Biohacking is a systematic approach to understanding your health and improving it. The main objectives of the movement are to improve the quality of life by restoring the body’s resources and maintaining its maximum efficiency. The biohacking program includes optimization of life processes: normalization of sleep, diet, avoiding bad habits, increasing physical activity, slowing down aging, and ideally preserving youth for as long as possible. Everything is used: a person’s own habits and their formation, medical methods and technologies, spiritual practices, work with consciousness and subconsciousness.
Basic principles of biohacking
The principles of biohacking are basically the rules of a healthy lifestyle. All biohackers adhere to them, but in different combinations. Their main point is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The problem of a person in the modern world is the inability to rest qualitatively. Many people do not know how to rest at all so that they can really relax. Biohacking just helps to master the skill of quality rest, among other things. But let’s talk about everything in order.
Be on the move
A sedentary lifestyle is a real problem for 21st century mankind and the cause of many health problems. Scientists have identified several consequences of low activity. A study was published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine, which states that women who spend more than 9 hours a day in a sedentary position suffer from depression more often than those who are much “active” and sit for less than 6 hours. The probable reason for this is a decrease in blood circulation in the body, in particular – in the head, the brain receives less neurotransmitters responsible for the transport of hormones of happiness and joy.
Another negative side effect of sitting is a slowing of metabolism, which negatively affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, control blood pressure and break down fat. On the musculoskeletal side, the spine and posture suffer, and back, neck, and lower back pain appear.
Exercise for at least 10 minutes daily, walk more – 10,000 steps a day is good for everyone. Working at a computer? Do a light warm-up every hour, involve your colleagues, boost your mood and health together! Exercise should be regular, evenly distributed throughout the day.
Importance of check-ups in biohacking
An organism check-up is the first step of a novice biohacker. It will help to determine the direction of movement and correctly form the next actions.
Now in clinics there are services of comprehensive body checkup, in which you can find out about the state of the body simply and quickly. A budget option is to go to a polyclinic and undergo an examination there, but this is a longer way.
What’s included in the survey:
- Blood tests, in particular hemoglobin levels and the balance of sex hormones, which are responsible for supplying oxygen to the organs and keeping the body young.
- Consultations with specialized specialists: cardiologist, endocrinologist and other doctors who will determine the state of the body systems and, if necessary, give recommendations for treatment and maintenance of optimal condition.
- DNA analysis will help to determine the predisposition of the body to certain diseases, behavior and activity. Specialists can use the results of the study to find the right type of physical activity for a person and much more. Conventionally, DNA analysis is the key to the initially correct use of the body. The only disadvantage is the high price of the study and the difficulty of finding a laboratory in some cities.
Eat right
In biohacking, unlike a healthy lifestyle, there is no universal nutrition scheme, it is a more personalized program. For example, for one person beef will be useful and vital, and for another it is categorically contraindicated, for example, according to the results of the examination due to an intolerance to the components of meat.
Refusal of sweets in general is suitable for everyone. Scientists have proven that the consumption of excess sugar leads to intestinal disorders. Other unpleasant consequences are excessive insulin release, deterioration of skin and blood vessels, destruction of collagen responsible for skin and joint tone. Excessive consumption of trans fats (margarines) leads to problems with the cardiovascular system. The harm of smoking and drinking alcohol need not even be mentioned.
In the concept of biohacking the tendency to refuse harmful products: sugar, margarines, preservatives, fast carbohydrates, food additives. Nutrition is as natural as possible, but with a caveat – it is important to specify the list of permissible products for each person individually.
Get enough sleep
The problem of sleep is on a par with low physical activity, which leads to numerous disorders in the body. Proper sleep for a biohacking adept, as well as for everyone else, is one of the components of a proper lifestyle and maintaining maximum human productivity in general.
The most common information about sleep duration is 8 hours for an adult. It is determined by research by the British NHS, the problem was studied at the National Sleep Foundation.
Cardiologists have found a pattern between sleep deprivation and the occurrence of deterioration of metabolic, vascular, hormonal, inflammatory and other mechanisms that lead to hypertension, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol, and as a result – to cardiovascular disease, stroke, premature death.
Taking medications and supplements in biohacking
Taking medications and supplements is at the heart of biohacking. Vitamins, biotropics, hormones, stimulants – all these food supplements help pump the body, fill the deficiency of those elements that do not enter the body with food, even if the diet is balanced.
Important: medicines should be prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the results of the examination of the body. The same situation with dietary supplements: many people think that they are completely safe, because they do not belong to medicines. However, their uncontrolled use is also unacceptable.
Biohacking and the benefits of being in nature
A good principle of biohackers is to be outdoors and in nature more often, to listen to natural sounds and feel unity with the environment. This is especially important for city dwellers, where the background noise of cars, people, and machinery can be heard almost always.
Living consciously and thinking positively
According to biohackers, it is not enough to maintain health only by medical examinations and taking medications. The state of the body is influenced by mood and general emotional background. All biohacking schools practice meditation, introduce mindfulness into life, and practice gratitude.
Biohacking and microchip implantation
In the race to improve quality of life, some biohackers are implanting various chips under the skin. For example, to open a door or for NFC contactless payment, detecting obstacles like locators. Some devices serve as readers of the body’s biorhythms, which is useful for people in older age – the devices transmit readings to the receptors of relatives or the attending physician.
Conclusion
Biohacking, despite its popularity, can be dangerous. One of the main dangers is the uncontrolled use of drugs and supplements without consulting a doctor, which can lead to serious consequences, such as GI problems or addiction to medications. Also, prolonged fasting and dieting can cause weakness, insomnia and even heart problems. Experimentation with genetic code and uncertified drugs can lead to unpredictable consequences. Psychologists note that excessive fascination with biohacking can change the perception of reality and lead to obsessions about creating superhumans. Scientific experts believe that attempts to control all processes in the body can be not only ineffective, but also dangerous, especially if the methods have not undergone the necessary research and are not based on evidence-based medicine.
