Having strong, healthy relationships can positively impact your health in a myriad of ways. And since the beginning of human existence, we have connected with each other over the experience of food. Food has the power to cultivate strong bonds, encourage unity over shared interests and values, and bring families and communities together. On this episode of The Model Health Show, you’re going to learn about how relationships impact your health and longevity. You’ll hear the data behind the numerous benefits of a shared family meal and how to implement this practice into your routine. You’ll also learn five practical strategies for creating intentional connections around food. Our relationships are at the foundation of our health and well-being, and creating connections around food can create a ripple effect of benefits. Click play to hear the fascinating science behind the #1 controller of your health and fitness! In this episode you’ll discover: The #1 element that impacts human health and longevity. How humans have evolved sharing meals. Why food is the cornerstone of many relationships. How we evolved to connect over food. The science on what happens when families eat together. How eating meals with other can prevent chronic diseases. The minimum effective dose to reap the health benefits of a shared family meal. How a family meal can impact rates of stress and tension. The relationship between oxytocin and cortisol. What percentage of families eat together on a regular basis. How your culture influences your cravings. What percentage of the average American’s diet is ultra-processed foods. The importance of scheduling family meals. How to get your children excited about implementing more family meals. Why a pre-meal ritual can encourage more connection. How to practice more presence during family meals. Why a post-meal experience can trigger a dopamine release in the brain. Items mentioned in this episode include: EatSmarterCookbook.com -- Order your copy today! Foursigmatic.com/model -- Get an exclusive discount on your daily health elixirs! The #1 Controller of Human Health with Dr. Robert Waldinger – Episode 651 Legado Family Card Deck Conversation Cards for Kids and Teens Join TMHS Facebook community - Model Nation  Be sure you are subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your episodes:  Apple Podcasts Stitcher Spotify Soundcloud   Thanks to our Sponsors This episode is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. So even getting together with your friends or a friend of yours for lunch or for a cup of coffee, all of these things count. All right? All of these things count, and you can even invite them over for some really good coffee. All right? And you already know we're about, we're about organic and medicinal mushroom infused, like Chaga, one of the most remarkable sources of antioxidants ever discovered, noted in purview data to be very effective at reducing the impact of cancer. We also see Chaga being one of the natural elements that helps to produce or induce more production of something called Superoxide dismutase, a really powerful master antioxidant in the human body that is part of the reason why it's so effective at targeting cancer cells. So Chaga, Lion's Mane noted in multiple studies to help to reduce anxiety and even to stimulate the production of new brain cells. And this is from researchers at the University of Malaya, and they're studying it for its neuroprotective benefits. And so, am I just randomly picking two powerful medicinal mushrooms and organic coffee together? No, that's what I had today. That's what I had today from the incredible folks at Four Sigmatic. All right, go to foursigmatic.com/model, and you get 10% off their incredible think blend. That's their think blend, because it's targeting cognitive function. All right? So you can get the ground coffee, make it yourself. I'm into that life now. The drip life, I'm into it. Or they have instant coffee as well. And that's what I actually, I bring that along when I travel. And you know, again, this is something that I love making coffee. Don't tell my wife this, but I love making coffee for her in the morning. It's just part of what we do. I don't like sometimes when she rushes me, all right, because sometimes she's like, just get my coffee and then we could talk, all right? Sometimes she do hit me with that, but I love it. I love doing that for her. And this is something you would love as well. Definitely check them out. Four Sigmatic is truly an elite of their own when it comes to coffee. That's foursigmatic.com/model for 10% off all their incredible coffees. They've got some remarkable, if you're not into coffee, there are teas, there're incredible elixirs that are, you know, you can get lion's mane you can get Reishi, you can get Cordyceps, all dual extracted. So you actually get all of these vital nutrients that we've been talking about. Foursigmatic.com/model.