The mindbodygreen Podcast 583: Good stress is medicine | Sharon Bergquist, M.D.
Mar 9, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Sharon Bergquist M.D., an award-winning physician and author of 'The Stress Paradox,' reveals why harnessing good stress is crucial for health. She differentiates between beneficial acute stress and harmful chronic stress, explaining how exercise serves as an effective stressor. Bergquist also explores the importance of mitochondrial health, the benefits of plant toxins, and shares insights on optimizing exercise intensity with tools like HIIT. Additionally, she emphasizes personalized approaches to circadian fasting for better resilience and well-being.
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Good vs. Bad Stress
- Good stress consists of brief acute episodes followed by recovery, unlike chronic continuous bad stress.
- This intermittent stress promotes beneficial physiological and cellular adaptations.
VILPA Reduces Mortality
- Incorporate Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA) to cut mortality risk.
- Just 1-2 minutes of vigorous activity thrice daily reduces cardiovascular and cancer mortality by 40%.
Use Interval Training
- Implement intervals in your workouts by alternating fast and slow paces for at least one session weekly.
- This method enhances cardiorespiratory fitness more than continuous pace exercise.
