[ANNOUNCEMENT]
You should have received this week’s Mission Briefing issue via email on Sunday at 2 pm CST from the email address chris@chriscirullo.com. If you haven’t already, please add that email address to your contacts so spam filters don’t filter out the newsletter. If you missed it, double-check, and feel free to read yesterday’s post here below, or over in our new home at masculineadventure.com:
Welcome to The Mission Briefing, a weekly newsletter where I provide actionable insights, food for thought, curated recommendations from both personal experience and from the web, and more.
Today at a glance:
Food for thought: Massive shifts in health and healthcare metrics
A quote from G.K. Chesterton on fashions and fallacies
The supplement stack I recommend for every man regardless of health goals
Hearing God
Thomas DeLauer and Nick Bare discuss cardio-supporting muscle-building
Next steps you can take
🧠 Food For Thought:
I was reminded of some figures this week that got me thinking. The average testosterone levels for men have dropped about 40% in the last 25 years. Mental health issues are up 1000%, and 15% of Americans are on medication for mental health. Big Pharma revenue is up 200% in 10 years at over 500 Billion in annual revenue in the US, and in the last 20 years, healthcare spending has tripled to 4.3 Trillion dollars annually. So what has changed the most in the last 20-30 years that might be causing this?
Tech, agriculture, and food processing. Both what you eat and how you interact with people and with the world around you. Seismic change in these areas.
Think about it.
✍️ Quote Of The Week:
“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Christian men must be careful that they don't get loose on their doctrine and weak on their theology simply because what the scriptures say is increasingly unpopular, is in opposition to the water's current, and is contrary to what's in fashion. If it's between speaking truth that ruffles feathers, or adopting fallacies so that I can create an easier and less offensive life, I choose truth.
💪 Health & Fitness Tips:
Here's a list of the foundational supplements I recommend for almost every man:
Beef Liver or Multivitamin - Beef liver is nature's multivitamin. It's often the first organ eaten by predators as they kill their prey in the wild. Organ meats in general are PACKED with healthy vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and more. If you're not in the mood for fresh beef liver, try dried beef liver capsules. If taking some pills is still beyond you, take a multivitamin like this one.
Creatine - The most tested (and validated) for efficacy and safety out of all exercise supplements. The benefits range from a significant boost in strength and performance to cognitive enhancement. Stick with creatine monohydrate and don't branch out. It's the most researched with the best benefits. 5g/day is the sweet spot.
Cod Liver Oil - Cod liver oil is a great way to source your omega 3 fatty acids instead of taking omega 3 supplements (because an overwhelming majority of omega 3 pills are found to be rancid and/or contaminated). It also provides you a great source of naturally occurring vitamin D and vitamin A, which are both great for immune health, and have an impact on cellular growth and repair, as well as hormone and reproductive health.
Magnesium - An overwhelming number of Americans are deficient in magnesium and it also impacts our utilization of and synthesis of vitamin D. So the average American finds themselves deficient in both.
Probiotics - Probiotics aid digestion and absorption of nutrients in the gut. Not only do probiotics ensure your body can absorb vitamins, minerals, and protein from food, but they also affect the production of neurotransmitters that are made in the GI tract, allowing for better cognition and motivation. A good chunk of our serotonin is made in the gut, and we need that to feel happy. Look on the label for options that have some or all of the following strains included, as they're the most researched and validated as effective: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum
📚 Book Recommendation:
Hearing God - Another great book by the late legendary modern theologian and philosopher Dallas Willard. This is a theologically sound, yet practical and helpful outline of the discussion around what it means to walk with God. Jesus calls us his friend, but most of us struggle with what that really means and how that practically should look since we are approaching the almighty and powerful Creator of the universe. This book makes sense of that confusion.
📱 Social Media Favorites:
I talk a lot with my clients about the right kinds of cardio done at the right frequency to help with mitochondrial health and longevity. In this short reel, 2 of my favorite fitness industry leaders discuss specifically how cardio can also help you build muscle via the same production of mitochondria.
📋 Here's Your Next Step:
If you’re looking for more traction in your health & fitness and want to build habits that really last and transform for good, book a free discovery call to learn more about 1:1 coaching with me. If coaching ends up not being right for you, no worries at all! You’ll still walk away from a call with valuable health tips. 👍🏼
That's it for this week - see you next Sunday.