2024-06-05 12:54:23
Dear friend, dear friend,
In 1977, a study on cardiovascular risk changed… the world of psychology! (1)
This work aims to better understand how atherosclerotic plaque forms.
These plaques are leftover buildup in the arteries. They are made up of calcium, cholesterol and old fats. (2)
When these residues build up, they narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow while making them stiff. (2)
Observational study of white rabbits
At the time, the scientific community was seeking to better understand cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the Western world. (1)
The purpose of this study is to understand how these atherosclerotic plaques form and their impact on heart health.
Therefore, the researchers chose to study New Zealand white rabbits.
They feed them a diet rich in dietary cholesterol and bad fats.
They believe observing these malnourished rabbits will help better understand how mammalian heart health works.
Unfortunately, this harmed the rabbits’ health, but most researchers at the time didn’t really care about that.
A group that is different from other groups…
The rabbits are divided into different groups. Everyone is fed the same diet, which is very high in fat.
They all form atherosclerotic plaques.
The study’s first simple conclusion: Junk food is bad for rabbit arteries!
Researchers tend to think this is true for humans as well.
Cardiologists found what they were looking for.
End of story?
No, because a small group of irreducible rabbits (or almost) are resisting.
This group experienced a 60% reduction in atherosclerotic plaque, despite having a diet that was just as harmful as other groups. (1)
The researcher in charge of this study, Dr. Robert Nerem, is a conscientious person. (1)
He verified that the rabbits with resistant arteries followed the regimen to the letter.
He searched but found nothing.
Then he came up with a crazy idea that would change the course of learning and science.
The PhD student who takes care of these rabbits is a particularly caring woman.
She was deeply in love. This is his nature. When she takes care of the rabbits, she puts her heart into them in a way that no other lab worker does. (1)
Robert Nerem wondered whether the differences between rabbits in the doctoral group and rabbits in other groups were due to this.
Rabbit confirms: Being pampered is a good thing!
To test his hypothesis, he conducted another study, published in Science in 1980.
This time, treatment differences between groups of rabbits were voluntary and studied. (3)
All animals’ diets contained 2% cholesterol.
Then we divided into two groups of rabbits:
On the one hand, those who were pampered received all the attention and care the doctoral students in the new study could give; on the other hand, a group of rabbits received no special love.
Previous findings were confirmed: pampered rabbits had a 60% reduction in atherosclerotic plaque in their arteries.
The environment is important!
This work will be complemented by other behavioral studies, particularly in rats.
So a series of eight studies conducted between 1978 and 1981 by researcher Bruce K Alexander showed that happy rats were less likely to take drugs than sad rats. (5.6)
You might say, we would doubt that.
But the details of this work are still astounding.
We compared two different mouse lifestyles.
All rats had access to morphine-containing water or tap water.
On the other hand, the first group of mice was kept in a cage, while the second group was placed in a mouse park.
This mouse park is 200 times bigger than the cage. Rats have access to space, sizable social groups, games (roulette and other rodent entertainment), plentiful food, and more. (5.6)
In short, it was a rat’s paradise.
The mice consumed 19 times less morphine than caged mice. (5.6)
Kindness has become a Western value
All of this research changed the way North American psychologists viewed the mind-body relationship. (7.8)
Doctors were convinced, too.
This is largely due to the work of psychiatrist Dr. Kelly Harding, who wrote a book
Rabbit effect. (1)
She took over the work started by Dr. Robert Nerem in the 1970s and 1980s.
The book has been reviewed by many media outlets and highlighted by other researchers at different English-speaking universities.
Former President Barack Obama even used it as a communication axis. (9)
He wanted to encourage goodwill among his fellow citizens. (9)
There are even schools of kindness! (10)
At a time when armed conflicts are increasing around the world, this may seem trivial, even dangerous.
Furthermore, the concept of kindness is not always well defined.
On one side is the world of rabbits, kind of like the prey that all other animals love to eat, and on the other side is the world of humans, much more complex and violent.
In this world, kindness alone is not enough. It’s often a good thing to associate it with courage and the ability to face life’s difficulties.
Nonetheless, in my opinion, the “Rabbit Effect” teaches us three valuable lessons:
The body and mind are closely connected, and our attention to others affects cardiovascular health and therefore lifespan; social interaction is crucial: all the efforts you make to make life more enjoyable for your loved ones and for yourself are beneficial For everyone’s health; great discoveries in science are often unexpected: Dr. Nerem wanted to study the physiology of the heart and arteries and, above all, he revealed their physical and psychological power!
Doctoral students have a heart. His bunny is doing great!
Of course it’s yours,
Augustine of Liva
1723439031
#Institute #Natural #Health #Care #bunny #effect #live #longer #healthier
