That said, if you’re already insulin resistant, as 90% of the population is, or diabetic, then adding carbs will be counterproductive, so it’s important to assess your individual situation. If your metabolic flexibility is already good, then being on a restrictive low-carb diet isn’t really necessary anymore.
Hydroxy Methylbutyrate
One excellent reminder in Land’s book is the importance of hydroxy methylbutyrate (HMB), a metabolite of the branched-chain amino acid leucine, which is the most potent stimulator of mTOR. To activate mTOR and boost muscle protein synthesis, you need a significant quantity of leucine, at least 3 grams.
I have a kidney damage from mercury poisoning that limits me from eating high amounts of protein. The beautiful thing about HMB is it doesn’t stress the kidneys. After reading “Stronger by Stress,” I started adding HMB to my breakfast as I wasn’t getting the minimum dose of leucine needed to activate mTOR. Since then, I’ve noticed a significant change in my body’s ability to create more muscle mass. Land comments:
“Using leucine or HMB can be really useful for getting more protein synthesis from less protein. You can get away with eating less protein and still getting the benefits of the mTOR stimulation. But I would say that leucine itself could be better than HMB by itself.
HMB has some anticatabolic effects, but most of those effects are mediated by leucine and mTOR itself. You could use both, but if you want to get more benefits from the mTOR and muscle growth, then leucine is probably more important than HMB.”
The Benefits of Heat-Shock and Cold-Shock Proteins
“Stronger by Stress” also delves into the science of heat-shock proteins and cold-shock proteins, activated by exposure to heat and cold respectively. Heat-shock proteins repair misfolded proteins and RNA, increase glutathione and promote autophagy, among other things.
Cold-shock proteins also activate antioxidant defense mechanisms, and lower inflammation and oxidative stress. Born and raised in Estonia, Land is familiar with the cold, and embraces cold exposure for its physical conditioning and mental toughness benefits.
“If you are habitually engaging in cold exposure throughout the entire year, then the winter itself becomes a piece of cake. It becomes less stressful on yourself and it becomes less damaging. You’re able to adapt to it faster than normal people.
If you’re constantly using central heating or you’re using the heating in your car and you’re never really exposed to the cold for any longer than a few minutes, then you’re missing out on the benefits of the cold shock proteins. You’re also making your body more vulnerable and more fragile, back to the original point that we talked about.
So that’s why I do it. The mental aspect is also really great. I used to take a cold shower every morning, and it really helped me develop more self-discipline and self-control.
The rationale for me was that if I’m able to start the day with a cold shower, then anything else for the rest of the day is going to be that much easier because I already climbed over this initial challenge.”
Muscle Building Is Essential to Avoid Sarcopenia
In the interview, Land reviews some of his recommendations for high-intensity resistance training, such as doing multiple sets, split training and other strategies that are also covered in his book. As noted by Land, maintaining muscle and keeping physically active is probably one of the best things you can do to extend both your life span and health span.
Age-related muscle loss, called sarcopenia, is a significant threat to health that virtually no one can escape. Use it or lose it applies here, and muscle is far easier to lose than gain, and its lost much faster than you can build it.
For this reason, I strongly recommend strength training for all ages, especially the elderly. The good news is you can effectively build muscle without risking injury from heavy loads by using blood flow restriction (BFR) training. In Japan, where the technique was developed, it’s known as KAATSU. You can learn more about the fascinating history of BFR in my interview with Steven Munatones, who brought this fitness system to the U.S.
Evidence has shown that BFR can counteract muscle wasting during immobilization or bed rest. Moreover, BFR has also been applied while performing low intensity resistance and endurance exercises and produced increases in muscle strength and mass.
It’s important to realize that sarcopenia is not just cosmetic, and it’s not just about frailty. Your muscle tissue, which makes up about half of your body’s tissues, is a metabolic organ, an endocrine organ. Your muscle tissue makes cytokines and myokines, and is a sink for glucose.
Insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes accelerate sarcopenia, and research shows glucose fluctuations are independently associated with this condition. As noted in one 2019 study,3 “glucose fluctuations were significantly associated with a low muscle mass, low grip strength, and slow walking speed.”
The effectiveness of BFR for the prevention and reversal of muscle wasting is directly addressed in an April 2019 study4 in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle:
“Muscle wasting leads to significant decrements in muscle strength, cardiorespiratory, and functional capacity, which increase mortality rates. As a consequence, different interventions have been tested to minimize muscle wasting.
In this regard, blood flow restriction (BFR) has been used as a novel therapeutic approach to mitigate the burden associated with muscle waste conditions.
Evidence has shown that BFR per se can counteract muscle wasting during immobilization or bed rest. Moreover, BFR has also been applied while performing low intensity resistance and endurance exercises and produced increases in muscle strength and mass.
Endurance training with BFR has also been proved to increase cardiorespiratory fitness. Thus, frail patients can benefit from exercising with BFR due to the lower cardiovascular and join stress compared with traditional high intensity exercises.
Therefore, low intensity resistance and endurance training combined with BFR may be considered as a novel and attractive intervention to counteract muscle wasting and to decrease the burden associated with this condition.”
BFR Summary
For a detailed discussion about the benefits of BFR and how it can be done, see “Build Muscle Faster, Safer and Easier With BFR Training.” In brief, BRF involves exercising your muscles while partially restricting arterial inflow and fully restricting venous outflow in either both proximal arms or legs.5
Venous flow restriction is achieved by using thin elastic bands on the extremity being exercised. By restricting the venous blood flow, you create a relatively hypoxic (low oxygen) environment in the exercising muscle, which in turn triggers a number of physiological benefits, including the production of hormones such as growth hormone and IGF-1, commonly referred to as “the fitness hormones.”6
It also increases vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which acts as “fertilizer” for growing more blood vessels and improving their lining (endothelium).
I believe BRF is one of the best strategies available to address the epidemic of sarcopenia,7 and for most people who are not competitive athletes it may be the only form of resistance training they need. Land, like me, is a big fan of the KAATSU system,8 and uses it every day.
“If I’m not doing an actual workout with them, then I’ll just use the KAATSU cycle, the on and off pressures. So even if I’m not doing an actual exercise with them, then I’ll still do the cycle to pump more blood into the muscle and accelerate recovery.
On other days, I’ll use [the bands while doing] biceps curls and pushups. With the legs, I’ll do squats and lunges, or just regular walking. I really enjoy them and I find that they accelerate recovery. Even if it’s not for the exercise performance, I think the cardiovascular effects are still worthwhile.”
Bad Fats Are Worse for You Than Sugar
Land also discusses the benefits and importance of omega-3 fats, and the hazard of vegetable oils and oxidized, rancid fats. It’s important to realize that both omega-3 and omega-6 oils are integrated into your cell membranes.
While omega-3s make your cell membranes healthier, omega-6 fats from vegetable oils wreak havoc with your cellular metabolism, and have a half-life of 600 to 680 days, as explained in my interview with Dr. Chris Knobbe. I firmly believe, as does Land, that harmful oils and fats are far more hazardous to your health than added sugar and grain carbs.
“The aspect of lipid peroxidation itself is also accelerating aging and causes carcinogenesis and also leads the creation or the accumulation of lipofuscin, which is this age-related wear and tear pigment,” Land explains.
“Lipofuscin also begins to cause cellular damage and inhibits autophagy. Again, once you have bad fats stuck inside your cell membranes, then burning fat itself also becomes an inflammatory act.
So, if you are fasting while you have bad fats inside your cell membranes, then you are leaching those same bad fats into your system, and that’s why you may get a lot of detox symptoms. You may actually feel worse from fasting or ketosis just because you’re burning the wrong fats that are stuck inside your body fat.”
One simple way to tell whether you might have a lot of bad fats in your system is to look at your skin. The dark so-called “age spots” or “liver spots” many have are caused by lipofuscin. Those spots can eventually disappear if you clean up your diet.
More Information
We cover a lot of ground in this interview, as we review many of the topics Land covers in his book. For example, we touch on the harmful impact of high iron, which in conjunction with lipid peroxidation is particularly disastrous; the importance of sleep and nose breathing; and how to avoid mouth breathing while asleep.
We also discuss senolytic therapies — strategies that remove senescent (old, damaged) cells, thus providing antiaging benefits. One of the most effective senolytic therapies, in Land’s opinion, is intermittent fasting. Cyclical ketosis also helps clear out senescent cells, and certain compounds, such as curcumin, EGCG, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane and allicin have senolytic effects.
Because fasting is a powerful senolytic therapy, these compounds are best taken while you’re fasting. So, for example, provided you’ve eaten your last meal early enough in the evening, take your supplement right before you go to bed. That way, it can work for another several hours while you’re sleeping.
Land also discusses how autophagy and nutritional ketosis may help protect against EMF damage. To learn more about all of these topics that we’ve merely scratched the surface of here, be sure to pick up a copy of “Stronger by Stress,”9 which is a great follow-up to and continuation of “Metabolic Autophagy: Practice Intermittent Fasting and Resistance Training to Build Muscle and Promote Longevity.”10 Both are excellent and well worth reading. In closing, Land reminds us:
“It’s important to engage in these small stressors that have a hormetic effect on a regular basis because they’re not permanent. You’re going to lose them if you don’t use them. So, if you don’t use the sauna, then you’re going to lose your ability to tolerate heat. The same applies to exercise, to fasting.
Those things should be a part of your regular lifestyle. They are really beneficial for your overall longevity as well as just resiliency against stress. So, I personally feel that doing intermittent fasting, cold showers, heat exposure — all those things have helped me tolerate stress in other areas of life much better.
I’m able to tolerate stress from work, I’m able to tolerate stress from other people so I don’t get triggered or I don’t get angry at other people. I’m not stressed out from those things because my stress resiliency is much higher than it is in the average person.”
Sources and References
The Best of Dr. Joseph Mercola