471: How to Hack Stress for Better Health and Longevity | Sharon Horesh Bergquist, MD
Mar 12, 2025
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Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist, a board-certified internal medicine physician and lifestyle medicine expert, dives into the nuances of stress and health. She reveals how beneficial stressors like exercise can enhance resilience and well-being. Exploring the concept of 'good stress,' she advocates for dietary diversity to activate positive health responses. The discussion touches on the dangers of ultra-processed foods and emphasizes the benefits of intermittent fasting and embracing discomfort for personal growth. A must-listen for anyone looking to improve their health!
Stress can have beneficial effects when managed correctly; understanding the distinction between chronic and eustress is crucial for health.
Timing of food intake is vital for metabolic health; consuming calories earlier in the day reduces obesity risk and improves outcomes.
Incorporating diverse plant foods and their phytochemicals fosters resilience and supports health, emphasizing variety over a superfood mentality.
Deep dives
Harnessing Stress for Health
The notion that stress is purely harmful is a widespread misconception; in reality, stress can be beneficial when managed correctly. There are different types of stress, such as chronic stress, which can lead to negative health outcomes, and eustress or good stress, which can enhance resilience and metabolic health. Activities such as exercise, time-restricted eating, and certain dietary challenges can provide the right kind of stress that supports health. Understanding the nature of stress allows individuals to optimize their responses and improve their overall well-being.
The Importance of Timing in Eating
The timing of food intake is as crucial as the food itself, as shifting caloric consumption to earlier in the day can significantly benefit metabolism. Consuming most calories in the earlier hours allows the body to utilize insulin more effectively, reducing obesity risk and promoting better health outcomes. Studies show that those who eat later tend to experience adverse metabolic consequences, emphasizing the need to realign eating patterns with the body’s natural circadian rhythms. By adopting a time-restricted eating approach, individuals can enhance their metabolic health without drastic dietary changes.
The Power of Phytochemicals
Plant-based phytochemicals, often referred to as toxins, can actually bolster health by activating the body’s innate defensive mechanisms. Consuming diverse plant foods exposes the body to various phytochemicals that can enhance resilience and reduce disease susceptibility. Examples of beneficial phytochemicals include resveratrol in grapes, sulforaphane in cruciferous vegetables, and curcumin in turmeric. Emphasizing variety over a superfood mentality supports a balanced diet that maximizes health benefits through a wider range of plant nutrients.
The Role of Good Stressors
Incorporating good stressors into daily life can restore balance and promote health, countering the effects of chronic, negative stress. Activities such as brief high-intensity workouts, exposure to heat or cold, and psychological challenges, when followed by recovery, enhance cellular health. This process, known as hormesis, highlights how mild stress can improve strength and resilience by helping the body adapt and thrive. Adopting these practices encourages a more profound understanding of how to use stress positively while avoiding harmful chronic stress.
Empowerment through Consistency and Change
Small, consistent changes can significantly impact health without overwhelming individuals with drastic lifestyle shifts. By integrating simple practices such as adding more plant foods, engaging in brief spurts of physical activity, or practicing time-restricted eating, anyone can take steps towards better health. These adjustments not only facilitate long-term adherence but also empower individuals by leveraging the body’s innate capacity for healing and resilience. Embracing the idea of gradual change allows people to enhance their health positively and sustainably.
Dr. Sharon Horesh Berquist is a board-certified internal medicine physician, lifestyle medicine expert, and author of The Stress Paradox, specializing in the science of resilience and healthy aging.
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