Markus, a PhD candidate in Sport Science at the University of Vienna, introduces in this podcast his newly developed high-intensity interval training (HIIT) model, designed to test how the body reacts to strenuous exercise under controlled conditions. We discussed what happens inside the body during high-intensity training, with particular attention on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and physiological stress response mechanism. We also explored the powerful role of nutrition in shaping these responses, particularly the effect of polyphenol-rich foods and carbohydrate-rich foods in supporting recovery, reducing oxidative stress, and improving recovery outcomes. Additionally, this episode also explores the study’s design, including the rationale for recruiting healthy female adults and the practical challenges encountered during the data collection and research. Markus shares his key findings, and its future implications for nutritional and exercise-physiology research. Overall, this episode reflects on both the scientific and personal motivations behind the work, emphasising the value of understanding exercise-induced stress and how such insights can help both professional and hobby-athletes to train and improve their fitness more safely and effectively.

Interested in his research? Then read more about Markus latest works: Gassner M, et al. Reactive oxygen species and IL-6 responses to resistance-based HIIT: A time-dependent analysis. Free Radic Biol Med. 2025. [doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2025.10.272.] Gassner M, Bragagna L, Dasht Bayaz HH, Stumpf-Knaus C, Schlosser L, Lemberg J, Brem J, Pignitter M, Strauss M, Wagner K-H, et al. Acute Impact of Polyphenol-Rich vs. Carbohydrate-Rich Foods and Beverages on Exercise-Induced ROS and FRAP in Healthy Sedentary Female Adults—A Randomized Controlled Trial. Antioxidants. 2025; 14(12):1481. doi: 10.3390/antiox14121481