Redox Homeostasis, Hormesis, and Why Some Stress is Actually Good For You
In the health and longevity world, we often hear that oxidation is "bad" and antioxidants are "good", But biology is far more nuanced than that. Our bodies thrive not from eliminating all oxidative stress, but from maintaining a delicate balance between oxidation and reduction -- known as redox homeostasis. This concept is becoming increasingly important in conversations around mitochondrial health, longevity, fasting, exercise, cold exposure, sauna, and even drinking molecular hydrogen water. What is Redox Homeostasis? "Redox" is short for: Oxidation -- the loss of electrons Reduction -- the gain of electrons Every second of every day, your body is performing millions of these reactions to produce energy, repair tissue, detoxify cells, and to keep us alive. Oxygen plays a central role in this process. Your mitochondria -- the energy factories inside your cells -- use oxygen to create ATP, the fuel your body runs ...
