Table of Contents
What is Hormesis?
In simple terms, hormesis is a process in which something a bit harmful or stressful can become beneficial for your body by giving positive effects to make you strong and active and is good for your longevity.
Some examples of Hormesis
Here are some of the examples of hormesis by which you can know how small stress can be actually beneficial for your physical and mental health.
Fasting:
When you fast at that time, your body is not getting any food or energy; at that time, your body gets a mild stress as you are not getting any proper meal for some hours; at that time, you feel drowsy or feel low. However, fasting is a good example of hormesis and is beneficial in many ways, like:
- It seems that not getting food is making you weak for a few hours, but it is not true; our body has a mechanism where, when not getting energy through food, it switches to the mode where, from other ways, it keeps you healthy, like it burns fat from your body, which is not healthy.
- It helps in repairing your cells by removing the damaged cells and results by protecting against ageing.
- Makes your metabolism strong.
- Weight loss burns unnecessary fats from the body.
- Fasting lowers the risks of heart diseases.
- Improves memory by developing new brain cells.
Exercise:
Exercise is also an example of hormesis. Those exercises that put some stress on the body and might feel hard doing it, like weightlifting, put stress on the muscles but have their own positive effect: increased muscle strength and makes them strong.
There are several exercises that can produce some stress on your body but can make your muscles and overall physical body smart. Some of them can be running for longer distances, cycling, doing push-ups, planking, and stretching.
Psychological Test:
Mild stress on your brain, like performing some psychological tests and solving complex problems involving logical concepts, can enhance cognitive functions.
Sunlight:
You might feel irritation while sitting in bright sunlight, but moderate sunlight can be really good for you. Sunlight is a source of vitamin D, which develops bones and teeth and promotes immune, colon, and tissue health.
How cold showers can be an example of hormesis?
Cold showers are a good example of hermosis.
- It helps in circulating blood.
- Make you feel well and relieved from depression,
- Reduce soreness after a workout.
- Cold showers are good for tightening up the skin’s pores, which makes your skin look younger and smoother.
What are some Advantages & Disadvantages of Hormesis?
With having positive aspects of hormesis, there are some negative effects as well.
| Advantage | Disadvantage | |
| 1. | Makes your physical health stronger. | Excessive stress on the body can cause injury. |
| 2. | Hormesis makes your heart, muscles, and lungs fit and stronger. | People having diseases like diabetes cannot fast. |
| 3. | Your way of thinking and solving problems gets better. | Taking a lot of mental stress can make you depressed, and your physical health can be affected too. |
Conclusion
Hormesis is defined to be a phenomenon that produces less stress but has a positive impact on physical and mental health. This stress is good for wellbeing itself. While fasting you are not eating anything for some time, which has a positive impact on the body resulting in unnecessary fats breakdown. Exercises like weightlifting, cycling, and running help in keeping muscles strong.
Another example is cold showers, which can be classified as hormesis for giving a boost to blood circulation and helping people with depression, along with having positive effects on the skin. In any case, hormesis has various advantages, although high-level stress is dangerous and sometimes causes injuries, depression, or health problems in sensitive persons.
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