Biohacking: Definition, Safety, and Top 11 Hacks for Beginners

It can be described as citizen or do-it-yourself biology.  For many,  this consists of making small, incremental diet or lifestyle changes to make small improvements in your health and well-being.

It does have some merits, but experimenting on yourself without taking all the proper precautions can lead to unexpected side effects.

1. Nutrigenomics focuses on how the food you eat interacts with your genes and how different nutrients affect how you feel, think, and behave.
2. DIY biology: Biohackers with education and experience in scientific fields share tips and techniques to help non-experts conduct structured experiments on themselves.
3. Grinder: Grinders seek to become “cyborgs” by optimizing their bodies with a combination of gadgets, chemical injections, implants etc.

• Some forms of biohacking may be safe. For example, taking certain supplements or making changes to your diet can be safe. Even some body mods, like RFID implants, may be safe when overseen by a medical professional.
• Some biohacking methodologies border on the unsafe or even illegal. DIY bio and grinder sometimes center around experiments that aren’t considered safe or ethical in research facilities.

Is a broad term referring to the study of biological processes to inform technological advancement. 

Biotechnology can range from using bacterial strains for brewing beer to editing genes using CRISPR. Advances or learnings in biotechnology often affect experiments in biohacking, and vice versa, but you don’t need biotechnology to biohack

Nootropics are substances in natural, supplement, or food and beverage form used to increase cognitive function. This can include your mood, productivity, or attention span.

A common nootropic is caffeine. Other widely used nootropics include piracetam (medication used for improving cognitive function).

In supplement form, nootropics aren’t regulated by the FDA. In food or drinks, nootropics are usually safe unless consumed at high levels.

1. Drink caffeine: have your caffeine at the same time every day and keep a journal of how it makes you feel in the minutes or hours afterward.
2. Try an elimination diet: you’ll get rid of something from your diet and then slowly re-introduce it to see how it affects your body. Popular with allergies.
3. Get some blue light for a mood boost: Get a few extra hours of sunlight each day and see if you notice any changes.
4. Try intermittent fasting: a type of dieting method that involves only eating between certain times, then fasting for an extended period until the next designated time to eat.