The SHN #13: Intention Groups, An Excuse to Not Exercise, and Forest Bathing

Welcome back to The Synergetic Health Newsletter! 

In this edition, we’ll explore the power of intention groups.

After that, we discuss if it’s possible to get and stay slim with less exercise.

Then comes a deep dive into the concept of forest bathing.

Finally, I’ll include some links to things I’ve found particularly interesting recently.

Joe Burt

The Power of Intention Groups

“The Power of Eight” by Lynne McTaggart reveals the unexpected miracles that unfold when people come together in intention groups. These groups hold prayerful intentions, creating a profound connection that boomerangs blessings back to the senders.

For those skeptical of asking for personal favors through prayer, the Power of Eight offers a fresh perspective. Instead of individual requests, intention groups unite people with shared intentions, leading to miraculous transformations.

Sande Cournoyer's experience is a testament to this power. Scheduled for knee-replacement surgery, she joined a Power of Eight group and received their collective healing intentions. As they focused on her knee being whole, healed, and pain-free, Cournoyer felt a tingling sensation and immediate relief. The need for surgery vanished, and she remains well to this day.

The Power of Eight groups demonstrate the rebound effect, where people sending intentions experience significant improvements in their lives. Scientific experiments conducted by McTaggart confirm the potency of intention groups, with 26 out of 30 studies showing positive effects. Altruism plays a crucial role in this process, activating compassion and the release of oxytocin, which triggers an immune system boost.

Praying or intending together amplifies the power of prayer, tapping into a divine state beyond individual selves. Intention groups facilitate this collective connection, channeling universal life force. The group members feel like instruments, allowing healing energy to flow through them.

“Group work can be helpful for intensifying the light of your presence. A group of people coming together in a state of presence generates a collective energy field of great intensity. This will make the state of presence increasingly more accessible to individuals.” -Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

Creating your own Power of Eight group involves assembling a small group of 7-9 individuals, formulating specific intentions, and holding the intention for about 10 minutes. Trusting the process and letting go are essential in this practice.

Through intention groups, we discover the extraordinary potential of collective consciousness to bring about healing and miracles. Joining together in prayerful intention expands our sense of possibility and fosters deep peace, connecting us to a greater purpose.

Up to this point, the Intention Experiment has demonstrated the incredible potential of collective thoughts. It has shown that when people come together with focused intentions, they can influence subtle properties of plants, accelerate seed growth, purify water, reduce violence in war-torn areas or ghettos, and even bring healing to a patient suffering from severe PTSD.

“No pharmaceutical drug has achieved that kind of consistent track record.”

Check out the individual outcomes of McTaggart’s Intention Experiments, including water germination experiments, The Heal America Intention Experiment, The 9-11 Peace Intention Experiment, and the Clean Water Experiment.

McTaggart and other researchers have scientifically proven that prayer and intention works. The results are undeniable and more people should be made aware of their innate power to make changes on the physical plane.

If you're curious and open to the experience, try forming an intention group and witness the wonders that unfold when hearts and minds unite in prayer.

Here’s a link to McTaggart’s YouTube channel, an interview with her titled “Intention and Instantaneous Healing”, and an a talk on miracles between her and Dr. Joe Dispenza.

Higher Metabolic Rate, Not Exercise, Makes People Naturally Slim

This study challenges the common belief in the fitness industry that "no pain, no gain" is the key to losing fat mass. It highlights the importance of metabolic rate and active thyroid hormone levels (T3) for natural slimness. Interestingly, naturally slim individuals had good cardiovascular health markers, such as cholesterol and blood pressure, despite lower physical activity levels.

This finding questions the central argument for exercise, as it suggests that long-term exercise may raise stress hormone levels and BMI, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Most research on obesity is done on individuals with higher body mass indexes (BMI). This research group took a different approach, and looked at individuals with a very low BMI.

John Speakman, the corresponding author and a professor at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology in China and the University of Aberdeen in the UK, explains:

"We expected to find that these people (lower BMI people) are really active and have high metabolic rates with high food intakes. However, something different is going on. They had lower food intakes and lower activity levels but surprisingly higher resting metabolic rates, which were associated with elevated levels of their thyroid hormones.”

A reviewer of this study, Georgi Dinkov, concludes that the study “undermines the central argument for exercise… In fact, considering that long-term exercise raises baseline cortisol, which further raises BMI and CVD risk, it looks like yet again the official recommendations in regards to health are about the exact opposite of what one should do.”

If this smacks you in the face (like it does for me), I understand.

This study was reviewed in this video, where they do point out that “If you enjoy exercising and it brings some meaning to your life… we’re not saying don’t do it or that people who exercise are unhealthy or something.. it’s more contextually when a low thyroid person is exercising it’s leading to poorer health.”

They go on to say if you suffer from participating in exercise you’re doing it wrong, but if you are feeling great, stimulated, and having fun, it’s probably doing more good than bad.

So instead of exercising yourself to death while counting calories, a set of goals could be to avoid stress, avoid anti-thyroid foods (polyunsaturated fats, etc.), and, if needed, consume pro-metabolic substances such as sugar, caffeine, aspirin, pregnenolone, progesterone, and thyroid medication.

In conclusion, drinking coffee with cane sugar could be more beneficial than exercising for getting lean* 🤯 🤯🤯 

*context for sure needed

I will remind you, however, that exercise is the #1 recommendation by famed longevity doc Peter Attia, as well as countless other health researchers and thought leaders. Additionally, many who follow the bioenergetic approach that Dinkov and others subscribe to also highlight the myriad of benefits from exercise.

There is agreement amongst most experts that resistance training and low intensity cardio (Zone 1, 2) is low risk, high return; short bursts of intense activity combined with full rest is low/medium risk, high return; and that prolonged intense cardio (think >20 mins of zone 3+ heart rate, you have to mouth breath) is medium/high risk, low return (especially if done more than once per week).

Hopefully you enjoy hearing the different perspectives. If this approach rings true for you (less exercise, less stress of all kinds, more pro-metabolic substances), check out Danny Roddy and Dinkov’s work. They’ve got a ton of videos on YouTube, mainly on Roddy’s excellent channel. Another excellent resource is the Jay Feldman Wellness podcast.

Take a Bath In Nature

Forest bathing, also known as "shinrin-yoku," is a practice that brings us back to our roots as part of nature. In our fast-paced and industrialized world, we often forget that we evolved in harmony with nature. However, reconnecting with nature can offer numerous benefits for our physical and mental well-being.

The term "shinrin-yoku" was coined by the Japanese and refers to immersing oneself in nature, particularly in forests, to enhance overall well-being. Unlike hiking or camping, forest bathing is a sensory experience that focuses on experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, touch, and taste of the natural world, promoting calm and relaxation.

The benefits of forest bathing are vast, with many backed by scientific research. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can lead to a reduction in depression, anxiety, and stress. Forest bathing has also been linked to improved immune function, decreased blood pressure and heart rate, and increased heart rate variability.

The magic of forest bathing lies in the trees themselves. Trees secrete phytoncides, which are natural compounds with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Breathing in these compounds can boost the activity of immune system cells, reduce stress hormones, and promote relaxation and well-being.

To experience the wonders of forest bathing, find a quiet spot in a forest or natural environment. Set an intention related to what you hope to gain from the experience, and create a threshold to mark the beginning. Spend time sitting quietly, bringing awareness to your senses, and noticing the sights, sounds, and smells around you.

As you explore the forest, keep a slow pace and let go of the fast-paced world. Be mindful of the changes in your environment and enjoy the sensory experiences. Embrace infinite possibilities during your forest bath, follow your intuition, and offer gratitude to nature.

In a world where we often view nature as a resource to be exploited, forest bathing reminds us of the healing power that nature can offer us. So, take some time to escape into the forest, and you may discover a world of physical, mental, and spiritual benefits that have been waiting for you all along.

Twitter Thread of the Week:

Eat Sardines Instead of Taking Fish Oil: This study discusses the “matrix of nutrients contained in sardines which confer health benefits for cardiometabolism.” Sardines are a nutritional powerhouse, packed with essential nutrients like calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, taurine, and arginine. These combined nutrients play a crucial role in regulating mild inflammation and reducing oxidative stress, both of which are associated with cardiovascular disease and haemodynamic dysfunction. Whole foods over popping pills everyday of the week.

Green Tea and Red Light— A Powerful Duo In Skin Rejuvenation: This study explored the combination of green tea and red light therapy machines for skin rejuvenation. By soaking cotton pads with green tea and applying them to the skin before using the red light therapy machine, remarkable results were achieved. In just one month, participants experienced rejuvenated skin, reduced wrinkle levels, and a more youthful complexion—achievements that would typically take ten months with light treatment alone. This powerful combination seems to accelerate the benefits of red light therapy and even holds promise for addressing issues like graying hair. If you have a red light therapy machine, why not try this green tea infusion for enhanced skin rejuvenation?

Low-Dose Niacinamide (NAM) Has Striking Anti-Obesity Effects: This study adds another confirmation for the anti-obesity effects of this substance. Low-dose (NAM) supplementation had remarkable effects in animals fed a high-fat diet. The NAM intervention reduced body fat by nearly 50% and increased lean muscle mass. Additionally, NAM acted as a precursor to NAD and enhanced NAD synthesis, leading to increased mitochondrial biogenesis, improved insulin sensitivity, and higher levels of OXPHOS. These findings highlight the potential of NAM in addressing metabolic dysfunction and promoting positive health outcomes. A recommendation given by Ray Peat is 50-100mg of NAM a couple times a day. The study is discussed in detail in this video.

“On any big, important issue it seems like 51% of the scientific studies conclude one thing, and 49% conclude the opposite. And so on. Eventually it can seem hopeless that you can actually fix something, can make things better. But we have no choice but to try. And if you are reading this, you are probably ideally suited to do so. You’ve amply proven you have intellectual tenacity. You probably also have running water, a home, adequate calories, and low odds of festering with a bas parasitic disease. You probably don’t have to worry about Ebola virus, warlords, or being invisible in your world. And you’ve been educated. In other words, you’re one of the the lucky humans. So try.

Finally, you don’t have to choose between being scientific and being compassionate.” -Robert Sapolsky in “Behave”

That will do it for this time! Hopefully you got some value out of it. If you have any questions/comments/things you’d like to learn more about please don’t hesitate to reach out.

If you know anyone who loves learning about these types of topics, send them this link!