What’s the hype about biohacking?
You may have been hearing a lot about ‘biohacking’ these days, but what exactly does it mean?
Biohacking, or human enhancement, can be described as DIY biology which consists of making small changes to your diet or lifestyle to improve your health and well-being.
Biohacking can come in many forms:
- Nutrigenomics focuses on how our diet can affect our genetic map.
- Using ‘nootropics’ which can be tablets, supplements, drinks, and foods that contain substances that may help boost brain performance, for example, caffeine
- Grinders use a combination of gadgets, implants, injections to make their body work in the way they desire.
- DIY biology is the practice of conducting experiments on oneself
Biohacking isn’t new to us. We have been practicing some well – studied techniques for some time now at the clinic, for example, using light therapy to treat skin conditions or control symptoms of menopause.
Light therapy as a biohacking method
At the clinic, we use a patented, state-of-the-art infra-red light exercise bike as well as the award winning Dermalux LED light system for a number of conditions. Light therapy can be used to:
- boost your mood and enhance your cognitive performance
- treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral ulceration as well as wound healing
- promote wound healing
- promote the production of collagen
- improve joint health
- relieves pain and inflammation
- help treat sun-damage skin
- stimulate production of melatonin thus helping improve sleep
- Improves mood by increasing serotonin production
Things to try that are safe.
Elimination diet
This is where you remove certain food and slowly reintroduce them after 2-3 weeks. Whilst reintroducing, look out for the following signs:
- rashes
- breakouts
- fatigue
- stomach pain
- diarrhea/constipation
Taking supplements
Wisely and moderately does it. Its best to have a blood test to find out what nutrients you are lacking before starting the appropriate supplements. Reviewing levels with another blood test after 3 months will help you identify if the supplements have made a change. We create custom IV drips consisting of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Nutrients that can help improve cognitive behaviour include:
Nootropics: Nootropics, also known as cognitive enhancers, refer to a diverse range of natural and synthetic compounds that have the potential to support various aspects of cognitive function. They can be readily found and purchased at specialized nootropics shop(nootrópicos comprar) or even at your local health store.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 deficiency is linked to impaired cognition and memory
NAD
There is increasing evidence to suggest that NAD plays important roles in multiple processes in the brain, including neurotransmission, learning and memory.
Does Biohacking work?
Yes and no.
Altering our diet can help reduce the risk of developing certain diseases or help us lose weight and optimise body functions such as the balance of gut bacteria.
Some biohacking practices can be dangerous. For example, a man once injected Chlorin in his eyes to give him night vision.
Before trying something new, do your research and check with a qualified practitioner before embarking on something that may end up causing more harm than good.