What Is Biohacking And How Can It Lead To A Healthier Life?

Biohacking is the practice of making small, incremental adjustments and lifestyle changes aimed at improving your performance, well-being, and overall health, reports Healthline. The goal of this experimental wellness trend is to optimize your health and increase the longevity of your life. This can be done through a number of various augmentations and enhancements. According to Healthline, there are three different types of biohacking: nutrigenomics, DIY biology, and grinder.

Nutrigenomics is a controversial form of biohacking that involves focusing on the way your diet interacts with your genetics. DIY biology consists of incorporating expert-approved tips and techniques. Grinder, on the other hand, is a subculture of biohacking that involves physically and chemically altering your body with gadgets and injections. While grinder biohacking can be quite dangerous, there are both safe and not-so-safe elements of nutrigenomics and DIY biology, some of which can even help achieve their desired outcomes.

According to experts at MindBodyGreen, there are a number of safe and effective biohacking tips you can use to optimize your health. For instance, cold water exposure, or cryotherapy, can be used to enhance your immune function and promote heart health. This can be done by swimming in cold water or taking a long, cold shower. Another safe and proven biohacking technique is intermittent fasting. This involves alternating between periods of fasting and eating. For example, 16:8 intermittent fasting entails restricting your food intake to a set window of eight hours per day. As it turns out, there is a growing body of evidence that fasting may even be associated with more health benefits than more frequent eating.

In addition, meditation can be another useful biohacking tool. In fact, practicing mindfulness on a regular basis can positively affect your decision-making and improve your mental health. For many people, guided meditations and visualizations are a great way to connect with the subconscious mind. Other helpful biohacking tips include sweating, getting quality sleep, and using wearable devices (via MindBodyGreen).