Need another reason to be wary about the "AI revolution"? Here is a scary one...
A 60-year-old man recently decided that he needed to cut salt from his diet. Instead of consulting his doctor – or using common sense, really – he asked ChatGPT for advice.
Well, the AI ended up confidently telling him that he could swap out table salt for something else. And most of you might know that the chemical name for table salt is sodium chloride.
That "something else" was sodium bromide, which he bought online and started sprinkling on his food.
Fast-forward three months, and he was in the hospital under an involuntary emergency psychiatric hold because his hallucinations were so bad that he couldn't take care of himself.
As it turns out, sodium bromide is a strong, highly toxic sedative that's used to treat epilepsy in dogs.
In other words, he ended up poisoning himself, thanks to AI.
And a similar story is playing out across the country where it seems just about everyone wants fast results... a pill or injection to make us thin, an app to tell us what to eat, and a chatbot to solve medical problems.
Now don't get me wrong... AI can be a helpful tool for writing code, summarizing e-mails, or helping you organize your life. But when it comes to your health, relying on AI alone is treading dangerous waters.
But the thing is, your body doesn't need "artificial" intelligence. It's already equipped with a biological intelligence, like the one in your brain...
Your mood, pain tolerance, motivation, and sense of connection are driven by the "fantastic four" of chemical messengers: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins.
When they're balanced, you feel motivated, calm, and happy. When they're off, you feel the opposite.
Dopamine is your motivation and reward hormone. It's what gives you that sense of satisfaction when you finish a task, learn something new, or make progress toward a goal. And having adequate dopamine keeps us focused, energized, and mentally sharp.
But throw aging into the mix... and structural changes set in. For instance, we start losing dopamine-producing neurons, the areas of the brain that receive dopamine start shrinking, and we have fewer dopamine receptors. This might leave you feeling "flat," unmotivated, or even mentally foggy.
Serotonin, the "happy hormone," helps us be happy and focused, along with keeping us calm and feeling balanced. This chemical also plays a role in appetite, digestion, and sleep quality. Low serotonin levels have been linked to chronic pain, depression, sleep problems, and cognitive decline – all of which are issues that become common later in life. For decades, this chemical has been the major target of Big Pharma's antidepression drugs.
Oxytocin is the "love hormone." It fosters trust, connection, and emotional warmth. This hormone plays a big role in childbirth and breastfeeding by developing the bond between a mother and her baby. Oxytocin also helps build a connection between partners in romantic relationships.
For seniors, this hormone is especially important. Isolation and its reduced physical contact can put a damper on your oxytocin levels, leaving you with stress and loneliness.
Endorphins are your natural painkillers. They help blunt physical discomfort and stress, leaving you feeling good – even euphoric.
So how can you naturally boost these hormones? Well, here are three of my favorite tips...
1. Try cold exposure.
I know, I know... Most of the country has yet to thaw from Winter Storm Fern and you probably think I'm nuts for suggesting this.
Well, as it turns out, brief exposure to cold temperatures is a surprisingly powerful mood enhancer.
Cold showers or simply splashing cold water on your face can significantly increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels, leading to improved alertness and motivation.
Another study showed reduced levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, after cold-water immersion. Participants also increased their metabolism by 350%. And according to a recent systematic review, cold-water immersion showed reduced stress-related chemicals in the body for as long as 12 hours after exposure.
Cold also reduces inflammation and boosts metabolic activity. It activates brown fat – a metabolically active tissue that helps regulate your blood sugar and energy balance.
You don't need to suffer to benefit. Do what I do and turn the faucet to cold for about 20 to 40 seconds at the end of a warm shower. I slowly rotate while I'm doing this, letting my forehead, then one shoulder, then my back, then the other shoulder, and so on all get the cold water. It's enough to stimulate these hormone changes – while building resilience to stress.
2. Get enough protein.
Protein is often overlooked when we talk about mood, but it's foundational.
Remember those neurotransmitters that regulate motivation, pleasure, and calm – including dopamine and serotonin? They're all built from amino acids found in protein. For example, tyrosine – a building block of dopamine – is found in dietary protein.
Plus, as we age, our bodies become less efficient at using protein. This means older folks actually need more, not less, like I covered in this previous issue.
Inadequate protein intake can worsen your mood and cause fatigue, muscle loss, and frailty. Including protein at every meal supports neurotransmitter production while also preserving muscle mass, which reduces your fall risk.
3. Listen to music.
Music isn't just for your entertainment... It's also therapy for your brain and your whole body.
That's because music is one of the most efficient dopamine boosters. Listening to music you enjoy activates your brain's reward centers and triggers dopamine release.
One randomized controlled trial published last year found that four weeks of singing or playing instruments in music therapy significantly increased blood levels of endorphins and reduced stress.
And a 2020 review of music and oxytocin found that activities like choral singing, taking singing lessons, and group drumming activities raise hormone levels in our saliva. Amazing stuff!
Not only does music uplift your mood, but it also supports healthy cognitive function. Studies show that music engages memory networks in the brain to help you improve recall, attention, and emotional regulation. That's even in older folks experiencing mild cognitive decline.
I love writing to jazz great Red Garland's piano-bass-drum trio. I'll put on hip-hop (Drake, Snoop Dogg) or fast-paced rock (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin) to keep me motivated and moving during my sessions on the exercise bike.
These were just three of the 12 simple, science-backed strategies for naturally boosting your feel-good hormones that I shared in last month's Retirement Millionaire. To unlock the other nine, start your trial subscription to my flagship newsletter here.
What We're Reading...
- Something different: Living with the "world's most painful known medical condition."
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
February 5, 2026