Module 1 – Hormesis
Hormesis is one of the ideas behind our refeed days and fasting. It is the idea that a small amonut of poison is good in the greater scheme of things. In biology we see this as a beneficial effect arising from exposure to a very small amount or dose of a toxic substance. For us that would be a refeed day, exposure to sugar, to keep our metabolism working optimally in the long term.
The dose makes the poison.
– Paracelsus, Swiss physician, alchemist, lay theologian, and philosopher of the German Renaissance.
Without exposing our body to a little bit of poison or stress regularly, the body becomes blind to the poison and then when it is exposed, it becomes irradic and unable to respond properly. The immune system can launch a full blown attack and cause a lot of damage and unwanted side effects.
But when we expose our body to a little poison and even stress, we benefit in the long run.
Some of the tools we expose our body to for a beneficial hormetic response are;
Fasting
Exercise
Sugar through our refeeds
Gluten (if you don't have Celiac or Non Celiac)
Very hot temperatures (like hot baths and Saunas)
Cold exposure (like walking or being outdoors in Alberta winters!)