We talk a lot about how harmful stress is for our health…but did you know that there are forms of “good” stress that can make you healthier? In this episode of The Allsorts Podcast, Desiree talk with Dr Sharon Bergquist MD about what these good stressors are…and her new book, The Stress Paradox!

Dr Sharon Bergquist MD on The Allsorts Podcast
Learn more about the fascinating concept of “good” stress with Dr Sharon Bergquist MD!

At this point, I think we’ve all gotten the memo that chronic stress is bad for us. We know that stress can mess with our gut health, our heart health and more. As a gut health dietitian, there are a lot of times that I’ve had the conversation about stress with digestive health clients because sometimes, we blame our symptoms on food when it’s really stress (and the gut-brain axis) at the root of the issue.

BUT (and this is a big BUT)… did you know that some forms of “good” stress can actually make you not just healthier, but stronger and more resilient to chronic stress? It’s kind of a mind-blowing proposition and in this episode of The Allsorts Podcast, I’m talking with Dr Sharon Bergquist MD about exactly what good stress is, and how it can make you a heck of a lot healthier, when applied intelligently.

Dr Bergquist is the author of a brand new book, The Stress Paradox, where she outlines the science of hormesis: exactly how – and what kinds of – good stress can influence cellular health and how that underlies all sorts of improvements in metabolism and resistance to chronic stress and disease.

I know this sounds like an outlandish internet concept – but one of the reasons why I love Dr Bergquist’s work so much is that it is deeply evidence-based and grounded in well-researched and agreed upon wellness practices like movement and plant-based nutrition.

There is something for everyone in this podcast, from the wannabe biohacker to the deep science nerd to the back to basics wellness skeptic!

About Dr Sharon Bergquist MD:

Sharon Horesh Bergquist, MD, is an award-winning physician, innovative healthcare leader, and visionary researcher renowned for spearheading a science-based approach to applying lifestyle as medicine. She has helped lead numerous clinical trials, including the Emory Healthy Aging Study and the NIH funded Emory Healthy Brain Study.

Dr. Bergquist is widely published in peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to over 200 news segments, including Good Morning America, CNN, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR. She hosts The Whole Health Cure podcast and her popular Ted-Ed video on how stress affects the body has been viewed over eight million times and translated to 35 languages. She received her Bachelor of Science in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale College, her medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Harvard’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

On this episode we chat about:

  • Why this Harvard-trained internal medicine doctor shifted towards lifestyle medicine
  • The difference between chronic, continuous stress and intermittent, positive stress
  • How a cycle of stress and recovery helps build stronger, more resilient cells
  • A doctor’s evidence-based take on adrenal fatigue
  • The five good stressors to increase in your life
  • Why antioxidant supplements are probably not as good as eating plants
  • Specific phytochemicals you want to eat more of – and where to find them
  • Is the sauna/cold plunge, beloved by Scandiavians, actually good stress?
  • How to leverage cross-adaptation to build the good stress plan that works for you
  • What does the research say about intermittent fasting and cellular health?

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Connect with Dr Sharon

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