Biohacking, a growing trend among health enthusiasts, encompasses a range of techniques aimed at optimizing physical and mental well-being, improving longevity, and enhancing overall performance through personalized interventions and self-experimentation.

Popular nutritional strategies in biohacking include intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, and the Bulletproof Diet, all of which focus on metabolic optimization, inflammation reduction, and cellular repair, though their scientific validation varies significantly.

Intermittent fasting involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, with purported benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity, autophagy activation, and reduced inflammation, though its effectiveness for weight loss and general health remains inconsistent across studies.

Clinical research suggests intermittent fasting may benefit specific populations, such as prediabetic adults, but its risks, including nutrient deficiencies and binge eating, highlight the need for medical supervision before adoption.

The ketogenic diet, characterized by high fat and low carbohydrate intake, has demonstrated benefits like weight loss and improved management of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and epilepsy, though its long-term effects require further study.

Despite its potential advantages, the ketogenic diet poses risks such as kidney stones, liver disease, and nutrient deficiencies, emphasizing the importance of careful planning and periodic breaks under professional guidance.

The Bulletproof Diet, created by entrepreneur Dave Asprey, combines high-fat, low-carb principles with intermittent fasting and promotes foods like grass-fed butter and MCT oil, often consumed in the form of Bulletproof Coffee.

While proponents claim the Bulletproof Diet enhances mental focus and energy levels, experts caution that extreme diets like this may lead to nutrient deficiencies and health risks, particularly for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Physical activity is another cornerstone of biohacking, with practices like high-intensity workouts and ice baths aimed at stimulating hormetic stress responses to improve resilience and reduce inflammation.

Ice baths are believed to alleviate muscle soreness and inflammation by narrowing blood vessels and lowering core body temperature, though long-term use may impair muscle strength and growth.

Scientific studies suggest cold exposure activates the sympathetic nervous system, potentially boosting circulation, immune function, and mental clarity, but further research is needed to establish safe protocols.

Extreme physical exercise, while popular among biohackers, can lead to overtraining syndrome, characterized by persistent fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and increased injury risk, contrasting with the balanced benefits of moderate exercise.

Excessive exercise may also result in cardiovascular stress, arrhythmias, and myocardial remodeling, underscoring the importance of balancing intensity and recovery for optimal health outcomes.

Gut optimization is a central focus in biohacking, as the microbiome is believed to influence overall health, mental well-being, and longevity, with strategies like probiotics and fermented foods recommended to enhance gut health.

Emerging research highlights the interconnectedness of gut health and mental health, suggesting that imbalances in gut bacteria can affect mood and behavior, with dietary interventions showing therapeutic potential for conditions like depression.

Biohackers often rely on supplements such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), metformin, and spermidine for metabolism, anti-aging, and immune support, though their efficacy and safety remain debated in scientific circles.

The supplement industry’s lack of regulation raises concerns about contamination and adverse interactions, with improper use potentially leading to health risks and financial waste.

Excessive supplement intake can pose significant health risks, including headaches, anxiety, and even increased cancer risk, as seen in cases involving substances like nicotinamide riboside and metformin.

Research from the Karolinska Institute indicates that excessive antioxidant supplementation may promote tumor growth by forming new blood vessels, contradicting the assumed protective effects of antioxidants.

Advanced medical screenings, such as full-body MRI scans and blood tests, are used by biohackers to monitor biological markers like inflammation and aging, though concerns about overdiagnosis persist.

Experts caution against the use of advanced diagnostic tools like full-body MRI scans for individuals without specific risk factors, as they may lead to unnecessary treatments and anxiety.

Mental health practices in biohacking include neurofeedback therapy, which aims to retrain the brain using operant conditioning to address issues like depression and anxiety, though it remains experimental and lacks widespread clinical validation.

Other techniques, such as mindfulness exercises and expressive arts therapy, are promoted for their ability to enhance emotional well-being and reduce stress, aligning with psychological research on movement and mindfulness.

Becoming overly obsessed with biohacking can lead to psychological risks such as perfectionism and stress, as individuals may feel pressured to adhere to rigid routines and achieve unattainable benchmarks.

Social risks include alienation or strained relationships, as extreme biohacking practices may create divides between individuals and those who do not share similar health philosophies.

The pursuit of biohacking without proper oversight can lead to dangerous self-experimentation, as evidenced by cases of physical harm and emergency medical interventions due to unregulated practices.

Extreme biohacking practices, such as self-implantation of devices, can result in severe health complications and social isolation, as seen in cases like Lepht Anonym, who suffered infections and alienation due to unconventional methods.

Biohacking communities often foster a sense of camaraderie among practitioners, but their unconventional practices, such as DIY genetic engineering, can isolate them from broader society.

There is limited scientific evidence comparing the overall health outcomes of biohackers versus individuals adhering to conventional health practices, as many biohacking methods lack rigorous clinical validation.

Experts caution that while some biohacking techniques show anecdotal benefits, many remain experimental and require larger, controlled studies to establish their safety and effectiveness.

Medical professionals have raised concerns about the risks associated with biohacking, particularly when individuals experiment with unregulated procedures or substances, as seen in documented cases of severe health complications.

Ethical and privacy concerns, such as the misuse of implanted microchips for surveillance, further complicate the adoption of biohacking technologies, which often lack comprehensive studies on long-term effects.

To constructively discuss concerns about extreme biohacking with a loved one, experts recommend affirming their autonomy while expressing care and support to foster open communication.

Using curiosity-driven questions and 'I statements' can help frame the discussion empathetically, encouraging individuals to consider potential risks or alternative approaches to their biohacking practices.

To learn more about biohacking and its scientific validity, resources like Dr. Fabio Piccini’s book and the Oxford Longevity Project provide insights into evidence-based practices and cutting-edge research.

Biohacking, a growing trend among health enthusiasts, encompasses a range of techniques aimed at optimizing physical and mental well-being, improving longevity, and enhancing overall performance through personalized interventions and self-experimentation.

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Content: Home » biohacking, reprogramming mind and body to live better

biohacking, reprogramming mind and body to live better

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It’s called “biohacking” and it comes from Silicon Valley. Listen: The long life diet: the longevity formula is calorie restriction …

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It’s called “biohacking” and comes from Silicon Valley.

A relatively new word that comes from the union of “biology” and “hacker” and indicates the attempt to positively influence the functioning of the organism, by hacking, ie trying to “force”, one’s genetic heritage. A strategy to live better and longer launched years ago by Californian top managers and which then spread throughout the world. How to upgrade the “operating system” of the human body? No manipulation, here we are talking about “reprogramming” and new lifestyles. “Our genetic heritage has enormous unexpressed potential that can be activated,” he explains Fabio Piccinidoctor and psychoanalyst, researcher of Food Sciences of theMarche Polytechnic University, author of the book “Biohacking Techniques: how to optimize metabolism to increase health and longevity”. “Biohacking aims to activate epigenetic modifications by awakening dormant genes to enhance the body’s resources.” While genetics studies the structure of DNA, epigenetics the way genes express themselves, i.e. how much they are turned on or off. “We’re talking about a set of strategies that aim to strengthen the body from a physical and mental point of view, first of all through nutrition, sleep quality, physical activity, cognitive stimulation”. One of the pillars of biohacking and the intermittent fasting, Piccini adds, which plans to concentrate the diet in a precise time span of the day (to be followed always under medical supervision). «But it is equally important to take care of sleep, we know very well that sleep debt accelerates aging and that 30-40 percent of people sleep too little. Just as it is essential to check thehydration. Physical training must also be intermittent, with recovery periods in place to allow the muscle layers to rebuild. And then, you have to keep learning something at any age, another pillar of biohacking: studying music or a new language, for example, to counteract cognitive degeneration”.

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THE QUALITY OF LIFE

Sandra Milo is one of the supporters of this well-being and longevity strategy. «I’m lucky, at 90 I’m in full health and I still have a great desire to enjoy life. I don’t know if it’s a matter of genetics, nor do I think there is a “magic formula” of longevity, but I have certainly always been careful to lead a healthy life. There is nothing more beautiful than reaching old age with a smile and in full autonomy », says the actress who baptized the first Biohacking Suite in Rome. “Our mission is not so much to lengthen life but to improve its quality by lowering the rate of morbidity,” explains Dr. Claudio Urbani, specialist in regenerative medicine, neuroscience and stress therapy, head of the longevity center Umb. «Biohacking aims to modify dormant functional responses from non-use, from muscular or cardiovascular function to flexibility. It is about regaining possession of the body and the mind-body axis, starting with stress management». Diagnosing your own state of “aging” involves a series of tests. «The measurement of oxidative stress which measures the quantity of free radicals and indicates any inflammatory states, plethysmography to evaluate the functionality of the microcirculation of the legs, impedancemetry to study body composition, fat and lean mass, nutritional status and hydration level. And only after the check is a tailor-made program created for each person. Among the suggested therapies, there is also that of the cold which stimulates the metabolism and reduces inflammation ».

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Popular nutritional strategies in biohacking include intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, and the Bulletproof Diet, all of which focus on metabolic optimization, inflammation reduction, and cellular repair, though their scientific validation varies significantly.

Intermittent fasting involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, with purported benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity, autophagy activation, and reduced inflammation, though its effectiveness for weight loss and general health remains inconsistent across studies.

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Content: Is fasting good for your health or dangerous?

#fasting #good #health #dangerous

On social networks, “therapeutic” fasting is on the rise. A juicy business which can, however, involve risks.

You may have heard, in your family or friends, of someone trying “intermittent fasting”. The principle is simple: by stopping eating, we would help the body to “purify” itself. But in reality, this very poorly regulated practice can quickly go off the rails, as proven by the death of a woman in Indre-et-Loir in 2021.

The naturopath who supervised this fasting course, a former salesman, was indicted on January 12, 2023. For several years, he has been selling these expensive services (more than 3,000 euros for a month) consisting of depriving oneself of food for a period of time. week or more. The man claims that fasting can work miracles: “A disease that cannot be cured by fasting cannot be cured by anything else“, it was written on his site.

These fasting cures are commonplace in France and the authorities are only beginning to be alerted. In 2021, the Interministerial Mission for Vigilance and the Fight against Sectarian Abuses (Miviludes), urged caution: “Whatever their name, they have in common that they are expensive and encourage the isolation of trainees, thus constituting a means for their promoters to establish real control over them.

In a report published in 2014, the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) also recalled that“no clinical data based on rigorous methodological trials can currently support the merits of this approach, which therefore remains essentially theoretical for the moment.”

Eight years later, it is clear that science has still not resolved the question. Which does not prevent the practice from having the wind in its sails, particularly among young people.

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Some internet stars have taken up the subject to fuel their careers, like comedian Swann Périssé (608,000 subscribers) who spent an entire week without eating. The video is presented as a promotional operation in partnership with Chemin des Possibles, a company organizing “fasting/detox” courses in France and Morocco.

Less strict but just as fashionable, intermittent fasting is also popular among “fitness” or “lifestyle” influencers. The objective: to eat in a shorter time slot during the day by extending the nighttime fast.

To this too, we attribute all kinds of benefits like the “weightloss“, the “purging the body“, the “increased insulin“, and “well-being“, and even “improved cognitive abilities“.

Some companies have also sensed the right opportunity. With one in two adults overweight or obese in France, weight loss is a growing market. Lithuanian company Kilo Health has launched its own paid mobile application, DoFasting, specializing in intermittent fasting.

Thanks to the partnership system, Kilo Health can count on influencers – mainly followed by a young audience – to promote its application.

On its site, DoFasting promises you a “ fast track to healthy weight loss“and swear that” intermittent fasting is a safe and effective way to get in shape and improve your overall health“.

In just a few clicks, it also guarantees miraculous results: a loss of ten kilos in two months for a man of 1m75 and 85kg! All that remains is to pay 66 euros for six months of subscription (or 33 euros for one month) to refine your silhouette. Safe ? Not so sure.

In just a few clicks, the application promises a weight loss of ten kilos in just two months thanks to intermittent fasting. • © Screenshot of the DoFasting application website

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Professor David Jacobi is a doctor and researcher at the Nantes Thorax Institute (Nantes University, Nantes University Hospital, Inserm, CNRS). He is one of the leading experts on the subject of intermittent fasting: ” There are claims regarding intermittent fasting that exceed the level of available evidence“.

On the question of the link between intermittent fasting and weight loss, science has in reality still not decided: “When we talk about human studies, there aren’t many and the level of evidence is low“, continues David Jacobi. To the extent that the burden of proof falls on the defenders of fasting, the arguments in their favor are therefore very thin.

When we talk about weight loss and weight management, it’s easy to grasp solutions that seem miraculous. It’s been around for a long time.”

David Jacobi, doctor and researcher at the Thorax Institute

Ces “evidence available“, the doctor presents some of them in a conference broadcast on YouTube. The expert cites two, as examples. The first, published in 2015, concludes that 8 people lost 3.5 kilos in sixteen weeks. men suffering from obesity. Another, more recent (2020) and on a larger number of patients, concludes the opposite: fasting did not allow weight loss.

In the majority of studies looking at weight loss, people did not lose significant weight. There were no additional benefits to dietary restriction.

David Jacobi, physician researcher at the Thorax Institute

Still, not everything has to be thrown away: “LThe general idea of intermittent fasting is to eat over a slightly more natural period, which corresponds more to our internal rhythms. It has a certain coherence“, recognizes David Jacobi.

This can be part of a balanced diet intervention, especially if your eating times are very disrupted.

David Jacobi, physician researcher at the Thorax Institute

Benefits of intermittent fasting on metabolism may therefore exist. But, again, without scientific certainty: “We have some studies, on a very limited sample of people, which show interesting effects“, continues the specialist.

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For example, a recent study, published in 2020, shows a drop in LDL-cholesterol (the “bad”), a drop in sugar levels or even an improvement in the quality of sleep in the patients studied.

Except that the study only concerns prediabetic adults in their sixties. From what general conclusions can we draw? “We must not attribute to studies effects that they have not demonstrated“, insists the doctor. Not everyone is a prediabetic adult in their 60s. So we cannot attribute this type of beneficial effect to everyone.

There remains one last unanswered question: how to obtain information to avoid erroneous or misleading advice? “Its pretty hard“, recognizes David Jacobi. “If you choose the studies whose results suit you, you will find some.”

However, the health benefits of fasting are, for the moment, purely theoretical: “The public health messages that can be established regarding certain health benefits of diet are based on multiple well-conducted studies: their method is correct and their results point in the same direction. That’s when we can say, with some confidence, that the intervention is good for our health.”

Or, “we are not there with fasting, even if the results obtained encourage continued research.” Among some of our neighbors, on the other hand, the practice of fasting is commonplace and can even be reimbursed by social security. This is the case for example in Germany where medical centers are specially dedicated to fasting.

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According to the studies, how does intermittent fasting help?

It reduces the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as metabolic disorders.

Clinical research suggests intermittent fasting may benefit specific populations, such as prediabetic adults, but its risks, including nutrient deficiencies and binge eating, highlight the need for medical supervision before adoption.

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Content: Tuesday 6 November 1445 AH - 14 May 2024 |
Programs
Watch our latest episodes online
Here are the benefits of intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting is increasingly becoming a dietary method for many people seeking to improve their health.
This dietary approach, which is based on eating at specific intervals and fasting for the rest of the time, is an effective way to achieve many health benefits, including protection from cancer, according to Everyday Health.
Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
1.
Losing weight
Contributes to weight loss for overweight or obese individuals.
Researchers looked at data from 27 studies and found that IF helped participants lose up to 13% of their weight.
2.
Low blood pressure
It may help lower high blood pressure in the short term.
A pilot study published in June 2018 in the Journal of Nutrition and Healthy Aging found that a 16: 8 ratio significantly lowered systolic blood pressure in the study ’ s 23 participants.
The systolic blood pressure is the highest number in the blood pressure reading and indicates the strength of the heart against the artery walls each time it beats.
3.
Reduce Inflammation
Animal studies suggest that both intermittent fasting and general calorie restriction can reduce inflammation levels, although clinical trials are few and far between.
4.
Lower Cholesterol
Various forms of intermittent fasting, including alternate day fasting and 5: 2, can help lower LDL (“bad ”) cholesterol, among other signs of heart health, such as blood pressure.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease or stroke, according to the CDC.
The researchers also noted that IF reduced the presence of triglycerides, which are fats in the blood that can lead to stroke, heart attack or heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
5.
Better outcomes for stroke survivors
Healthy cholesterol levels and low blood pressure play a key role in helping reduce the risk of stroke.
But that's not the only potential benefit associated with stroke from intermittent fasting.
6.
Enhance brain function
Intermittent fasting improves sharpness of mind and concentration.
There is some early research to support this idea: A study published in November 2021 in Molecular Psychiatry found that fasting every day may boost memory.
7.
Protection from cancer
A fasting diet may reduce the risk of cancer by slowing the ability of cancer cells to adapt and spread and improving the effects of cancer treatment, people undergoing cancer treatment before making changes to their diet.
Source:
• Agencies

According to the studies, how does intermittent fasting help?

It reduces the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as metabolic disorders.

What are the risks and dangers of diets?

The ketogenic diet, characterized by high fat and low carbohydrate intake, has demonstrated benefits like weight loss and improved management of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and epilepsy, though its long-term effects require further study.

Title:

Content:   • In 2020, 2.3 million women globally received a breast cancer diagnosis.
  • Previous studies have shown that diet plays a role in breast cancer risk.
  • A new review from the University of Catania in Italy suggests that following a keto diet may have therapeutic benefits for people with breast cancer.

In 2020, about 2.3 million women around the world received a breast cancer diagnosis.

There are certain known risk factors for this type of cancer, including age, sex, and family history. Previous studies also link certain lifestyle practices, such as an unhealthy diet, to a potentially increased risk for breast cancer.

Conversely, other studies show that following healthy dietary patterns can help reduce breast cancer recurrence and all-cause mortality in breast cancer survivors.

Now, a review recently published in the journal Nutrients by researchers from the University of Catania in Italy suggests that following a keto diet may have therapeutic benefits for people with breast cancer.

Over the years, scientists have examined the different ways diet can affect breast cancer.

Previous research shows that unhealthy dietary practices may increase breast cancer risk. For example, a study published in September 2023 found a link between ultra-processed food consumption and increased breast cancer risk.

Increased sugar intake has also been associated with a higher risk for breast cancer, including drinking sugar-sweetened sodas.

Conversely, past studies also report that good nutritional habits may positively affect breast cancer prevention and treatment.

A study published in May 2021 found that eating more fruits, vegetables, cheese, and soy products. In addition, less red and processed meat was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.

Research published in April 2023 reported that following the Mediterranean diet had a potentially protective effect against breast cancer.

Furthermore, a study published in November 2021 reported that the type of food a person with breast cancer consumes may be effective at easing cancer treatment-related toxicities and improving prognosis.

People following a ketogenic — or “keto” — diet obtain most of their daily calorie intake from protein and healthy fats and less from carbohydrates.

In the standard keto diet, a person would only obtain between 5–10% of their daily calories from carbohydrates.

Placing less focus on carbohydrates causes the body to burn fat for energy instead, thus entering a metabolic state called ketosis.

Previous research shows some potential benefits to following a keto diet, including promoting weight loss, suppressing appetite, and keeping the heart healthy.

Additionally, the keto diet has been shown to assist in the management of certain conditions such as type 2 diabetes, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and cancer.

However, the keto diet also has some potential downsides. Many people starting the keto diet develop a “keto flu” as their body adjusts from burning carbs to fat.

The keto diet can also cause long-term side effects, such as kidney stones, vitamin deficiency, liver disease, and hypoproteinemia, where a person’s levels of protein in the blood are too low.

The keto diet is also not recommended for people with any conditions affecting their gallbladder, pancreas, liver, or thyroid, as well as pregnant people and people with eating disorders.

For the current review, researchers assessed the evidence so far about the potential link between the keto diet and breast cancer. They did this by performing a comprehensive literature search of preclinical and clinical studies examining this link.

After analyzing the data, the scientists reported that existing studies provide a diverse range of findings, with some suggesting that a keto diet may help with inhibiting tumor growth and improving treatment response in breast cancer.

However, the researchers cautioned that clinical trials are still needed in order to prove these possible positive effects, as the results are currently inconsistent, with limited human trial data.

Additionally, the scientists said there are also concerns regarding the safety and long-term effects of sustained ketosis in cancer patients.

While some of this study’s findings may be positive, experts caution that the keto diet cannot prevent or treat breast cancer.

“I would say that research is very preliminary at this point and I don’t recommend anyone diagnosed with cancer or wanting to prevent breast cancer to adopt a specific diet,” Dr. Parvin Peddi, a board-certified medical oncologist and director of Breast Medical Oncology for the Margie Petersen Breast Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, told Medical News Today.

“What is refreshing is that there are now multiple ongoing clinical trials that are carefully randomizing cancer patients to ketogenic [versus a] normal healthy diet, and hopefully they will provide answers as to the benefit and if so, degree of, this diet in conjunction with therapy for breast cancer,” she added. “We need clinical trials ongoing at this time to complete and be published before recommending this to patients.”

It is also important to note that the keto diet is not for everyone, and if going on a restricted diet burdens a person with breast cancer and adds stress resulting in a decline in quality of life, then this type of diet needs to be reevaluated, explained Anabelle Ahdoot, clinical nutrition manager and oncology nutrition specialist at Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA.

“Major weight loss and malnutrition must be avoided during cancer treatment and if putting limitations on what the patient can and can’t eat results in that, then the harm may outweigh the potential benefit,” she advised.

“Additionally, since like any extreme diet which severely limits or excludes certain foods, the keto diet may in turn lead to some other deficiencies and shortcomings in the long run leading to a proinflammatory environment which we were trying to avoid in the first place.”

– Anabelle Adhoot

Ahdoot also told MNT that any type of diet needs to be evaluated “in conjunction with” the existing medical modalities and treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and other targeted therapies, under the supervision of a medical professional.

“When facing cancer, the main priority and focus must be on preserving the patient’s muscle mass, strength, and overall well-being while undergoing medical treatment,” she explained. “Patients are advised to consult their health care professionals before taking any extreme measures with anything, including their diet.”

Despite its potential advantages, the ketogenic diet poses risks such as kidney stones, liver disease, and nutrient deficiencies, emphasizing the importance of careful planning and periodic breaks under professional guidance.

Title:

Content: Long-term keto diet may cause aging of cells
A recent American study revealed that following the keto diet continuously and without taking breaks, may accelerate the aging of cells.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, was conducted on mice and published in May in Science Advances and reported by EurekAlert.
The study showed that adhering to the keto diet for a long time may lead to the aging of cells in normal tissues, and may adversely affect the functions of the heart and kidneys in particular.
However, following this diet intermittently, with periods of rest, did not produce any infections associated with cell aging as opposed to continuing it.
These findings point to important clinical effects, confirming the positive benefits of the keto diet, but should be enhanced by including planned breaks for maximum benefit.
Lead author of the study, David Gaius, assistant dean of research and professor of radiation oncology at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, said: “Let ’ s keep in mind that 13 million Americans use the keto diet, and we say you need to take breaks from this diet or there could be long-term consequences. ”
The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet, which stimulates the body to produce ketones, chemicals produced by the liver when fat is broken down, which are later used as an alternative source of energy.
Although this diet is beneficial in some health conditions and is very popular for weight loss, several infections have been reported.
“Since cellular aging is a major cause of organ disease, the results of this study have important clinical implications for understanding ketogenic diet use, as with other diets, you need to take a break from keto. ”
Other Pros and Cons of the Keto Diet Dietary
It is always advisable to discuss any diet with a dietitian or nutritionist because there may be many precautions necessary to follow a diet, for example, there are people who should not follow the keto diet completely, according to the Mayo Clinic, such as people with eating disorders, pancreatic diseases, liver diseases, kidney diseases, thyroid problems, gallbladder problems, or those who have had their gallbladder removed. They have it, and anyone suffering from fat malabsorption disorder.
Some preliminary studies point to a potential short-term benefit for individuals with neurological disorders, overweight, obesity, metabolic disorders, and diabetes, however, more research is needed before a general recommendation is made.
Here are some general pros and cons of following the keto diet:
Pros
• The possibility of losing weight in the short term.
• Increased satiety.
• Reduce hunger between meals.
The nature of the keto diet usually encourages eating more home-cooked meals
Cons
Rapid weight loss at the beginning of a keto diet may come from “water loss ” and this is not a real indicator of weight loss.
• “Keto flu ” is a condition in which a person experiences flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, or other flu-like symptoms during the body ’ s transition to a ketogenic state.
• Increased risk of kidney stones, liver disease and nutrient deficiencies.
• Lack of fiber can lead to constipation.
There are concerns about the long-term effects of high-fat diets on cardiovascular health.
It is difficult to maintain a strict diet, which can often lead to weight regain.
Source: Websites

What are the risks and dangers of diets?

The Bulletproof Diet, created by entrepreneur Dave Asprey, combines high-fat, low-carb principles with intermittent fasting and promotes foods like grass-fed butter and MCT oil, often consumed in the form of Bulletproof Coffee.

Title:

Content: Bulletproof coffee meets the needs of urban people to lose weight and sells well last year.
Commercial 13: 14 2021 / 10 / 02
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KOLs (Key Opinion Leader) have changed their bulletproof coffee formula to cater to the needs of vegetarians.
Taiwan's famous singer Jay Chou's concept stock "Star Legend" applied for listing in Hong Kong.
The company focuses on social e-commerce such as WeChat, selling health management products and skin care products, and its main revenue in the past three years is “Mokang Bulletproof Coffee ”.
In its official website, it can be seen that Mokang Bulletproof Coffee claims to be a healthy fat reducing drink, including New Zealand grass-fed butter, coconut oil and so on.
In fact, many merchants on the market sell Bulletproof Coffee. What is Bulletproof Coffee? According to comprehensive media reports, Bulletproof Coffee originated from the American entrepreneur Dave Asprey when he was traveling in Tibet, he felt dizzy and local people gave him a cup of butter tea, which made him immediately not dizzy and feel warm.
After his return to the United States, he improved on food restrictions and changed from tea to coffee to develop bulletproof coffee.
[National Day consumption] 11 holidays and electronic consumption vouchers to Wang Huang Jiahe: catering business is expected to reach more than 90% in 2018
Bulletproof coffee is popular because it meets the needs of urban people to lose weight. Asprey lost more than 100 pounds after drinking it, and it can make him more focused, so he wanted to introduce it to more people and publicize his recipes online and around the world.
Finally, it planned to sell, and successfully attracted investors to invest US $9 million (about HK $70.06 million) to launch the brand “Bulletproof ” and start the business.
It is reported that as of last year, the revenue exceeded US $100 million (about HK $780 million).
Electronic Vouchers and Restriction Orders Relaxed to Increase Public Interest in Restaurant Reservations by 50% Year-over-Year
With the popularity of bulletproof coffee, various brands have different practices and also have flushes.
It can be brewed directly.
Other recipes for cooking include coffee, coconut oil or grass-fed butter, and MCT oil (Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT)).
There is a vegan KOL (Key Opinion Leader) “Afu ABC ”, which makes bulletproof coffee with coconut oil, MCT oil and coffee to meet the needs of vegetarians.
In addition to Bulletproof, other brands such as California Gold Nutrition also sell MCT oil, which is extracted from pure medium-chain triglycerides of coconut oil.
Customers can choose to make bulletproof coffee.
【 National Day consumption 】 Fulin Hotel 11 National Day lunch and dinner market business increased by 10% year-on-year
Bulletproof coffee claims to be healthy.
According to the Consumer Council ’ s research, bullet-proof coffee is similar to the raw barrel diet.
This diet has traditionally been used to relieve epilepsy in children. More recently, it has also been used to reduce weight and improve metabolic syndrome caused by obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
However, there is also a risk of malnutrition due to insufficient micronutrients in extreme diets. Other side effects such as fatigue, low blood sugar, insomnia, long-term consumption and even menopause in women.
Editor-in-Chief: Ma Yi-wen
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While proponents claim the Bulletproof Diet enhances mental focus and energy levels, experts caution that extreme diets like this may lead to nutrient deficiencies and health risks, particularly for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Title:

Content: Medical doctor I don 't want to be sick anymore _ Ketogenic weight loss 3 types of people should not be five fingers of hair peach soup detoxification to water to strengthen the spleen
Author: Yin Jiawei
Published: Updated:
Weight loss is not only a love of beauty, obesity or obesity can increase the risk of three high (high blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipids), and may even cause cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. There are many ways to lose weight, among which the ketogenic diet is relatively controversial.
The TVB programme "Medicine, I Don't Want to Get Sick Again" explores the problem of obesity. According to the Department of Health, obese people account for nearly 30% of the total population in Hong Kong.
People may think that eating immediately after exercise will be easier to lose weight and easier to consume calories, but family doctor Zheng Chuhao said that eating after exercise will not affect the effect of weight loss, because when doing exercise, the body consumes energy and water.
For food after exercise, you can choose high-fiber boiled sweet potato, boiled chicken breast, high-fiber green leafy vegetables, avocado and sugar-free soy syrup.
As for energy drinks are high-sugar drinks and are not conducive to weight loss, water is generally the best drink.
For food after exercise, you can choose high-fiber boiled sweet potato, boiled chicken breast and sugar-free soy sauce. (Screenshot of “Doctor, I don ’ t want to get sick anymore ”)
Keto Diet is a weight loss method that is often heard in recent years. The principle that is easier to understand is that the body reduces its intake of sugar and carbohydrates, thereby reducing the use of glucose metabolism to supply energy, and then consuming fat to supply, during which the effect of fat loss is achieved, so that the body gradually becomes thinner.
Ketogenic diet is a high-fat and low-carbon diet, mainly eating fatty foods accounts for about 70-80%, about 20% is protein food, carbohydrates to eat at least 5%.
Bullet Coffee, which emerged from the ketogenic diet, mixed coconut oil and butter into black coffee, because the high fat content can inhibit appetite and produce a stronger feeling of fullness, which is said to help lose weight. Dr. Cheng said that the ketogenic diet is a more extreme weight loss method. Patients with heart disease, stroke and three highs should be avoided.
If you have any questions, please contact your family doctor.
Peach helps to strengthen the spleen and replenish the lungs. (Screenshot of “Doctor, I don ’ t want to get sick anymore ”)
We often get weight loss information from Western doctors or dietitians. In traditional Chinese medicine, there are some solutions to treat obesity. The soup is mainly to nourish the stomach, strengthen the spleen, strengthen the spleen, and dehumidify. It can be taken 2-3 times a week, not suitable for pregnant women.
In modern medicine, this soup is rich in vitamins B and E, which help cells fight oxygenation and prevent beriberi.
Invigorating spleen and moisturizing beauty soup helps to invigorate spleen and moisturize, replenish lung energy and detoxify skin. (Screenshot of “Doctor, I don ’ t want to get sick anymore ”)
【 Spleen Invigorating and Moisturizing Beauty Soup 】
Material ︰
Five Fingers Peach 2.5tael
Huaishan 1.5 tael
Sun Moon Fish 1 tael
Coix seed 1.5 tael
3 slices of ginger
Red Dates 7-8 pcs
Chen Pei 1 pc
Pig Tendon 8 tael
Practice: Wash all the ingredients, put in boiling water, and slow to boil for about 2.5 hours.
【 Extended reading 】 Weight loss ｜ Bulletproof coffee into a popular slimming gift nutritionist: ignoring this key will accelerate weight loss
What foods do you need to abstain from during a ketogenic diet and what foods can you eat more?
Click on the big picture to understand! ▼ ▼ ▼
+ 12

What are the risks and dangers of diets?

Physical activity is another cornerstone of biohacking, with practices like high-intensity workouts and ice baths aimed at stimulating hormetic stress responses to improve resilience and reduce inflammation.

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Biohacking & Toxic Masculinity: How Women Dismantled The Boys Club

Author: Medical reviewer:
Beauty & Health Editor
By Jamie Schneider
Beauty & Health Editor
Jamie Schneider is the Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in Coveteur, The Chill Times, and Wyld Skincare.
Medical review by
Bindiya Gandhi, M.D.
Physician
Dr. Bindiya Gandhi is an American Board Family Medicine–certified physician who completed her family medicine training at Georgia Regents University/Medical College of Georgia.
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Take a quick search for “biohacker” on TikTok (a tag with over 137 million views), and you’ll discover a slew of men discussing their muscle gains, testosterone levels, and cold plunge routines. You’ll see some women on the page, but the space is undoubtedly dominated by male energy. And think of the outspoken biohackers you may listen to on podcasts—chances are most of them are men, too.

This gendered approach to biohacking, while pervasive, is simply misguided. But now, women are asserting their authority in health optimization, and we expect their emphasis to soar in the year ahead.

Meet the experts

Molly Maloof. M.D.

Molly Maloof. M.D. provides health optimization and personalized medicine to high-achieving entrepreneurs, investors, and technology executives. Since 2012, she has worked as an advisor or consultant to more than 50 companies in the digital health, consumer health, and biotechnology industries. Her company, Adamo Bioscience, is working on sexual health optimization.

Gabrielle Lyon, D.O.

Gabrielle Lyon, D.O. is a board-certified family physician leading a disruption in modern medicine that focuses on the largest organ in the body: skeletal muscle. With a background that includes a combined research and clinical fellowship in geriatrics and nutritional sciences at Washington University and undergraduate training in nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois, she is a subject-matter expert on protein for health, performance, aging, and disease prevention.

Stacy Salvi

Stacy Salvi is the vice president of product and strategy at the medical device company Movano Health—the creator of the Evie Ring, the first medical-grade health wearable designed for women.

Mona Vand, PharmD

Mona Vand, PharmD studied pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences before developing her platform that shares holistic wellness advice.

Why biohacking isn’t just for “bros”

“Women are the original biohackers,” declares family physician, Molly Maloof, M.D. “Our hormones change throughout our lives, and this requires us to adapt accordingly.” Our biology means that women often need to constantly edit their health routines and experiment with lifestyle habits as time goes on. Isn’t that the very definition of biohacking?

Let's back up: Here at mindbodygreen, we think of “biohacking” as the practice of making lifestyle tweaks to optimize health and promote longevity. Not shortcuts—contrary to popular belief—but low-lift, everyday habits that complement and enhance an existing well-being routine. Think: optimizing your exercise regimen using tools and techniques (the “biohacks”) to enhance muscle growth. It’s essentially all about advancing health with “do it yourself” biology—a topic that can pique anyone’s interest, regardless of gender.

“[Women] have a most complex physiological lifecycle that requires us to track and manage fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, sexuality, perimenopause, and menopause. So we should be looking at biohacking as a path to even greater health and owning the opportunity to improve our lives,” says Maloof.

Yet many women feel intimidated to enter the biohacking scene as it exists today, turned off by the male-dominated energy in the room.

Women are the original biohackers

Molly Maloof, M.D

“Biohacking has always grabbed my attention, and I want to learn, but it sometimes makes me really stressed out, because I go into this state of perfectionism where I have to do all the things,” says doctor of pharmacy and wellness practitioner Mona Vand, PharmD. “The few biohackers that I followed were all males… it just doesn't really resonate with my energy.”

This male energy is not only frustrating but can potentially harm women’s health in the long run. After all, building muscle, prioritizing protein, and keeping an eye on various health metrics are crucial for longevity—in some cases, these proactive measures can save lives. When women don’t get involved, it can totally impact their well-being.

“Physical strength is nonnegotiable,” says functional medicine doctor Gabrielle Lyon, D.O. “I've been a physician since 2006, and I've never heard someone say, ‘I regret being physically strong.’” And the muscle-building space impacts more than just physiological changes, she says. “You optimize fertility, you make healthier babies, you help the epigenetics of your child,” Lyon adds. “You age better, your skin is better, you're less likely to fall and break a hip… There's nothing that doesn't get better the stronger you are.”

So let’s be clear: Dismantling the biohacking boy’s club is not just about helping women feel included; there are real health implications at stake here.

Why the biohacker space actually really needs a dose of feminine energy

I’d be remiss not to mention how biohacking culture can easily become synonymous with hustle culture (some experts don’t even like to use the term, as it implies you can achieve optimal health with quick fixes). But as more women enter the biohacking space, we expect it to become more intuitive and less about hitting every single benchmark. From there, we predict women will focus more on sustainable changes long-term instead of a gazillion quick hacks.

“I used to think it was a flex to do a million things at the same time and habit stack,” Vand recounts. “I now carve out time for doing things that have no efficiency to them, that are strictly for joy or rest and relaxation, versus benefiting my longevity or health. It can be a little bit obsessive when you get into this thought pattern, and I just don't resonate with it.”

This doesn’t mean biohacking will become “softer” as it embraces feminine energy. But there’s an opportunity here for women to introduce some much-needed flexibility into a space that has long felt needlessly rigid.

How the biohacker game is changing — and where it’s headed next

Thanks to a growing awareness that healthcare protocols should not be gendered, more women are now starting to pay attention to markers of performance like lean muscle, hormetic stressors, VO2 max, HRV, zone 2 training, etc. “Cold plunging, saunas, and harder, more physical activities are not just for the boys anymore,” adds Lyon—and we expect an even bigger shift to come in 2024.

“I think it’s super exciting to see biohacking become more mainstream and more women joining the conversation,” adds Maloof. She praises apps like Wild.AI, for women who aim to make lifestyle adjustments based on their menstrual cycle, and Zero, for women who want to dabble in time-restricted eating, both of which have helped to herald the shift.

Other existing health optimization companies are now inviting women into the conversation by introducing specific features informed by their unique physiology. WHOOP, for example, is currently working on upgrades to their popular health-tracking band: “We did a study recently where we learned a lot about how a woman's body changes during pregnancy and how her heart rate variability (HRV) will evolve. It'll decrease, and then about seven weeks before she gives birth, it will increase sharply,” explains Will Ahmed, WHOOP founder and CEO, on the mindbodygreen podcast

If a woman didn’t know that this was supposed to happen, she might look at this stark increase with a critical (or anxious) eye. “We've been able to take population-level data on pregnant women and now have a feature in the app, where a woman can see how her body is evolving alongside what other pregnant women are experiencing,” he adds.

Similarly, creatine supplements—from the ingredients to the packaging—are no longer marketed toward dudes looking to bulk up, and we are certainly here for it. After all, muscle mass is a predictor of longevity and healthspan, so supplements that promote it can help all of us “hack” our health in a big way.

And as Lyon notes, women have lower endogenous creatine stores compared to men (meaning, they have less available). And the amino acid has been associated with significantly increased muscle mass1 in both men and women, without increasing the risk of adverse outcomes2, like weight gain. “Most of the women in my practice will go on creatine, and they find anecdotally that it really improves both anaerobic and aerobic exercise performance,” Lyon shares.

Not to mention the supplement’s brain health perks: Taking creatine has been shown to benefit both working memory and processing speed3 as well as cognitive longevity4. “It is above and beyond simply sport performance,” adds Lyon, who has certainly seen an uptick in women curious about creatine.

As women feel intimidated (or even restricted) by biohacking spaces, some experts have taken it upon themselves to create new ones that center the feminine. For example, neuropsychophysiologist Kayla Osterhoff, MPH, offers a Women's Biohacking Mini Course, consisting of lifestyle routines and tips aligned with female physiology.

Osterhoff also recently presented at the 2023 Dragonfly Live Conference—among other female biohackers—to discuss the latest advancements in women's well-being and the “health revolution” that’s sweeping the mainstream. This conference aims to gather the “who's-who” in the health space to discuss cutting-edge strategies and innovations that optimize well-being—by having women biohackers at the forefront of the conversation, we can expect them to hit the main stage in a broader sense.

Or take the brand new Evie Ring, the first medical-grade health wearable designed for women, created by medical device company Movano Health. The technology ties hormonal information to a woman’s sleep, activity, and heart health data (among other metrics).

For instance, “If we notice a more restless night of sleep in the luteal phase, we'll point it out and also give some strategies for how somebody may attack their day, despite having not gotten as good of a night of sleep,” says Stacy Salvi, vice president of product and strategy at Movano Health. Similarly, “We know that there are cardiovascular implications when your estrogen drops, so they would want to keep a better look on the function of their heart,” she adds. “This would be something that they would be able to do from our app.”

Even the design itself was made with women in mind: The ring features an open band meant to accommodate how women’s fingers change in size throughout the day, so it can stay comfortable.

To avoid needless stress, Evie also limits the amount of goals you can set on the app. “You can only set three at a time, because we do not want to overwhelm [users] with a bunch of different things,” says Salvi. “I mean, I'm an overachiever. I probably would set every single goal and then fail at them.” And heaven knows we don’t need yet another way for busy, overwhelmed women to feel like they’re failing in a society with unsurmountable standards.

Forecasting the future

A woman walks up to the weight rack in 2024. She sees the usual suspects—bros pounding protein shakes and grunting through their bicep curls—but now she also sees a fair amount of women on the scene. They’ve got creatine supplements! Fitness trackers! Kettlebells! (And no, they aren’t pink.)

Granted, we still have a ways to go before women feel totally embraced by the biohacking space (we’d first have to close the centuries-long gender gap in science and medicine), but it’s clear that the arena is becoming way less of a boy’s club. “And the world is ready, my friend,” says Lyon. “The world is absolutely ready for this.”

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Ice baths are believed to alleviate muscle soreness and inflammation by narrowing blood vessels and lowering core body temperature, though long-term use may impair muscle strength and growth.

Title:

Content: Do Ice Baths Work for Recovery?

You’ve probably seen athletes or other fitness trendsetters on social media taking an ice bath or tried one yourself to reap the benefits of the potential health benefits, including faster recovery, increased metabolism and reduced stress.

“People want to try (an ice bath) usually for three reasons: the physical benefits, the mental benefits or because it’s trendy and they want to know what the hype is about,” says Alex Corbett, a physical therapist with BreakThrough Physical Therapy, with locations throughout North Carolina.

But is that bone-chilling dip worth the purported benefits?

What Is an Ice Bath?

An ice bath is a planned exposure to cold water. It can be water made cold by ice, or it can be water in lakes or oceans that’s seasonally cold. In the latter example, it may be called a cold plunge. Some people even partake in charity cold plunges or ring in the new year with an icy cold shock.

An ice bath temperature is typically below 60 degrees Fahrenheit and often ranges from 50 to 59 degrees. Sometimes, people may want their ice bath temperature to be even lower.

Ice baths are different from cryotherapy, which involve exposure to very cold air (typically -220 to -240 degrees). However, cryotherapy doesn’t involve any submersion in water.

[READ: Tips to Spice Up Your Fitness Routine.]

Ice Bath Benefits

Fans of ice baths claim that they have several potential benefits, including:

— Quicker recovery after intense exercise and reduced muscle soreness.

Fat burning by stimulating the body’s production of brown fat

— Improved circulation

— Improved mood, focus, and stress relief

— Reduced inflammation and pain

A 2023 analysis of 20 studies published in Frontiers of Physiology concluded that cold water immersion performed immediately after exercise could help lower muscle soreness and speed up fatigue recovery. However, despite their initial benefits for muscle recovery, some research has found that ice baths can actually reduce muscle strength and growth over time, Corbett says.

While an ice bath can increase your metabolism and help with fat burning, you’re not likely to see overnight benefits with just one ice bath session. Studies have noted that while researchers have seen decreases in body fat in people who take cold plunges, much more research is needed to recommend ice baths for weight loss.

Beyond physical health benefits, ice baths can also give your mental wellness a boost.

“Ice baths make people feel refreshed and invigorated, leading to a sense of overall well-being,” says Dr. Yoshua Quinones, a board-certified internist with the Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York and a contributor to the website Lab Finder.

[The Afterburn Effect: Tips, Workouts and Recovery]

Dangers of Ice Baths

Before you take the plunge, it’s important to first consider some of the potential dangers of ice baths.

These include:

Frostbite. This is more of a risk if you stay in an ice bath for too long.

Hypothermia. This occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can create heat and can cause confusion, shivering and — in severe cases — organ failure.

Cold shock. Sudden immersion in cold water can cause increased blood pressure, heart rate and breathing, which increases the risk of drowning. This is due to blood vessels contracting when your body is exposed to cold. People who have cardiovascular issues are at higher risk for experiencing this type of response to cold.

Because of the potential dangers of hypothermia or cold shock, make sure there’s someone else keeping an eye on you while you plunge into the cold, no matter how experienced you are with cold temperatures.

[Read: Best Full-Body Workout.]

Who Shouldn’t Take an Ice Bath

For most healthy people, it’s OK to try an ice bath. However, you’ll want to avoid an ice bath or check first with a health care provider if you have:

An open wound or infection. An ice bath could slow healing.

Cardiovascular disease. Immersing yourself in cold water will likely raise your blood pressure and heart rate.

Peripheral neuropathy. A type of nerve damage that may cause tingling and numbness, this condition is often associated with diabetes.

Raynaud’s disease. An ice bath could make your condition worse.

Respiratory issues. Cold water immersion may cause breathing problems.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure. Increased blood pressure can occur during an ice bath.

You should also check with a healthcare provider or avoid ice baths if you are pregnant or hypersensitive to cold.

Ice Bath Tips

If you’re ready to take the plunge with an ice bath, keep these tips in mind:

— Plan to have someone with you or someone nearby who can help in case you need help during the ice bath.

— Start gradually, as you would with an exercise routine. Don’t go too cold or for too long during your first time.

— Aim for water that’s uncomfortably cold but still feels safe.

— Less is more. A few minutes is good, but more than 30 minutes is too long.

— Listen to your body. Exit if you feel dizzy or uncomfortable.

— Plan to warm yourself up gradually after exiting an ice bath.

— Don’t take any medication that might impair you before an ice bath.

— Stay hydrated after an ice bath.

Additionally, consider when is the best time to do an ice bath and how often you’ll incorporate it into your routine.

“If you’re using it for muscle soreness, then doing an ice bath after exercise is the optimal timing. Ten minutes post-exercise may help with delayed onset muscle soreness,” says Dr. Justin Mullner, a primary care sports medicine physician for adults and children with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute in Orlando, Florida.

For general mental health benefits, like mood and focus, you can do an ice bath three to four minutes at a time, a couple of times a week for its benefits, he adds.

Ice Bath Alternatives

If you want the benefits of an ice bath but can’t fathom immersing yourself in that frigid water, you still may be able to obtain some of the same benefits in other ways:

— For overall well-being, try activities like listening to music, spending time with a pet or meditating.

— For active recovery after intense exercise, try low-key, easy activities — like slow pedaling on a bike — and making sure to cool down after every workout.

— Consider using a foam roller to help with muscle soreness.

— Use ice packs when needed to target specific areas of the body that need recovery after exercise.

More from U.S. News

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How to Lose Weight: the Best Foods for Weight Loss

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Scientific studies suggest cold exposure activates the sympathetic nervous system, potentially boosting circulation, immune function, and mental clarity, but further research is needed to establish safe protocols.

Title:

Content: It really works.
Scientists have confirmed the popular myth about the benefits of a cold shower
Researchers believe that such water treatments not only strengthen the immune system, but can even improve brain function.
Scientists are gaining more and more evidence that a cold shower has a positive effect on health.
This is reported by Science Alert.
Cold shower for medical purposes first began to be used in the early 19th century.
Then doctors used it in psychiatric hospitals to “cool the hot inflamed brain. ”
As early as the mid-19th century, Victorians realized that warm showers could also be used for personal hygiene.
Thus, the shower became part of the daily ritual of self-care.
But the practice of pouring cold water anywhere has not disappeared, and it seems that recently its popularity is only growing.
Scientists from the Netherlands conducted a large study in which participants took a daily cold shower for a month.
The group of more than 3,000 people was divided into four subgroups.
In the first group, people took a cold shower for 30 seconds, in the second - 60 seconds, and in the third - 90 seconds.
The fourth group was a control group, in which the participants enjoyed the usual warm shower every morning.
After three months of observations, scientists found that people who took a cold shower, the number of sick leave decreased by 29%.
Interestingly, the duration of cold water procedures did not affect the health of people.
Scientists do not yet know how this mechanism works, but some studies show that cold showers have something to do with boosting the immune system.
A study by Czech scientists showed that young people immersed in cold water three times a week for six weeks strengthened their immune system.
Of course, more research is needed for more specific findings, experts say.
It is known that cold water activates the sympathetic nervous system, the one that is responsible for the “fight or flight ” reaction (the body ’ s reaction to a dangerous, stressful event).
When this condition is activated during a cold shower, the level of the hormone norepinephrine increases in the body.
It is he who causes a rapid heartbeat and increases blood pressure.
There is also evidence that bathing in cold water improves blood circulation.
When people immerse themselves in cold water, blood flow to the skin decreases.
After that, the body should warm up and the flow of blood to the surface of the skin increases dramatically.
Scientists who studied the benefits of a cold shower after training found that after three weeks of such procedures, blood flow to the muscle improved.
There is also evidence that a cold shower helps people lose weight.
The study showed that immersion in water at a temperature of 14 ° C increases metabolism.
In addition to the physical benefits, a cold shower can also be beneficial in a psychological sense.
Immersion in cold water increases mental activity due to the stimulation of the same fight-or-flight response.
Scientists have found that in older people, washing with cold water improved brain function.
But before jumping into cold water, it is worth remembering that such stressful procedures do not work for everyone.
Because the sudden flow of cold water is so shocking to the body, it can be dangerous for people with heart disease and can cause a heart attack or heart rhythm disturbance.

What are the health benefits of the practice of bathing in cold water?

It may improve brain function.
It may strengthen the immune system.

Extreme physical exercise, while popular among biohackers, can lead to overtraining syndrome, characterized by persistent fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and increased injury risk, contrasting with the balanced benefits of moderate exercise.

Title:

Content: Create

Striking a Balance: Exploring the Potential Pitfalls of Excessive Exercise

Do you know the cons of excessive exercise? Exercise is often hailed as the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, offering numerous physical and mental benefits. However, as with any good thing, there can be too much of it.

While regular physical activity is vital for overall well-being, pushing the limits and engaging in excessive exercise can have negative effects on the body and mind. This article delves into the potential pitfalls of working out excessively, shedding light on the importance of balance and moderation in our fitness routines.

6 Pitfalls of Excessive Exercise

1. The Allure of Extreme Fitness

In today's fitness culture, there is a growing fascination with extreme workouts and pushing one's limits to the edge. The allure of intense physical challenges and the desire to achieve remarkable results can tempt individuals into a mindset that more is always better. However, it is essential to recognize that excessive exercise can lead to adverse consequences that outweigh the potential benefits.

2. The Physical Toll of Overtraining

Excessive exercise can take a toll on the body, leading to a phenomenon known as overtraining. Overtraining occurs when the intensity, duration, or frequency of workouts exceeds the body's capacity for recovery. This can result in a range of physical symptoms, including persistent fatigue, a weakened immune system, an increased risk of injuries, hormonal imbalances, and disrupted sleep patterns.

3. The Mental and Emotional Impact

While exercise is renowned for its positive impact on mental health, excessive workouts can have the opposite effect. Intense exercise regimens can contribute to elevated stress levels, anxiety, and mood disturbances. The constant pressure to achieve unrealistic goals and the fear of losing progress can create a cycle of mental strain and negative self-perception.

4. Strained Relationships and Social Isolation

Engaging in excessive exercise can strain relationships and lead to social isolation. The excessive time and energy devoted to workouts may result in neglecting personal connections, leaving individuals feeling isolated and disconnected from loved ones. The relentless pursuit of extreme fitness goals can also impact one's ability to participate in social activities, further exacerbating feelings of isolation.

5. Adherence Challenges and Burnout

Maintaining a consistent workout routine is crucial for long-term fitness and well-being. However, excessive exercise can lead to burnout and decreased adherence. Pushing the body to its limits without proper rest and recovery can drain motivation, making it increasingly difficult to sustain a healthy exercise routine over time.

6. Imbalanced Priorities and Obsession

Excessive exercise can lead to an imbalance in priorities, with fitness consuming an excessive amount of time, energy, and mental focus. When exercise takes precedence over other important aspects of life, such as career, relationships, and self-care, it can result in an unhealthy obsession that hinders overall well-being and fulfillment.

The Importance of Listening to the Body and Striking a Balance for Optimal Health

Maintaining a balanced approach to exercise requires attentiveness to the body's signals and limitations. It is crucial to recognize the signs of overtraining, such as persistent fatigue, decreased performance, and frequent injuries. Listening to the body's need for rest and recovery is key to avoiding the negative effects of excessive exercise.

Achieving optimal health and fitness requires striking a balance between challenging workouts and adequate rest and recovery. Building a well-rounded exercise routine that includes a variety of activities, proper rest days, and attentive self-care is essential. By embracing moderation and listening to the body's needs, individuals can reap the long-term benefits of exercise without falling into the pitfalls of excessive training.

While exercise is undoubtedly beneficial for physical and mental health, it is crucial to approach it with balance and moderation. Excessive exercise can lead to a range of negative effects, including physical strain, mental exhaustion, strained relationships, and decreased adherence.

By recognizing the potential pitfalls of overtraining and embracing a balanced approach to fitness, individuals can safeguard their well-being, maximize their long-term progress, and cultivate a sustainable and fulfilling exercise routine.

Edited by Babylona Bora

Excessive exercise may also result in cardiovascular stress, arrhythmias, and myocardial remodeling, underscoring the importance of balancing intensity and recovery for optimal health outcomes.

Title:

Content: How can excessive workout and strenuous exercise impact your heart health?

WION Web Team
New Delhi, IndiaWritten By: Kirtika KatiraUpdated: Feb 16, 2024, 08:43 AM IST
Photograph:(Others)

Story highlights

Excessive exercise can harm heart health, leading to arrhythmias, myocardial remodeling, and overtraining syndrome. Balance intense workouts with rest and low-intensity activities for optimal cardiovascular health.

While regular exercise is generally beneficial for your heart health, pushing your body to extremes can lead to adverse outcomes. Individuals who engage in excessive workouts are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular issues. One potential risk is the development of arrhythmias, which are abnormal heart rhythms that can have serious implications. This is particularly true for individuals who push their bodies beyond their limits without proper conditioning or those who engage in high-intensity activities without gradually increasing the intensity.

Another condition associated with excessive workouts is exercise-induced myocardial remodelling. This refers to changes in the structure and function of the heart that occur as a result of prolonged and intense exercise. While exercise-induced myocardial remodelling can have several positive effects, such as increased cardiac function and improved aerobic capacity, excessive remodelling can also lead to adverse outcomes. For example, it can result in the enlargement of the heart muscle, causing it to become stiff and less efficient in pumping blood. In extreme cases, it can lead to heart failure.

Overtraining syndrome is another condition that can affect individuals who engage in excessive workouts and do not allow their bodies enough time to recover. Overtraining syndrome can put significant stress on the heart, as it is continuously pushed beyond its limits without adequate rest. Excessive physical stress can lead to elevated levels of stress hormones, increased inflammation, and a weakened immune system. These factors can contribute to the development of cardiovascular problems, including hypertension, heart failure, and even acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

It is important to note that the risk of developing heart-related issues due to excessive exercise is relatively low for the average person who engages in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The risks are more evident in individuals who train at an elite level or push their bodies beyond what is considered normal. It is crucial to understand your fitness levels, listen to your body, and gradually build up the intensity and duration of workouts to prevent potential adverse effects.

"To maintain heart health while engaging in strenuous exercise, it is recommended to incorporate rest days into your routine. Taking regular breaks allows your body to recover and avoid the harmful effects of overtraining. Additionally, including low-intensity activities, such as walking or yoga, can help balance the stress placed on the heart and promote overall cardiovascular health," says Dr Maj Gen Susheel Kumar Malani, Professor and HOD, Cardiology, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri.

Also watch: Study shows men also experience menopause as they age

"It is also important to pay attention to warning signs that may indicate potential cardiovascular problems. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or palpitations during or after exercise, it is essential to seek medical attention. These symptoms may indicate underlying heart issues that should not be ignored," adds the medical expert.

In conclusion, while regular exercise is beneficial for heart health, excessive workouts and strenuous exercise can potentially have negative effects on cardiovascular health. It is crucial to find a healthy balance between pushing your limits and allowing enough time for adequate recovery. Understanding your own fitness levels and listening to your body's signals is key to maintaining a healthy heart.

Gut optimization is a central focus in biohacking, as the microbiome is believed to influence overall health, mental well-being, and longevity, with strategies like probiotics and fermented foods recommended to enhance gut health.

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Content: Sign up now
Are you depressed?
Check the intestines!
Most people don ’ t realize that the gut is literally your second brain, which is really capable of having a significant impact on: mind, mood, behavior.
Your brain is your second brain.
While modern psychiatry still mistakenly claims that psychological problems such as depression are caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, researchers continue to find evidence that depression and various behavioral problems are actually associated with an imbalance of bacteria in the gut!
Sterile mice are more prone to high-risk behaviors
A study published last month in the journal Neurogastroenterology and Motility found that the behavior of mice with a lack of intestinal bacteria is different from that of normal mice - the former are more prone to what is called "high-risk behavior."
This altered behavior was accompanied by neurochemical changes in the brains of mice.
According to the authors, microflora (intestinal flora) plays a role in the connection of the intestine and the brain, and: "The acquisition of intestinal microflora in the period immediately after birth has a decisive effect on the development and function of the gastrointestinal tract, immune, neuroendocrine and metabolic systems.
For example, the presence of intestinal microflora regulates the control point of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. "
The neurotransmitter serotonin activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, stimulating certain serotonin receptors in the brain.
The highest concentration of serotonin, which is responsible for controlling mood, depression and aggression, is in the intestine, not in the brain!
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So it is really worth feeding your intestinal flora to optimize serotonin function, because it can significantly affect mood, psychological health and behavior.
The authors conclude:
"The presence or absence of the usual intestinal microflora affects the development of behavior..."
This finding supports another recent animal study that also found that gut bacteria influence early brain development and mammalian behavior.
But that's not all.
It has been established that the absence or presence of intestinal microorganisms in infancy permanently alters gene expression.
With the help of gene profiling, scientists were able to find out that the absence of intestinal bacteria modifies genes and signaling pathways associated with the processes of learning, memory and motor function control.
This suggests that gut bacteria are closely associated with early brain development and subsequent behavior.
These behavioral changes could be reversed during early life when mice were exposed to normal microorganisms.
But once the sterile mice reached adulthood, colonization by the bacteria no longer affected their behavior.
According to Dr. Rachel Diaz Heyitz, lead author of the study:
"The data point to a critical period in early life during which gut microorganisms affect the brain and change behavior later in life."
Similarly, probiotics have been found to affect the activity of hundreds of genes, helping them express in a positive way that fights disease.
Gut and brain connection
Given the fact that the bowel-brain connection is recognized as a basic principle of physiology and medicine, and there is a lot of evidence of the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract in various neurological diseases, it is not difficult to see that the balance of intestinal bacteria plays an important role in psychology and behavior.
With this in mind, it is quite obvious that the nutrition of the intestinal flora is a matter of extreme importance, from the cradle to the grave, because in the truest sense of the word, you have two brains: one inside the skull and the other in the intestine, and each needs its own vital nutrition.
It is interesting to note that these two organs are made of tissue of the same type.
During fetal development, one part turns into the central nervous system and the other into the enteral nervous system.
These two systems are connected by the vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve that runs from the brain stem down to the abdomen.
This is what connects the two brains and explains things like the sensation of butterflies in your stomach when you ’ re nervous, for example.
Your gut and brain work in tandem, influencing each other.
That ’ s why gut health can have such a profound impact on your mental health, and vice versa.
It is now clear that your diet is closely related to your mental health.
Also, it ’ s not hard to imagine how a lack of nutrition can negatively affect your mood and your behavior afterwards.
Aren't we too decontaminated for peace of mind?
Another study published last year in the Archives of General Psychiatry looked at evidence of signs that mental problems may be caused by a lack of natural microorganisms in soil, food, and intestines.
And that connection was found.
The incidence of depression among young people is steadily increasing, outnumbering the level of depression in the older population, and one of the reasons for this may be the lack of exposure to bacteria, both outside and inside the body.
Simply put, modern society may be too disinfected and pasteurized for its own good.
In most cultures, fermented milk products were the traditional staple foods, but the modern food industry, in an effort to kill ALL bacteria in the name of safety, has eradicated most of these foods.
No, of course, traditionally fermented foods such as natto or kefir can still be found on the market, but they are no longer part of the diet as they once were, and most people who first try them in adulthood, these foods are not to taste.
When you deprive your child of all these bacteria, his immune system — the primary defense against inflammation — essentially becomes weaker, not stronger.
And a higher level of inflammation is a hallmark not only of heart disease and diabetes, but also of depression.
The authors explain it this way:
"Significant evidence suggests that concomitant evolutionary processes have given various microorganisms (often referred to as' old friends') the task of training the human immune system to tolerate a wide range of potentially inflammatory, but not life-threatening, stimuli.
Without such preparation of immunity, vulnerable people in the modern world are significantly increased risk of a huge number of unjustified inflammatory attacks on harmless environmental antigens (which leads to asthma), safe food components and opportunistic microorganisms in the intestine (which leads to inflammatory bowel diseases), as well as self-antigens (which leads to a variety of autoimmune diseases).
Losing exposure to old friends can contribute to major depression by raising background levels of depressogenic cytokines, and predispose vulnerable people in industrialized societies to display unjustifiably aggressive inflammatory responses to psychosocial stressors, which again leads to increased depression.
"Measuring the effects of old friends or their antigens may prove promising for the prevention and treatment of depression in modern industrial societies."
Studies around the world link intestinal problems with brain disorders
Brain disorders can take many forms, one of which is autism.
In this particular area, you can again find compelling evidence for a link between the brain and gut health.
Gluten intolerance is often a sign of autism, and in many children with autism, a strict gluten-free diet improves their condition.
Many autistic children benefit from taking probiotics – in the form of fermented foods or probiotic supplements.
Dr. Andrew Wakefield is one of many who have studied the link between developmental disorders and bowel disease.
He has published about 130-140 peer-reviewed papers investigating the mechanism and causes of inflammatory bowel disease, and has extensively examined the brain-bowel connection in the context of children with developmental disorders such as autism.
Other researchers around the world have conducted a large number of follow-up studies that have confirmed a curious link between brain disorders such as autism and gastrointestinal dysfunction.
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Other Benefits of Probiotics
The body contains about 100 trillion bacteria - 10 times more than cells.
The ideal ratio of bacteria in the gut is 85 percent “beneficial ” and 15 percent“ harmful. ”
In addition to the psychological consequences described above, a healthy ratio of beneficial and harmful bacteria is important for aspects such as:
• Protection against overgrowth of other microorganisms that can cause disease
• Digestion of food and absorption of nutrients
• Digestion and assimilation of certain carbohydrates
• Production of vitamins, minerals, absorption and elimination of toxins
• Prevention of allergies
Signs of an excess of harmful bacteria in the intestine are flatulence and bloating, fatigue, craving for sugar, nausea, headaches, constipation or diarrhea.
What prevents beneficial intestinal bacteria?
Intestinal bacteria do not live in the bladder – rather, they are an active and integral part of your body, and therefore vulnerable to your lifestyle.
If, for example, you eat a lot of processed foods, then there is a threat to intestinal bacteria, because such foods generally destroy healthy microflora, feeding harmful bacteria and yeast.
Intestinal bacteria are also very sensitive to:
• antibiotics
• chlorinated water
• antibacterial soap
• agricultural chemicals
• pollution
Because of these latter points, to which almost everyone is exposed, at least from time to time, it ’ s a good idea to “repopulate ” the intestines with beneficial bacteria, taking high-quality probiotic supplements or eating fermented foods.
Tips for optimizing intestinal flora
I want to return to the issue of inflammation for a second: it is important to understand that somewhere 80 percent of the immune system is actually in the intestine, so it is necessary to regularly re-inoculate the intestine with beneficial bacteria.
Also, given that the gut is your second brain and the location of your immune system, it ’ s not hard to see how gut health affects brain function, psyche, and behavior, as they are interconnected in a variety of ways, some of which are discussed above.
In light of this, here are my recommendations for optimizing gut flora:
Fermented (fermented, fermented) foods are still the best way to optimal digestive health, if only to use traditionally cooked, unpasteurized versions.
Useful dishes include lassi (an Indian yogurt drink that is traditionally drunk before lunch), sour milk or kefir, various pickled vegetables - cabbage, turnips, eggplants, cucumbers, onions, zucchini and carrots, as well as natto (fermented soy).
If you regularly consume such fermented foods, but, again, unpasteurized (after all, pasteurization kills natural probiotics), then the beneficial flora of the intestine will flourish.
• Supplements with probiotics.
While I am not in favor of taking many supplements (since I believe that nutrients should come primarily from food), probiotics are certainly an exception.
If you do not eat fermented foods, then taking high-quality probiotic supplements is definitely recommended.
published by econet.ru
© Joseph Mercola
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P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption - we are changing the world together!
© econet
Source: https: / / econet.kz /
* Ekonet.ru articles are intended for informational and educational purposes only and do not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always consult your doctor for any questions you may have about your health.
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Something interesting

Emerging research highlights the interconnectedness of gut health and mental health, suggesting that imbalances in gut bacteria can affect mood and behavior, with dietary interventions showing therapeutic potential for conditions like depression.

Biohackers often rely on supplements such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), metformin, and spermidine for metabolism, anti-aging, and immune support, though their efficacy and safety remain debated in scientific circles.

Title:

Content: 18 +
• Health
• Health
Health care
Naive biohacking: why is it dangerous to take vitamins “just in case ” and is it true that hacking the body is the way to nowhere (and not to eternal life)
To live longer (for herself and her family), to avoid cancer and heart disease, biohacking enthusiast (now in the past!) and lifestyle podcaster Teresa Skrobanek conducted an experiment and plunged into the world of a thousand and one supplements for longevity.
Whose infectious example was she inspired by?
What was the danger of taking her medicine for diabetes and vitamin B capsules (it is recommended for everyone to calm down!)?
After what biohacking did Teresa really feel better?
Let ’ s share her story.
Master1305
Biohacking experiment
At the end of 2022, Teresa Skrobanek, a responsible mother and grandmother, decided to try to include “longevity ” supplements in her diet.
The general goal is to live as long as possible (for yourself and your family) and avoid breast cancer and heart disease, the risk of which is higher in women over fifty (and Teresa was 57 at the time).
Anti-age drugs were prescribed by a doctor, but, apparently, the specialist was free to relate to the ratio of anamnesis and goals of taking drugs.
In April 2023, Teresa discovered that the capsules in her medicine cabinet were metformin, which is usually prescribed to patients with type II diabetes.
Although the woman did not suffer from this disease, the doctor prescribed the drug due to the fact that the results of the studies were encouraging (but not guaranteed!) - it helps to fight aging
Teresa has also tried over-the-counter drugs, such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplements, which supposedly, but not proven, speed up metabolism and reduce signs of growing up.
According to the experimentalist, she followed the example of the brightest biohacker – IT billionaire Brian Johnson, who takes about two dozen supplements a day, uses at least 7 skin creams and annually spends $2 million on unusual procedures to restore youth (for example, bowel photos, blood transfusions, weekly acid peels and laser therapy).
20 supplements a day and no rejuvenation
The more and longer Teresa took the drugs, the more she doubted.
Feeling worse, and Skrobanek plunged headlong into the study of dietary supplements - the results were contradictory.
For example, studies have shown that the widely advertised low-age supplements of nicotinamide riboside (a form of vitamin B3) increase the risk of brain cancer.
And the unpleasant consequences of the use of metformin (remember, Teresa took the medicine for diabetes, not being a diabetic!) were headaches, drowsiness and anxiety.
“I started to have a headache.
I felt very tired, although the pills were supposed to give me strength, ” Skrobanek told The New York Post, with whom she shared her entire story.
How do I know that taking these substances will not harm my kidneys or liver and will not cause cancer in 5-10 years? ”
beast01
Errors made by Teresa, which can not be made by biohackers novice
At TikTok, where the hashtag # BioHacking has garnered more than half a billion views, proponents of the biohacking movement boast of swallowing 70 to 150 different rejuvenating dietary supplements every day.
For example, to slow down the aging process, businessman Joe Cohen takes rapamycin, an FDA-approved drug that a 2014 study found could help increase life expectancy.
However, Cohen told The Post that he does not recommend a strict regime to his followers: mindlessly copying from and to the anti-age program of trendsetters is dangerous!
Instead, an experienced biohacker (Joe says he ’ s been studying this phenomenon for 20 years!) encourages newcomers to take blood tests first to determine the body ’ s biological needs and deficiencies, carefully examine the benefits and side effects of any supplements, and take only what seems right.
Cohen clarifies: “By understanding your physiology, you can take certain medications that will boost your energy, mood, and chances of avoiding age-related illnesses.
Preserving health is much more important than simply prolonging existence. ”
According to the businessman, his goal is to live as long and healthy a life as possible (and not necessarily up to 150 years)!
Roman Samborskyi
If not biohacking, then what (spoiler: food)
New York City Nutrition nutritionist Diana Rodriguez agrees with Cohen.
But to start your way to longevity offers still not with tablets, but with a healthy diet: “It is recommended to use food as the first method of preventing dangerous diseases.
Fruits, vegetables, low-fat proteins, nuts and legumes, in which "tons" of vitamins and minerals, can be very useful. "
Increasing nutrient intake through organic whole foods is something Teresa Scrobanek started doing in June 2023, when she gave up the supplement diet once and for all.
And she never felt better:
“If a long life meant that I got it with terrible side effects due to taking supplements, then I would prefer a shorter, but better life, which is based on proper nutrition and training, ” concluded Teresa.
The editors remind that drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements and food products have contraindications.
A specialist consultation is required.
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The supplement industry’s lack of regulation raises concerns about contamination and adverse interactions, with improper use potentially leading to health risks and financial waste.

Title:

Content: What to Know About Taking Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements have been around for thousands of years, but their lack of regulation in the U.S. can make them dangerous to consumers.

September 30, 2022

Related To:

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Photo by: Chris Rogers/Getty Images

Chris Rogers/Getty Images

Herbal supplements are classified as food supplement products without a prescription containing one or more herbal ingredient. They come in many forms including pills, powders, tinctures, and teas and are sold at most major retailers and online vendors — and even gas stations! Sales of herbal supplements exceeded $8 billion in 2018 and the industry shows no signs of slowing down. According to data published in 2022, half of the US population uses herbal products, believing that they are a safer or less harmful alternative to medications. The truth is some of the most popular herbal supplement products can be the most dangerous.

Are Herbal Supplements Regulated?

Like other dietary supplements, herbal supplements are poorly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Herbal supplements are not required to receive pre-market approval and are not subject to the FDA processes in place for over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications, which help ensure safety and efficacy through clinical research studies and post-market safety monitoring. This mean the herbal products on the market do not have to be tested for safety, efficacy or label accuracy. In many instances this lack of comprehensive oversight has lead to the sale and distribution of dangerous, contaminated and improperly-dosed products. Common dangers associated with supplements include stomach upset, cardiovascular problems, liver damage, increased risk of cancer, nerve damage, kidney problems and possibly death.

What Are the Side Effects?

Several commonly used herbal supplements have risks of side effects and can interact with other supplements as well as OTC and prescriptions medications.

Ginseng: The antioxidant compounds in ginseng, a popular adaptogen, are known as ginsenosides, which may be involved in controlling stress hormones. This herb shows promise with persistent stress and chronic inflammation, but should only be used under the supervision of a medical professional. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health cautions taking ginseng when on medications like blood thinners, sugar-lowering drugs, and blood pressure-reducing drugs.

St. John’s Wort: This herb is taken for various conditions including depression, anxiety, menopause and attention-deficit disorders. There’s some scientific evidence to support that it may help treat the symptoms of depression, but large doses (2 to 4 grams per day) can cause severe skin reactions due to an increased sensitivity to sunlight. Other possible side effects include insomnia, anxiety, irritability, stomach upset and dizziness. It’s also been found to negatively interact with OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), birth control medications, and blood thinners.

Gingko: Most commonly taken for improved memory and brain function, gingko leaf extracts are the most popular form of this herb. Seeds of the gingko plant can be dangerously toxic and potentially deadly. Despite a very small amount of outdated research, gingko doesn’t appear to improve memory in people with normal mental function, nor does it reduce the risk of developing memory related problems. Side effects include increased bleeding, stomach upset, headache dizziness and heart palpitations. Pregnant women are urged not to take gingko because of its possible labor-inducing effects. Gingko has also been found to interact with chemotherapy, diuretics, anticonvulsants and diabetic medications.

Bitter Orange: This herb may not sound familiar, but it can be found in many popular weight loss supplements. While this fruity-named herb may sound safe, it was placed on the 2010 Consumer Reports List of Supplements to Avoid because of a list of possible dangers including fainting, heart problems, stroke and death. This herb becomes increasingly unsafe when combined with caffeine – another popular ingredient in weight loss products.

Even if interactions with other substances are not a concern, these herbal products can also cause side effects independently. Ginkgo usage can cause stomach upset, dizziness and skin reactions, while St. John’s wort side effects include insomnia, fatigue, dizziness and sexual dysfunction. Guarana, a popular stimulant found in energy drinks, has been linked to stomach upset and dangerous increases in heart rate and blood pressure.

What to Do If You Want to Try Herbal Supplements

If you are taking or considering taking an herbal supplement, do your homework and discuss it with your medical provider. One of the best resources for accessible information on popular herbal supplements in the National Institute of Health (NIH) “Herbs at A Glance” from the National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health. Click on the herb you are interested in and access a detailed explanation of uses, research studies (if any have been conducted) and a list of potential side-effects, interactions and other dangers.

Consumer Reports also publishes list of 15 Supplement Ingredients to Avoid, highlighting several herbal ingredients and their potential risks to health.

Bottom Line: Discuss any herbal supplements with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) or other qualified medical professional before taking them. Be sure to disclose all supplement use with medical providers to reduce the risk of harmful interactions.

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.

*This article was written and/or reviewed by an independent registered dietitian nutritionist.

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Excessive supplement intake can pose significant health risks, including headaches, anxiety, and even increased cancer risk, as seen in cases involving substances like nicotinamide riboside and metformin.

What are the risks and dangers of taking frequent nutritional supplements without a doctor's supervision?

Research from the Karolinska Institute indicates that excessive antioxidant supplementation may promote tumor growth by forming new blood vessels, contradicting the assumed protective effects of antioxidants.

Title:

Content: HEALTH
Studies: Supplements Increase Cancer Growth
Regions _ Followers
New research has shown that taking supplements frequently and without consulting a doctor can help cancerous tumors grow.
Scientists at the Karolinska Institute, a research-led medical university in Solna, Sweden, are concerned about vitamin and mineral supplements.
Common antioxidants, such as vitamin C, are safe when taken from food, but supplementation is now linked to the formation of new blood vessels in tumors.
Professor Martin Bergo, from the Institute ’ s Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, explained what his team discovered: “We found that antioxidants activate the mechanism that causes cancerous tumors to form new blood vessels, which is surprising because it was previously thought that antioxidants have a protective effect.
"New blood vessels feed tumors and can help them grow and spread."
Prof Bergo added: "There is no need to be afraid of the antioxidants found in regular food but most people do not need additional amounts of them.
In fact, it can be harmful for cancer patients and people who have a high risk of developing cancer. ”
The team found that antioxidants reduce levels of free oxygen radicals, but when additional amounts are introduced, the reduction in free radicals activates a protein called BACH1.
This then leads to the formation of new blood vessels, known as angiogenesis.
Go to the top button

What are the risks and dangers of taking frequent nutritional supplements without a doctor's supervision?

Advanced medical screenings, such as full-body MRI scans and blood tests, are used by biohackers to monitor biological markers like inflammation and aging, though concerns about overdiagnosis persist.

Title:

Content: I’m 58 but have a biological age of 21 – this is how I did it

After eight rounds of failed fertility treatments and a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, Leslie Kenny changed her lifestyle with the aim of reducing inflammation – the results, she says, were dramatic

Leslie Kenny was 39 and had endured eight rounds of failed fertility treatments, including IVF using a donor egg, when her doctor delivered even more bad news: the pain she’d been feeling in her wrists and fingers was rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and her blood tests showed signs of the disabling autoimmune condition lupus.

“The doctor prescribed me immunosuppressants and said, ‘You have five good years left’,” Kenny says. “I don’t know what that meant but I took it as ‘that’s all you’ve got’ – that this was the end. I was crushed.”

Lupus is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues and causes inflammation that can cause permanent damage to the skin, joints, heart, lungs, kidneys and even the brain. There is no known cure, although it may relapse and remit. RA, another autoimmune condition, affects the joints leading to inflammation and thickening in the joints, which causes pain and reduced mobility. Again, there are treatments available, but it cannot be cured.

That bombshell diagnosis came in 2004. Today, Kenny is 58 and a slim, healthy woman with boundless energy. Her arthritis and lupus – a diagnosis she now questions – have gone into remission. But more than that, she appears to have beat the ageing process: recent blood tests show her biological age is just 21.

She took the “GlycanAge” blood test while attending a conference on longevity in the US. It is offered by a London-based bioinformatics company and measures levels of inflammation in your body. The results are based on determining the process of ageing as an accumulation of damage to your body over time by over-activation of the immune system, leading to inflammation of the tissues and cells. The result generates an estimated “biological age” depending on the average level of inflammation observed in the body at various points during a normal lifespan.

“Inflammation is the thing that I have been paying attention to for the last 19 years, so I suppose it’s not a surprise,” Kenny says.

Kenny is likely one of only a handful of people who could achieve such results. She is one of a breed of ‘biohacking’ devotees who swear by putting cutting-edge research into cell rejuvenation into practice in their own lives to keep their bodies and minds young, and to fight off the common causes of ageing, including inflammation, high blood sugar and cardiovascular degeneration.

The most well known of these biohackers is Bryan Johnson, the American multi-millionaire entrepreneur and venture capitalist. At 46, he spends $2m (£1.5m) a year on treatments and techniques – including restricting calories, taking large amounts of daily supplements, a strict sleep schedule that involves early nights and very early mornings, and blood transfusions – in an attempt to stop the ageing process.

He claims to have reversed his heart age by five years and has the lung capacity of an 18-year-old. Of his particular quest, Kenny reflects: “That very British saying ‘horses for courses’ comes to mind… but he is biohacking for immortality, whereas I prefer to think of myself as ‘bioharmonising’ for a healthy lifespan.”

Kenny is the co-founder of a not-for-profit group, the Oxford Longevity Project, whose aim is to get the latest groundbreaking ideas and research findings on anti-ageing and longevity to the widest possible audience – and she’s testing them out on her own body.

She set up the organisation with Oxford biologist Professor Denis Noble; Dr Paul Ch’en, a GP with a special interest in the ageing process; and academic and multiple marathon runner Sir Christopher Ball. Kenny brings lived experience as a patient who has seen her own health transformed by putting the latest academic findings into practice.

It was the shock of such a devastating diagnosis at such a young age that prompted Kenny to start doing her own research into autoimmune conditions and inflammation. It encouraged her to turn away from the pharmaceutical answers given by her doctors and find a new approach.

“I did try immunosuppressants and I really hated them. You had to jab yourself in the tummy. There are lots of bruises and it hurts. I just felt I shouldn’t be doing this,” she explains. “I have more of an Asian philosophical orientation, of the idea of bringing the body into balance rather than ‘let’s squash this symptom’. What I wanted to do was bring the body back into harmony.”

Back in 2004 the internet was still in its relative infancy, but patient groups had already started forming to share information on common health conditions. Kenny searched for anything she could find about the link between autoimmune disorders and inflammation in the body. She found there were common causes of inflammation including poor diet, lack of sleep, stress and undiagnosed allergies.

Kenny quit her job (she was, at the time, running a matchmaking agency) to reduce stress and improve sleep, and then overhauled her diet. Allergy testing found she was reacting to wheat and dairy, so she cut both out, and also reduced her sugar intake.

“At the time the idea that sugar was bad for you was kind of a new thing, but I removed sugar from my diet as much as I could and then took lots of foods that were anti-inflammatory,” she says. This involved a largely plant-based diet, also including oily fish such as salmon, lots of extra virgin olive oil and plant milks. She followed guidance from Dr Barry Sears, whose bestselling book The Zone Anti-Inflammatory Diet, had been recently released.

Then, after much discussion with autoimmune sufferers in the US, Kenny took a very radical – and expensive – step: online patient networks in the US were recommending intravenous immunoglobulin, a treatment that resets the immune system by replacing antibodies in your blood but was not recommended on the NHS. Kenny underwent two eight-hour blood transfusions at a hospital in Denver, Colorado in the United States, costing £24,000 and funded by health insurance provided by her then-husband’s employer. It is offered as a treatment for some conditions on the NHS, but not for lupus or RA.

Six months later her blood results had been reversed. The three readings her doctor was monitoring – C Reactive Protein, cytokines and TNFalpha, all of which measure inflammation and the function of the immune system – had reduced rapidly. Her doctor reported that her lupus appeared to be in full remission and she was free of disease and in control of her arthritis symptoms.

Kenny’s rapid success at improving her health kicked off a passion for self-management of illness and ageing that has defined her last two decades. “I really feel that patients need to have a chance of a fair fight,” she says, adding that not everyone can afford expensive blood infusions, but there are many things we can all do cheaply to improve our health.

Living in Oxford and surrounded by academics, Kenny began discussing her results with local friends and neighbours, including Lachlan MacKinnon, who was working on commercialising biotechnology for the Oxford Science Enterprise. He introduced her to Prof Katja Simon and Dr Ghada Alsaleh, who were both working at the Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology at Oxford University at the time, who had discovered something quite surprising – spermidine. “He [Lachlan] said, ‘It’s a terrible name, but it’s really interesting because it seems to be helping with the immune system’.”

In mice, spermidine – a polyamine found in high levels in plants such as mushrooms and fermented foods – was able to boost antibody levels in elderly subjects, keeping the immune system strong, and activate the process of autophagy: a natural cell rejuvenation process that usually happens during periods of fasting.

You may have heard the word recently due to Rishi Sunak’s commitment to a 48-hour fast every week. Consuming spermidine is believed to make the same cellular process happen, but without the inconvenience of starvation. Studies are ongoing but the first published papers also show the same effect in humans as mice.

Kenny has been taking a spermidine supplement ever since, and now promotes these findings alongside other new research through the Oxford Longevity Project.

Kenny also follows a ketogenic diet, very low in carbohydrate and higher in protein, which some academic research shows can help to preventing and treat diabetes, controlling blood sugar spikes and reducing inflammation.

Kenny’s daily routine also includes supplements of collagen, antioxidant-rich raw cacao, and glutathione, which helps repair tissues. She takes HRT to manage her body’s transition through the menopause and says the progesterone helps with restful sleep.

Two days a week she fasts for 16 hours, but she admits “I’m not slavish about it”. More important is the foods you do eat. “The Japanese drink and smoke like chimneys but they only lose four years of life to this, but in the UK we lose 10. It’s because they’re microdosing every day with green tea, they’re eating natto, which is full of spermidine; they’re eating fish full of Omega 3, and lots of fermented foods.”

Kenny walks her dog for at least 30 minutes a day and has an active life. She uses katsu bands, a product from Japan similar to a blood pressure cuff, which pulls the blood into one limb for 30 seconds then when it releases “the blood hits the pituitary gland and says ‘I’ve been lifting heavy weights’, and sends hormones to repair the body,” she explains.

She also uses an inversion chair – a small stool that makes doing a headstand easy for anyone, whatever their age – that trains the core and stimulates the vagus nerve, responsible for the regulation of organ functions such as digestion, heart rate and respiratory rate.

The efforts of figures like Kenny are being watched by experts. Vasa Curcin, professor of health informatics at King’s College London, says the “exciting work” going on among the global community of biohackers is “a huge opportunity to raise awareness and identify challenges for novel therapies and lifestyle tech interventions”.

But he adds: “We need to start considering pragmatic methods that would allow for these efforts to stop being just anecdotal evidence and start contributing to larger knowledge bases to support scientifically rigorous validation studies.”

So what is Kenny’s advice to the rest of us? “The most important thing is to get started and just do one thing. Whether that’s diet or putting a weight by the kettle and doing a bicep curl while you boil it. Just ask yourself to do it once a week, and the next week do it twice a week. Do it slowly and then it becomes a habit.”

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Experts caution against the use of advanced diagnostic tools like full-body MRI scans for individuals without specific risk factors, as they may lead to unnecessary treatments and anxiety.

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InnovationRx: The Feds’ ‘Nutrition Labels’ For Healthcare AI

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There is no central clearinghouse for regulating algorithms used in healthcare. Certain commercial applications, such as the heart rate monitor in the Apple Watch, are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration. However, algorithms developed by electronic health records companies, like Epic or Oracle Cerner, fall under the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, or ONC.

“We are not regulating the AI-enabled tools themselves,” ONC director Micky Tripathi told Forbes about the new rules his agency recently finalized that go into effect on March 11, 2024. Rather, he compares the approach to a “nutrition label” found on food packaging – electronic health records companies will be required to document 33 different data elements that give their hospital and doctor customers information about what data the model is trained on and how it works. In technical parlance, these labels are often called model cards. “We're not getting deep into ‘is this a good product, is this a bad product,” said Tripathi. “We're just saying information should be provided to the customer, so that they themselves can make the decision. But it applies to a much broader array of products than FDA regulations do.”

While the rules only apply to tools the electronic health records companies develop, Tripathi hopes that other app developers or health systems building tools in house will also fill out the nutrition labels. “We actually think blank fields are informative,” he said, meaning if a developer declined to provide information around topics like health equity or safety or performance bias then a customer should be judicious about using the tool. “We're not trying to dictate how they do this, but we're saying you should have a formal thoughtful process for how you incorporate algorithms into your product.”

This $674 Million Deal Aims To Turn Your Body's Garbage Disposal Into A Disease Fighter

VantAI just announced a deal with Bristol Myers Squibb potentially worth up to $674 million. The goal? To use generative AI to design what are called "molecular glues." These glues bind to pathogens in the body, like cancer cells, connecting them to the protein degraders your cell uses to break down stuff it doesn't need anymore.

Why AI? Because your body doesn't naturally use this process to fight disease, VantAI CEO Zach Carpenter explained to Forbes. "You can't just discover glues through trial and error." You have to design the molecules that do it, a Herculean task without the last decade's advances in machine learning.

Read more here.

Pipeline & Deal Updates

Liver Disease: Gilead is acquiring CymaBay, which is developing a potential treatment for the liver disease primary biliary cholangitis, in a transaction worth about $4.3 billion.

Non-Opioid Pain: Biotech startup Latigo Biotherapeutics emerged from stealth with a $135 million series A round led by Westlake Village BioPartners. The company aims to develop non-opioid treatments for pain.

Digestive System: The FDA has approved Takeda’s drug Eohilia, an oral treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis. The condition, caused by inflammation of the esophagus, can cause choking and other issues with swallowing.

Metabolic Diseases: BioAge, which is developing treatments aimed at tackling obesity and metabolic diseases, announced that it has raised a $170 million series D round led by Sofinnova Investment.

Frostbite: The FDA has approved iloprost, marketed by Eicos Science as Aurlumyn, for the treatment of severe frostbite. It’s the first such approval and in clinical trials its application helped prevent the need for amputation of toes and fingers in patients.

Meet The Bryan Johnson-Approved AI Full Body MRI Startup That Just Raised $21 Million

Bryan Johnson is the self-proclaimed “most measured person in human history.” He's the new poster boy for an old Silicon Valley obsession: “biohacking” your body to extend your lifespan. His "gold standard" body measurement tool? The the full-body MRI scan. Johnson told Forbes he plans to get six this month alone.

One of his go-to providers is New York-based startup Ezra, which uses artificial intelligence to speed up the process. With $21 million in fresh funding, Ezra cofounder and CEO Emi Gal, a biohacker and longevity enthusiast himself, wants to take these MRIs mainstream. But medical experts are concerned that full-body MRI scans could do more harm than good for the majority of patients — setting up people who have no specific risk of cancer or another illness for overtreatment and overdiagnosis.

Read more here.

Other Healthcare News

The European Union on Tuesday approved Casgevy, the world’s first medicine based on CRISPR gene-editing technology to treat two blood disorders, following the U.S. and U.K.

CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch said the healthcare giant is sticking with plans to open 50 to 60 medical clinics for seniors next year even as rival Walgreens pulls back on clinic expansion.

The CDC is planning to drop its five-day isolation guidance for Covid.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized for a second time this year and transferred duties to his deputy.

Patients in rural areas face worse EMS care and more sirens than those in urban and suburban areas, according to a new study.

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What Else We are Reading

A year in, the U.S. is still not taking advantage of lower-cost biosimilars for Humira (Stat)

The future of precision cancer therapy might be to try everything (Nature)

Will slow uptake of Leqembi pose a risk to Biogen’s recovery? (Endpoints)

Mental health practices in biohacking include neurofeedback therapy, which aims to retrain the brain using operant conditioning to address issues like depression and anxiety, though it remains experimental and lacks widespread clinical validation.

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Content: NewsLocal NewsSummit County

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'It saved my life,' ADHD, trauma, OCD patients turn to neurofeedback therapy

Posted at 8:18 AM, Apr 05, 2024
and last updated 2024-04-05 08:18:12-04

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — Cracking the code to wellness is now costing Americans $1.8 trillion annually.

For the average American, that breaks down to more than $5,300 per year.

Those numbers come from the Global Wellness Summit's 2024 trends report.

The report also shows that the global wellness economy, which generated $5.6 trillion in 2022, will continue to surge and reach $8.5 trillion within the next three years.

A driver of those staggering stats is ‘biohacking,’ which is the term for do-it-yourself biology.

It has generated 951 million views on TikTok and over on Google, there's been a 900% increase in searches for ‘biohacking.’

"The way that i like to describe it is using what we know about biology to help us become better versions of ourselves," said Britney Cirillo with Alternative Therapeutics.

‘Biohacking’ can be anything from using a smartwatch to track our heart rate to jumping in an ice bath and neuro-feedback therapy.

The idea behind neuro-feedback therapy is that we can essentially re-train our brain to tackle mental health issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, and OCD, which Emily Dean suffered from for about a decade.

"Was pretty afraid to even leave my house alone. At my worst, I was unable to care for my physical health," said Dean.

Dean ultimately needed to check into the hospital as her mental health declined.

After being discharged, she discovered neurofeedback therapy.

"It completely changed my life," said Dean.

Dean said the sessions at Alternative Therapeutics in Cuyahoga Falls provided relief that medications and traditional therapies could not.

"We're not your average counseling practice," said Cirillo.

Cirillo uses neurofeedback therapy to balance electrical activity in a patient's brain, regulating delta, theta, alpha, and beta levels.

"If any of those brainwaves are being overproduced or underproduced, that will correlate with symptoms that the client is experiencing," said Cirillo.

The goal is to essentially retrain the brain using operant conditioning, a learning process in which voluntary behaviors are rewarded.

"We tell the brain to do a certain thing when it does that certain thing, they're rewarded instantly by that video game that they're playing," Cirillo.

I was so interested in how it works that Cirillo gave me a taste of a typical session.

My goal was to keep the flames of a fire burning bright and the sound of the crackling strong while playing a game on a tablet.

Cirillo was checking to make sure my brain was in an ideal zone.

I only sat there with the tablet for a short time, but a typical therapy session lasts about 20 minutes.

"And so, with more and more practice, the brain starts to recognize what it's supposed to do and it reinforces that pathway, strengthens it to the point that that's their new normal," said Cirillo.

Despite gaining popularity during this ‘biohacking craze,’ neurofeedback therapy is still considered experimental.

"I think it's an interesting phenomenon," said Dr. Robert Lufkin with the USC School of Medicine.

Lufkin said regulating the brain could give people better outcomes when it comes to their mental health.

"I think in my opinion, this can have beneficial effects on an individual," said Lufkin.

Lufkin said regardless of what form of ‘biohacking’ people choose, it's shifting the balance of the doctor-patient relationship.

"It's certainly exploding in recent years, and I think it reflects the fact that all of us as, as patients are taking control of our own health," said Lufkin.

Dean is beyond grateful she gained control.

"Neurofeedback therapy and Alternative Therapeutics saved my life," said Dean.

After completing 20 sessions five years ago, Dean has been able to maintain her progress with a few booster sessions, along with some tools to help her navigate the world.

A world that, for years, Dean navigated with crippling fear.

"Before neurofeedback I was afraid to go to the grocery store alone. Last year, I went to California alone. That is something that I never thought would be possible for me," said Dean.

With insurance companies still considering neurofeedback therapy experimental it is not covered.

However, Cirillo said many of her clients have success when they submit for out of network reimbursement.

On average, people will need about 20 sessions to get the end results they're looking for.

Other techniques, such as mindfulness exercises and expressive arts therapy, are promoted for their ability to enhance emotional well-being and reduce stress, aligning with psychological research on movement and mindfulness.

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Content: Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Anticipated health and wellness trends for 2024

Dance is a form of exercise, self-expression and healing. Picture: Pexels Yan Krukau

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“As people prioritise health and wellness - be it physical or mental - we are seeing a need for spaces that tick these boxes.

“Ultimately they are becoming a home of sorts, and a meeting place for like-minded people who are on a journey seeking betterment,” said Robyn Schaffner from the Light House, a new holistic haven in Cape Town.

Schaffner shares her thoughts on what the wellness trends will be for 2024.

Biophilia exercises: communing with nature

There is a growing inclination for outdoor exercise. With this in mind, studios globally will feature a biophilic design that seamlessly integrates the indoors with the outdoors, allowing fresh air to permeate during temperate weather.

Pools - previously only a space to swim laps - are now becoming a hub for innovative experiences such as Watsu water healing, cold plunging, and water breathwork.

Dance as exercise, movement, and healing

Dance is a form of exercise, self-expression, and healing globally and this will be visible at Light House too. “By embracing the trend of free-form movement, we champion ecstatic dance as a conduit for releasing energy, achieving emotional catharsis, and reconnecting with the body's innate wisdom.

“By promoting ecstatic dance, we shine a spotlight on its profound potential for holistic healing and personal transformation.”

Free movement: redefining exercise

In the realm of fitness, Light House embraces a back-to-basics philosophy with a twist.

“Celebrating the essence of free movement, our classes encourage participants to connect with their bodies on a deeply intuitive level,” explained Schaffner.

“The unique ‘Akasha’ class, blending Vinyasa flow, dance, and personal exploration, exemplifies this philosophy.

“Additionally, ecstatic dance and power and balance yoga sessions provide opportunities for uninhibited self-expression and playful engagement. It’s a matter of embracing movement in your own personal style.”

Bio-hacking: elevating wellbeing

The pursuit of optimal wellbeing remains a steadfast trend which is being explored through the lens of bio-hacking.

“By hosting enlightening talks and workshops with industry experts, delving into diverse well-being subjects, we are arming our clients with the information they need to improve their health.

“This includes an exploration of the intersection between spirituality and science, presenting a comprehensive perspective on holistic living.

“Workshops on topics ranging from mushroom stacking and sleep syncing to meditation and intermittent fasting will be offered,” said Schaffner.

Cacao: wellness in every sip

Recognising cacao’s potential as an alternative to coffee, it is the ideal companion for those seeking sustained energy, focus and tranquillity.

In the realm of beverages, cacao is fast replacing the likes of flat whites and cortados thanks to its myriad of health benefits.

Need for mental and physical clarity: supplements abound.

Nootropics, adaptogens, and functional medicines will take centre stage in 2024.

These meticulously crafted supplements are designed to support mental and physical wellbeing, fostering a harmonious balance that empowers individuals to navigate the challenges of modern life with enhanced clarity and vigour.

Becoming overly obsessed with biohacking can lead to psychological risks such as perfectionism and stress, as individuals may feel pressured to adhere to rigid routines and achieve unattainable benchmarks.

Social risks include alienation or strained relationships, as extreme biohacking practices may create divides between individuals and those who do not share similar health philosophies.

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Content: Biohacking is a controversial practice, but Lepht Anonym accepts its risks. More than once he has ended up in the ER, leaving doctors perplexed by inserting chips and even boxes with connectors into his body.

Centuries ago, when a doctor wanted to try a new vaccine or a new drug that he had created … he tested it on himself. Many died while developing new medicines.

Some biohackers they see themselves as those pioneering doctors of the Middle Ages: they test on their own body biotechnologies that aspire to improve the human being, cure diseases, and evolve the human condition, to achieve the desired happiness. And some have also died trying.

The biohacking, also known by the name of DIY biology or DIYbio, has as purpose improve our human condition making nanotechnology, genetic engineering, and technological implants available to everyone. You have more information on this card:

From its origins, Humanity pursues immortality and eternal youth. Biohacking seeks to improve our human condition with cybernetic implants. We explain who biohackers are, and why chips are installed inside the body.

Biohackers implant chips, sensors, machines and other mechanisms with the aim of overcoming physical and intellectual limits.

There is an ethical branch o legal of biohacking that only experiments with implants that do not pose a health hazard, for example chips under the skin.

But another trend is committed to not setting limits, even at the cost of putting your health at risk. Its objective is to defeat all diseases, aging and even death, with the help of technology. Then we will stop being human to become transhumans.

A first step towards posthumanism, where Humanity could dispense with its own body and live eternally as data in a neurological network.

Tips and guide to buy a next-generation sports watch that fits your needs and helps you improve your sports goals.

Within these biohackers, grinders they are the most extreme version. It is the case of Lepht Anonym, a British biohacker that, as he tells us Business Insider, more than 50 chips, antennas and other devices have been implanted in the body.

Read:  You can now install macOS Monterey with new features in Shortcuts, Safari, spatial audio in FaceTime and much more

As only professionals can use anesthesia, all Lepht Anonym implants have been inserted into your body by volunteers, to live. Your goal is “improve our quality of life through technology“.

Lepth explains on his blog that inserts its own chips because “there is no other easy way to do it. I will not wait for someone with a research laboratory to endorse this search.“.

The first chip that this biohacker was implanted under the skin, it allowed pay in stores simply by touching the card reader.

It was also implanted some magnets under the fingers, which detected external sensors to feel the distance between hands and objects. This could help blind people to move without hitting obstacles.

Hackers and the computer world are increasingly present in television fictions. Surely at the moment we can think of a series that deals with these topics, but if you can only think of one or two, we have selected a few about hackers that we find interesting.

His latest experiment, last year, has been his most troublesome. A box several centimeters long, with antennas, USB storage and connectors, was inserted under the arm. All went well until he hit his arm in a taxi, and began to swell. He had to go to the emergency room:

There the doctors told me that I was fatal, that they did not understand why I had put a box in my arm“.

In the end, he gave up: “They kept insisting that I take it off. I let them do it because they discovered that a hole had opened in one corner of the device and a large amount of a viscous substance was coming out“.

After that incident, Lepht Anonym has not updated his blog again.

The biohacking it is a practice that is just beginning. But without a doubt, it will go further. There are already medical biohackers, and the goal is to incorporate this branch of technology into medicine.

Put it in the hands of experts, because people’s health is at stake.

The pursuit of biohacking without proper oversight can lead to dangerous self-experimentation, as evidenced by cases of physical harm and emergency medical interventions due to unregulated practices.

Extreme biohacking practices, such as self-implantation of devices, can result in severe health complications and social isolation, as seen in cases like Lepht Anonym, who suffered infections and alienation due to unconventional methods.

Biohacking communities often foster a sense of camaraderie among practitioners, but their unconventional practices, such as DIY genetic engineering, can isolate them from broader society.

Title:

Content: DIY gene editing: This home use kit makes CRISPR accessible to all

Journalist Lana Schwartz used Jo Zayner's DIY kit to edit human kidney tissue at home.
DIY Bacterial Gene Engineering CRISPR Kit.

The ODIN

Genetic engineering for everyone!

Yes, this is possible thanks to biohacker and artist Jo Zayner's DIY kits and classes. It's possible that you met Zayner on Netflix through the documentary called "Unnatural Selections," which, released in 2019, revealed how DNA could be changed using CRISPR technology.

By establishing The ODIN, Zayner's genetic engineering education became accessible with kits such as the "DIY Bacterial Gene Engineering CRISPR Kit." Well, you may hesitate to use it, but Lana Schwartz from Vice didn't and shared her experiences.

As reported by Schwartz, she started to take Human Tissue Culture and Engineering 201 class, which aims to teach students how to edit DNA through an experiment that involves making HEK (Human Embryonic Kidney). Got the kit just a couple of days before the class, "it came with amateur science equipment, a "Biohacking is Not a Crime" sticker, the kidney cells I'd hoped for, and vials of brightly colored liquids for the DNA-editing experiment," she said.

"To edit the genome of kidney cells, students use pipettes to add a variety of liquids with funky names to the cells. One of them was a plasmid containing the DNA coding for an antibiotic-resistance gene. The other liquids were involved in, as I like to think about it, shoving the DNA into the cells.," she added.

According to Schwartz, she felt like she was cooking during the lessons and while working on the experiment kit, and she even said that she thought she could apply this experiment to her DNA after a while.

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CRISPR therapies could cause cancer

Even if CRISPR technology is a kind of revolution in genetic engineering, some experts emphasize CRISPR therapies could cause cancer or have unintended consequences. Some critics are concerned about environmental degradation, eugenics, and bioterrorism. But what exactly is CRISPR?

Acronym for "clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats," CRISPR is a DNA sequence family found in the genomes of prokaryotic organisms like bacteria and archaea. These sequences are derived from bacteriophage DNA fragments that previously infected the prokaryote. They are used in subsequent infections to detect and destroy DNA from similar bacteriophages.

What about the kit?

You learn everything you need to know to practice bioengineering in the kit and class. Without prior experience. The class has eight lectures and experiments. The basic kit includes:

  • 0.5-10 uL pipette
  • 10-100 uL pipette
  • 100-1000 uL pipette
  • 0.5-10 uL tips
  •  10-100 uL tips
  • 100-1000 uL tips
  • Microcentrifuge tube rack
  • Petri dishes Scale and weigh boats
  •  Glass bottle
  • Nitrile Gloves
  • Orange film and Blue light
  • Microcentrifuge tubes
  • Inoculation Loops
  • LB agar
  • 50 mL tube for measuring
  • Colored water for pipetting practice
  • Bioluminescent Bacteria Grow Kit
  • GFP Bacteria Kit
  • CRISPR Kit
  • pDusk/ pDawn Biosensors Kit

Who is Jo Zayner?

Jo Zayner is a biohacker, artist, and scientist most known for their self-experimentation and work liberalizing CRISPR and making hands-on genetic engineering approachable to laypeople. At the NASA Ames Space Synthetic Biology Research Center in Mountain View, California, Zayner worked on the development of Martian colony habitats for two years. Zayner considers himself a biohacker and thinks it's important to involve the public in scientific research as opposed to keeping it confined to laboratories. In particular, Zayner found the academic biohacking community to be exclusionary and hierarchical in terms of the personalities who determine what is "safe."

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There is limited scientific evidence comparing the overall health outcomes of biohackers versus individuals adhering to conventional health practices, as many biohacking methods lack rigorous clinical validation.

Experts caution that while some biohacking techniques show anecdotal benefits, many remain experimental and require larger, controlled studies to establish their safety and effectiveness.

Medical professionals have raised concerns about the risks associated with biohacking, particularly when individuals experiment with unregulated procedures or substances, as seen in documented cases of severe health complications.

Ethical and privacy concerns, such as the misuse of implanted microchips for surveillance, further complicate the adoption of biohacking technologies, which often lack comprehensive studies on long-term effects.

Title:

Content: RFID chips in humans, "bio-hacking" or government surveillance tool?

Published: Nov. 10, 2022 at 9:54 PM CST|Updated: 51 minutes ago

SFBU Professor Ahmed Banafa, in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, outlines the risks and benefits of implanted microchips

FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Robocop, Star Wars, and Iron Man are all blockbuster examples of humans enhancing themselves through mechanical means. In reality, the application of the same principles is happening now through RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips in humans. These chips are incredibly small - about the size of a grain of rice - and can store information such as medical records or access to buildings and devices.

Professor Ahmed Banafa, an engineering professor at San Francisco Bay University, recently wrote a paper on the topic in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Professor Banafa states, "At first glance, such consumer technology looks like a harmless whim, or the next logical step among those who favor piercings, or the supposed ultimate in convenience. But inserting identification microchips in humans would also seem to bear the seeds of a particularly intrusive form of surveillance, at a time when authorities in some parts of the world have been forcibly collecting DNA and other biological data – including blood samples, fingerprints, voice recordings, iris scans, and other unique identifiers – from all their citizens."

Professor Banafa teaches not only the technical side of human enhancement but also discusses the ethics and, ultimately, the why with his students. It's important to understand all of the implications of microchip implants, their humanity-changing benefits, and the potentially disastrous consequences.

For more information about the topic or to interview San Francisco Bay University engineering Professor Banafa, please contact pr@sfbu.edu.

SFBU is a premier WASC/WSCUC-accredited, nonprofit university located in the San Francisco Bay Area/Silicon Valley. SFBU offers degree programs in computer science, engineering, technology, and management. Learn more at www.SFBU.edu.

Contact:
SFBU Communications
pr@sfbu.edu
(510) 803-7328

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SOURCE San Francisco Bay University

The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.

To constructively discuss concerns about extreme biohacking with a loved one, experts recommend affirming their autonomy while expressing care and support to foster open communication.

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Content: Filed under:

How to talk to a loved one about their health

Compassionate ways to let a friend or family member know you’re looking out for them.

Allie Volpe is a senior reporter at Vox covering mental health, relationships, wellness, money, home life, and work through the lens of meaningful self-improvement.

After her father had a transient ischemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke, Lisa McCarty snapped into action. She had taken a prominent role in his life and was knowledgeable about his health, so she offered to make a follow-up appointment with the cardiologist. Her dad, on the other hand, responded with sarcasm, McCarty says, and told his daughter he was capable of making a phone call himself. “I took that sarcasm, which he was known for, as that he wanted to handle it and was declaring his independence and ability to do it on his own,” McCarty, a writer and publicist, says. “He was also setting a boundary in this situation, which I had to respect to some degree, but also keep him safe.”

McCarty respected her father’s wishes but still remained involved in his care: She checked in to ensure he’d made the appointment, took him to future doctors’ appointments, researched other specialists, compiled a list of questions to address with medical professionals before every appointment, and discussed his health on a daily basis over the phone.

McCarty’s father died from his heart condition and other complications with cancer a few years later. She considers their conversations about his health a success, though, offering support when it was needed and stepping away when it was not. “I respected his independence while also voicing my opinion and speaking up when I was concerned about something,” she says.

When it comes to the people we love, it’s normal to take an interest in their health and well-being. As parents or other relatives age, their physical and mental health may become a topic of concern. If it’s been a few months since you’ve seen a loved one, the difference in their demeanor may be apparent. For those with whom you’re regularly in touch, they may frequently remark about the same aches and pains, prompting you to speak up.

However, many people approach these conversations by making demands of their loved ones. While well-intentioned, a heavy-handed approach “puts people on the defensive,” says Chris Segrin, head of the University of Arizona’s department of communication and a behavioral scientist whose speciality is interpersonal relationships. Some people consider putting pressure on a loved one the most effective strategy because “they’re convinced this is the thing to be done,” he says.

People avoid medical care for a variety of reasons. A record high 38 percent of Americans say they or a loved one postponed medical treatment due to the cost in 2022, according to a Gallup poll. The logistics of getting to a doctor — having too little time, a lack of transportation, and inconvenient hours at the doctor’s office — often deter people from seeking care, especially in rural areas where access to a doctor can be difficult.

They may also believe they are generally healthy enough and don’t need preventive care. When people have had a traumatic past medical experience, they may avoid care in the future. “People have bad experiences with doctors and those bad experiences can be both in the form of not getting good health guidance, and also in the form of maybe getting good health guidance, but maybe not being treated well,” says Matt Lundquist, the founder and clinical director of Tribeca Therapy, “or not being treated with dignity or experiencing body shaming or someone not being accommodating of a disability or racism or sexual assault.”

To tactfully broach conversations about a loved one’s physical and mental health, experts recommend affirming their autonomy, validating their hesitancy with the health care system, and avoiding shame and blame. While we can’t change others’ behavior, we can encourage — and support — friends and family to take steps toward improving their care.

Prepare yourself — and your loved one — for the conversation

Rather than launching into a spur-of-the-moment diatribe, carefully plan the points you’d like to outline, says therapist Israa Nasir. Make an internal list of topics you’d like to address instead of focusing on their health more broadly. Are they always mentioning how they’re having trouble walking up stairs? Have you noticed that they haven’t been to the dentist in a few years? Keep a mental note. If you’re feeling nervous, you can practice the conversation with a partner, friend, or roommate ahead of time or write down exactly what you want to say, Nasir explains.

Should you have a strained relationship with the relative you’re looking to speak with, you can outsource the conversation to a third party, Segrin says. This person should be someone your loved one trusts and listens to. Explain to the other person your concerns and why you consider them the best person to have this discussion. You could approach the third party by saying, “We both want Mom to be part of our future, but it seems like she’s not taking her health seriously. Unfortunately, I’m not the one to be able to have this conversation, but maybe you could.”

Give your loved one a heads-up that you want to discuss something important with them in private, Nasir says. This way they can prepare themselves for a serious conversation and avoid feeling ambushed.

Regardless of who initiates the conversation, these talks should always be one-on-one and in a private place. Do not broach the discussion at the dinner table or encourage other family members to get involved. “I would highly advise against that type of tactic,” Segrin says, “where you line the person up in front of five loved ones who all take turns trying to convince them.”

However, if your loved one’s well-being is at risk — they’re experiencing shortness of breath, chest pains, suicidality, or are having adverse effects of alcohol and/or drugs — don’t hesitate in getting them to a hospital immediately or calling 911. You may need to enlist the help of other loved ones in emergency situations, Segrin says.

Approach the discussion with curiosity, not blame

Once you’ve set the stage for the conversation, begin by asking your loved one about their experience. Rather than exclaiming “You always complain about your back hurting — you need to go to a physical therapist,” start by asking “What’s going on with you? How do you feel about this?” suggests Lundquist. Don’t make assumptions that they’re being purposefully neglectful or unmotivated.

Use “I statements” when framing your discussion. First, tell your loved one how much you value them and their health. Then share your concerns. You could say, “It’s hard for me to see you in pain. I would love to figure out a plan we can do together that would make this easier for you.”

Always be sure to validate their concerns. If they avoid medical care because of the cost or believe health professionals are only out to make money off of patients, acknowledge your loved one’s hesitations, says therapist and podcast co-host Shade Adekunle.

You can also use your own experience as an example, Segrin says. If you’re trying to encourage a sibling to see a dentist, tell them about a recent positive visit you had at the dentist. You could say, “I had a really terrible toothache a few weeks ago. The scheduler at the dentist’s office was amazing and got me in right away. I got the cavity filled and the whole procedure was a breeze.”

“Leading by example is a really good way to get a conversation going,” Segrin says, “because it helps the other person lower their guard and lower their defenses so they’re not feeling attacked.”

If you and your loved ones are in a position to plan for the future, in the instance of, say, an older relative who values their independence, ask them when they would consider some assistance, Adekunle says. Try asking, “How will we know when it’s time for you to get a bit more support? What do you think that we should be looking for?” They can make decisions about their well-being without being stripped of autonomy.

Other questions and statements to help begin or continue the conversation with curiosity and empathy include:

  • Is your health insurance up to date?
  • How can I best support you right now?
  • I’m worried this could grow into something more serious.
  • I’m remembering how our mother had this condition. She let it go for too long. I’d hate to see that happen to you.
  • I want you to be a part of my life for as long as possible. Will you please consider looking into this for me?

Statements to avoid include:

  • You’re not taking care of yourself.
  • You always complain about your back but you never do anything about it.
  • You have to do something about your high cholesterol.
  • You need to exercise more/watch what you eat/lose weight/cut down on drinking.

Be prepared for your loved one to potentially get defensive or shut down the conversation. Remind your loved one that you’re coming from a place of concern but don’t press them to talk any more than they’re comfortable. Your goal is to preserve the relationship and, ideally, empower your relative to make decisions for themself. In worst-case scenarios, your relative might keep you in the dark when something serious occurs, like a car accident or a fall, because they’re worried about being blamed or losing their independence, Adekunle says. Keeping the conversation focused on validation and empathy instead of blame and demands can help avoid this.

If emotions — anger, frustration, fear, sadness — are preventing either of you from having a constructive conversation, step away for a few minutes, get some air and a glass of water, Nasir says. You may need to drop the discussion entirely for the day. However, don’t forget to pick it up again in the future.

Encourage action by offering tangible support

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but if your loved one is receptive to receiving help, make an offer that will slowly move them in the right direction. Maybe that means curating a list of local doctors who take their insurance; maybe that’s offering to drive them to a doctor’s appointment. You might consider a compromise: If your knee pain hasn’t subsided in a week, would you think about reaching out to a doctor? “When do you think that you would be ready to go see someone about this?” Adekunle suggests asking. “Because then that probably means it’s serious.”

You can also offer to call the office on their behalf, but be sure to get your loved one’s permission before you take any action. “When they realize someone’s making decisions and choices for me, without consulting me,” Segrin says, “that’s very likely to result in what we call a boomerang effect where you get the exact opposite of what you want.”

You can also offer easy suggestions that encourage a more healthy or balanced lifestyle. If your best friend told you their therapist recommended they get more fresh air to minimize stress, offer to go on a post-work stroll a few times a week if you can. “Let them know you support them in their journey,” Nasir says. “If you’re just there to nag at them and you’re not ready to show up for them, then it’s not your place to have this conversation.”

Ultimately, your loved one is a person with the right and agency to make choices for themselves. All you can do is tell them how much they mean to you and show up for them when it matters.

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Using curiosity-driven questions and 'I statements' can help frame the discussion empathetically, encouraging individuals to consider potential risks or alternative approaches to their biohacking practices.

To learn more about biohacking and its scientific validity, resources like Dr. Fabio Piccini’s book and the Oxford Longevity Project provide insights into evidence-based practices and cutting-edge research.