What is Biohacking, exactly?
Citizen or do-it-yourself biology is a term used to describe Biohacking. For many “biohackers,” this entails making minor, gradual modifications to one’s diet or lifestyle to enhance one’s health and well-being.
From rapid weight reduction to improved brain function, biohacks offer it everything. However, the finest Biohacking outcomes come from knowing what works for your body and being careful about what doesn’t.
Continue reading to discover more about Biohacking and how to do it safely.
Types of Biohacking
Biohacking may take many different forms. Nutrigenomics, DIY biology, and grinder are the three most common kinds.
Nutrigenomics
The field of nutrigenomics focuses on the genetic effects of food.
For Instance, if you intake a cup of coffee, to be safe, wouldn’t you want to find out whether you’re hypersensitive to this substance first? Caffeine sensitivities may be seen on the Nutrition Panel by HealthCodes DNA™. It is the easiest way to biohack by using our genetic tests to guide your biohacking decisions
This popular, albeit divisive, kind of Biohacking is based on the premise that by tracking how various foods influence your healthTrusted Source over time, you can map out and optimize your body’s complete genetic expression.
Nutrigenomics also investigates how certain nutrients influence how you feel, think, and act.
Do-it-yourself biology
DIY biology (or DIY bio) is a sort of Biohacking led by persons with scientific backgrounds and expertise.
These biohackers give suggestions and approaches to non-experts who want to do organized tests on themselves outside of a controlled experimental setting, such as a lab or a doctor’s office.
Grinder
A grinder is a Biohacking subculture that believes that any component of the human body may exploit.
Grinders, in general, want to become “cyborgs” by modifying their bodies with a mix of devices, chemical injections, implants, and everything else they can fit into their bodies to make them operate the way they desire.
Is Biohacking a viable option?
Is it true that Biohacking changes your biology? Both yes and no. But as you know Biohacking simply means making minor, gradual modifications to one’s diet or lifestyle to enhance one’s health and well-being. So it is better to make a proper diet and workout routine with the help of just a single DNA Test by HealthCodes DNA™.
Is nutrigenomics a viable option?
Nutrigenomics has the potential to “hack” your biology in a variety of ways, including:
Lowering your chances of contracting an illness
You’re genetically inclined to help you accomplish physical, mental, or emotional improvements, such as decreasing weight or lessening depressive symptoms, according to a trusted source.
A dependable source may assist you in optimizing a biological function, such as your blood pressure.
Gut bacteria or a reliable source
Your genes are influenced by Trusted Source Food. However, not everyone’s body reacts to dietary or behavioral changes in the same way.
Minor gene expression changes, according to a 2015 assessment of current nutrigenomics research, are simply one piece of the greater picture. Other elements that affect your body’s reaction to food include exercise, stress levels, and weight.
Does Biohacking with a grinder and a DIY bio work?
There have been various DIY bio and grinder tests that have yielded the desired results.
A guy who injected a pharmaceutical substance called Chlorin e6 into his eyes to give himself night vision was documented in a 2015 Gizmodo story. It kinda sorta worked. In the dead of night, the guy could see individuals moving through the woods. This is because Chlorin e6 affects chemicals in your eyes known as photosensitizers over a short period. The cells in your eyes become more responsive to light as a result of this.
However, like with any experiment or change in the human body, there might be deadly or life-threatening repercussions.
If you aren’t trained, creating your bio might be difficult. Exposure to hazardous biological agents might create health issues or violate international bioterrorism rules, according to a 2017 article in the UC Davis Law Review.
The grinder mentality is particularly hazardous. Grinders who implanted RFID chips in their bodies to get access to guarded places in hospitals or placed sound-enhancing magnets in their ears to have “built-in” headphones were the item in the New York Times in 2018.
Implanting alien items into your body may seem futuristic, but it may provoke inflammatory responses that can lead to persistent infections. It may also raise your chances of getting cancer.
Is Biohacking a risky endeavor?
Some types of Biohackingmight considers safe. Taking specific supplements or adopting dietary adjustments, for example, may be harmless. RFID implants, for example, may be safe if done under the guidance of a medical professional.
Some Biohacking techniques are dangerous or even illegal. Experiments that aren’t deemed safe or ethical in scientific institutions are often the focus of DIY bio and grinder.
Experimenting with people, even if it’s only on oneself, is still widely frowned upon.
Because of the unanticipated repercussions or damage that might occur, biology is a trusted source.
According to a Brookings Institute paper from 2017, Biohacking makes science accessible to everyone while also creating a slew of new safety risks. Without conventional, controlled experiments, understanding the long-term repercussions of modifying genes or experimenting in other ways on people may be challenging.
How might routine blood tests be used to biohack?
Blood work is essential for successful Biohacking. It may reveal a lot about the amounts of numerous nutrients and components in your body, such as plasma and cell count.
Blood testing may reveal if a new meal you’re consuming is changing your vitamin levels or assisting you in completing a biological process. A blood test performed before and after taking vitamin B12 supplements for improved cognitive function, for example, may reveal if the pills have impacted your B12 levels.
You can biohack even if you don’t have frequent blood testing. Changing your diet or behaviors may have a visible impact on your general well-being, as well as particular symptoms you’re trying to address, such as stomach issues or headaches.
However, blood tests provide you with the raw facts to work with. They’ll be able to tell you whether your biohack is effective at the cellular level.
What’s the difference between biohacking and biotechnology, and how can you tell the two apart?
Biotechnology is a wide phrase that refers to the study of biological processes to improve technologically. Biotechnology may vary from producing beer using bacterial strains to altering genes with CRISPR.
For example, many biohackers get their motivation and data from advances in biotechnology. Biotechnologists often turn to biohacker experiments to help them steer their study in the right direction. Biotechnology advances and learnings often influence Biohacking experiments and vice versa.
Biohacking does not need the use of biotechnology. Grinders are the Biohacking community’s most active consumers of biotechnology. Changing habits or eating habits, on the other hand, does not need the use of biotechnology.
How can you biohack your brain using nootropics?
Nootropics are compounds that improve brain performance and may be found in natural, supplement, or food and beverage forms. An illustration of this is how you feel, how much you accomplish, and how long it takes you to focus.
In Silicon Valley, nootropics are big. Nootropics are becoming more popular with venture capitalists. This biohack has even spawned a thriving Reddit community.
Caffeine is a popular nootropic that you’ve probably tried. Piracetam is another extensive nootropic. Piracetam is a drug that helps with cognitive function.
There is a lot of dispute over the safety of nootropics. In supplement form, nootropics are not regulated by the FDA.
Unless used in excessive doses, nootropics in food or beverages are typically harmless. Caffeine overdose, for example, may be caused by drinking too much coffee. Doctor-prescribed nootropics might be dangerous if taken incorrectly.
Biohacking does not need the use of nootropics. They’re popular since they’re simple to get and your body may metabolize them in a matter of hours or less, resulting in fast benefits.
4 easy biohacking techniques to try at home
Here is biohacking you may attempt at home that is pretty safe.
Consume caffeine
Caffeine is well-known for increasing productivity.
Start with an 8-ounce cup of black coffee, green tea, or caffeinated items like dark chocolate if you haven’t previously. Caffeine should be used at the same time every day, and you should maintain a log of how you feel in the minutes or hours afterward: Do you think you’re more focused now? Are you becoming more agitated? Tired? Experiment with different doses until you discover the one that works best for you.
Bulletproof coffee is a kind of coffee with a biohacker twist. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil, which is an energy enhancer and weight-loss agent, is found in coffee. The source you can trust.
The safety of bulletproof coffee is a point of contention. If you want to biohack your coffee, see your doctor first, particularly if you have any underlying health issues.
Experiment with an elimination diet
It’s exactly what it sounds like: an Elimination Diet. An elimination diet involves eliminating a food from your diet and then gradually reintroducing it to evaluate how it affects your body.
If you believe you’re allergic to a food or are afraid that a portion of food, such as dairy, red meat, or processed sugar, is causing inflammation, this is a common alternative.
An elimination diet consists of two main steps:
Remove one or more items entirely from your diet.
Wait two weeks, and then gradually reintroduce the things you’ve been avoiding back into your diet.
Keep a watchful eye on any symptoms that emerge during the second, or reintroduction, phase, such as:
Constipation
Diarrhea
Stomach Pain
Fatigue
Rashes
Break Out
Pain
Get some blue light to improve your mood
The sun’s blue light may assist you to improve your mood and cognitive function.
The source you can trust. See if you notice any differences by getting a few more hours of sunshine each day (roughly 3-6 hours, or whatever is practical for you).
However, bear in mind that sunshine emits the same blue light as phone and computer displays. By disrupting your circadian clock, this light may keep you awake.
When out in the sun, remember to use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. This may help to protect your skin from the sun’s rays.
Experiment with intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is a style of dieting that entails only eating at certain times and then fasting for a lengthy amount of time until the next meal time.
For example, from midday to 8 p.m., you may only eat for eight hours, then fast from 8 p.m. till noon the following day.
Fasting in this manner offers many well-documented advantages:
Lowering insulin levels helps your body burn fat more effectively.
Assisting your cells in the restoration of any damaged tissues
Defending you against illnesses such as cancer
Before embarking on an elimination diet, see your physician.
Have you been diagnosed with diabetes or are you having trouble controlling your blood sugar?
Have a low blood pressure reading
Are you on any medications?
Have you ever had an eating disorder?
Are you pregnant or nursing a child?
The Conclusion
Biohacking has various advantages. Some forms are simple to fill out at home and to undo if anything goes wrong.
But, in general, use caution. Experimenting with oneself without taking all of the necessary safeguards might result in unintended consequences.
Before making any major dietary changes, consult a doctor or a nutritionist. Also, before introducing any foreign material into your body, make sure you complete your research.
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