Is biohacking a good thing?

Biohacking your way to optimal health — yes, biohacking. As recently discussed in the St. Cloud Times, this term is becoming more prevalent in the world of health, so I am writing to break it down in a way that is understandable and relatable. In simple terms, biohacking focuses on optimizing health through lifestyle changes that are effective. These lifestyle changes can be very simple, or more challenging ranging from trialing an elimination diet to going bare foot more often, meditating or practicing better posture. Other lifestyle changes, such as eating organically, using an activity tracker and decreasing household toxins to name a few are things you might already be doing. If so, consider yourself a biohacker.

Let’s be honest, to be a “biohacker” sounds like a terrible thing, right? It is a new term that even I have just recently been made aware of. Here at Lifestyle Health, we dip into biohacking every day with our patients. We work with our patients to support lifestyle changes that will meet their specific goals and desires and fit well within their daily life for them to feel their best. For one it may be an elimination diet, for another it may be a mindfulness class or acupuncture. Biohacking will most certainly help improve health markers (i.e. weight, BMI, cholesterol) and it also may help within other areas including mental clarity, energy, mood, decreased inflammation, amongst many other health improvements. Like mentioned earlier, it is day-to-day changes and practices that will help you to become your best self.

Although there are many methods that are considered biohacking — especially for beginners (fitness trackers, food trackers, etc.) — the more aggressive approaches could possess some risk if not medically supervised. Certain chronic disease states may not be appropriate for specific “hacks.” Here at Lifestyle Health, we can monitor patients and their health as well as make modifications and individualize a plan that will work best for them.

Biohacking is a new term, but the concept has been around for, well, ever. Let’s make modifications to what we do every day to feel better. And if something is not working, let’s try something different. Our team is here to help you!

Start the new year out right with a customized approach to finding your best health at Lifestyle Health!