Biohacking is a term that has cropped up in fitness magazines, health and wellness blogs and in gyms and targeted training programs over the past 10 years. In essence, biohacking is the process of making changes to your lifestyle in order to “hack” your biology so you can bring your body to a state of optimum physiology. But what does that mean?
The idea of biohacking has been around since 1972 and was first discussed in detail in a famous article called “Playing God in your Basement.” The author gathers insights from several different fields related to biotechnology to ask the question of how far one could go to change their DNA or physiology in a “homebrew” type of scenario. [1]
Fast forward to the year 2018 and we can see biohacking placed into three different categories: Nutrigenomics – manipulating your body through nutrition, sleep manipulation, stress management and exercise, DIY Bio – conducing biological studies outside of conventional means in order to alter ones DNA and lastly, Grinder Biohacking – technology implants and chemical manipulation of the body to push biological limits.
Nutrigenomics is the most popular form of biohacking that we hear about today with many blog sites touting how small changes in diet, exercise, sleep and stress management can change the physiology of our bodies. One such blog lists the eight things you can do to biohack your life: elimination diet, no sugar diet, change times that you eat and fast, change sleep habits, eat more fat, meditate, practice earthing and stand more. [2]
While doctors and nutritionists all agree that eating healthier, getting more sleep and exercise can help you to feel better and make you healthier there is no scientific evidence that you can alter your base physiology or DNA using these methods. In fact, some methods in the DIY Bio and Grinder categories are down right dangerous as your average consumer does not have access to state-of-the-art labs and medical oversight. Many believe that biohacking is nothing more than a rebranding of alternative medicine with a technological spin.
As with all new trends in food, fitness and nutrition it is up to the consumer to decide what is valuable to them. To ensure that you are not falling into a marketing trap, it is important for consumers to seek out non-biased information on the efficacy of these types of diets and trends. I would recommend always consulting a medical professional before trying a new alternative medicine trend or diet to ensure your do not do more harm to your health than good.
[1] “Playing God in Your Basement.” The Washington Post. 1.31.1988
[2] “What is Bio-hacking.” Draxe.com. 7.2018