Can Thinking Too Much Hurt Your Poker Game?
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Ah, if it was only that easy.
Your body needs oxygen.
Your brain especially needs oxygen.
Without oxygen, you couldn't produce enough energy to sustain life for even a couple minutes.
Thus, one could argue oxygen is vital to your existence.
However, like most things in life, too little or too much is detrimental to your health.
Your body needs that right balance of oxygen to efficiently produce enough energy to sustain life.
Ahhh, not biochem This is going to be the quickest biochemistry lesson you'll ever have.
Molecular reactions are at the foundation of every disease in humans.
Molecules are made up of atoms.
Atoms are made up of electrons, neutrons, and protons.
Electrons circle the nucleus of the atom in orbitals.
Usually, electrons are in pairs, thus making them stable.
However, if an electron is unpaired in the atom's outermost orbital, it is considered a free radical.
Free radicals are highly reactive species that will try to pair with anything, commonly causing damage.
Because your body uses oxygen to create energy, you're always going to produce free radicals.
It's natural outcome of your metabolism.
Under perfect conditions, these free radicals can be neutralized by your body's own defense mechanisms.
However, any one of thousands of things can go wrong so that the body becomes overwhelmed by free radical production.
If your diet doesn't supply your body with enough antioxidants, damage from free radical production will quickly ensue.
Without antioxidants to bind to free radicals, the free radicals will quickly bind with cell membranes, mitochondria, and other cellular components quickly impairing their function.
Not only will this lead to accelerated aging, but increased free radical production also plays a significant role in host of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and other brain disorders.
Basically free radicals are like rust.
They won't kill you right away, but let it get out of hand and you'll be on a downward slide.
Not good if you plan on having a career in poker.
So, why should I, a poker player, be concerned with antioxidants? I have enough to keep track of.
- Because your brain uses more energy than any other organ in the body, its need for oxygen is roughly ten times greater than the rest of your body.
An estimated one quarter of the oxygen you inhale is used by the brain.
More energy means more free radical production.
More free radical production means more damage.
Hmm, maybe that's why unchecked free radical production plays a significant role in Alzheimer's disease.
- No offense, but if your diet is like the typical American's, you're basically consuming free radicals.
Consumption of unhealthy fats, bad carbohydrates, and caffeine put you at even greater risk of damage from free radical production.
Now, not only are you internally producing free radicals, but you're also eating them.
Please, lay off those energy drinks.
- Exposure to pollution, sunlight, and herbicides/pesticides increase free radical production.
I'll bet you that you are exposed to at least one of those things at least 5 times a day.
- Did you say you were carrying a little extra winter weight? I hope not because if you are, you're a free radical-producing machine.
Obesity increases inflammation which in turn increases free radical production.
- Please tell me you don't smoke.
Not only does smoking directly increase free radical production, but it also indirectly increases it by impairing lung function.
Oxygen utilization becomes inefficient.
Too little oxygen means more free radicals.
Poker and free radicals So, let's see.
The average poker player is probably living.
That's check one.
The average poker probably uses more mental energy than the average human.
That's check two.
The average poker player probably consumes too much unhealthy fat, too much caffeine, and too many bad carbohydrates.
That's check three, four, and five.
Pollution, pesticides/herbicides, and sunlight, I dare you to try to avoid them.
That's check six, seven, and eight.
I would be safe to assume the average poker player is under a fair amount of stress.
That's check nine.
Do you get the picture? Your body can't handle the amount of free radical production that's taking place right now.
You're rusting from the inside-out.
If you want to maintain an optimal level of mental performance, you need antioxidants.
Your career depends on them.
So how do you get them? Fruits, veggies, and supplements.
Eat a lot of fruit.
Eat a lot of veggies.
Eat a lot of different colors of both.
Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidants.
The more color, the more antioxidants.
If they're blue, they're extra brain healthy.
I'm going to stop there.
i want you to digest that information first.
In my next article later this week, I'll give you my top five antioxidants that give you the most bang for your buck.
Trust me, your brain will thank you.
Like an old Chinese herbalist once told me (in my best Chinese accent), "Ah son, antioxidants give you long life.
" Use them, and you'll live until you're 120..
...
Breathe out.
Ah, if it was only that easy.
Your body needs oxygen.
Your brain especially needs oxygen.
Without oxygen, you couldn't produce enough energy to sustain life for even a couple minutes.
Thus, one could argue oxygen is vital to your existence.
However, like most things in life, too little or too much is detrimental to your health.
Your body needs that right balance of oxygen to efficiently produce enough energy to sustain life.
Ahhh, not biochem This is going to be the quickest biochemistry lesson you'll ever have.
Molecular reactions are at the foundation of every disease in humans.
Molecules are made up of atoms.
Atoms are made up of electrons, neutrons, and protons.
Electrons circle the nucleus of the atom in orbitals.
Usually, electrons are in pairs, thus making them stable.
However, if an electron is unpaired in the atom's outermost orbital, it is considered a free radical.
Free radicals are highly reactive species that will try to pair with anything, commonly causing damage.
Because your body uses oxygen to create energy, you're always going to produce free radicals.
It's natural outcome of your metabolism.
Under perfect conditions, these free radicals can be neutralized by your body's own defense mechanisms.
However, any one of thousands of things can go wrong so that the body becomes overwhelmed by free radical production.
If your diet doesn't supply your body with enough antioxidants, damage from free radical production will quickly ensue.
Without antioxidants to bind to free radicals, the free radicals will quickly bind with cell membranes, mitochondria, and other cellular components quickly impairing their function.
Not only will this lead to accelerated aging, but increased free radical production also plays a significant role in host of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and other brain disorders.
Basically free radicals are like rust.
They won't kill you right away, but let it get out of hand and you'll be on a downward slide.
Not good if you plan on having a career in poker.
So, why should I, a poker player, be concerned with antioxidants? I have enough to keep track of.
- Because your brain uses more energy than any other organ in the body, its need for oxygen is roughly ten times greater than the rest of your body.
An estimated one quarter of the oxygen you inhale is used by the brain.
More energy means more free radical production.
More free radical production means more damage.
Hmm, maybe that's why unchecked free radical production plays a significant role in Alzheimer's disease.
- No offense, but if your diet is like the typical American's, you're basically consuming free radicals.
Consumption of unhealthy fats, bad carbohydrates, and caffeine put you at even greater risk of damage from free radical production.
Now, not only are you internally producing free radicals, but you're also eating them.
Please, lay off those energy drinks.
- Exposure to pollution, sunlight, and herbicides/pesticides increase free radical production.
I'll bet you that you are exposed to at least one of those things at least 5 times a day.
- Did you say you were carrying a little extra winter weight? I hope not because if you are, you're a free radical-producing machine.
Obesity increases inflammation which in turn increases free radical production.
- Please tell me you don't smoke.
Not only does smoking directly increase free radical production, but it also indirectly increases it by impairing lung function.
Oxygen utilization becomes inefficient.
Too little oxygen means more free radicals.
Poker and free radicals So, let's see.
The average poker player is probably living.
That's check one.
The average poker probably uses more mental energy than the average human.
That's check two.
The average poker player probably consumes too much unhealthy fat, too much caffeine, and too many bad carbohydrates.
That's check three, four, and five.
Pollution, pesticides/herbicides, and sunlight, I dare you to try to avoid them.
That's check six, seven, and eight.
I would be safe to assume the average poker player is under a fair amount of stress.
That's check nine.
Do you get the picture? Your body can't handle the amount of free radical production that's taking place right now.
You're rusting from the inside-out.
If you want to maintain an optimal level of mental performance, you need antioxidants.
Your career depends on them.
So how do you get them? Fruits, veggies, and supplements.
Eat a lot of fruit.
Eat a lot of veggies.
Eat a lot of different colors of both.
Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidants.
The more color, the more antioxidants.
If they're blue, they're extra brain healthy.
I'm going to stop there.
i want you to digest that information first.
In my next article later this week, I'll give you my top five antioxidants that give you the most bang for your buck.
Trust me, your brain will thank you.
Like an old Chinese herbalist once told me (in my best Chinese accent), "Ah son, antioxidants give you long life.
" Use them, and you'll live until you're 120..
...
