Why This Longevity Expert Wants You To Eat “Stressed-Out” Foods
July 18, 2025 | Source: Mind Body Green | by Jamie Schneider
We tend to think of stress in terms of how we can evade it—much like anxiety and inflammation, stress is typically stamped with a negative connotation. And while stress management is a crucial pillar of overall well-being, it’s chronic stress that becomes so worrisome—acute stress, on the other hand, isn’t always harmful. In fact, a bit of physical stress on your body can actually be quite healthy.
Same goes for the foods we eat: According to longevity expert and Harvard geneticist David Sinclair, Ph.D., food that faces a little bit of stress is actually healthier. “I look for organic foods, not because I’m scared as much of the pesticides—though that’s important,” he shares on the mindbodygreen podcast. “It’s because organic foods aren’t held with gloves. They’re a little bit more stressed-out usually.”
You’re probably thinking, Uh, how can I tell if my food is stressed? It’s not like vegetables can come talk to us when they’re feeling panicked (although emerging research suggests plants let out high-frequency sounds of angst). But it turns out plants do have a physical stress response: bright colors.