Dr. Bomi Joseph Discusses ‘Biohacking’
If you’ve ever hoped for a few simple ways to improve your focus, energy levels, or general performance, then you’re in luck.
Biohacking is the newest term for the various methods and techniques that people are using to optimize their overall health and performance. Los Gatos, California resident, Dr. Bomi Joseph has been bio-hacking humans and phyto-hacking plants since 1984. As the Director of Peak Health Center, Dr. Bomi Joseph is passionate about self-discipline and optimizing your health through natural methods.
Types of Biohacking
There are various types of biohacking, but the primary goal is to increase your overall efficiency, productivity, and adaptability. Dr. Bomi Joseph explains that one type of biohacking is nutrigenomics (nutritional genomics), which studies the relationship between human genomes, nutrition, and health. It focuses on how the food you eat interacts with your genes and affects your overall physiology.
DIY Biology is a type of biohacking spearheaded by people with education and experience in scientific fields. The quantified self in biohacking is when you measure various biomarkers and behaviours to try and optimize your health. All of these are considered biohacking, including people that alter their own bodies by implanting do-it-yourself cybernetic devices (but we won’t get into that!).
Some of the techniques now being dubbed as ‘biohacks’ have been around for centuries, like Vipassana meditation and intermittent fasting. Dr. Bomi Joseph explains that regardless of the technique, the goal is to change your inputs (food, exercise, meditation, etc.) to improve your outputs (focus, energy, moods, etc.). This might just sound like an obvious and straightforward way to live your life, but biohacking tends to include methods that take a step further beyond common practice.
Meditation
One of the first methods that has significant scientific support is meditation. Dr. Bomi Joseph explains that meditation is the blanket term referring to a generalized control over the mind. There are dozens of methods currently available for you to explore, but one of the most interesting techniques comes from Wim Hof, the man who climbed past the “death zone” on Mt. Everest wearing only shorts and holds the world record for the world’s longest ice bath. Attributing all of these physical successes to his breathing exercises and mental control, just search for the “Wim Hof method” to find the lengthy step-by-step process on how to control your biology through breathing and mentality.
Cold Therapy
Related to the Wim Hof method is cold therapy. Some of the documented benefits of cold therapy is that it enhances immune function, releases adinoipectin which helps break down fat and repair muscles, while increasing cell longevity. Dr. Bomi Joseph suggests that the easiest way to do this biohack is by taking a cold shower. If nothing else, this is a sure-fire way to force yourself to do something unpleasant that will leave you feeling wide awake afterwards.
Eat More Healthy Fat
Try eating more healthy fat. The war on fat is over, as a result of dozens of scientific studies showcasing fat’s role in maintaining brain health. Dr. Bomi Joseph explains that your brain is made up of 60% fat, and adding healthy fats like avocados, salmon, and olive oil into your diet will aid in clarity and focus. Healthy fats provide energy, support cell growth, protect organs, and keep your body warm. Essential fatty acids are necessary for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K and help with hormone production. Healthy fats are shorter chain, polyunsaturated fatty acids and organic Moringa oil is an excellent source for these.
Measuring Health
It is critical to measure the results of biohacking. The Deep Health® Device (www.deephealthdevice.com) is a great way to measure your health and watch your body change as you biohack your way through life.