Cardio Before Chemicals

The essay argues that cardiovascular fitness and stress management matter far more to longevity than trace exposures such as pesticides, artificial food dyes, and seed oils, and that people should address fitness and stress first. It cites the WHO's identification of insufficient physical activity as the 4th leading cause of early death globally and a CDC estimate that about 8.3% of U.S. adult deaths aged 25+ are attributable to not getting enough exercise. It also says that a large study found men at "elite" cardiorespiratory fitness had around an 80% lower long-term risk of dying than those with low fitness, and that a 2022 analysis found no significant mortality increase for people eating high-pesticide produce.