Live Longer or Die Trying

The Path to Hacking Your Biology

By Julie Orlova

If you have committed to a meditative technique, if experimenting with your diet is part of your daily routine, if you take supplements – you can consider yourself a biohacker. Usually associated with Silicon Valley and tech CEOs, biohacking describes a range of techniques one may apply to get the most out of the body and mind. In the ranks of people who have popularised biohacking, there are many startuppers, entrepreneurs, and innovative thinkers. On the one hand, the creation of alternative techniques opens up opportunities for a dialogue about the human body and its capabilities and gives people Photo by Burst control over their bodies. On the other hand, biohacking zealots often have zero medical or scientific background; they rely only on personal experiments as well as privileges and resources that not everybody has.

Veronika Allister is a behavioural economist and co-founder of the biohacking community Code of Life. She tells us about her journey to the hacked body and mind and helps to shed light on ways to implement

sustainable biohacking in your life. 38

Beyond the human

Mind upgrading, body resetting, performance optimisa- tion – the language of biohacking comes from the tech community of San Francisco, where biohacking itself originated. It was the early 2000s and tech progressives were disappointed that instead of flying cars and cyborg humans, we were left with Botox. The likes of Lepht Anonym and Kevin Warwick resurrected the dream of new modes of existence, being the first people to implant electromagnetic sensors and chips into their bodies.

Today grinders, members of a biohacking subculture, aim to become one with technology by implanting chips into their bodies to enhance their intelligence and perception of reality. Elon Musk’s neuro-enhancement brain implant project, Neuralink, falls into that category, as does Tim Ferriss’s implant of a blood-glucose monitor or the first recognised cyborg Neil Harbisson’s implant that allows him to hear colour. On the other end of the spectrum, there are DIY biologists, academics, and scientists who go beyond the books and experiment with organic and synthetic materials to find new and exciting ways to cure and prevent illnesses, improve the genetic code, or make real vegan cheese.

The majority of people who turn to biohacking start with very prosaic goals – improving their general condition, reducing stress and fatigue or managing a chronic illness or pain. Veronika says she turned to biohacking when she felt out of control, “I was lying post-surgery in a hospital, feeling so weak and helpless, and I thought that I needed to make a change and do it myself.”

On her journey, she found all types of tricks people use to be in charge of their bodies. Many of them became part of her daily routine: introducing supplements and nootropics, fasting intermittently, documenting sleep, and optimizing her exercise regimen. This is the level most biohackers stay at, perfecting their knowledge about their system to increase longevity and slow down ageing, and to feel as good as possible along the way. All of these are available in different forms, depending on how far you want to go and how much money you are willing to spend. For example, the biohacking guru Serge Faguet spent $200,000 on himself, including medical examina- tions, dietary supplements and drugs, special training, and nutrition.

Photo by FOODISM360

If we look at the most popular biohacks, we will discover that despite their accessibility, one should still be aware of the pitfalls. Take supplements as an example. It is common knowledge that we can all benefit from more vitamin D and magnesium, which can be bought in pharmacies. Taken to the extreme, however, using supplements can turn into a chase after some inexplicably expensive packet of pills or taking 100 pills daily without knowing if all of them are supported by clinical trials.

Another example of a very popular biohack that can turn sour is fasting. Silicon Valley types swear by intermittent eating, skipping meals, or replacing food with coffee and water for periods from 24 hours to seven days. They report feeling euphoric, more energised, and less susceptible to mood swings. Indeed, fasting is an ancient technique. It has been under the microscope and was found to boost the immune system, reset the metabolism, and slow down ageing. Unfortunately, most of the studies with promising results were conducted on animals, while the literature on the effect on humans is relatively new and far from undisputed. Sometimes the tech types fall into another trap – their obsession with calorie tracking, glucose levels, and body composition measurements. These behaviours are also linked to eating disorders such as anorexia. To avoid associations with what is traditionally considered a “feminine” disease, the language of biohacking comes to the rescue – they do not “diet,” they undertake “fasting protocols.” Their goal is not to lose weight, but to “optimise their physical and mental performance.”

Through the mind to the body

If you have ever looked up biohacking, you probably found numerous listicles on top hacks that will change your life. Veronika notes that they very often lack one simple premise – the necessity of self-observation. The most common way to assess your potential and heal is mindfulness. People have trouble sticking with it because there are no immediate results. Biohacking solves that problem by being oriented to physical sensations. But underestimating the role of mindfulness in biohacking practices would be a big mistake – any experiment must rely on checking in with yourself and finding balance, experimenting with sensations, and recognising your response to them. “That’s how I start my day. Every morning I ask myself: ‘How am I? Tired? How is my mood?’ Sure, I have an OURA ring [a device that measures the physiological signals of your body and helps track sleep and activity – ed.]that will tell me how I feel . But without checking in with myself I won’t take on the day. Journalling is the best way to do it. This is my number one biohack.”

Biohack number two is to introduce breathing techniques, Uddiyana bandha in particular. “Doing it in the morning on an empty stomach is amazing. In a nutshell, it stretches your biggest muscle – the diaphragm – that you never get to exercise in a day, which is a pity since it controls the most important process in your body – breathing. Doing this breathing exercise instantly wakes you up and saturates the brain with oxygen,” says Veronika.

“My third piece of advice is to practice cold therapy. It is so underrated.” Veronika is an advocate for cryotherapy, climbing Sněžka in shorts and having cold showers and baths regularly. “If you start your day by massaging your lower body under cold water, gradually increasing the time and slowly going further up, it will be enough to improve your mood and energy level right away.” The long-term effects of cold showers include prevention of nerve degeneration, immune-system boosting, and preventing depression. Search for the magic pill or search for control?

Truth be told, most of us have a lifestyle that could do with a little hacking – a bit more sleep and vitamin D, a little less stress and processed food. People are quick to believe those who claim what is to blame for poor health. Many deem the three-meals-a-day diet to be untrustworthy, while they jump onto the “fasting” or “futuristic implant train” to feel they are in control. That is the reason so many biohacking techniques are taken to the extreme – it gives the people a sense of control over their body and mind. Veronika highlights, “So many people rush to invest time and money in unnecessary things, maybe because it is easier than sitting down every morning, practicing stillness and listening to what your body is telling you. True biohacking is about balance – between body and mind, using traditional medicine and experimenting on yourself, using technology to collect data and practicing mindfulness.” It makes sense; to hack an organism that took six million years to evolve, we will have to put in some work to know the system first. But don’t be discouraged – a happier and longer life awaits.