There are all kinds of different ways to do friendship and to be social.

Friendship is as important as food and exercise.

Did you think you’d be writing a book about friendship? 2:23.

LinkedIn: /in/lydia-denworth-64613134/īook: Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond Key Notes How Friendships Improve Your Health and Help You Live Longer – Lydia Denworth with Dave Asprey – #755 Links/Resourcesįacebook: /ScienceWriterLydia/ “We now understand that there are real evolutionary advantages to being good at making and maintaining friends,” Lydia says.Įnjoy! And get more resources at Dave.Asprey/podcasts She’s been in a unique position to see the evolving science on friendship in the animal and human world.

She’s visited brain imaging labs and baboon troops in Kenya and written about everything from Alzheimer’s to zebrafish. Lydia is an acclaimed science journalist and contributing editor at Scientific American where she covers the brain and psychology. “And the fact that it does that –that a relationship that exists outside the body entirely can get in and change how your health works –seems to me a sign that this is something that is really critical and that is deserving a far more respect and attention than we tend to give it.” It really affects your health on all kinds of levels: your immune system, your stress, your cardiovascular system, your mental health and cognitive health,” Lydia says. “And it gets under your skin as scientists say. “The biological part of it is that we now understand that friendship is as important for your health as diet and exercise,” Lydia says. And they are finding that friendship quality matters much more than quantity–sorry, not sorry, social media. Scientists can now define and measure it. That’s all changing now as scientific study digs into the biological, psychological, and emotional effects of friendship.

Friendships weren’t even considered essential. Throughout human history, family and romantic relationships have gotten all the attention. In fact, friendship is as important as food and fitness. In this episode of Bulletproof Radio, my guest is Lydia Denworth, author of “ Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond.” Our discussion explores how friendship influences the human experience and contributes to our health, especially in this time of social distancing.

Lydia denworth friendship