Mitochondria Link Stress to Fitness

Today, I'm excited to welcome Dr. Sharon Bergquist to the podcast. Sharon is a board-certified physician, research scientist, founder of Emory Lifestyle Medicine & Wellness, and an internationally recognized leader in lifestyle medicine.

She has led or co-led over a dozen clinical trials that have received $61 million in funding to evaluate lifestyle interventions and identify early biomarkers for chronic disease, including ongoing studies for early detection of Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Her work is at the forefront of how we understand the role of stress and resilience on our health and longevity.

As the author of The Stress Paradox: Why You Need Stress to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier, Dr. Bergquist brings a deeply personal and scientific perspective to the conversation. She shares how early-life adversity shaped her understanding of resilience and how decades of clinical research led her to challenge the conventional narrative about stress. Sharon explains why not all stress is harmful, how the body is biologically designed for growth through challenge, and why eliminating stress may actually harm long-term health and longevity.

In our conversation, we explore the science behind how good stress in the "Goldilocks Zone" can strengthen the body and mind. Sharon outlines how purposeful stress supports mitochondrial health, cognitive function, physical capacity, and emotional well-being, and explains why recovery is just as essential as the challenges we create and overcome.

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In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• Why not all stress is harmful—and how the right stress promotes longevity.
• The difference between distress, eustress, and not enough stress.
• How meaning and purpose challenges us and strengthens resilience.
• Why avoiding stress in retirement can backfire physically and mentally.
• The role mitochondria play in our energy, aging, and stress levels.
• The importance of recovery and how it transforms stress into growth.
• Why purpose is actually beneficial in protecting us against aging.
• How to rethink retirement as a season of continued growth and contribution.

Show Notes: HowardBailey.com/543

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