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Hormetic Stressor

Meaning

A Hormetic Stressor is an environmental, physical, or chemical stimulus that, when applied at a low, non-damaging dose, elicits a beneficial overcompensatory adaptive response within a biological system. This low-level challenge enhances the cell’s internal resilience mechanisms, ultimately improving the organism’s overall capacity to withstand more significant, potentially harmful stresses in the future. It is a key principle in longevity and adaptive biology.