Aging… a phenomenon we all are learning more about as we continue to age daily. With aging inevitably comes exhaustion, aches and pains, a general lack of vitality, and eventually (and sadly) some type of chronic disease like cancer or Alzheimer’s. Surely we have all at least thought about how deeply our aging process impacts our health and well-being, and it’s important to make note of that.
Slowly but surely, however, the whole idea of aging is being flipped on its head. Given breakthroughs in research that have led to new understandings of what drives the aging process on a molecular and cellular level, more scientists than ever are saying, hey, maybe we don’t actually have to age – at least not nearly as quickly or painfully as we do now. Maybe we can strategically target the underlying mechanisms of aging in a way that adds years to our lives (we’re talking beyond 100) and makes those years truly worth living.
A scientist from Harvard, Dr. Sinclair, is one of the most outspoken proponents of this emerging idea that aging itself should be classified as a disease that can, in fact, be treated. In his most recent book titled “Lifespan – why we age – and why we don’t have to”, he talks about present-day technologies that allow us to be healthy for much longer until later in life.
And while part of what Sinclair is referring to when he speaks of these “technologies” is medications and genetic therapies that are being tested for their life-extending, disease-preventing (and possibly disease-reversing) potential, his research along with that of other experts in the field has also uncovered key lifestyle practices and nutrients that target these same longevity pathways in the body. Things that all of us, right now, can tap into!
Everything we put in our bodies from food to information is creating our biology and how we behave. What if tweaking those things enabled us to create the ultimate version of ourselves, leading us to feel younger, healthier and happier? Enter biohacking.
Biohacking is the process of doing research on your own body and making changes in your lifestyle to “hack” your biology and create the best body, mind, and health possible.
On a beginning level, each and every one of us can be more aware of the things we are putting into our bodies and make small but amazing changes to our lives that will affect our body chemistry and put us on the path to the healthiest version of ourselves that we can be.
We can make simple changes such as:
- Try an elimination diet to rid our bodies of foods that cause us, specifically, inflammation. Your body is unique to you so what affects you may not affect someone else. Even so-called healthy foods can cause inflammation in certain people. Your bio-hack here is finding what works for your specific body.
- Kick sugar to the curb. We all know that frequently our diet contains too much processed and refined sugars. Try eliminating those foods and feel your energy go through the roof.
- Get the proper amounts of good quality sleep. Getting adequate amounts of good quality rest resets the brain and recharges you for your day.
- Meditate. Even if you’re not a meditation expert, spending a few moments each and every day in quiet time focusing on your breathing can assist you in resetting your brain enabling you to be the best version of yourself that you can be.
- Show Gratitude. Thinking about everyday experiences in different ways positively changes your perspective on the events in your lives. Making a habit of being grateful even for the things that may annoy us has been proven to positively impact our moods and our brains.
