#309 5 Ancient Practices to Help You Feel & Function Better | Dr Rupy Aujla

Aug 6, 2025

Is modern life making us too comfortable? This discussion dives into how mild hunger and thirst can benefit our bodies by triggering stress hormones. It also uncovers the surprising protective powers of plant toxins, from turmeric to broccoli. The effectiveness of sauna and cold plunge therapies is examined, suggesting they might boost metabolism and brain health. Emphasizing the importance of mild challenges from our ancestral past, it highlights that small adjustments to our lifestyle can lead to significant health improvements.

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INSIGHT

Intermittent Living Benefits

Our bodies evolved for intermittent living, facing mild natural stressors like hunger and temperature extremes.
The benefit comes not from the stress but from the recovery and adaptive response afterward.

ADVICE

Fasted Exercise Boosts Health

Try fasted exercise by training before breakfast after a 12-hour fast to improve brain and metabolic health.
Fasted movement promotes metabolic flexibility and boosts brain neurotrophic factors for memory and learning.

INSIGHT

Thirst as Stress Calmer

Mild thirst activates hormones that calm stress responses and promote optimal hydration regulated by natural thirst cues.
Constant sipping disrupts fluid balance and can increase stress-related health risks.

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Could modern life be a little too comfortable for our ancient bodies? This week, I’m exploring the idea that our 21st-century lifestyle might be mismatched with what our biology evolved for and how reintroducing a few ancient challenges could help you feel sharper, calmer, and more resilient.

Without going full caveman, there are a few mild and ‘natural’ stressors that may have benefits to our bodies and considering how comfortable our lives are today, would require us to purposely reintroduce.

I dive into:

🍽️ Why mild hunger and thirst may be benefit

(Not every craving needs a snack—your stress hormones might thank you.)

🌿 How plant “toxins” are misunderstood heroes

From broccoli to turmeric, these phytochemicals can trigger powerful cell protection pathways.

🔥❄️ Whether saunas & cold plunges are worth the hype

How short exposures to heat or cold, separately, might boost metabolism, improve circulation, and even support brain health.

Today’s episode was influenced by the conversation I had with Dr Leo Pruimboom about the science of ‘intermittent living’. The benefit of these challenges isn’t in the challenge itself, it’s in the recovery. And fasting, movement, temperature, and more mirror the environments we evolved in.

To enjoy the benefits of these, I don’t think it requires a complete lifestyle overhaul, I see these as gentle nudges to remind your body what it was built for. The key is dose. Not too much, not too little.

Remember, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. It’s a curious invitation to explore how mild, short-term stressors can unlock long-term health. These aren’t replacements for healthy habits, just small extras that might make a big difference.

This area of research is still evolving. Not all ancient humans lived the same way. There wasn’t one perfect lifestyle. And while the theory behind intermittent living is fascinating, it’s not a prescription.

Think of it as adding a few evolutionary ingredients back into your modern life!