Throughout evolution, living organisms have had to adapt to adverse conditions and agents in order to survive. Stress is one of the most common causes of discomfort in the world . Therefore, knowing how to manage and manage stress is a fundamental part of life so that you can be stronger and more resilient.
Fair doses of stress are essential to become stronger in all aspects. Although we usually associate it as something exclusively negative or uncomfortable, there is a good type of stress that can make you more resilient and effective in everyday life . Leaving our comfort zone and going through certain discomforts intermittently can strengthen and improve our health.
Currently, the absence of hormetic stressors weakens us, favoring the appearance of various diseases.
The human body is an incredibly adaptable machine, designed to respond and adapt to a wide variety of stimuli. Most are not familiar with the concept of desirable stress, but it exists. Hormesis is the adaptive response to exposure to small doses of stress that are very positive for our cells and strengthen our immune system, making us stronger. It is basically what the famous saying implies: “ what doesn't kill you makes you stronger ."
Our physiology expects physiological stressors intermittently. Therefore, it is important to incorporate stressors such as intermittent fasting, exposure to cold or heat, physical exercise, sun exposure, among others, to improve your health.
What is hormesis?
Hormesis is a biological principle that describes an organism's response to low doses of stress or harmful agents, which at higher doses would be harmful. In other words, hormesis refers to the body's ability to benefit from controlled exposure to stressful situations. This adaptation can translate into increased endurance, improvements in cellular function, and ultimately improved overall health.
Hormesis is a concept in biology and toxicology that refers to a phenomenon in which exposure to low or moderate doses of an agent or stressor that, at high doses, would be harmful or toxic, results in a beneficial or adaptive response. by the organism. In other words, hormesis suggests that an agent that could be harmful in large quantities can be beneficial in small doses .
This phenomenon has been observed in a variety of contexts, from exposure to chemical toxins and radiation to physical stressors such as exercise or exposure to cold or heat. The beneficial effects of hormesis often include improvements in stamina, cellular function, and overall health.
How does hormesis work?
Stress detection : When an organism is exposed to a stress agent in low or moderate doses, cells and biological systems detect the presence of this stress. This may include molecular signals and changes in cellular activity.
Adaptive response : Instead of being overwhelmed or damaged by stress, the body initiates an adaptive response. This response may involve the activation of cellular signaling pathways that lead to damage repair, protection against future damage, or improved resistance.
Improved resistance and function : As a result of exposure to low-dose stress, the body can become stronger and improve its ability to face similar future challenges. For example, upon exposure to cold, the body can adapt to maintain a constant core temperature.
Health and Performance Benefits : Over time, hormesis can translate into a number of health and performance benefits. This may include increased resistance, improved cellular function, increased efficiency in damage repair, regulation of metabolism, and increased stress tolerance.
Maintenance of controlled doses : It is important to note that hormesis depends on exposure to controlled doses of the stressor. Excessive doses of an agent that normally induces hormesis may be harmful rather than beneficial. Therefore, balance and regulation are key to reaping the benefits of hormesis.
How is hormetic stress different from chronic stress?
While hormetic stress can offer health benefits, the same is not true for chronic stress. The harms of chronic stress (the type of stress felt due to ongoing financial difficulties or unsustainable work conditions) are well established.
When your body encounters a source of stress, it releases a flood of hormones that help you react to the threat. With short-term sources of stress, such as cold water immersion, these hormones can increase your energy supplies and help your body repair its tissues. But long-term, chronic stressors that expose you to excess hormones could disrupt your body's processes and put you at risk for many health problems, from anxiety and depression to heart disease and digestive problems.
Hormesis and exposure to cold (or heat)
Hormesis through exposure to cold or heat is the type of hormetic stress that is activated when you physiologically shock your body with cold water or an extremely hot environment. To activate this hormetic stressor, you may choose to take cold showers, swim in cold water, take a refreshing dip in an ice bath, or use a sauna.
Regardless of how you choose to expose yourself to hormesis, cold shock has many potential health benefits. Scientific research has shown that cold therapy could help:
Reduce systemic inflammation
Improves symptoms of anxiety and depression
Reduce stress and promote relaxation
When do you want to put it into practice? Or if you already do it, do you have any questions about it? Get in touch with us now and let's start enjoying the benefits of putting hormesis into practice.
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