Is Biohacking Just for Billionaires?

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The term “biohacking” conjures up various sci-fi-like images—wealthy individuals, isolated from society, using state-of-the-art technology to live longer. Some of these more eclectic hackers want to live forever. The most famous biohacker in the world is Bryan Johnson, a man who, quite literally, harbors ambitions of living forever. His ultimate goal in life? To not die.

The 46-year-old, who spends $2 million per year on his mission to avoid the Grim Reaper, starts his day at 4:30 a.m. and eats all his meals before 11 a.m. Each night, without exception, he’s in bed by 8:30 p.m. The Utah-born entrepreneur lives a largely solitary existence that centers around exercising, adhering to a strict vegan diet, the ingestion of numerous pills (111 every day), and endless scientific tests. At one point, he even swapped blood plasma with his 17-year-old son.

Biohacking is populated by Johnson-like characters. However, one needn’t be a billionaire to live a longer, healthier life. That’s because “biohacking” simply involves identifying ways to help your body perform at a higher level. Biohacking isn’t just about extending one’s lifespan; it’s about improving one’s healthspan. After all, a person could live to the ripe old age of 112 but be in complete agony for the final 40 or 50 years of his existence. Perspective is needed here. It isn’t just the quantity of years that matters. It’s the quality of them.

With that being said, what reasonably simple things can you, the reader, do to live a physically and mentally richer life?

First and foremost, as an 85-year Harvard University study clearly demonstrated, if you want to live a longer, happier life, having a close group of friends is a must. Having a romantic partner, someone you truly love and who loves you back, is also of vital importance. You can take all the pills in the world and do as many sit-ups as you like, but without the right people in your life, much of this activity could prove to be a waste of time. Along with establishing a solid social circle, one must establish a lifestyle that prioritizes sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise.

How much sleep? Between 7 and 8 hours per night, every night, if possible. One in three American adults are sleep deprived. Studies suggest that sleep deprivation is associated with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Other studies suggest that chronic sleep loss speeds up the biological aging process.

As for nutrition, many of us have very specific dietary requirements. Nevertheless, when it comes to judging “good” and “bad” foods, ask yourself this question: Is this something that my ancestors would have consumed? In other words, no heavily processed foods. The cleaner your diet, the healthier you feel.

In August 2023, Brea Lofton, a registered dietitian, told Forbes that “a nutrient-dense diet rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids can provide the building blocks for healthy cells.”

“Specific dietary approaches like ketogenic diets or fasting regimens may also affect cellular metabolism and energy production,” she said.

As for exercise, any activity is better than no activity. Aim for at least 20 minutes of intense cardio— jogging, cycling, swimming, and so on—three times per week. More importantly, however, the inclusion of resistance training is a must. Research carried out by European academics shows that resistance training can actively prevent—and in some cases, even reverse—the loss of muscle mass that occurs as we get older. Healthy aging and resistance training go hand in hand.

Along with appropriate exercise, nutrition, and sleep, proper breathing is also advised. The vast majority of people in the United States and beyond are chronic mouth breathers. Mouth breathing is associated with a whole host of health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea, a problem that now affects 39 million Americans. The mouth was designed for eating and talking, and the nose for smelling and breathing. Cilia, those tiny hairs in your nose, act as a filter, removing potentially dangerous debris and ensuring that the air that enters your body is of a higher quality. The mouth lacks such a filtering system.

Then, of course, there’s the matter of sunlight. If possible, try to get at least 10 to 30 minutes of sunlight several times per week, preferably in the morning. Morning sunlight helps to regulate our body’s sleep-wake cycle and maintain a well-balanced circadian rhythm. Morning sunlight also helps regulate our mood and metabolism.

Finally, embrace cold plunges. To be clear, one needn’t live in Greenland to take advantage of icy waters. A “nice” cold bath or shower will suffice. A recent Business Insider report discussed the “growing body of scientific evidence that supports cold exposure as an anti-aging hack.” Cold exposure unleashes a surge of neurotransmitters such as epinephrine and dopamine—meaning that an individual will, at the very least, emerge from the pool (or tub) feeling considerably sharper and more alive.

So there you have it. One needn’t live like a human guinea pig to live a richer, healthier existence.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.