Favorable Vs Unfavorable Adaptations
Adaptation is generally viewed as a good thing. Start an intense workout? Adapt & grow. Great! Adaptation is the body’s adjustment to an environment, usually brought about by a stressor.
Adaptation is the body’s effort to maintain homeostasis. The goal is survival. However, the body’s reaction may not necessarily be compatible with health & longevity. Short term survival may not be compatible with long term survival. When a body has high blood pressure, the blood has increased resistance to being pumped. Yet the body still needs blood (nutrients & oxygen). The heart pumps harder to compensate. This can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, a normal & seemingly helpful adaptation. However if this continues it may start to inhibit left ventricular filling.
Think less blood ejaculation & heart failure. These are just examples to illustrate my point. I think as a health community we need to be aware that the way the body changes to accomplish our goals is through adaptation.
We can manipulate this process to our advantage, but we better be aware of the potential adverse effects & unintended consequences. Exercise (usually, when done right) produces favorable changes in the body. Exercise is a stressor though!!! Everyone seems to forget that. The body’s goal is immediate survival, which may lead to leanness, muscle gain, increased performance ability, etc.
What are the long term adaptations of this stressor? Can they be harmful? Thinking about this in terms of diet, if a person cuts calories to the extreme, they may (a big “if” here) experience favorable short term effects. There are potential psychological & emotional issues involved, not to mention the potential for the body to adjust to the survival situation by setting itself up for extreme fat storage later on. Low calorie=famine…the body doesn’t do diets. Important concepts to consider before recommending or undertaking interventions aimed at improving health.
Health & longevity, not damage, is the goal. Just because something makes sense, is recommended by a guru, or has always been done does not mean it is true or good. Just because something works short term does not mean it is healthy long term. Haphazardly following a diet, trying a training plan, or ingesting a supplement can have consequences. I urge you to evaluate each concept or health plan before you incorporate it into your life.
