Biohacking superhuman performance means taking charge of your health through cutting-edge technology, including trying out innovative interventions, tracking data and making informed choices to enhance both mind and body wellness.
Biohacking can often veer into pseudoscientific peddling that causes more harm than good; some biohackers have experimented with CRISPR kits which allow one to edit his/her DNA, potentially leading to life-threatening mutations.
1. Nutrition
Biohacking doesn’t begin with ice baths, zone training and blood transfusions – rather, its foundation lies with nutrition. Expert biohackers like Sajeev Nair, founder of Vieroots Functional Medicine Practice in India, emphasize this point and stress the importance of understanding what your body requires in terms of nutrients to thrive. As a biohacker you should recognize that your body is an engine and any intervention must have scientific evidence behind it, according to Nair.
An essential tool for biohackers, fitness trackers provide data that shows how lifestyle and diet influence physiological functions such as hormone levels, circadian rhythms, nutrient deficiencies and energy production. Nair utilizes wearable technology such as Whoop, Oura or Garmin in his daily monitoring of his heart rate variability, oxygen, stress levels and sleep quality.
Reducing physical inactivity and increasing exercise levels are fundamental parts of biohacking. Physical activity leads to numerous positive physiological changes that promote resilience, cognition and focus – but identifying an adequate type and level of exercise may prove challenging – it’s important to assess what works best for your body!
Nootropics, or cognitive enhancers, are another popular biohack. Though research shows their effectiveness, each person’s biological makeup differs and what works for some may not work for all. Therefore, many reputable biohackers consult functional medicine practitioners as a form of assistance and to avoid cherry-picking data and overusing supplements.
2. Sleep
Sleep is one of the most vital biohacks for health. To experience maximum results, aim to get at least seven and a half hours of uninterrupted, restful slumber each night; this will help improve memory retention, cognitive performance and reduce stress levels. There are various strategies you can employ to increase the quality of your restful slumber including eating nutritious meals before bed, limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption before sleep time, wearing blue-light blocking glasses or installing amber lights over your bed; meditation techniques may also be effective at relieving tension or practicing mindfulness practices to manage stress levels further.
Ozone therapy is another popular biohack used to detoxify and reduce inflammation within the body, making it suitable for conditions like asthma and sinusitis. You can do ozone therapy at home using a simple device which blows ozone into your nose and mouth.
Natural supplements can also help improve sleep and mental performance, including Rhodiola rosea to relieve stress, Panax ginseng to boost cognitive performance, and Ginkgo biloba to enhance memory. Nutrigenomics can also identify what nutrients your body requires most at what times based on DNA analysis.
Though some biohacking attempts can go to extreme lengths, there are less invasive ways of improving life without making radical changes to your health and wellbeing. You could already be biohacking without even realising it! You might take probiotics or avoid gluten; perhaps your favourite playlist helps relax you before sleeping; perhaps breathing exercises help calm your mind so you can fall asleep more easily – these are all small ways that could have an exponentially positive effect on overall wellbeing and help to enhance wellbeing.
3. Exercise
Biohackers aim to harness scientific and technological advancements in order to optimize both their body and mind. They utilize strategies like nutritional optimisation, supplementation and sleep enhancement in order to reach their desired goals. Furthermore, this proactive approach to well-being involves testing different interventions while keeping track of data to achieve superhuman levels of performance.
Self-optimisation lifestyle trends have gained in popularity over time. While this may sound exotic and self-serving, many people are seeking ways to enhance their quality of life with these practices – particularly mental health as more and more seek methods of slowing the aging process and lowering risks such as Alzheimer’s.
While the biohacking community is vast, some of its core principles are easy to implement. Ice baths and controlled respiration training are great ways to boost energy and relax when it comes to fitness or nutrition influencers recommend them for their followers. Red light therapy – an innovative photobiomodulation technique which sends specific wavelengths of red and near infrared light directly into cells to give them a boost – has also become a widely popular approach.
Of all the cutting-edge biohacks, stem cell research stands out as an innovative biohack, promising healing and longevity benefits. Although still relatively young, stem cell research has already attracted high-profile investors like Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Peter Thiel of Paypal who have invested in rejuvenation companies and anti-ageing scientists such as Aubrey de Grey to fund research in this area.
4. Supplements
Supplements have long been a source of confusion and controversy among fitness enthusiasts, yet many biohackers continue to swear by them while others question their effectiveness, absorption and purity.
Nutrigenomics and DIY biology are subcultures within the biohacking movement that emphasize using scientific experiments to find answers and break through barriers. Famous biohackers such as Dave Asprey (known for his keto-based Bulletproof coffee and his quest to live until 180), take numerous supplements, undergo stem cell injections, and utilize infrared baths in an effort to maintain health and improve wellness.
Biohacking may seem extreme to some people, but many take more moderate approaches to improving their health and performance under medical guidance. Manish Saraf was only 19 when he began losing the ability to bend his knees due to juvenile idiopathic arthritis – traditional medicine didn’t seem to help so he turned to biohacking instead.
Saraf’s plan included decreasing blue light exposure (which causes fatigue and insomnia) by using blue-light-blocking glasses or installing filters on his laptop and smartphone screens, exercising daily, using mindfulness meditation apps to reduce stress and anxiety levels, listening to music to boost his mood and focus, taking ozone therapy treatments that use gaseous ozone molecules to kill bacteria, viruses, yeasts – although none of these techniques were as radical as some biohacking practices – all to get his life back on track.
5. Mindset
Biohacker mindset can be an invaluable asset when pursuing improved health and performance, yet it can also become a source of frustration and discouragement. To avoid these traps, cultivate a growth mindset and focus on data-driven outcomes to stay on track and realize tangible results. Also bear in mind that personalized optimization requires taking individuality into consideration.
Biohacking is the practice of optimizing both physical and mental performance through supplements, exercise, nutrition, sleep hygiene, meditation and other means. This podcast features interviews with world-class experts in longevity science, biohacking and health optimization such as Dave Asprey’s Bulletproof Radio podcast which showcases seminars on nutrient dense foods as well as strategies to increase physical and mental performance.
This podcast is for anyone seeking to optimize their health and realize their full potential. Each episode features world-renowned experts in functional medicine and longevity science discussing cutting edge research, biohacks, and tools available that could potentially improve health – topics like cell regeneration, self-healing protocols, ketogenic diets and longevity protocols are covered among others.
This podcast provides insights and approachable methods to build a stronger body, healthier mindset, more fulfilling lifestyle, and an enhanced connection to the universe. For those ready to transform their lives by combining ancient wisdom with cutting-edge scientific discoveries and technologies – Ariane Sommer’s show bridges intuitive thought leadership with science self-experimentation psychology biology technology nutrition fitness environment spirituality
