7 Micro-nutrients Found in High-Quality Chocolate High-quality chocolate is the biohacker’s go-to treat: it is rich both in taste and nutrients. When it comes to chocolate, aim for a high-quality one with at least 70-85 % of cocoa solids – the higher the percentage the higher the nutrient density. Commercial milk chocolate is not optimal food. It usually contains low levels of cocoa and plenty of fillers including sugar, milk, and even gluten. Recently, a healthier option (raw chocolate), has become a popular alternative for commercial chocolate products. Raw chocolate is made of (mostly) unroasted cacao beans, cacao butter (theobroma oil), and low levels of some...
Back to Basics: 9 Main Hormones and Their Functions Hormones are key elements in almost all metabolic processes in the body — examples of these include development and growth, reproductive health, metabolism, sleep, stress, and mood. They are endogenous ( i.e., produced in the body, endocrine glands to be exact) signaling molecules in the circulatory system that facilitate communication between organs. Despite their importance for overall wellbeing, many have little knowledge when it comes to their hormonal health. Hence it’s time to get back to basics and uncover hormones! MELATONIN ➡️ REGULATES CIRCADIAN RHYTHM Melatonin is a hormone secreted mostly by the pineal gland during hours of darkness. It primarily...
How to Activate the Vagus Nerve to Reduce Stress The Vagus nerve (the tenth cranial nerve) consists of two distinct nerve branches located on the right and left of the spinal cord. It is the most important and also the longest nerve in the parasympathetic nervous system. In practice, the vagus nerve regulates the function of all the internal organs, including the contraction of the muscles involved in speaking and eating. Article written by: Inka ImmonenEdited by: Olli Sovijärvi Introduction The Vagus nerve is also the body’s key nerve involved in relaxing and resting. That’s why it’s often discussed in the context of stress. As you’ve probably experienced, changes in the...
7 Foods That Support Hormonal Health Learn the best foods to support your hormonal health. These include avocado, pomegranate, broccoli sprouts and eggs to name but a few. Hormones are signaling molecules that are produced in glands in the endocrine system and then distributed to the circulatory system to facilitate communication between organs. Hormones play an important role in multiple functions in the body such as metabolism, movement, sleep, stress, growth & development, reproduction, and mood. Hormonal health can be supported via lifestyle choices. One way is through nutrition. We have listed foods that support hormonal health, scroll down to learn how! AVOCADO Avocados are rich...
Health Benefits of Photobiomodulation (Red & NIR light therapy) Red light and near-infrared light therapy, or photobiomodulation, can improve tissue and skin health, increase muscle recovery, support nervous system health, increase general energy, and reduce pain and inflammation. Just 5 minutes a day is enough! Learn more about Biohacker's red light devices here. The sources of light (sun, the stars, and the moon) have been worshipped in different cultures throughout human history. Light, whether artificial or natural, does not only give us awe-inducing experiences but also guides biological processes in the body, for example, circadian rhythms. Introduction I will love the light for it shows me the way,...
6 Foods to Support the Brain This article covers six foods that support the brain; they are eggs, blueberries, fish & microalgae, dark leafy greens, avocados and extra-virgin olive oil. Read more to find out the benefits of these. Those who have practiced at the gym know that sufficient protein and mineral intake are essential to building muscle. Similarly, the brain benefits from cognitive training whether it is work, education, puzzles, or learning a new language. Importantly, your brain is also partially built from the nutrients you eat and thus diet also has an integral role in supporting cognition such as memory, planning, emotions, and focus....
6 Ways To Develop Working Memory Meditation, HIIT, listening to music, yoga, barefoot running and tDCS. What have these ailments in common? They all improve working memory! Find out more from this article! As its name implies, working memory represents the information storage currently in use for work or other activities. It is activated when the individual is making deductions, thinking, studying, solving problems, or retrieving information from long-term memory for immediate use. Working memory is also essential to the decision-making process. Working memory can be divided into verbal and nonverbal (visuospatial) working memory based on the content processed. Brain scans have made it possible to...
Lotta’s "too good to eat" banana pancakes Lotta Viitaniemi’s banana pancakes are popular for a reason: they are both gluten and dairy-free! The recipe is simple yet delicious and versatile in terms of altering it to your liking. For example, add 1-2- tsp of raw cocoa powder for a twist. Enjoy these pancakes for breakfast, snack, or dessert! Recipe (1 portion, 4-5 pancakes): - 1 organic banana - 2 organic eggs - 0,5 dl organic oat flour - 1 tsp baking powder - Organic butter for cooking Spice it up with vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom! Put all ingredients into a blender. Mix until the batter is smooth....
6 Ways to Measure Physical Fitness For biohackers, various tests provide an opportunity to comprehensively assess one’s physical development. Tests help assess fitness and performance as well as planning an optimal exercise regime. Today, various technological aids and wearable applications make it possible to comprehensively assess physical performance and its various areas. UKK WALK TEST The scientifically validated UKK walk test was developed in Finland in the early 1990s to measure endurance fitness, that is, the performance of the respiratory and circulatory system. The walk test is intended especially for the study of the physical fitness of middle-aged people. However, it can also be applied to...
Gender Differences and Stages of Sleep – How Sex Hormones Affect Your Sleep ‘’Adequate and good quality sleep supports human health in many ways, as well as the optimal functioning of the brain and body. Insomnia manifests as a difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep or, for example, a tendency to wake up earlier than usual.’’ Occasionally experienced insomnia is very common for example due to temporarily experienced stress. However, prolonged insomnia affects the physical, cognitive and emotional functions and experiences of the body. This works in both directions: for example, prolonged stress or depression can cause a person to have insomnia. Women and the elderly suffer from insomnia more than men and...
6 Nutrients To Support Cognitive Performance The desire to improve focus, mood, and memory have intrigued humans for ages. Expanding the mind's core capacities (i.e., cognitive enhancement) has been long practiced with substances, rituals, and mental training. Nootropics (also called smart drugs) are natural or synthetic substances used by healthy individuals to shift consciousness into a wanted direction, for example, to be more alert, improve mood, or have better focus and motivation at work. We listed below six nutrients that can support cognitive performance in various ways. CAFFEINE + L-THEANINE Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world and also one of the...
Top 3 Technological Interventions for the Immune System In this post we go through technological interventions and remedies for reducing pathogen exposure by eliminating for example viruses at home and at the office. This post also describes about the benefits of heat/cold alteration to your immunity as well as using essential oils as disinfectant. Enjoy the read! Light technologies Photobiomodulation is the utilization of non-ionizing photonic energy to trigger photochemical changes within cellular structures that are receptive to photons, particularly in mitochondria. At the cellular level, visible red and near-infrared light energies are absorbed by mitochondria, which perform the function of producing cellular energy (ATP) via cytochrome C oxidase....
A comprehensive analysis and optimization strategies for improving deep sleep Everything and much more about improving your deep sleep. How can you go from 15 minutes of deep sleep to 2 hours every night. What supplements to take? What is the best sleep routine? Find out all this and read on... Introduction to deep sleep My quest for better sleep has been ongoing for the past 10 years. I used to sleep only 5.5 hours per night, and the quality of sleep was poor. I was totally overworked and almost burned out after doing crazy hours in the ER and being literally on call for almost five years in a...
Measuring Ketosis - How To Monitor Your Ketosis Accurately? Ketosis produces three main ketone bodies: acetone, acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. All three ketone bodies can be measured using various methods. The most commonly used method is to check the levels of betahydroxybutyrate (BHB) in the blood. Another popular method is to measure the amount of acetone in the breath. A third method is to measure the acetoacetate levels in the urine. Of these, the BHB levels in the blood are considered the most accurate, particularly for monitoring changes in the ketone body production in the early stages of ketosis. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KETOSIS: BIOHACKER'S GUIDE TO KETOSIS....
How to choose and prepare high-quality coffee? Coffee is an important part of a biohacker’s daily routine: many people enjoy coffee daily due to its stimulating and mood-lifting effects. We all know the feeling of preparing freshly brewed coffee beans into a delicious and energizing drink. But what if you could upgrade your beloved coffee and get the most out of its health benefits? When coffee recipes are intelligently orchestrated you can enjoy the benefits of coffee while balancing the stimulating effects, thus enjoying a longer-lasting boost of energy and focus. In this article, we prepared information about choosing and preparing high-quality coffee, and its health benefits...
7 Ways to Enhance Immunity A well-functioning immune system is a reflection of the total state of health of the body. A healthy person is an ecosystem of different life-forms that live in balance with each other and the environment. An epidemic can indeed be an opportunity to review your lifestyle and find ways to not only enhance your overall wellbeing but also your resilience to illness. We deep-dived into existing research on immunity and collected the best tips for enhancing immunity here: ENJOY REGULAR SUNLIGHT The most bioavailable source of vitamin D is the sun. You should get daily sunlight exposure as often as...
How to optimize your blood glucose levels? Let’s face it: we have all been in the situation where you get some blood work done by your doctor and all you get is ”everything looks ok, all within the reference ranges”. But usually, that’s it. No additional lifestyle advice, no comments on the specific results, and all you got was a conclusion that you are not acutely sick. I wanna share with you a concrete example of why getting just a typical ”all within the reference ranges” answer isn’t often enough. For example, you might have borderline diabetes, developing insulin resistance, and a chance to develop metabolic...
Begin the Year 2021 by Optimizing Your Lab Results Modern health care really means treating illnesses. Lab tests are generally used to find illness, not health. We wanted to create a comprehensive course based on preventive health care. It is therefore focused on preventing illness and promoting well-being. Before offering you this simply unique online course, we want to share with you some important information that is also well covered in the course. WHY “WITHIN REFERENCE RANGE” IS NOT ENOUGH AND MAY NOT MEAN A HEALTHY BODY? Physicians generally consider findings “normal” if they fall within the reference range. Often they miss the big picture by ignoring various...