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Biohacking can be described as do-it-yourself biology.
For many “biohackers,” this consists of making small, incremental diet or lifestyle changes in order to feel and perform better.
Biohacks promise anything from quick weight loss to enhanced brain function but is that really true?
What are the different types of biohacking?
Btw here is the https://www.buzzsprout.com/2130357/13638832–
if you prefer to listen instead!
Let’s divy them up in sane and not sane
On the sane side we have
Wearable technology
Wearable tech, such as smartwatches, head-mounted displays, and fitness-tracking bands, are common pieces of modern technology. People may use them to:track steps, sleep or calories.In terms of sleep and steps these gadgets work well, when it comes to calories they can be up to 60 % off ( never base your caloric intake on what you think you burned).
Is there an advantage to using them? I am a huge fan of data but there is such a thing as too much.
Also, people collect all the data but what is the application. ?
If I have a bad night, I will know it without an app.
Not all data is created equal. When it comes to building muscle, the internals are much more important than the externals. I can record a set at the gym in terms of reps and weight but I won’t know the quality of execution and activation.
Tracking sleep, calories, macros, sets and reps in the gym is fine but that is where I would draw the line.
Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is a method of dieting in which a person only eats between certain times and fasts in the periods in between. For example, a person can fast from 8 p.m. until 12 p.m the following day, and eat between 12 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Now, there is nothing magical about IM. As long as you are in a caloric deficit, you will lose weight. As for the windows, they are completely arbitrary aka made up. In regards to muscle growth it is a rather inferior system since you can not spread your protein intake all across the day.
Cold water therapy
Cold water therapy is an increasingly popular health and exercise trend that may have various benefits for people’s health. It also has been around in Finland and Russia for hundreds of years. It is called: jump into the cold lake after the sauna.There are benefits for the immune , cardiovascular as well endocrine system
Do not take the cold plunge after weight training, it will hamper muscle growth.
Caffeine
Caffeine can help increase alertness and productivity and help a person feel more focused and burn fat. Keep to 4mg/kg per day.
MCT Oils
MCTs refer to medium-chain triglyceride thats are found in coconut oil and are processed by the body in a different way to long-chain fatty acids. Unlike other fats, they go straight from the gut to the liver. From here, they are used as a source of energy or turned into ketones.
There are some benefits for people who suffer from epilepsy , they also provide a quick burst of energy.
As for weight loss, there is one study showing that people who put MCTs in the coffee ( ????) consumed fewer calories than people putting corn oil in their coffee. Begs the question : why do either?
In any event, MCTs will not harm you.
Less Sane
Nootropics
On the not so sane side , we have biohackers using nootropics, or “smart drugs.”
Prescription nootropics are medications that have stimulant effects, which doctors may prescribe for medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adderall comes to mind
Should you be using amphetamines unless you are diagnosed with ADHD? No way!
Amphetamines are also catabolic, meaning they cause muscle loss.
There is piracetam , which has been around since the 60s and was used by olympic weightlifters in the eastern bloc to improve performance. on such a high level, it might make a difference, for the average gym rat it does not.
Using foods or supplements to raise testosterone, growth hormone and lower cortisol.
Basically, you are having steroids in your fridge!
Sorry to disappoint but no food or plant will change your hormones in any significant way (Except insulin). Also, if there was such a thing as a cortisol blocker you would be dead.. Food is food and drugs are drugs.
Chasing longevity through pills
Then there are those taking 100+ supplements , using blue light filters , infrared saunas ..you name it , all in the name of longevity.
That begs the question: does it work and if so what is the difference maker?
IF you take that many substances, it is impossible to determine which ones have an effect.
As for longevity, there are four traits we have learned from the blue zones.
- be lean and eat a wholesome diet
- be active as in physically active
- be involved with your community
- have a low stress level
If I had to remember 100 different supplements a day and four medical procedures a week I would be rather stressed out which defeats the purpose.
Personally, I think eating healthy, training, lifelong learning and not taking yourself too seriously is all the biohacking you need. Remember, nobody in Sardinia takes infrared saunas, consumes 100+ pills a day or sleeps with blue light blocking glasses.
And yet, it has one of the highest concentrations of centenarians on the planet!
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Maik