Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D.

OK, so let's I think that's pretty clear that we are dramatically underestimating the value of vigorous intensity physical activity in terms of reducing the risk of a variety of different, you know, negative health outcomes.

Right.

And so that's pretty clear.

But the question is, why is that?

Right.

And this is something that I would say.

We've sort of talked about on the podcast before, I've had a lot of different exercise physiologists, Dr. Ben Levine, Dr. Martin Kabbalah on the podcast, and we've talked a lot about the adaptations to physical activity.

So I wanna kind of start off with the effects on cardiovascular health and the adaptations that occur

in the cardiovascular system, because I think it's probably one of the most important concepts here.

And it does really come down to this idea of the stronger the stimulus is, the greater the adaptation, right?

Now, obviously, you can always take something to the extreme case, right?

If you were to exercise all the time, nonstop, like that's not good, but we're not talking about that.

So the stronger the stimulus, the better the adaptation.

And

One of, just to kind of reiterate to people before we talk about the adaptations, you know, remember, one minute of vigorous physical activity was equivalent to almost eight times, right?

So eight minutes of moderate intensity physical activity.

That's a big difference.

And so...

One of the big adaptations here really comes down to increased blood flow.

It's just getting your blood pumping, moving, because what happens is this causes what's called shear stress on your vascular system, on the interior lining of the arteries.