Friends News #3 - Swaddles, Stones, and SSRIs

In this issue: the fastest-growing sport in America, why coffee makes you poop, and my recommendations for a sleep tracking app.

Interesting Links

My goal in sharing links with you is to entertain, add value to your life, or show you things you might have not seen before. It’s not to sell you anything.

☕️ Life Hack: Protein Coffee

If you remember from my last newsletter issue (Best Shape Ever), I’ve been increasing the amount of physical activity I’ve been doing. I realized that I wasn’t consuming enough protein during the days for my health goals. Enter protein coffee. Ricky and I buy vanilla protein shakes in bulk at Sam’s Club or Costco. In the mornings I prepare myself a double shot of espresso, combine it with a protein shake, add ice, and get a delicious drink with 30g of protein and only 1g of sugar. Some people prepare this by adding a scoop of protein powder to their coffee. Either way, I think this is a great way to forgo sugary creamers and get some protein in regardless of your gym status.

🛌 App: AutoSleep

Unfortunately, this app is only on the Apple app store. So if you have blue bubbles, read on. Sleep is incredibly important and something deserving of its own post on my blog soon. Time in bed doesn’t equal time getting restful recovery sleep and this app is something I’ve been using to help me track and do better. All I have to do is wear my Apple watch whenever I sleep and it handles everything. The next day I get reports showing sleep rings, how much deep sleep I got, whether I have sleep debt or sleep credit, a suggested bedtime, and more. It feels like a feature the Apple watches and health apps should already have. The app is $5, but I like that it’s a one-time purchase and not another one of those subscription services.

🎧 Becoming DO: Medical Student Podcast

Stanley Uche is the first roommate I had in medical school. He’s my dear friend, co-father to our beta fish Bartolomeo, my future surgeon, and now a podcaster! On his pod, he discusses all things medicine and life as a medical student. We did an episode together titled Latinx in Medicine. Something I’d like to clarify from my poor explanation on the episode is the difference between Hispanic and Latin(o/a). The term Hispanic refers to Spanish-speaking people from Spanish-speaking countries while Latin(o/a) refers to people from Latin America and the Caribbean.

📖 Book: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

This book is sweet, comforting, and like a warm hug. It renews your faith in humanity if you need it. It centers on a grouch of a man who dies and a ferryman who helps the dead cross over. The grouch, who spent his life at the office, isn’t ready to abandon the life he barely lived and when he’s given one week to cross over, tries to live a lifetime in seven days. The best comparison I’ve seen for it says it's A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place. So if you’re a fan of redemption stories or life after death, check this book out.

Medical Tidbit

Every issue of this newsletter includes a medical tidbit. I might share suggestions for health optimization or answer one of your health-related questions.

Today's Tidbit: ☕️ Why coffee makes you poop 💩