Biohacking-Trends

Biohacking involves making small, strategic changes to habits and behaviors to improve things like cognitive function and weight management. The term may seem new but there are many tried-and-true bio-hacks.

Biohacking is a term people may use to describe do-it-yourself biology. Biohacking involves someone making incremental changes to their body, diet, and lifestyle to improve their health and well-being.

Technology-based biohacking, such as smartwatches and Fitbits, provide people with a wealth of data about their bodies, allowing them to tweak their health and improve athletic performance.

People may want to hack their biology for various reasons, such as to:

• have control over their health

• explore new and unusual ideas

• fix what they perceive as flaws

• try and extend their lives

Biohacking comes in many forms. The three most popular types are nutrigenomics, DIY biology, and grinder.

DIY biology is a type of biohacking spearheaded by people with education and experience in scientific fields.

These biohackers share tips and techniques to help non-experts conduct structured experiments on themselves outside of a controlled experimental environment, like labs or medical offices.

Grinder is a biohacking subculture that sees every part of the human body as hack-able.

In general, grinders seek to become “cyborgs” by optimizing their bodies with a combination of gadgets, chemical injections, implants, and anything else they can put into their body to make it work the way they want it to.

Nutrigenomics focuses on how the food you eat interacts with your genes.

The idea of hacking living systems (biohacking) emerged in the mid-2000s when genetic analysis tools such as sequencing have become highly cost-effective and widely available. Many scientists get involved in biohacking as a part of educational projects that aim to improve scientific knowledge about biotechnology and accelerate innovation.

Some prominent biohackers have recently argued that every individual has the right to modify their genes, which in turn can increase access to life-saving gene therapies.

1. Biohacking your circulatory system:

Cryotherapy:

Cryotherapy or cold therapy is a biohacking method that exposes the entire body to very cold temperatures. Cryotherapy causes severe vasoconstriction throughout the body. When the body returns to normal temperature, there is a rush of blood back to the tissues, which brings with it lots of nutrients and minerals – and gives you an endorphin rush.

2. Biohacking your health: Red light therapy

Studies have shown that your body responds particularly well to red and near-infrared wavelengths, which range from 600 to 900 nm. This particular range of light waves are absorbed by the skin to a depth of about 8 to 10 millimeters, at which point your mitochondrial chromophores absorb the photons. This activates a number of nervous system and metabolic processes.

3. Biohacking your lymphatic system: Compression therapy

The lymphatic system is the sewage system of the body. It gets out the waste and lactic acid that builds up from working out and from natural bodily processes. Compression therapy increases blood flow to certain parts of the body, flushing out toxins and speeding up recovery.

4.Biohacking your diet: Intermittent fasting

Research has found that it’s not just what we eat, it’s when we eat that can make a huge difference. Many experts have turned to intermittent fasting to help you optimize your body’s nutrition intake. Intermittent fasting will not only help you lose fat but also gain muscle and energy.

5.Biohacking your brain: Functional music

One of the most reliable ways to change your brainwaves is through a consistent sound wave. Audio entrainment, a form of music biohacking, uses binaural beats and tones to synchronize with your brain waves and induce a meditative, relaxed state.

6.Biohacking your function: Supplements

Exercising, eating right and developing the right mindset are important steps to unlocking an extraordinary life. Biohacking supplements help you take this to the next level by improving focus, increasing energy and helping your body benefit from the most bioavailable forms of nutrients on the market.

Nootropics

One popular form of biohacking is a group of substances called nootropics, or “smart drugs.”

Nonprescription nootropics include tablets, supplements, drinks, and foods. They contain substances that may help boost brain performance. Examples include creatine and caffeine.

Prescription nootropics are medications that have stimulant effects, which doctors may prescribe for medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

There are also risks associated with following unofficial health advice from unaccredited sources, such as blogs, social media, or word of mouth. People interested in nutrition, sleep, or fitness hacks should speak with a medical professional or nutritionist before trying a new regimen to assess if it is safe and suitable for a person’s specific health needs.

References- Cleveland clinic/Healthline/Medical News