Hormesis is a wholistic approach to maintain, recover and enhance health, thus promoting healthy ageing and increased longevity. Any condition that induces low level stress inside the cells, and leads to the activation of one or more stress response defence pathways, is a potential hormetin. Physical, nutritional and mental hormetins initiate cellular stress responses and strengthen the homeodynamic space, robustness and resilience of an individual. Exercise, heat and irradiation are examples of physical hormetins, which activate heat shock-, DNA repair- and anti-oxidative-repsonses. Numerous nonnutritional chemical components in the food, such as flavonoids and polyphenols present in spices, herbs and other sources, are examples of nutritional hormetins, which induce anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory stress responses. Calorie restriction and intermittent fasting are also hormetins, which activate the autophagic and sirtuin-mediated stress responses. Intense brain activity and focussed attention comprise mental hormetins. A combination of different hormetins can be the drugs for maintaining, improving and recovering health during ageing.
