Biohacking is the process of optimizing and taking control of one’s health, energy levels and performance using systematic approaches and scientific mindset.
Biohackers often rely on supplements that increase longevity, such as NMN, resveratrol and metformin; however, human research on these substances remains limited.
1. Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy – consisting of emitting various wavelengths of light into the skin – has become increasingly popular over time and scientifically supported by various peer-reviewed studies and clinical trials. Although red light therapy does not treat every health condition, many people find that it helps significantly alleviate symptoms like pain, inflammation, immunity function and energy levels.
Red light therapy’s primary advantage lies in increasing production of ATP, an energy source for all cells within your body that acts like currency to provide power for them all to do their jobs and fight pathogens more effectively. Furthermore, excess ATP stored up can even be stored until needed – similar to how banks store your savings until needed!
Studies have demonstrated the ability of red light therapy to relieve joint pain and inflammation, according to numerous studies published in Lasers in Medical Science. A particular finding from one such research paper found that red light therapy helped alleviate back pain for those living with chronic musculoskeletal conditions; similar findings also held true for patients suffering from temporomandibular disorder (TMD), or jaw pain and dysfunction. It may even help relieve neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage.
Red light therapy’s effects are cellular in nature and as such may take several weeks or months before showing significant results. Therefore, we advise those considering giving this technique a try to consult their doctor and see if there are any recommendations they can offer; or you could conduct an online search with “red light therapy near me” as a search term to locate spas, integrative health centers, or dermatologists offering the service in their locality.
2. Breathwork
Breathwork is an increasingly popular biohacking strategy, using breathing techniques to increase oxygen and blood flow to the brain, helping improve mental and physical health, boost performance, reduce stress levels and boost wellbeing. Biohackers employ this strategy as part of their wellness regimen; using supplements like nootropics and adaptogens to increase neurotransmitter modulators like BDNF which promote new neural growth in the brain while improving memory and learning abilities as well as cognitive functions. Finally, wearable devices and apps enable biohackers to track sleep, nutrition and exercise data-driven decisions made on data.
Biohacking typically entails diet- and fitness-based improvements to body composition through diet and exercise. Some biohackers follow a ketogenic diet which allows their bodies to use fat instead of glucose for energy, while others consume probiotics or curcumin as immune system boosters.
Common biohacks include using various technologies to monitor physiological parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure, while taking vitamins, minerals, or peptide supplements to enhance their biology. Furthermore, brainwave entrainment therapy or neurofeedback may be utilized to enhance cognitive functioning while increasing BDNF levels in the brain.
Even as biohacking becomes more and more popular, its origins remain relatively recent and its research support remains underdeveloped. Due to its do-it-yourself ethos and potential risks involved with self-experimentation, ethical questions regarding biohacks may arise about whether certain interventions pose too great a threat for public health.
Note that biohacking does not mean pushing the limits of science to its limits – some biohackers use simpler strategies, such as eating healthily and engaging in regular physical activity, to feel healthier. Eating well and getting plenty of exercise are both simple yet effective biohacks; tracking sleep habits or consuming foods that help control inflammation also counts.
3. Weight Loss
Many biohackers aim to use diet, supplements, exercise and tracking data from these interventions in order to achieve weight loss and enhance body functions. This may include using diet, supplements and exercise alongside tracking data on them and making informed adjustments and tweaks as a result of informed data logging and tracking. Biohackers may also utilize hyperbaric chambers, electromagnetic stimulators or other tools such as hyperbaric oxygen chambers as means to trigger physiological changes or aid healing – these techniques include implanting password pills magnets RFID chips or GPS systems into their bodies in order to enhance physical performance or add sensory experiences that enhance physical performance or offer new sensory experiences.
Dietary biohacking is another popular practice among biohackers, and involves eating specific ratios of macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrates) to boost energy levels, enhance mental clarity and meet other health objectives. This can be accomplished via various techniques like intermittent fasting, ketogenic diet or the nutrigenomics approach to nutrition.
Molecular biohacking extends beyond diet-related biohacks by employing both natural and synthetic substances as supplements to optimize biological processes. This may include vitamins, minerals, peptides, or any other compounds available without prescription or can even be produced naturally within our bodies in small quantities.
Anti-ageing is one of the primary goals of biohacking, which they pursue by caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, supplementation with compounds like resveratrol and NAD+ and advanced biomarker testing to measure their effects over time.
4. Sleep
Sleep is an integral component of biohacking. Achieve quality restful slumber not only has physical advantages, but is also linked to improved immunity and longevity. Sleep deprivation has been linked with memory impairment, higher stress levels and even mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Biohackers use various supplements and technologies to aid their sleep and brain function, including nootropics (cognitive enhancers), adaptogens (stress-reducing herbs), vitamins, and minerals. Furthermore, they utilize an array of technology for tracking physiological data and making informed decisions about their health.
Biohacking is an advanced form of self-experimentation that uses technology and scientific methodologies. It may involve anything from tracking sleep and diet habits to physically altering one’s biology with transfusions from younger individuals (yes, it exists!). Some biohackers maintain detailed spreadsheets on their bodies while others simply want to feel healthier by taking control of their physiology.
To gain a clearer idea of what biohacking entails, we asked four women to conduct a series of shifting experiments on themselves that focused on improving their diet, fitness, sleep and mental health. They tried both low-tech solutions such as nutrigenomics (a service which matches genes with specific foods) as well as high-tech solutions like personalized food delivery systems that match specific foods to individuals based on gene research.
