Unveiling the Secrets of Biohacking: How to Optimize Health and Longevity

Have you ever wondered if you could ‘hack’ your body to achieve better health and longevity? Sounds intriguing? While computer hacking is familiar territory, biohacking is an innovative concept making huge waves! What if I tell you that prominent figures like Silicon Valley entrepreneur Serge Faguet and actress Melanie Avalon are already on board and have revolutionized their physical and mental well-being through biohacking? 

Biohacking can be as simple as tweaking daily routines like diet, sleep habits or pretty intense like stem cell infusions or embedding chips in your body to reverse the clock of aging! In fact, Google even founded a company solely to ‘solve death’. Whether they would be successful or not is a debate for another time; for now let's explore- what is biohacking, its types, and how it can be done with some exciting stories. Get along with me!

What is Biohacking? 

So, what is biohacking exactly? Also known as do-it-yourself biology, biohacking employ knowledge form various fields like  biology, genetics, nutrition and neuroscience to improve health, wellness and combat aging. Think of it as hacking your body's software and gaining access to the ultimate operating system- the genome. Just as hackers tap into computer codes, biohackers tap into the code of life to become superhuman.   

 It refers to the art and science of optimizing your body so that your body, mind and life work together to achieve high performance. Biohackers explore their bodies through experiments using tools like wearable devices, blood tests and other methods. From light therapy, supplements, nutritional changes, or going extreme lengths by injecting plasma of young people (yes, you read that right!), biohackers are in quest of an anti-aging elixir.  

You will be surprised to know that the longevity and anti-aging market is exponentially booming, with $27.1 billion in 2023 and is predicted to skyrocket to $44.9 billion by 2031. Even tech titans like Jeff Bezos, Peter Theil, and OpenAI Sam Altman have invested billions in start-ups studying and ultimately slowing aging. So, buckle up as the world of biohacking is going to startle you!

A Brief History of Biohacking  

Once a tiny initiative, biohacking has evolved into a global movement in a decade. Beginning from 2008, people interested in this concept formed a discussion forum with only 32 members. One month later, 25 people joined together for their meeting on DIY biology at a pub in Boston. Fast forward to today, these forums have exploded with over 5000 members worldwide. Even before 2008, the term “DIY biology” was already simmering. In 2005, biologist Rob Carlson predicted that skills and technology are evolving, and the synthesis and manipulation of the genome would no longer be confined to academia's ‘ivory towers’.  

To better understand the biohacking tribe, a survey was carried out in 2013 by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and revealed some fascinating insights. According to them, DIY biologists, on average, dedicate 7 hours per week to their projects, with 25% being students and two-thirds between 25 and 45 years old. Moreover, three-quarters were male, and what made this movement unique was its ability to attract professionals from all walks of life, including entrepreneurs, natural scientists, engineers, artists, philosophers, and hackers. 

Today, biohacking is growing into a worldwide movement with advocates like Dave Asprey, the “Father of Biohacking”, who started his biohacking journey while working in Silicon Valley. Dave and ex-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey pushed the term biohacking to the mainstream.   

Dave Asprey applied principles of computer hacking to his biology to transform his life from “good" to “great”, which he successfully did!  Dave’s biohacking philosophy has led him to take tons of supplements and inject his bone marrow-harvested stem cells into various joints, and is in pursuit of 180 years of lifespan. It's not that biohacking is only for billionaires. The idea is not to leave your health to genetics or chance but to take control of your physiology and neurological system for better health and longevity.  

Types of Biohacking  

Self-experimentation using different methods is the core of biohacking. Either it's a hit or a lesson. All the techniques biohackers employ fall into one of the categories below. 

1. Lifestyle

Lifestyle modifications are the most accessible biohack so that you can make positive changes in your health. These include dietary shifts, exercise, and meditation. It's like tuning up an old operating system! This category includes: 

Nutrigenomics

Nutrigenomics focuses on how certain foods interact with human genes and how genes respond.  Researchers have discovered that diet can alter gene expression, reprogram DNA and even cause brain disorders. For instance, a study on rodents showed that fructose consumption can cause changes in DNA methylation and alter microRNA. All of these changes impact your neurological functioning. Seems like a game of genetic Jenga- one wrong move, and the whole tower comes crashing down!

This shows that diet has huge implications on your genes and overall health. By learning about your genetic predisposition, you can change your diet according to your genetic makeup. And the good news is knowing your genetic make-up was never that easy until Genomii.ai came into our hands; Now you can get ultra-personalized science-backed dietary recommendations without having to step outside.

And guess what? Next time your friends tease you for not trying food that they love eating, blame your genes! Seriously! Because your genetics determine how your body responds to certain foods. So, it's vital to assess what works for you! A study published in the genetics journal proved that a specific diet isn't for you. Researchers designed four genetically distinct mice strains and fed them four different diets. i.e., the Mediterranean diet (high in fiber), American/Western diet (high in fats and refined carbs), Japanese diet (rice & green tea extract ), and Ketogenic diet (high in fats and proteins but few carbs).

Mice were monitored for cardiometabolic health, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels and fatty liver. The results showed that each mice responded differently to a specific diet. This sparked even more interest in genetic testing for customized diet plans.

So, what diet do biohackers adapt to combat aging and gain longevity? Let's get your query “What is a biohacking diet" solved!

• Phyto Hormetic foods: Imagine someone giving your body a wake-up call for repair process! Phytohormetic foods are the saviors, that induce a mild stress response in the body, e.g. antioxidants found in these foods activate cellular repair mechanisms and support longevity.

• Drinking three cups of coffee each day reduces the risk of age-related causes of death by 12-17%. Consumption is also associated with an 18% lower risk of cancer and neurological and metabolic diseases. The magic components in coffee are chlorogenic acid, diterpenes, and kahweol, which act as antioxidants. And fighting off cellular damage is the way to delay aging! Dave Asprey’s bulletproof coffee is one such breakthrough, which fuels your body for high-performance, improving your energy and cognitive function.

• If you're a tea lover, wait! Green tea is waiting for you with its massive benefits. Green tea has epigallocatechin-3-gallate, which limits cellular damage and reduces mortality risk by 5%. 

• Most importantly, red and processed meat in your diet are doing more harm than good. Not to mention their negative impact on healthy aging. In 2019, a study was done by Heli E K Virtanen to evaluate the association between protein intake and risk of mortality. For this, 2641 Finnish men aged 42-60 were selected and estimated for protein intake. In a follow-up after 22.3 y, 1225 deaths were reported, and it was found that higher protein and processed meat intake increased the mortality risk.

Folate intake increases telomeres length, which are the structures around chromosomes and indicate biological aging. Shorter telomeres are linked with lower survival and higher chances of diseases. Older people with healthy diets have longer telomeres than those with some diseases. A diet rich in folate and vitamin B serves as a protective gatekeeper of telomeres.   Intermittent fasting, a mini-vacation for your cells, is also one amazing biohack which involves eating in an 8-hour window and 16-hour fasting. This approach stimulates cellular repair processes and improves the body's resistance to stress. It also lowers fat and cholesterol levels.

Physical Health Biohacking

Let's be real- with the Olympics unfolding, we know that athletes are more conscious than ever for optimizing their fitness. These warriors are always looking for ways to enhance their performance, which makes biohacking the ultimate solution for athletes.

While doing exercise, you may not realize that it's a biohack. Exercise is like an engineer, constructing new mitochondria, fine-tuning insulin sensitivity, and pushing cellular metabolism. Similarly, your growth factors are released, acting like a designer, ensuring cellular repair and regeneration are at their peak. Isn't it a cellular renovation? And you know what? You get anti-aging benefits as a bonus too!

A study published by Maddison L Mellow et al. in April 2020 found that participating in high-intensity interval training for 20 minutes improves brain neuroplasticity. So, athletes looking to improve their performance or recover from injury can take advantage of biohack modalities like cold plunging, heat therapy, whole body vibration therapy, red light therapy, and consumption of energy drinks and supplements like amino acids or creatine.

2. Molecular

Molecular biohacking involves taking supplements which shift one’s biology. It can be any particles such as minerals, vitamins or peptides causing a biological effect. There are also some substances known as nootropics or smart drugs that enhance brain and cognitive functions. Prescription nootropics are used to treat medical conditions like Alzheimer's disease and ADHD. The supplements used as a biohack include:

• Nitric Oxide Supplements: Nitric oxide is a master key responsible for heart health, circulation and blood pressure. It's like a traffic cop directing smooth blood flow and keeping vessels clear. Supplements containing nitric oxide are a booster to enhance vascular health, leading to slow aging.

• NAD+ Supplements:  Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is essential for energy metabolism and DNA repair. With age, you may encounter a decrease in NAD+ and this impacts the body’s functioning and energy production. It's like a charger to your body’s functions, and lower NAD+ levels are linked with age-related diseases like cancer, arthritis, and cognitive decline. So, the NAD+ supplements improve mental health, cellular repair and mitochondrial functions, slow aging, and boost energy levels. 

• Senolytic Supplements  According to a top biohacker Dave Asprey, biohackers are people mostly between the 35-50 age group because you're more likely to notice signs of aging at this stage. Senescent cells are like grumpy neighbors who refuse to move out. The can no longer divide, and just sit there, causing  inflammation, damaging the nearby cells and accelerating the aging and disease process. So, if senolytic supplements remove senescent or damaged cells, you can reduce inflammation and improve tissue repair.

• Urolithin A Supplements: Gut bacteria produce this compound, and work to improve mitochondrial function and muscle health, and, in turn, slow aging.

  
  

  
  

3. Biologics

Biologics are cellular or metabolic products that improve biological functions. These can be cells or small information pockets, exosomes - bundles of DNA, proteins, microRNA or growth factors. Exosome therapy involves using these vesicles in specific cells for repair and regeneration. These are extracted from fat or stem cells and injected into target cells, giving them raw materials like mRNA and cytokines to promote healing and repair. Exosomes therapy reduces inflammation, manages diseases and combats aging.

How does it slow aging? Well, your skin is a window to all the organs in your body, and this therapy triggers the production of fibroblasts in the skin, maintaining elasticity and strength. The anti-aging benefits of exosomes include:

• It has angiogenic properties that maintain vascular structure. As we age, skin elasticity, collagen production and vascularization decrease. Exosomes can recover nutrients supply by improving skin vascularization.

• With aging, type-1 collagen and elastic fibres fail to regenerate, but MiR-21 of exosomes induce skin epithelialization and healing to delay aging. 

• When the skin barriers are disturbed, inflammation in the skin leads to aging. Exosomes reduce inflammatory cytokines, and this removes the symptoms of skin aging.

  
  

4. Technology

In this category, biohackers use devices like wearables (smartwatches) or diagnostics (blood sugar monitors). They use technology to hack their bodies and gain information on what's happening inside them. This gives them a crystal-clear view of the necessary changes they need to improve their life and performance. Technology biohackers utilize hyperbaric chambers or electromagnetic stimulators to stimulate healing and bodily changes.

Many companies have moved further to develop embedded implants in the body to track and enhance overall health and productivity. These implants are in the form of magnetic impacts, memory chips, ear embeds, and electronic tattoos.   

Surprisingly, biohackers are implanting devices to detect directions like an in-built compass guiding them along the way. Meet the co-founder and CEO of the World’s first company, Cyborg Nest, who develop intelligently designed senses. - Liviu Babitz. Liviu has an implant, “North Sense”, in his chest, and each time he faces north, it vibrates like a gentle breeze. 

Some biohackers go extreme, and one such example is 40-year-old Rich Lee, a cabinet maker from the US. He is a grinder- doing extreme body modifications! Here comes an interesting part. In his fingers, he has magnets and communication chips to open cars or link to websites. Lee also has a biotherm implant in his forearm to monitor body temperature and headphones implants in his ears.  

Rich Lee has also tried the most controversial form of biohacking - Crispr, which involves editing or modifying your genes. Though a highly risky technique to perform at home, he’s adamant about tapping into genetic engineering to change genes.  

Genomic.AI: Hack Your Genetic Makeup for Health and Longevity! 

Who doesn't want to crack the code to a long, healthy and youthful life? With the right keys, it's possible to achieve vibrant skin and energy. Genomii.ai is a trusted app for you! Genomii gets data from your DNA, lifestyle and habits to create a personalized health profile. And then, the magic happens! You start getting personalized recommendations for wellness and lifestyle changes to help you take your first step towards the biohacking mystery. Let's join hands and make Genomii a health coach in your biohacking journey.

The Bottom Line  

Thus, what is biohacking and its types have been summed in detail for you to explore the exciting world of biohacking. While different methods are being used with goals of improving health and longevity, biohackers should stick to safety protocols. With its success comes challenges, which you can mitigate by consulting with a healthcare professional before starting biohacking. Your body's control is in your hands, take the steps rightly!