What is Biohacking? Taking control of our bodies

What is Biohacking?

Biohacking, in its simplest definition, is the act of creating our own biology ourselves. Bio hacking is essentially defined as ''do-it-yourself biology''. Biohacking our bodies and minds can help in curing many diseases and preventing illnesses.

The main goal in biohacking is to know and analyze our own bodies very well, and to make positive interventions in the functioning of our systems, especially those negatively affected by environmental conditions. In this way, it is also possible to perform 'body hacking'.

We have much more influence over a long and healthy life than we might think. By making small lifestyle changes in factors such as nutrition, stress, exercise, and sleep, we can become active participants in our own aging process.

For many ''biohackers'', this intervention involves lifestyle changes that allow you to make small improvements to your health and lifestyle.

'Biohacking'

Silicon Valley investor and technology entrepreneur Dave Asprey defines the ''biohacking'' concept as the art and science of changing everything that touches your body from the inside or outside and surrounds your environment, so that you can better control your biology, your life, and your body.

BIOHACKING METHODS YOU CAN APPLY TO YOURSELF

Cryotherapy (cold therapy)

Cryotherapy, or cold therapy, is a biohacking method known as exposing the body to cold. Many athletes, from Usain Bolt to Floyd Mayweather, use cold to perform better. Exposing yourself to cold for 3 minutes is enough to benefit from cold therapy, which strengthens immunity, reduces stress, and increases endorphins, known as the happiness hormone. To apply this method:

Isometric exercises

By 'hacking' your body, it may be possible to increase your strength and power, and strengthen your muscles. You can increase your body resistance with isometric exercises, which are a type of static exercise where there are only muscle contractions without observable joint movement. To give a few examples of isometric exercises:

You can benefit from Plank, side plank, bridge pose, squat, and wall push exercises.

Red light therapy

Our bodies and brains need light to function optimally. Sunlight not only provides us with Vitamin D but also provides a range of physiological and emotional benefits. On the other hand, exposure to red or infrared light wavelengths, especially between 600 and 900 nanometers (nm), is also an effective biohacking practice and accelerates metabolism. Furthermore, red light has been found to reduce pain and inflammation.

Intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting, which has become a very common nutritional approach and diet program in recent years, is also an effective biohacking tool. The reason is that intermittent fasting helps the body optimize its nutrient intake. Basically, this style of eating, which focuses on fasting for certain hours and only taking in nutrients during the time frame called the eating window, lowers cholesterol, balances blood sugar, and reduces insulin resistance. Fundamentally, it supports the holistic healing of the body.

Proper nutrition and supplements

In the rush of daily life, we skip getting all the vitamins or minerals we need; therefore, we can encounter various problems that can threaten our health, primarily oxidative stress, which damages all our metabolic functions. We can biologically 'hack' our bodies by adding antioxidant-rich foods and supplements to our diet, both to fight oxidative stress, which paves the way for many diseases, and to ensure that all systems in our body function as efficiently as possible.

Balanced blood sugar

Blood sugar must be balanced for all systems to work effectively. A cure recipe consisting of various supplements, recommended to be consumed approximately 30 minutes before a high-carbohydrate meal:

100-300 mg alpha-lipoic acid

50-100 mg chromium

500-1000 mg berberine

200-400 mg EGCG (green tea extract)

50 mg resveratrol

100 mg magnesium malate

Binaural beats

It is obvious that music has an incredible effect on the brain. One of the most effective ways to change, strengthen, and heal brain waves is to use sound. Binaural beats, a method of stimulating the brain by directing two sound tones consisting of different frequencies to the right and left ears separately, is an effective biohacking practice. You can listen to these beats to synchronize with your brain waves and transition into a meditative and more relaxed state. It is also known that binaural beats reduce pain, anxiety, and stress. You can find content compiling binaural beats on various music platforms and social media accounts, and listen to them whenever you find the opportunity.

Meditation

Another mind biohacking method is meditation. In addition to supporting mental health, meditation, which reduces stress, strengthens immunity, and improves brain health, also helps you feel more peaceful and calm. It also keeps the brain young by strengthening memory and increasing focus. You can practice a meditation technique that makes you feel good and that you enjoy doing for at least 5 minutes every day:

Breathing exercises

Mindfulness practices

Chakra meditation

You can benefit from different techniques such as Yoga meditation.

Do not neglect to consult a relevant physician for diagnosis and treatment.