Plant Science
Plant compounds do more than protect plants—they activate cellular switches for health in our bodies. Longevity researcher David Sinclair calls this xenohormesis: mild environmental stressors that strengthen our organisms and promote adaptation.
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For centuries, plants have been used in traditional medicine across cultures worldwide. Most of our modern pharmaceutical compounds are also derived from plants. But why? Why do we find remedies to our ailments in plant compounds?
The term xenohormesis comes from renowned longevity researcher David Sinclair at Harvard. His research has been instrumental in helping us understand how to slow aging and create health.
He discovered and described certain cellular switches that, when activated, produce beneficial effects for the organism. Resveratrol, the "magic molecule from red grapes," became world-famous in this context.
When Sinclair administered this compound to aging, overweight, and metabolically diseased mice, the animals were no longer metabolically sick. Instead, they showed improved metabolic markers and an incredible gain in physical performance.
Meaning: it works. You can literally press a metabolic button to create health and performance. His research inspired our first book, "The Handbook to Your Body"—an Amazon bestseller at the time (2014).
The word xenohormesis combines two concepts: "xeno" (Greek for foreign) and hormesis. Hormesis describes the observation that mild stressors (e.g., toxins at low doses) don't make us sick—they make us stronger and healthier, triggering an adaptive response in the organism.
Over millions of years of evolution, organisms learned to benefit from plants' stress responses. When plants are stressed—by drought, UV light, or nutrient deficiency—they produce more plant compounds to protect themselves.
Animals that eat these plants and consume these compounds respond with their own beneficial, health-promoting stress response. Hormesis has thus been transferred from a foreign (xeno) organism—the plant—to another, such as humans.
Remarkable. This is how Sinclair explained why the plant compound resveratrol from red grapes made animals healthy. Resveratrol is produced most intensely when grapevines are mildly stressed by environmental factors.
Xenohormesis applies to countless plants and plant compounds. Well known to us all: green tea (EGCG), olive (oleuropein), pomegranate (punicalagin), red grapes (OPC), turmeric (curcumin), and ashwagandha (withanolides).
So plant compounds support and create health. But be careful. Hormesis also means there can be too much of a good thing. Humans know this instinctively, which is why we cook broccoli and don't consume huge amounts of it raw.
In high doses, these plant compounds can actually be harmful. Over millions of years of evolution, our sensory systems have become very skilled at sending us strong feedback about when we've eaten enough salad.
With extracts like coffee and the supplements mentioned above, you must always be careful not to overdo it. We've reported extensively on the downsides of excess coffee.
Now you understand more precisely why small doses are beneficial and high doses can be harmful—why that morning espresso might be protective, while a third full cup of coffee in the afternoon might damage your wellbeing.
Xenohormesis!
Our blend of Acetyl-L-Carnitine and R-α-Lipoic Acid—the mix that makes old rats dance the Macarena ;-)—is back in stock. The patented curcumin formula Longvida® Optimised Curcumin® is also back on shelves. Plus, our popular 300-count Omega-3s are finally available again!
Our Omega-3 capsules are lab-tested and show a low TOTOX value that matches fresh oil.
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This protects curcumin and significantly increases bioavailability. It's not a nuisance ingredient—it's an integral part of the product's transport technology that ensures outstanding bioavailability.
