Biohacking: Upgrade your wellness routine
Curious about the latest developments in personal wellness and longevity? Check out biohacking, a trending form of do-it-yourself biology that seeks to increase peak performance and—in some cases—the span of one’s life through improved biological function.
Biohacking focuses on one or more of the following areas: age, energy (for sleep and stress relief), and nutrition, as well as cognitive and physical health. Specific biohacking techniques are wide-ranging in practice, but can include the following:
- light therapy
- nutrigenomics (the intersection of nutrition and genetics)
- intermittent fasting
- meditation
- wearable tech
Because many areas in biohacking remain unstudied, there’s surprisingly little data available about the efficacy of these techniques—particularly involving human subjects. Classic cognition-enhancing techniques, however, such as meditation or solving word puzzles, can be practiced at home and have been proven to decrease stress and anxiety while increasing mental acuity.
Greet the day with coffee (and olive oil?)
Exciting news for those who love unexpected food pairings—olive oil and coffee are making their way into mugs everywhere! Similar to a plant-based version of bulletproof coffee, which blends ghee and MCT oil with hot coffee, fans of coffee with olive oil claim the combination of caffeine and fat boosts metabolism while preventing energy crashes.
The drink is described as decadent and nutty, with the blended oil giving the coffee a light, creamy texture. For those making the drink at home, experts suggest using good quality extra virgin oil and avoiding olive oil blends.
As for health benefits, both coffee and olive oil are rich sources of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants with myriad benefits to the body. Both ingredients are anti-inflammatory and coffee has been shown to improve focus, mood, and productivity while being linked to decreased risk of cognitive decline (though remember, moderation is key!).
Try antioxidant-rich aronia berries
While you might think you’re unfamiliar with aronia berries (also known as black chokeberries), chances are you’ve encountered this ultra-tart fruit before in the form of store-bought juice, jams, fruit tea, wine, and even dietary supplements.
The fruit is an abundant source of anti-inflammatory phenolic plant compounds and has been studied for its anti-diabetic and anti-infective properties as well as for its potential applications for heart disease. Preliminary animal studies have found that aronia berries may fight insulin resistance, improve liver function, and could even play a role in cancer prevention.
Native to Minnesota, the aronia berry shrub is a mainstay in food production but is less commonly sold on its own due its intensely bitter flavor. To use chokeberries in the kitchen, try adding them to recipes for homemade granola, pies, muffins, and breads.
Get sweet on buckwheat honey
If you like your sweeteners with big flavor and major health benefits, then get ready to meet buckwheat honey—a cost-effective manuka honey-alternative with an even more impressive nutritional profile.
With a taste that’s described as malty, robust, and just a hint of barnyard, buckwheat honey is less sweet than other options. This amber-colored honey gets its taste from bees that primarily pollinate buckwheat red and purple buckwheat flowers, giving the honey its dark red appearance.
In terms of nutrients, buckwheat honey has been found to contain a higher amount of iron, manganese, and zinc than manuka honey. Additionally, when the two honeys are compared in terms of their cellular antioxidant properties, buckwheat honey comes out on top once again.
Enjoy buckwheat honey as a sweetener for herbal tea, oatmeal, baked goods, and marinades.
This article was originally published in the July 2024 issue of delicious living magazine.
