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Biohacking - the opportunity to enhance health through minor adjustments
Table of Contents
1. What is Biohacking?
The primary goal of biohacking is to bring the human body to peak efficiency, strength, and health. According to advocates, through minor adjustments, not only can one's physique and relationships with close individuals be optimized, but their intelligence quotient can also be increased. There are three main types of biohacking: nutrigenomics, grinder, and DIY biology. Nutrigenomics is a science that investigates the impact of nutrients on gene expression and health. This matter is particularly significant with regard to the risk of civilizational diseases. Grinder biohacking employs modern technologies and substances to enhance the body's functioning, for instance, by implanting a specialized implant or taking medications that affect physical and mental performance. Those involved in grinder are predominantly linked to the scientific community and believe that any part of the human body can be modified. DIY biology, on the other hand, involves disseminating biohacking-related knowledge and techniques by specialists from various scientific fields, enabling anyone to conduct experiments in a home environment without the need to participate in scientific research.2. How can one enhance body functioning through dietary alteration?
According to proponents of biohacking, one of the most important methods to improve body functioning is through diet modification. There are various versions of this diet. One of the most popular is intermittent fasting (IF). It consists of a multi-hour fasting period during which no food is consumed. During this time, the body has the opportunity to regenerate and increase insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (L. Zeng et al., 2022; X. Wang et al., 2020). It is also worth mentioning that IF may have benefits for heart health (F. Yang et al., 2021). However, it is important to note that long-term adherence to this diet may be harmful to certain groups of people, such as those with problems with carbohydrate metabolism, low blood pressure, underweight, past or present eating disorders, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those trying to conceive. Another recommendation from biohacking proponents is the elimination diet. This type of diet involves removing foods that have a negative impact on health, such as highly processed foods that are high in simple sugars and saturated fats. Biohackers also encourage people to observe their own bodies and eliminate foods that cause any discomfort, such as stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, or excessive fatigue.3. Unconventional methods of programming the organism
It is important to emphasize that adequate regeneration, both in terms of quantity and quality, is extremely important for the proper functioning of the organism, regulation of hunger and satiety hormones, and maintenance of optimal body weight. Biohacking experts emphasize that regeneration also improves memory and concentration, protects against infections, reduces the likelihood of developing mental illness, and positively affects mental health. To achieve such regeneration, several principles such as limiting exposure to blue light to 3 hours before bedtime, proper ventilation of the bedroom, avoiding stimulants, calming the body through meditation or breathing exercises, or consuming a light snack at least 2 hours before bedtime should be followed (A. Wichniak 2016). An important aspect of biohacking is managing stress, as it negatively affects well-being and health status. Meditation and mindfulness practice are excellent ways to cope with stress. Another method for improving health are cold baths, usually at a temperature below 15°C, which can be dangerous if the body is not well adapted to low temperatures (B. Knechtle et al. 2020).4. Is biohacking truly safe or not?
Although a few of the aforementioned methods have certain negative consequences, their reasonable use seems to be safe. However, this is not the case when it comes to grinders. Individuals who opt for this method introduce into their bodies devices or chemicals whose impact on the body is not entirely known, which may result in unpleasant consequences, such as the development of infections due to inflammations. The same can apply to DIY Biology, which encourages experimentation at home where the outcomes cannot be foreseen.5. Summary
The concept of biohacking, understood as a modification in dietary regimen, practicing meditation, or incorporating physical activity, constitutes an excellent method to improve the state of health and sustain it for as long as possible. Moreover, numerous positive impacts related to mental wellness, overall wellbeing, and body shape are observed. However, special caution is advised, and substantial changes should be discussed with appropriate experts. More radical biohacking methods, such as grinder and DIY Biology, should be supervised by specialized units to avert potential dangers.
