According to longevity experts, there are 5 items in our toolkit in which we can hope to influence the number of our future years, and more importantly the vibrancy of them.
They are as follows:
Nutrition - More specifically nutrition biochemistry (anything we consume)
Exercise - (The Foundational 4 we recently spoke about)
Sleep Physiology - The amount and quality of it
Stress Tolerance - What do you use to tolerate and reduce your stress’s impact
Exogenous Molecules - Supplements/ Modern medicine
I want to take a second to “double click” on #4 so we can understand it a bit better.
What is stress, and what causes it and why is it bad for you?
Stress, particularly chronic stress prevalent in our modern lifestyles, poses a significant threat to our health. At the core of our body's stress response is cortisol, its primary stress hormone. While cortisol serves a crucial function in acute stress situations, prolonged elevation can have negative consequences.
Imagine being stuck in traffic, late for an important meeting. Your heart races, palms sweat, and you feel that familiar sense of dread. This fight-or-flight response, orchestrated by cortisol, kicks in to prepare your body to handle the perceived threat.
Yet, when stress becomes chronic, cortisol levels remain elevated, disrupting the balance of our body's systems. This weakened immune response increases susceptibility to illness, while digestive functions slow, leading to issues like indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. Elevated blood glucose levels contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes, and cortisol's influence on fat storage can lead to obesity.
Moreover, chronic stress exacerbates inflammation, a precursor to many chronic diseases, and disrupts sleep patterns, further compromising overall health.
Understanding cortisol's role in the stress response emphasizes the importance of managing stress effectively. Incorporating stress-reducing practices into our daily routines, such as mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing exercises, and regular physical activity, can help mitigate its harmful effects.
Another reason why consistent and frequent exercise is so important. No better way to strain the body and clear the mind than with a great resistance or cardio session!