What is hormesis

Hormesis refers to the concept of exposing oneself to a controlled amount of stress to induce a beneficial adaptation in the body. This principle is rooted in the idea that a small, controlled exposure to a stressor can lead to improvements in various biological functions, including metabolism, muscle growth, and overall cardiovascular health.

For instance, repeated exposure to cold water can initially be painful, but over time, the body adapts, becoming more tolerant to the cold. Similarly, this concept is applied to cardiovascular exercises, resistance training, and even exposure to heat, all aimed at improving the body’s resilience and functionality 1.

The mechanism behind hormesis involves the activation of certain biological pathways, such as UCP1 and HSF1, which can influence mitochondrial changes and lead to increased metabolism. This adaptation is not unlimited but does converge on existing internal biological mechanisms, which are stressed to elicit a hormetic response 1.