The Plant Xenohormesis Theory: Key to Long Life and Vitality

And then when an animal or human consumes this same plant, the survival information the plant collected passes to the one consuming it. In other words, the longevity/survival gene can be activated in the human or animal by ingesting the hardy plant.

Xenohormesis offers that certain molecules in our food can have significant health- and longevity-enhancing effects that could be so profound they could ultimately eclipse the abilities of some current pharmaceutical medications.

Since the turn of this century, scientists have been increasingly admitting that we truly can significantly improve our diets with plants with the goal of living to a very advanced age yet with a high quality of living.

Scientists involved in the study of xenorhomesis believe that age-related degeneration may be reduced or even eliminated by positively and naturally challenging human genes like the longevity gene.

Here’s what actually happens during xenohormesis:

When plants are under stress such as extremely cold and harsh weather conditions, malnutrition, infection or dehydration, for example, they produce response molecules—different plant compounds such as polyphenols which can help them adapt to the effects of the stressful event and improve the plant’s survival rate.

When another species such as human consumes these chemicals by eating the plant these humans are subjected to the protective benefit of the compound the plant created in response to the stressor. The human never had to be exposed to the stressor in order to reap the benefits of the genetic survival information. The hormetic influence has been transferred from plant to human.

Ingested xenohormetic plant compounds activate the animal's or human’s own cellular stress response.

This beneficial cellular stress response can be applied in the fields of plant-based drug discovery and nutritional diet enhancement and already is to a large extent.

While such cellular stress response is thought to be at least two and a half billion years old, plants and their stress response have been evolving for almost one billion years.

Because the immobile plant cannot physically move away from stressors, environmental extremes of temperature variation, water or nutrient deprivation, or even predatory ravaging must be endured in place.

As a result, the complexity of the plant stress response humbles that of animals. But when human or animal consumes a stress response activated plant, they readily benefit from the plant's hardship and ultimate survival.

These benefits come in the form of adaptability, health, wellness, survival, longevity, and even fitness.

Examples of consumable xenohormetic agents in plants:

Xenohormesis researchers believe animals and fungi learned to detect the chemical cues signaled by these stress-induced polyphenols eons ago and still do, giving them advance warning about the impending deterioration of their environment. This acquired ability to detect chemical signaling cues has allowed animals to prepare while conditions were still relatively favorable.

Ronald Klatz, M.D., D.O., who coined the term, ‘anti-aging medicine,’ and who is recognized as a leading authority in the relatively new clinical science of anti-aging medicine is extremely optimistic about the potential for living very long and healthy lives.

These long quality life spans are perhaps truly within our grasp but only in an authentic way less manipulated by pharmaceuticals if we turn to wild nature for its longevity and survival codes. There is not only beauty there but wonder, mystery, and some very secret life-giving ingredients pulsing through edible plant life. Hormetic plant compounds found in nature might be key to long life and vitality living it.

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