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How food affects the mind, as well as the body It turns out you are what you eat after all

 from Economists 

Merry Reading Time 

This article is part of our Summer reads series. Visit the full collection for book lists, guest essays and more seasonal distractions.

Aglistening roast turkey. Rounds of golden, roast potatoes and parsnips. Pigs in blankets (because what meat-based meal is not improved by a side of sausages wrapped in bacon?). Brussels sprouts. Bread sauce. Cranberry sauce. Gravy. And, to finish, brandy-sodden pudding topped with butter.

Countries vary in their Christmas-meal traditions. Poles prefer fish, often carp. A Swedish julbord groans with variety, though herring will never be far off. But the repast served at most British tables on December 25th is iconic, and has been (with goose sometimes standing in for turkey) since the time of the Victorians.

A good meal has a positive impact on one’s mood. Part of that pleasure is immediate. Those who avoid overindulgence and family squabbles will enjoy a postprandial rise in their blood sugar. That will prompt a flood of endorphins—chemicals that act as happy hormones—to rush through their brains. 

But the pleasure goes deeper. Animal proteins, such as roast fowl, hams or fish, contain all the amino acids that the body needs including many it cannot make for itself. Tyrosine and tryptophan are needed for the production, respectively, of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls feelings of pleasure and reward, and serotonin, another such, which helps regulate mood. Brussels sprouts contain folate, a vitamin without which the brain cannot function properly. And cranberries are high in vitamin C, which is involved, among other things, in converting dopamine to noradrenaline, another neurotransmitter, and a lack of which seems to be associated with depression.

With mental-health disorders rising, a growing number of scientists are investigating how food or nutritional supplements affect the mind. Brains, being the most complex and energy-demanding of the body’s organs, almost certainly have their own specialised, nutritional needs. Welcome, then, to the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry.

An adult human brain, which accounts for about 2% of a body’s mass, uses 20% of its metabolic energy. A host of vitamins and minerals are necessary to keep it going. Even in one small section of the brain’s metabolic pathways, many essential nutrients are needed. The conversion of tryptophan to serotonin alone requires vitamin B6, iron, phosphorus and calcium.

Disentangling the brain’s nutritional needs from those of the rest of the body is tricky. Recommended daily allowances (rdas) are little help. They were formulated during the second world war on the basis of the nutrients needed for the physical health of troops. No such rdas exist for the brain. Not yet, at least.

Compared with other fields, nutritional science is understudied. That is partly because it is hard to do well. Randomised controlled trials (rcts), used to test drugs, are tricky. Few people want to stick to an experimental diet for years. Instead, most nutritional science is based on observational studies that try to establish associations between particular foods or nutrients and diseases. They cannot be used to definitively prove a causal connection between a disease and a particular contributing factor in a diet. But as with smoking and lung cancer, put together enough of these kinds of trials and causal narratives begin to emerge.

It is now clear that some diets are particularly good for the brain. One recent study concludes that sticking to the “Mediterranean diet”, high in vegetables, fruit, pulses and wholegrains, low in red and processed meats and saturated fats, decreases the chances of experiencing strokes, cognitive impairment and depression. Other recent work looking at a “green” Mediterranean diet high in polyphenols (the antioxidants found in things like green tea) found it reduced age-related brain atrophy. Another version, the mind diet, emphasises, among other things, eating berries over other kinds of fruit and seems to lessen the risk of dementia.

Only 10% of adults in America consume their recommended daily serving of vegetables

Scientists think such diets may work by reducing inflammation in the brain. This, in turn, may affect areas such as the hippocampus, which is associated with learning, memory and mood regulation—and where new neurons grow in adults. Studies in animals show that when they are fed a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (from walnuts, for example), flavonoids (consumed mainly via tea and wine), antioxidants (found in berries) and resveratrol (found in red grapes), neuron growth is stimulated and inflammatory processes are reduced. This fits with research suggesting that those who regularly eat ultra-processed, fried and sugary foods, which increase inflammation in the brain, heighten their risk of developing depression.

The hanger games

That Christmas feast is often lambasted as an orgy of gluttony. In fact, with its sides of multiple vegetables, its nutritional density may make it among the healthier meals some people eat throughout the year. Only 10% of adults in America consume their recommended daily serving of vegetables, and just 12% get enough fruit. It is a similar story in much of the world. As a result, many turn to vitamin and mineral supplements to make up for their dietary deficiencies.

In 2018, 54% of North Americans and 43% of Asians were taking a nutritional supplement. The most common types are multivitamins, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. America spends the most on dietary supplements, followed by western Europe and Japan. One estimate put the global market at $152bn in 2021, with 9% annual growth expected until 2030. But in many places the regulation of the supplement industry is either weak or non-existent and little rigorous research has been carried out on either their benefits or risks. 

The story of nutritional supplements starts in 1912 when Casimir Funk, a Polish-American biochemist, proposed that unidentified organic substances were required in tiny amounts to maintain human health. It was a revolutionary idea. And he was correct. Along with macronutrients such as protein and carbohydrates, there were undiscovered components of foods—micronutrients. The first vitamin to be isolated and then synthesised in 1936 was thiamine or B1. Deficiency causes beriberi, a disease that can affect both the cardiovascular and the central nervous systems. The discovery prompted a race to isolate, characterise and manufacture vitamins and ultimately launched the supplement industry.

Half a century after Funk’s discovery, the notion that nutrients might be able to treat mental illnesses took hold. Abram Hoffer, a Canadian psychiatrist, tried treating schizophrenics with high doses of vitamins B3. Then in 1968 Linus Pauling, a Nobel-prize-winning chemist, coined the term “orthomolecular psychiatry” to describe the theory that varying the concentration of substances normally present in the body could treat mental disease. But there was little evidence to support their claims and in 1973 the American Psychiatric Association released a report dismissing orthomolecular psychiatry, highlighting the lack of controlled experiments and concluding that large doses of B3 were “useless and not without hazard”.

The absence of any large-scale, serious studies in the field of nutritional psychiatry left an opening for those keen to promote the potential of supplements far beyond any existing science. Autumn Stringam is one such case. After her first baby was born in 1992 Ms Stringam, a Canadian, was admitted to a psychiatric ward with severe post-partum psychosis. Her family had a history of mental illness, including bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression and suicide. Her prognosis was grim. But then her father, together with a friend working in the animal-feed business, developed a supplement containing a range of vitamins and minerals that they claimed were based on supplements that reduced anxiety and stress in pigs. Ms Stringam credited the supplements with her recovery. Her story spread and the family started selling the pills widely.

There were, however, no trials proving efficacy or safety. The suggestion that the supplements were a cure-all led one schizophrenic to abandon his prescribed medication. He subsequently murdered his father and seriously injured his mother. In 2003 the Canadian drug regulator, concerned about the use of untested supplements for serious mental-health disorders, seized the pills. The episode cemented the idea in many minds that using micronutrients to treat mental-health conditions was pure quackery.

And yet today much science does support the idea that there is a strong link between what people eat and their mental health. Studies have shown that b12 shortages cause depression and poor memory and are associated with mania and psychosis. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased risks of dementia and stroke, and are implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. A recent rct found that high doses of B6—100mg per day rather than the rda of 1.3mg—reduces anxiety. In a study by Robert Przybelski of the University of Wisconsin of geriatric patients attending a memory clinic, 40% were deficient in one vitamin (of five that were looked for), and 20% in two.

Epicurious

So why not simply pop a handful of vitamins rather than bother with a complex, and perhaps expensive, diet? In part because you rarely know exactly what you’re getting. Ted Dinan, a professor of psychiatry at University College, Cork describes the supplement industry as the “Wild West”. Unlike tightly regulated drugs, supplements may contain more, or less, of what they claim. Too much vitamin A can be harmful in pregnancy. There are a variety of health risks from taking beta carotene and vitamin E. High doses of one nutrient can interfere with the absorption of others. 

Any testing of the use of micronutrients in mental-health conditions in Canada stalled after the episode with Ms Stringam. And yet some remained intrigued. Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, was approached in 2003 by a Canadian colleague to see if she might be interested in running such trials. She was sceptical: “I had been taught that nutrition is completely irrelevant to brain health.” At the time, she recalls, she was immersed in positive data showing the efficacy of Prozac, an antidepressant, and stimulants such as methylphenidate for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd). She was excited, she explains, to have these new drugs as tools to treat mental-health problems.

Then she was forced to question those views. She had been treating a child with obsessive compulsive disorder for a year with no success. The family did not want medication. One day when they were leaving she remembered she had a box of supplements under her desk for a trial she was planning. She offered them to the parents with the caveat that she had no idea whether they would work. Two weeks later they returned, saying the child’s obsessions were gone.

Dr Rucklidge was sceptical that any improvement was due to the supplements but it nudged her towards conducting more trials. A few decades on and she has shown that supplements are helpful in children with adhd—particularly those who struggle to regulate their emotions. The trial was recently replicated in America. Other evidence of the efficacy of supplements is emerging. The results of a large rct published in September showed that taking a daily multivitamin may improve cognition in those over 65. Researchers followed more than 2,000 people and estimated that three years of supplementation led to a 60% slowing of cognitive decline.

Nutritional psychiatry is still in its infancy. As it becomes clearer which micronutrients affect the brain, the next stage is to determine how they do so. Another new field of research could help with that.

One of the most intriguing scientific developments of recent years is the discovery of the importance of micro-organisms in the gut as intermediaries between what goes into the mouth and what happens in the brain. Researchers now know that microbes form a complex ecosystem in the gut—known as the microbiome. These microbes need micronutrients. A diet lacking in them, such as that consumed by many in the West, may lead to an imbalance in the gut microbiome.

A person’s capacity to deal with stress can be altered by a single strain of bacterium

Could this affect how people think and feel? Evidence is mounting for a link between the gut and the brain in what is termed the psychobiome—part of the microbiome—that does just that. The substances that the various bacteria, viruses and fungi produce may go directly into the bloodstream and infiltrate blood vessels, or they may stimulate the vagus nerve that connects the gut and the brain. The bacteria in the gut produce, among other things, tryptophan, the amino acid thought to have come entirely from the diet. 

The sorts of microorganisms found in yogurt specifically, and fermented foods generally, have also been shown by trials to reduce anxiety. Most astonishing to Dr Dinan is the finding that a person’s capacity to deal with stress can be altered by a single strain of bacterium. Studies show that two species of Bifidobacterium and one of Lactobacillus each reduce stress. In a trial on germfree mice, an abnormal stress response was reversed when they were given oral doses of Bifidobacterium infantis. These findings have given rise to the notion of “psychobiotics”—bacteria that, when ingested, may have similar effects to antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication.

The difficulty with developing this new field of research lies in the economics. Unlike drugs, vitamins, minerals and microbes are not patentable. Pharmaceutical firms have nothing to gain commercially from running trials on pills that anyone can flog. It is difficult to trust industry-sponsored research since it has a bias towards favourable findings. Governments, universities and health systems are better placed to run such trials. None of this will replace the need for a good diet. But it would provide food for thought. ■ 

The strongest ability of rich people: knowing what money should not be spent

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The strongest ability of rich people: knowing what money should not be spent

A survey in the United States found that even among high-income earners, more than half of them rely on their monthly salary to cover their expenses and have no savings to deal with any unexpected situations.

Financial experts believe that true financial freedom is not about how much money you have in your pocket, but the ability to respond to environmental changes.

Don’t just use income as a criterion to measure wealth. Plan your expenditures, control unnecessary waste, and accumulate net worth to enjoy the freedom of wealth.

When ordinary people define wealth, most people think of driving luxury cars, carrying designer bags, flying first class, and experiencing luxurious travel. However, the other side of these social status symbols may be debt or pennilessness. Financial experts say that in a modern society with such extreme wealth distribution, true wealth freedom is no longer about how much money you have in your pocket, but the ability to respond to environmental changes.

Many experts criticize social media for changing the young generation's concept of wealth. When young people are constantly exposed to influencers who have become rich overnight and live a luxurious lifestyle, and view many posts about luxury consumption, they are bound to have questions about their own financial situation. Negative effects include unrealistic expectations of wealth and success. When young people strive to imitate this lifestyle, they may fall into unhealthy money habits such as impulsive spending.

High-income earners do not necessarily have freedom of wealth

A recent study in the United States shows that 64% of consumers live on salary, even for high-income earners. More than 50% of those with an income of more than 100,000 US dollars rely on monthly salary to cover all expenses, which means that most people have almost no emergency savings. .

How to create a corporate education, training and learning blueprint? Understand the planning steps and course topics at once

Many people with a bright appearance may have a high income but little savings. When interest rates rise or unemployment occurs, life becomes unsustainable. In the eyes of financial experts, these people are not truly wealthy.

Experts believe that a person who is truly wealthy should drive a Toyota car and go to hypermarkets to buy affordable goods. But they have the freedom to make major decisions, such as retiring early, resigning, and traveling where they want. When the general environment changes, such as the Federal Reserve (Fed) raising interest rates or temporary unemployment, it will not put any pressure on their financial burden. .

More important than income, net worth is the value of a person's or family's assets minus debts or financial liabilities. Wealth experts say that the label of being rich does not necessarily mean that a person can control his or her finances or achieve financial freedom. Because a person may be considered wealthy but still be in a financially unstable situation because they are highly leveraged and spend as much as they earn, often even spending more than they earn. These people sometimes appear to be doing well, but then become penniless after a while.

Controlling expenses is more important than super high income

Financial freedom represents the ability to say no to anything you want and the ability to do anything you want, independent of your employer or interest rate changes. Experts suggest that a super high income is not necessary, the focus is on controlling expenses. Even if you can afford it, you won't buy luxuries that will only depreciate in value, such as luxury cars, expensive clothes, and similar lavish spending.

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People who are truly financially free are usually very cautious about debt. They think further and will not squander their income on things that can only bring short-term happiness. They are only willing to take on good debt, things that will increase in value like real estate or growing businesses. Really wealthy people also typically have multiple sources of income, which may include salary, dividends, business ownership, property ownership, etc.

In this era of extreme inequality, some people advocate that instead of pursuing financial freedom, it is better to achieve spiritual freedom, but this kind of practice is unrealistic. Don’t only use income as a criterion to measure wealth. Plan your expenditures, control unnecessary waste, and accumulate net worth. You don’t need to be in the top 1% or 10% of income earners to enjoy the freedom of wealth.

Six ways to improve ourselves

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Merry Reading Time 玩咖悦讀匯

Keep growing.

Instead of standing in the abyss and envying fish, it is better to retreat and build a net.

What is more meaningful than looking up to others is to improve yourself.

Six tips to help us continue to grow.

Set clear goals

There is a saying that describes it well: A life without goals is a puzzle, but a life with goals is the blueprint.

Targets are like navigation lights. A clear goal will stimulate a person's imagination and enthusiasm and illuminate the way forward.

Rather than wandering aimlessly, it is better to set some clear small goals. You will work hard for them and arrange your work and life in an orderly manner.

Practice expression skills

Clear expression and effective communication are the basic elements of harmonious interpersonal relationships.

If you want to talk about a topic with someone, you might as well try to sort out the key words before speaking and sort out a smooth logic. Learn to control your speaking speed during conversations and respond appropriately.

Keep your eyes firm and talk to people with a smile. The way you speak is the way you behave.

Start reading and keep reading

There are always people complaining that with the accelerated pace of life nowadays, there is no time to calm down and read.

In fact, you can try to make use of the fragmented time and read every opportunity. When you wake up in the morning, spend five minutes listening to an article; on the way to work, take advantage of the break to read a few pages; before going to bed, read some more books. The superposition of several fragments of time will eventually make you gain something. 

Never be afraid of being late when studying, just afraid that you won’t do it.

Create your own action list

Whatever you do, you must learn to be targeted. Plan everything in advance and make directed efforts to achieve your goals more easily.

Make a to-do list every day, preferably in order of priority. Try to finish the things for the day on that day and don’t push it to tomorrow.

As one thing is completed, we will become more and more motivated to do things, and our efficiency will become higher and higher. 

Polish the "glass heart" into a "diamond heart"

Life is not always smooth sailing. The attitude towards adversity determines a person's height.

When you encounter setbacks, don't give up easily. When you survive adversity, you will find that you are stronger than you thought.

Growth is a process of slowly grinding a "glass heart" into a "diamond heart". When faced with a problem, calm down for three minutes before speaking, and work hard to practice your skills. When you have irreplaceable abilities, you have more choices.

Turn dependence into initiative

We all have times when we are at a loss. It is normal to seek support. However, if we follow the same pace in everything, we will only lose our original intention and achieve nothing.

If you can learn to appreciate the achievements of others with a straight eye and seek support from others with an open mind, you will likely open up a new world in your cooperation with others.

If you can learn other people's wisdom in dealing with things and at the same time digest it into your own logic, integrate information efficiently, and develop learning abilities, you will have a stronger grasp of the initiative in your life.

 

The Benefits Of Reading

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Benefits of reading 1: The cheapest way to improve yourself (knowledge and life span)

You read that right, when you read, you will not only improve your own wisdom, but even prolong your life. The New York Times mentioned that based on 12 years of follow-up statistics, research found that people who read at least 3.5 hours a week lived nearly 2 years longer than those who did not read. As for online articles, 50% of them are incorrect. You have to spend time sifting through them, and the book may also make mistakes, but at least with the confirmation of the publisher and an additional confirmation procedure, the error rate will be reduced.

Benefit of Reading 2: Reading helps you regain focus and self-awareness

  When you read, you force yourself to calm down, allowing you to regain your focus. And, through silence and concentration

By reading, you will regain your self-awareness and let you know again what topics or things you are really interested in, or what you need.

What areas should be improved.

Benefits of Reading 3: Reading helps you develop more good habits

When you want to form many good habits to improve your life or any aspect you want to improve, it is very important to start with one habit, because this habit will become the starting point and help you develop more good habits. Because you only ask yourself to do it once every day, you will be more willing to stick to it, and this habit will be developed.

  You only need to buy a book that interests you, then open the book and read it intently for a minute. This will unlock all the good things and make you happy.

You can form more good habits that will change your life.

Benefit of Reading 4: Expand your network and deepen relationships

  Reading can definitely help you get to know more people and even deepen relationships with each other. You can find a lot through many books

Questions to open up the topic and find out what the other person is reading now or what books he likes. It is a question that does not harm interests or privacy, and at the same time

It’s a way to help each other get better at times.

Benefit of Reading 5: Reading helps you relieve stress and make better decisions

  When you choose reading as a way for you to relieve stress, then you don't need to set any type of book, choose your own

Just any book you like, whether it is a novel, comic, or any other kind of book. The point is to help you change your focus and enter the context the author has set for you.

Provide a stable environment to relieve stress and enhance your empathy and imagination.

Benefits of Reading 6: Reading can help you be motivated every day. When you read, don’t reject motivational or self-growth books, because they can also help you, even more than you think.

More.

Benefits of Reading 7: Reading makes you a better communicator. Reading will expand your vocabulary, enhance your logical thinking, stimulate your imagination, and strengthen your overall expression and communication methods.

Mode. Reading not only makes you knowledgeable, it also makes you a better communicator, allowing the other party to clearly understand your point of view.

Benefit 8 of reading: It allows you to verify and think of more ideas, prompting you to take action. Reading does not guarantee that you will get the "answer", but through reading, you will have more ideas and you will also know what you can do. ,become

Overcome your fear and directionlessness, and reading will infuse you with more firepower for action.

Information excerpted from https://www.ipibresume.com/blog/blog/5-reasons-of-why-you-need-to-rea

 

這樣吃最長壽

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GCIOSGF Fashion Veggie Club 

在2022年2月由挪威卑爾根大學所進行，並發表於《公共科學圖書館：醫學》（PLOS MEDICINE）的研究，針對200多年來全球各地死亡原因、疾病和傷害等數據進行統合分析後發現，若20歲開始採取植物性飲食，取代以加工肉、高脂肪、精緻澱粉與高鈉含量的西式飲食，對於男性最長可延壽多達13年，女性則可延長10.7年壽命。

長壽飲食

多吃豆製品、堅果和全穀可以長壽。

台灣微菌健康促進學會理事長、家醫科醫師王姿允指出，長壽飲食其實就是減少加工肉類跟紅肉，增加豆製品、堅果跟全穀物，「這幾種食物當中，對女性延長壽命幫助最大的就是豆類食品！」

另外，研究還發現，若是從60歲才開始植物性飲食，平均下來女性仍可延長8年壽命，男性可延長8.8年壽命；即使80歲才開始採取植物性飲食，仍可以延長3.5年的平均壽命。

王姿允強調，植物性飲食不管是富含纖維、多酚類或是不飽和脂肪，本對腸道菌健康有益，所以增加植物性攝取可以延壽是可預期的。

肉吃太多會怎樣？這些疾病易發生

另一方面「減少動物性肉類」的攝取，是否也對延長壽命有積極的影響呢？2021年牛津大學發表在《BMC medicine》的研究「Meat consumption and risk of 25 common conditions：outcome-wide analyses in 475,000 men and women in the UK Biobank study」，針對47萬英國人的肉類、蔬果攝取習慣，分析25個相關疾病跟肉類攝入量的風險，發現肉類過量攝取的確跟很多疾病有關。

「未加工」紅肉（牛羊豬）＋加工肉類的總攝入量（每增加70克/天），會增加缺血性心臟病、肺炎、憩室病、結腸息肉和糖尿病的風險。

而單純「未加工」的紅肉攝入（每增加50克/天），會增加缺血性心臟病、肺炎、憩室疾病、結腸息肉和糖尿病的風險。

家禽類攝入（每增加30克/天）會增加胃食道逆流疾病、胃炎和十二指腸炎、憩室疾病、膽囊疾病和糖尿病的風險。

值得注意的是，在經過4年或更長時間的追蹤後，被診斷出的參與者中，未加工的紅肉和加工肉的攝入量與出血性中風之間，存在正相關。

由以上可知，如何「適量攝取肉類」而不增加疾病風險，是很重要的議題。

預防慢性病怎麼吃？1食物為主

根據衛福部「國民飲食指南」，蛋白質（優先順序豆魚蛋肉）的攝取當中，「高鈣豆製品至少占1/3以確保鈣質充裕」，扣掉蛋的攝取，魚海鮮加上肉占不到1/3。試問，我們國人除了茹素者，有多少人是「植物性蛋白質攝取有超過動物性？」

王姿允說，她這幾年來一直在推動的「4＋2R代謝飲食法」，也是培養民眾以植物性為主的飲食，搭配適量的肉類，以達到植物性蛋白質占一天1/3以上蛋白質的需求，減少慢性疾病的風險。

The event of International Tea Day.

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Date May 21 

May 21st is International Tea Day. Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, second only to water! Its origins are somewhat mysterious, possibly coming from India, Burma, and China, although where tea was first discovered is less certain. But tea has been with mankind for a long time. It is said that the Chinese began to drink tea 5,000 years ago.

In many countries, the cultivation and production of tea is the main source of income for many families. Especially in some less affluent places, tea is an important source of livelihood. Growing and making tea is a job that requires a lot of labor, so it also provides employment opportunities for many people, especially in remote areas.

Drinking tea is good for your body and mood, and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and weight loss effects. And in many places, drinking tea has become a culture and a part of people's lives. Therefore, tea is not only a drink for many people, but also a symbol of culture.

The purpose of International Tea Day is to help tea farmers and tea workers so that they can achieve better living conditions. Because growing and making tea is a livelihood for many people, we must care about their lives. The United Nations General Assembly decided to establish May 21 as International Tea Day to let more people understand how important tea is in alleviating poverty and hunger. Moreover, the production and processing of tea helps reduce extreme poverty, fight hunger, promote women’s empowerment, and sustainably use terrestrial ecosystems, all among the Sustainable Development Goals.

The production of tea also requires us to protect the earth, because climate change may affect the growing environment of tea, so we must also pay attention to protecting the environment so that tea can continue to grow!

 

What do we do in the age of AI? What is the disadvantage and advantage in the age of AI? Part 1

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What is Artificial Intelligence?

Before we jump on to the advantages and disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence, let us understand what is AI in the first place. From a birds eye view, AI provides a computer program the ability to think and learn on its own. It is a simulation of human intelligence (hence, artificial) into machines to do things that we would normally rely on humans. This technological marvel extends beyond mere automation, incorporating a broad spectrum of AI skills - abilities that enable machines to understand, reason, learn, and interact in a human-like manner. There are three main types of AI based on its capabilities - weak AI, strong AI, and super AI.

• Weak AI - Focuses on one task and cannot perform beyond its limitations (common in our daily lives)
• Strong AI - Can understand and learn any intellectual task that a human being can (researchers are striving to reach strong AI)
• Super AI - Surpasses human intelligence and can perform any task better than a human (still a concept)
• 
  

  Advantages and Disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence

  An artificial intelligence program is a program that is capable of learning and thinking. It is possible to consider anything to be artificial intelligence if it consists of a program performing a task that we would normally assume a human would perform.

  While artificial intelligence has many benefits, there are also drawbacks. The benefits of AI include efficiency through task automation, data analysis for informed decisions, assistance in medical diagnosis, and the advancement of autonomous vehicles. The drawbacks of AI include job displacement, ethical concerns about bias and privacy, security risks from hacking, a lack of human-like creativity and empathy.

  Let's begin with the advantages of artificial intelligence.

  10 Benefits of Artificial Intelligence

  1. Reduction in Human Error

  One of the biggest benefits of Artificial Intelligence is that it can significantly reduce errors and increase accuracy and precision. The decisions taken by AI in every step is decided by information previously gathered and a certain set of algorithms. When programmed properly, these errors can be reduced to null. 

  Example:

  An example of the reduction in human error through AI is the use of robotic surgery systems, which can perform complex procedures with precision and accuracy, reducing the risk of human error and improving patient safety in healthcare.

  2. Zero Risks

  Another big benefit of AI is that humans can overcome many risks by letting AI robots do them for us. Whether it be defusing a bomb, going to space, exploring the deepest parts of oceans, machines with metal bodies are resistant in nature and can survive unfriendly atmospheres. Moreover, they can provide accurate work with greater responsibility and not wear out easily.

  Example:

  One example of zero risks is a fully automated production line in a manufacturing facility. Robots perform all tasks, eliminating the risk of human error and injury in hazardous environments.

  3. 24x7 Availability

  There are many studies that show humans are productive only about 3 to 4 hours in a day. Humans also need breaks and time offs to balance their work life and personal life. But AI can work endlessly without breaks. They think much faster than humans and perform multiple tasks at a time with accurate results. They can even handle tedious repetitive jobs easily with the help of AI algorithms. 

  Example:

  An example of this is online customer support chatbots, which can provide instant assistance to customers anytime, anywhere. Using AI and natural language processing, chatbots can answer common questions, resolve issues, and escalate complex problems to human agents, ensuring seamless customer service around the clock.

  4. Digital Assistance

  Some of the most technologically advanced companies engage with users using digital assistants, which eliminates the need for human personnel. Many websites utilize digital assistants to deliver user-requested content. We can discuss our search with them in conversation. Some chatbots are built in a way that makes it difficult to tell whether we are conversing with a human or a chatbot.

  Example:

  We all know that businesses have a customer service crew that must address the doubts and concerns of the patrons. Businesses can create a chatbot or voice bot that can answer all of their clients' questions using AI.

  
  

  5. New Inventions

  In practically every field, AI is the driving force behind numerous innovations that will aid humans in resolving the majority of challenging issues.

  For instance, recent advances in AI-based technologies have allowed doctors to detect breast cancer in a woman at an earlier stage.

  Example:

  Another example of new inventions is self-driving cars, which use a combination of cameras, sensors, and AI algorithms to navigate roads and traffic without human intervention. Self-driving cars have the potential to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and increase accessibility for people with disabilities or limited mobility. They are being developed by various companies, including Tesla, Google, and Uber, and are expected to revolutionize transportation.

  6. Unbiased Decisions

  Human beings are driven by emotions, whether we like it or not. AI on the other hand, is devoid of emotions and highly practical and rational in its approach. A huge advantage of Artificial Intelligence is that it doesn't have any biased views, which ensures more accurate decision-making.

  Example:

  An example of this is AI-powered recruitment systems that screen job applicants based on skills and qualifications rather than demographics. This helps eliminate bias in the hiring process, leading to an inclusive and more diverse workforce.

  7. Perform Repetitive Jobs

  We will be doing a lot of repetitive tasks as part of our daily work, such as checking documents for flaws and mailing thank-you notes, among other things. We may use artificial intelligence to efficiently automate these menial chores and even eliminate "boring" tasks for people, allowing them to focus on being more creative.

  Example:

  An example of this is using robots in manufacturing assembly lines, which can handle repetitive tasks such as welding, painting, and packaging with high accuracy and speed, reducing costs and improving efficiency.

  8. Daily Applications

  Today, our everyday lives are entirely dependent on mobile devices and the internet. We utilize a variety of apps, including Google Maps, Alexa, Siri, Cortana on Windows, OK Google, taking selfies, making calls, responding to emails, etc. With the use of various AI-based techniques, we can also anticipate today’s weather and the days ahead.

  Example:

  About 20 years ago, you must have asked someone who had already been there for instructions when you were planning a trip. All you need to do now is ask Google where Bangalore is. The best route between you and Bangalore will be displayed, along with Bangalore's location, on a Google map.

  9. AI in Risky Situations

  One of the main benefits of artificial intelligence is this. By creating an AI robot that can perform perilous tasks on our behalf, we can get beyond many of the dangerous restrictions that humans face. It can be utilized effectively in any type of natural or man-made calamity, whether it be going to Mars, defusing a bomb, exploring the deepest regions of the oceans, or mining for coal and oil.

  Example:

  For instance, the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power facility in Ukraine. As any person who came close to the core would have perished in a matter of minutes, at the time, there were no AI-powered robots that could assist us in reducing the effects of radiation by controlling the fire in its early phases.

  10. Medical Applications

  AI has also made significant contributions to the field of medicine, with applications ranging from diagnosis and treatment to drug discovery and clinical trials. AI-powered tools can help doctors and researchers analyze patient data, identify potential health risks, and develop personalized treatment plans. This can lead to better health outcomes for patients and help accelerate the development of new medical treatments and technologies.