Howdy fellow MB/A’ers,
With all the shout-outs and interest in biohacking, I thought I’d share a quick Biohacking 101 post to get anyone started on their biohacking journey. Because honestly, if you’re dead set on being the best that you can be in this world, you’ll need to know how to optimize the instrument/machine/engine that is your mind and body—an exquisite system at that.
Biohacking is as much an art as it is a science; it’s the art of taking any and all acceptable measures to optimize your biology, your microbiology, your psychology, and your environment—all in the name of peak performance. It is the gamification of your health and fitness. Biohacking is a lifestyle, a mindset, that says that I’m the CEO of my body and I refuse to outsource my health, my most valuable asset, to a third-party medical practitioner who, let’s face it, may or may not have my best interests in mind. In our profit-driven society, this potential pitfall cannot be overstated, particularly in the Wild, Wild, West of Wellness (as I like to call it).
Biohacking is not a quick fix. It’s not some magic “limitless” pill. It requires hard work, a stoic, scientific mindset, and a deep-seated aversion to inefficiencies of all kinds.
This also means that you have to be as diligent, if not more diligent, than even many of the MDs out there who too often get lost in their own ego and “expertise.” Did you know that medical error is the third leading cause of death in the US? I also know—I lost my sister to a misdiagnosis 22 years ago.
It is my humble opinion that conventional medicine is excellent for emergency care but is woefully bad at solving chronic metabolic conditions (diabetes, cancer, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, obesity, etc.). Allopathy is a great lifeguard, but a terrible swim coach.
But back to biohacking. There’s a wide spectrum of biohackers out there: you have the all-natural variety on one end, and the gene-drive hackers pushing for designer babies and inserting microchips under the skin on the other. I tend to be more on the all-natural side of things but I’m definitely curious and open to technology, implants, prosthetics, and other enhancements further down the line if they prove to be safe and efficacious.
That said, trying to live to 180+ (a common goal for biohackers) is going to be an enormous feat that’s going to require every ounce of your wit and will. Make no mistake, it will be a bare-knuckle fight to the finish trying to fend off death. But for the first time in modern history, we have the tools and knowledge to extend our lives much further than we ever dreamed possible. And not just our lifespan but our healthspan (your fully functional years).
Furthermore, imagine if biohacking can give you 20-30 more years of runway so you can continue hammering away at your professional goals—how much smarter can you play the (long) game?
Speaking of, there is an infinite number of ways to play “the game.” So you’ll need a good strategy. Here are my top three traits of a successful biohacker:
- An avid self-quantifier. There’s the old saying that you can’t improve on anything you’re not measuring. So you’ll need wearables. Lots of them, try them all, then get rid of all but a 1 or 2 that you trust. They will be secondary to the intuition you will build over time with aggregated data points. You’ll also need regular blood labs to track your biomarkers over time.
- A diligent mindset. Do the hard stuff. Never stop reading. Be stoic and nerdy. Be willing to dive into the research, the studies, articles. Understand the science behind it (as best you can, you’ll eventually be fluent). New rule: Read the ingredients on a food package, if you don’t know what it is, don’t put it in your body; eventually, you’ll be an encyclopedia of nutritional information.
- Trust in the scientific process and open to self-experimentation. We all have a unique gut microbial composition so what works for me may or may not work for you. Read up on how to safely try intermittent fasting, low-carb diet plans, HIIT/CrossFit, weight lifting, etc.
Remember, we are not only driven by data and experience but we’re also driven by our why, our purpose, what brings meaning into our lives. Find yours and make sure it’s white-hot. A biohacker’s mission is to maximize his/her/their healthspan and happiness, by any means necessary. And the right why can get you there.
Can’t wait to hear your biohacking story!
Stay hungry,
David
PS… here are a few biohacking podcasts to whet your whistle:
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