The Daily Valet. - 5/20/22, Friday
✔️ The Fountain of Youth?
Friday, May 20th Edition
Let’s end the week with a chaotic mix of testosterone and Mercury retrograde, shall we?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Is Testosterone the Fountain of Youth?
Ever wonder why old rich guys are looking a little more muscular these days?
There’s no one thing that makes you a “real man,” but your testosterone levels do play a pretty significant role. You could say it’s what separates the men from the boys—literally. But it also seems to be what’s helping old guys recover the vigor of their youth.
The hormone is responsible for regulating the male sex drive and maintaing a host of other critical functions: generating red blood cells, distributing body fat, preserving bone density, increasing muscle mass, and making sperm. A lack of testosterone—low T, for short—can impair those functions, and a simple blood test is all that’s needed to diagnose it.
After turning 30, most men begin to experience a gradual decline in testosterone. And while the FDA has cautioned against using the hormone for anti-aging, rather than treating a specific disease, boosting testosterone—either by stimulating the body’s natural production or directly supplementing it (with gels, creams, or injections)—has become a fashionable way to fight back against the passage of time.
Just ask Dax Shepard, Sylvester Stallone or Joe Rogan. They’ve all publicly sung the praises of T. Of course, speculation surrounds middle-aged rich guys like Jeff Bezos, who are suddenly turning back time and putting on muscle. One recent study found that the number of men on testosterone had quadrupled in the last decade.
It can seem like an almost magical solution, promising more energy, motivation, strength and confidence. But according to GQ, some doctors caution against turning to testosterone replacement right away if you’re feeling fatigued or less potent in the bedroom. Because you might be better restoring your T levels naturally by focusing on lifestyle changes.
Plus, if you’re interested in having children, there is a crucial caveat to consider. “I tell all my male patients that testosterone hormone therapy will shut down their own sperm production,” one doc told GQ. “But the things in the plus column for testosterone in most males, I think, are going to far outweigh the risks.”
↦ DIG DEEPER: There’s a lot of misinformation out there. Fatherly debunks several common testosterone myths.
Ukraine Dusts Itself Off and Continues
Moscow moves to Russify seized Ukraine land, signaling annexation
Russia says it has sent 900 Ukrainian soldiers to a former prison colony in a Russia-controlled part of Donetsk. And the Ukrainian president vowed to seek international help to save them. Amnesty International said that the POW status means that the soldiers “must not be subjected to any form of torture or ill-treatment.”
Meanwhile, the war is likely to continue throughout the summer and possibly beyond, despite signs that parts of the country are returning to some normalcy, reports NBC News. Many Ukrainians are only now beginning to count the cost of the destruction wrought by weeks of Russian shelling and occupation.
Fresh from its triumph over the last armed Ukrainian resistance in the devastated city of Mariupol, the New York Times reports that Russia appeared to be laying the groundwork Thursday for annexing swaths of southeast Ukraine, described by a high-ranking Kremlin official as having a “worthy place in our Russian family.’’
However, in some positive news, Congress cleared $40 billion in aid for the war-torn country on Thursday. It now goes to President Biden for his final signature. The bill is expected to finance the transfer of advanced weapons systems, such as Patriot antiaircraft missiles and long-range artillery. Also included in the bill is more than $8 billion in general economic support for Ukraine, nearly $5 billion in global food aid to address potential food shortages sparked by the collapse of the Ukrainian agricultural economy, and more than $1 billion in combined support for refugees.
↦ Firsthand Look: A celebrated Ukrainian medic recorded her time in Mariupol on a body camera and smuggled the footage out before she was captured by Russian soldiers.
Are Your Allergies Killer This Season?
Pollen seasons are becoming longer and more extreme
Anyone with allergies—and there were more than 24 million Americans diagnosed with seasonal allergies in 2018—knows that this time of year can be tough. The days are longer, but the trees and flowers are growing again which means pollen is suddenly everywhere.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you might have noticed a stuffier nose, itchier eyes and bigger sneezes this spring. And you're not wrong. Allergy season is worse than normal this year and, in fact, has gradually been getting more bothersome thanks to—you guessed it—climate change.
Due to warmer temperatures and increased pollen production, fall and spring allergies are occurring for longer periods of time each season and are affecting sufferers more intensely. A study published last year determined that the pollen season now starts about 20 days earlier than it did in 1990 and that seasonal pollen loads are around 21% higher than 1990 levels.
According to NPR, you can combat it at home by vacuuming more if you have carpets, making sure that windows are kept closed if a neighbor is mowing the lawn, checking local pollen counts, keeping your air conditioning on, and making sure that air filters are changed regularly. They also suggest removing your shoes when you come in from outside (but you should be doing that already).
↦ FYI: Medical costs linked to pollen exposure exceed $3-billion annually, with almost half of those costs linked to prescription medications.
Mercury Retrograde
How’d this become a thing and what’s it really responsible for?
Don't sign contracts or start new projects; hold off on buying electronics and don't plan on traffic moving smoothly: We hear all sorts of warnings when Mercury appears to reverse course in the night sky—going from east to west in “retrograde” motion. But did you know that it isn't actually moving backward; it's an illusion created by the fact that Earth and Mercury go around the sun at different speeds. Yeah, I didn't know that either.
Kate Trgovac, the founder of Is Mercury In Retrograde.com, which provides a simple yes or no answer to the question, told Harper's Bazaar she created the site in 2009 but started seeing an uptick in traffic in mid-2011. Apparently that's when social media helped fan the flames of an astrological obsession that had already taken hold.
There's a misconception that Mercury retrogrades are surprising, rare and random. But they happen at the same time, four times a year. And while Mercury retrograde has been observed for as long as people have been looking up at the sky, it wasn't until the 20th century that the phenomenon became an explanation for things that go wrong.
Of course, even for those who fully believe in all things astrology, there's a lot more to Mercury retrograde than frustration and delays. Vice spoke with several astrologers about it and they all agreed that the stars don't force anything into being. They say it's a great time to connect with what really matters, to dismiss a sense of urgency, but that it can't be blamed for everything. Sometimes things just suck.
↦ FYI: If you want to sound like you know what you're talking about, astrologers say Mercury is never “in” retrograde. It's just “Mercury retrograde.”
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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A Weekend Pairing
Harry Styles’ Concert + a Vesper Cocktail
As we talked about earlier this week, streaming concerts is the new thing apparently. Apple Music is about to start live streaming certain concerts, starting tonight with Harry Styles' show at UBS Arena in New York at 9 pm EDT. Earlier this month, Styles announced the show to celebrate the release of his third studio album Harry's House. Tickets were only $25, and while I haven't checked Ticketmaster, I'm going to assume they're all sold out.
It's definitely an interesting tactic to get people to move from other streaming services to Apple Music. The company has promoted live streaming events as a way to “give the biggest stars in music the biggest possible platform to flaunt how they connect with audiences and how their songs translate to live performance.” It will feature extra content to promote the artist and the concert being streamed live. It could be my age, but I think this might be an ideal way to enjoy a concert. There are a lot of artists who I enjoy, but I don't think I want to stand around with a hoards of their fans for hours. Beaming a great live performance right into my living room feels both modern and more relaxing.
↦ Your Pairing:I don't know what Harry drinks, but a Vesper just feels right for the occasion. It's vaguely British (it was introduced in the very first James Bond book), slightly floral and easy to drink. Compared to the standard martini, it has a slight sweetness balanced by a citrusy bite thanks to the Lillet.
The New Shoes on Our Radar
LANE EIGHT's newest tech-forward sneaker ($150) was designed specifically to help you perform during high-intensity workouts. Engineered to combat the usual problems with gym shoes, these feature a plant-based knit upper that's moisture-wicking, and ultra-breathable, with engineered zones for ventilation and stretch (right where you need it). An algae-based foam midsole offers impact-ready cushioning while vegan microfiber overlays add abrasion-resistance in high-wear areas. Oh and the monochromatic colorways are really cool looking too. In short, these will have you setting a new PR without forgoing style, comfort or sustainability.
↦ Want more? 5 new shoes on our radar
Today’s Deals
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↦ Want More? See all 43 sales
Morning Motto
What version of you doesn’t exist anymore?
↦ Follow: @quotesbychristie
That’s all for today...
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