In an age where billionaires and conspicuous consumption are increasingly on display, new Otago-led research shows a simple life really is a happier life.

The study led by University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka Department of Marketing researchers has recently been published in the Journal of Macromarketing.

After setting out to understand the relationship between consumption and wellbeing, the researchers found people are happier and more satisfied when adopting sustainable lifestyles and resisting the temptations of consumerism.

They analysed data from a representative sample of more than 1000 New Zealanders, made up of 51 per cent men and 49 per cent women, with a median age of 45 and a median annual household income of $50,000.

They found the commitment to simple living, or ‘voluntary simplicity’ as it is formally known, leads to wellbeing through providing more opportunities for personal interaction and social connection than conventional contexts of exchange, such as community gardens, sharing resources, and peer-to-peer lending platforms.

Women are more likely to adopt a simple life than men, although more research is needed to understand why.

Co-author Associate Professor Leah Watkins says consumer culture promotes happiness as being typically associated with high levels of income and the capability it affords to acquire and accumulate material possessions.

“However, research is clear that attitudes to, and experiences of, materialistic approaches to life do not lead to increases in happiness or wellbeing. Nor do they lead to sustainable consumption necessary for planetary health.”

Between 2000 and 2019, global domestic material consumption increased by 66 per cent, tripling since the 1970s to reach 95.1 billion metric tons.

Growing consumer affluence and higher living standards have resulted in warnings of alarming trends of environmental degradation from human consumption.

This, coupled with global warming and post-pandemic health and financial anxieties, has led researchers and policymakers to call for a better understanding of the links between simple consumer lifestyles and wellbeing.

But co-author Professor Rob Aitken says this isn’t a case of just throwing out all your worldly possessions.

“It’s not directly the commitment to material simplicity that leads to wellbeing, but the psychological and emotional need fulfilment that derives from relationships, social connection, community involvement and a sense of living a purposeful and meaningful life.

“In a world where billionaire weddings are treated like state occasions and private yachts are the new status symbols, voluntary simplicity offers a quiet, powerful counter-narrative — one that values enough over excess, connection over consumption, and meaning over materialism.”

In a new study, researchers from the University of Chicago discovered that zeaxanthin, a plant-derived carotenoid best known for protecting vision, may also act as an immune-boosting compound by strengthening the cancer-fighting activity of immune cells. The findings, which were published in Cell Reports Medicine, highlight the potential of zeaxanthin as a widely available supplement to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.

“We were surprised to find that zeaxanthin, already known for its role in eye health, has a completely new function in boosting anti-tumor immunity,” said Jing Chen, PhD, Janet Davison Rowley Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and senior author of the study. “Our study show that a simple dietary nutrient could complement and strengthen advanced cancer treatments like immunotherapy.”

How does this nutrient work?

The study builds on years of work by Chen’s lab to better understand how nutrients influence the immune system. By screening a large blood nutrient library, the team identified zeaxanthin as a compound that directly enhances the activity of CD8+ T cells, a crucial type of immune cell that kills tumor cells. These cells rely on a molecular structure called the T-cell receptor (TCR) to recognize and destroy abnormal cells.

The researchers found that zeaxanthin stabilizes and strengthens the formation of TCR complex on CD8+ T cells upon interacting with the cancer cells. This, in turn, triggers more robust intracellular signaling that boosts T-cell activation, cytokine production, and tumor-killing capacity.

Zeaxanthin improves immunotherapy effects

In mouse models, dietary supplementation with zeaxanthin slowed tumor growth. Importantly, when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors – a type of immunotherapy that has transformed cancer treatment in recent years – zeaxanthin significantly enhanced anti-tumor effects compared to immunotherapy alone.

To extend the findings, the researchers tested human T cells engineered to recognize specific tumor antigens and found that zeaxanthin treatment improved these cells’ ability to kill melanoma, multiple myeloma, and glioblastoma cells in laboratory experiments.

“Our data show that zeaxanthin improves both natural and engineered T-cell responses, which suggests high translational potential for patients undergoing immunotherapies,” Chen said.

A safe and accessible candidate

Zeaxanthin is sold as an over-the-counter supplement for eye health, and is naturally found in vegetables like orange peppers, spinach, and kale. It’s inexpensive, widely available, well-tolerated and, most importantly, its safety profile is known – which means it can be safely tested as an adjunct to cancer therapies.

The study also reinforces the importance of a balanced diet. In their previous research, Chen’s group discovered that trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), a fatty acid derived from dairy and meat, also boosts T-cell activity – but through a different mechanism. Together, the findings suggest that nutrients from both plant and animal sources may provide complementary benefits to immune health.

Clinical applications of zeaxanthin

Although the results are promising, the researchers emphasize that the work is still at an early stage. Most of the findings come from laboratory experiments and animal studies. Thus, clinical trials will be needed to determine whether zeaxanthin supplements can improve outcomes for cancer patients.

“Our findings open a new field of nutritional immunology that looks at how specific dietary components interact with the immune system at the molecular level,” Chen said. “With more research, we may discover natural compounds that make today’s cancer therapies more effective and accessible.”

The study, “Zeaxanthin augments CD8+ effector T cell function and immunotherapy efficacy,” was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Ludwig Center at the University of Chicago, and the Harborview Foundation Gift Fund.

Additional authors include Freya Zhang, Jiacheng Li, Rukang Zhang, Jiayi Tu, Zhicheng Xie, Takemasa Tsuji, Hardik Shah, Matthew Ross, Ruitu Lyu, Junko Matsuzaki, Anna Tabor, Kelly Xue, Chunzhao Yin, Hamed R. Youshanlouei, Syed Shah, Michael W. Drazer, Yu-Ying He, Marc Bissonnette, Jun Huang, Chuan He, Kunle Odunsi, and Hao Fan from the University of Chicago; Fatima Choudhry from DePaul University, Chicago; Yuancheng Li and Hui Mao from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; Lei Dong from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; and Rui Su from Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA.

By Lesley Henton
Texas A&M University Division of Marketing and Communications

When you visit a doctor, you expect them to listen. But in today’s fast-paced health care system, real listening — the kind that makes you feel seen, heard and understood — can be the first thing to go.

A new article, co-authored by Dr. Leonard Berry of Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School, argues that listening isn’t just a nice gesture, it’s a powerful tool that can improve your care and even help heal the health care system itself.

Berry and colleagues at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Boston and Henry Ford Health Detroit published their findings in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

The Case Of The Norwegian Nurse

The team identified what it calls “values-driven listening.” It’s about more than asking questions, it’s about asking the right questions, being present and showing genuine curiosity and compassion.

“Listening is the gateway to healing,” Berry said. “It’s how we connect, understand and ultimately serve better.”

One story in the article shows just how transformative listening can be. A nurse in a Norwegian nursing home asked a patient, “What would make a good day for you?”  

The patient responded: “I want to wear my blue shirt.”

“Why the blue one?” the nurse asked.

“That was my wife’s favorite shirt,” the patient said. “She died two years ago today, and I want to honor her.”

The patient shared memories of his wife with the nurse, and afterward, he asked for a wheelchair so that he could tell other patients about her; it was the first time he’d ever asked to interact with other people at the facility.

“That’s not a medical breakthrough,” Berry said, “it’s a human one.”

Six Listening Strategies

The authors outline six types of listening that contribute to better care:

Listening That Is Proximate
Being physically present matters. Your provider can learn far more from a quiet moment in the exam room than from a rushed message or chart note. When they’re close, focused and curious, you’re more likely to open up, and that kind of trust is essential for making decisions together about your care. Be sure your provider spends this focused time with you.

Listening That Is Curious
Your provider’s curiosity can be just as important as their expertise. When they ask open-ended questions and pay attention to your words, body language and emotions, it creates space for honest conversation. That’s often when key details emerge informing the plan of care. “What are your concerns about the plan of care we’ve discussed?” creates a path for open dialogue in a way that “Do you have any questions?” does not.

Listening That Earns And Enables Trust
Trust starts when you feel safe to speak candidly, and that happens when your provider listens without judgment, gives you their full attention and treats your input as essential. At Henry Ford Health, some doctors are using AI-powered tools to handle notetaking during appointments, so they can focus entirely on the conversation.

Listening Aided By Design
The design of a clinic or hospital can affect how well you’re heard. Small, crowded spaces make private conversations harder, but simple changes — like your provider sitting down during a visit — can make you feel more cared for and listened to. Some health systems, like Southcentral Foundation in Alaska, have created “talking rooms” that feel less clinical and more personal, showing that listening isn’t just a skill, it’s something built into the space itself.

Listening That Empowers
Listening should lead to action, and that includes listening to the people who care for you. When frontline staff are asked what’s wasting time or making care harder, they often have smart, simple fixes. At Hawaii Pacific Health, a program called “Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff” led to hundreds of suggestions, including one that saved nurses 1,700 hours a month by removing a pointless documentation rule. When staff are empowered to speak up, care becomes more efficient, less frustrating and better for everyone.

Listening That Fosters Resilience
Caring for others is demanding, and when health care workers are supported, they’re better able to support you. Simple acts like sharing meals and stories with colleagues can help reduce burnout and build emotional strength in those who are caring for you. Some hospitals schedule time for these peer connections, creating space for reflection and support. Ask your provider how their health care system supports its workers.

Listening Is Kindness

Berry and his co-authors write that deep listening benefits all parties: clinician-to patient; clinician-to-clinician; leader-to-clinical and non-clinical staff. It’s a cultural shift that starts with values. “Do you care enough to listen?” they ask.

For patients, this means you should feel empowered to speak up and expect to be heard.

“Your experiences, concerns and insights are not just helpful, they’re essential,” Berry said. “And when your care team listens with empathy and curiosity, it leads to better decisions, stronger relationships and more personalized care.

“Kindness is not a luxury in health care, it’s a necessity. And true listening is one of its most powerful expressions.”