Wanna live better or longer? [Insert biohack here] will solve all those pesky problems. In all fairness, it’s human nature to seek improvement, especially in our jobs or academics — you know, the things that demand a constant, high performance.
Of course our ears will prick up at the slightest mention of attaining that elusive edge. Remember Aderall in college?
Biohacking isn’t a new topic. The term refers to a wide range of activities to affect the body’s biological systems.
The objective is to optimize health, well-being, and focus. If we are able to effectively manage what we put into our body, our output can increase. It’s not inherently evil.
But social media influencers are key in promoting the latest products/diets/supplements/oils, often doing so for money, not to improve others’ lives. And, there’s a darker side of drug use, both prescription and illegal, leading to potentially dangerous and abusive situations.
The misleading aspect of biohacking is that every body is different.
Regardless of social media promises, people should be wary of ingesting additional products.
Despite the fancy names one can give it, biohacking has the same objective of medicine, but product development typically excludes medical practitioners.
Legitimate medical practices take huge amounts of funding and research to figure out and insure safety, and they’re heavily regulated by the federal government.
A random word of mouth promise about some obscure herbal supplement is not the same thing.
There are no shortcuts to improving one’s health.
And biohacking doesn’t necessarily mean making life more complex. It’s important to start with the basics before jumping to elaborate diet regimens, powders, pills, etc. Simple steps like routine exercise, 7-8 hours of sleep, and healthier meal choices may help get you on track.
It’s amazing to realize what you can change about yourself before joining some random Thought Cult you found on Instagram. And in the case that your health needs a modern, helping hand, do the proper research before falling into the dark internet hole.
Or better yet, consult your doctor.
Staff Writer, Allison Yano is an artist and writer based in LA. She holds a BFA in Applied Visual Arts and Minor in Writing from Oregon State University, and an MFA in Fine Art from Pratt Institute. Her waking hours are filled with an insatiable love of storytelling, science, and soy lattes.
