Biohacking takes an engineering-minded approach to improving human performance. Contrary to what many traditional doctors may believe, most naturopathic physicians support biohacking experiments as self-taught experiments with the human body.
Examples include intermittent fasting (eating within a specific window of time), nootropics (caffeinated oil and butter products that increase cognitive function), as well as science-backed IV drip therapies and booster shots to aid healing.
1. Find a Doctor Who Is a Biohacker
There are various ways to enhance both body and mind, from eating healthier foods to getting more restful sleep. One practice that has recently gained momentum is called biohacking – it involves using various tools and strategies to boost health and performance – this trend being particularly popular with athletes and celebrities.
Self-quantification, the practice of tracking metrics that relate to health and wellness, plays an integral part of this movement. Metrics tracked include everything from heart rate and physical activity levels, blood sugar levels, sleep cycles and hormone production – with these practices often used by those trying to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. But pushing too far may result in adverse consequences such as increased inflammation and stress levels.
Some biohackers may turn to red light therapy for stimulation of cell regeneration and inflammation reduction, as well as for pain relief, wound healing, and skin improvement (according to Cleveland Clinic). Others use intermittent fasting for energy boost and weight loss promotion. Finally, others try optimizing their circadian rhythms through various means such as light exposure or taking melatonin before bedtime (a hormone which controls body clock and helps prepare one’s body for restful slumber).
At its core, biohacking refers to anyone willing to experiment with various strategies in order to enhance their health and performance. This could include anything from testing new foods for weight loss or increasing performance to helping others improve their own. As these individuals should have their doctors’ support when choosing which practices are safe and effective.
Biohackers should always consult a physician prior to attempting any new self-experiments, especially those involving supplements and other health products. While most physicians view such practices as being without risk, as seen with Aaron Traywick’s case, some biohackers do take their experiments too far and pose potential dangers that could potentially endanger themselves and others.
2. Find a Doctor Who Is Informed
If you aren’t an experienced biohacker yourself, your doctor may not be as welcoming to incorporating biohacks into your health strategy. Therefore, it’s essential that you find a healthcare provider knowledgeable on this topic so you can discuss potential risks and benefits together. Likewise, an integrative medicine or functional medicine practitioner might be more open-minded toward discussing the Bulletproof philosophy.
Biohacking doctors embrace modern tools that empower their patients to manage their own health and take charge of their wellbeing. Wearable devices and other modern tech can provide personalized data that allows for more accurate diet management, hormone levels and sleep cycles. Biohacking doctors may encourage their patients to experiment with various supplements and nutraceuticals while tracking progress over time to see which interventions work best.
Biohacking refers to any attempt (hacks) made at optimizing one’s body in order to enhance health and performance, through self-experimentation techniques that range from moderate steps such as drinking bulletproof coffee with caffeine, oil and butter for improving cognitive function to extreme steps such as implanting microchips into the body or using CRISPR to alter genetics.
Biohacking techniques may be safe for most individuals; however, some can have detrimental effects if used incorrectly or if you already have certain preexisting conditions. If pregnant or breastfeeding mothers want to utilize biohacking strategies such as intermittent fasting and screen time reduction to boost health during gestation or breastfeeding, however these should be done carefully as these could harm both themselves and their baby’s development as they could lead to nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances which could harm fetuses as well as cause physical harm or hormonal imbalances during gestation/breastfeeding.
At REVIV, we specialize in precision nutrition and offer a personalized approach to wellness. By considering blood and genetic markers as part of our analysis process, we can recommend specific foods, supplements, or IV drip therapies in order to provide our clients with optimal results from their wellness plan.
3. Find a Doctor Who Is Receptive
Knowledge is power in biohacking. Expert naturopathic doctors who specialize in integrative concussion recovery and performance have often discovered that once their patients understand their fundamental rationale for biohacking strategies and approaches used by biohackers they become much more amenable to discussing them with them.
Biohackers utilise self-quantification in order to maximize their health and improve their quality of life. They may monitor nutrient consumption, energy levels, microbiome composition, eating and exercise habits as well as their mood/state of mind in order to optimize daily functioning and their daily life experience.
Many individuals are increasingly taking an interest in DIY biology and self-experimentation as a means of expanding both their physical and mental capacities. Many biohackers find inspiration in transhumanism – which advocates using technology to surpass conventional human limitations – when engaging in such practices.
Biohackers may use wearable technology such as smartwatches to track their fitness metrics, while supplementation may help boost overall wellness and athletic performance. Physical health biohacking may include techniques and equipment like whole-body vibration therapy, red light therapy, hot and cold plunges as well as high-tech gadgets like intelligent saunas or cryogenic treatments.
Biohackers often achieve the results they seek with direct-to-consumer labs that offer bloodwork and other tests on an individual basis, making biohacking easy without needing to visit a physician’s office first. Such labs allow biohackers to test cholesterol, thyroid hormones and other vitals without making appointments at their doctor’s offices first.
Women are making strides toward optimal health. Melanie Goldey, CEO of Tally Health (which offers epigenetic testing and preventative health plans), hopes to reach parity between male and female customer bases within her customer base.
Healthcare finance leaders may find themselves caught between biohacking as medical chicanery and public quackery when it comes to biohacking. Perhaps now is the time for them to incorporate selected biohacking approaches into a continuity-of-care model that encourages patients to manage their healthcare without making as many physician office visits. As a result, this may increase efficiency while meeting patient healthcare needs more efficiently than before.
