Edna Oliveros
Biohacking is just about using the latest science and practical guidance to improve how we feel every day. This means that we have to make changes to our environment and inside us in to control our biology and become the best version of ourselves.
This sounds fantastic – doesn’t it? But how can you actually decode yourself? Simply, get to know your body, mind, spirit and menstrual cycle – the more you experiment with new things, the more information you’ll get and the easier you’ll improve your health and wellness.
TIP #1 – Food Sync:
Do you actually know what those foods that affect your gut and make you feel bloated, tired or anxious are?
What you eat has a direct impact on you and your gut microbiome. Imbalances in the gut bacteria are directly related to inflammation and a wide range of diseases including obesity, allergic disorders, diabetes, autism, cancer, anxiety and depression to name a few. (1)(2)
So if you want to start biohacking your body – you should start improving your food quality.
Small steps you can take:
- Make fiber your best friend. If you don’t eat veggies on daily basis, start including them in your meals.
- Give up processed foods and sugars including artificial sweeteners– Sugar makes you old!
- Start your morning eating healthy fats and protein – instead of bread, cereals and fruit. This will also boost your energy.
- Try a food reset. Chris Kresser in his book The Paleo Cure takes you step by step. If you have questions on this, please reach out.
TIP #2 – Cycle Sync:
Getting on top of my menstrual cycle has been one of the most powerful hacks to my health. It allows me to balance my physical and mental energy throughout the month, so I know when to push myself to be more productive and when to let my body rest.
When we work with our hormones rather than against them, we see a decrease in food cravings, fatigue, cramps, and mood swings, as well as an increase in energy. Wouldn’t you like to have more vitality, energy, and more time to do the things you love?
Small steps you can take:
- Download a cycle tracking app
- Start tracking your cycle – get to know how your hormones work and get to terms with them.
- Start watching your cravings, energy picks, and mood swings during the month. Listen to your body, you just have been ignoring it.
- Measure your body temperature and monitor your cervix position and cervical fluid. (They’re all signs of your hormonal health)
- Alissa Vitti in her book Women Code gives you an easy-to-follow tutorial and if you want to take your knowledge on this to the next level check out Taking Charge of your Fertility by Dr. Tony Wechsler.
TIP #3 Mind & Spirit Sync:
In order to sync with your mind and spirit you need to work on several things:
Managing stress: Did you know women are more stressed than men? The bad news is that prolonged elevated cortisol creates a cascade of hormonal reactions that can become a chronic disease (5).
Develop a consistent practice: mediation is the gold standard practice for the mind and spirit. It’s the door to set yourself free from thought. If you haven’t ventured to try it, get curious and practice those things that resonate with you and bring you joy.
Sleep quality: how’s your sleep? How many hours a week do you get to sleep, do you wake up refreshed and ready for the next day. Can you easily focus on work through the day?
If you didn’t know it, sleep has a direct impact on your physical and mental health. So by getting your sleep on track, you can actually have major improvements in all areas of your life.
Small steps you can take:
- Identify your stress triggers through the day – start creating strategies to avoid unnecessary stress.
- Breath – you don’t need to sit down for 20 min to meditate in a cross-legged position. Start simply to breathe and allow yourself to be present wherever you are.
- Limit your exposure to technology and enjoy more time around people.
- Strengthen your connections with others and even once a month go out with someone that re-charges your energy.
Recommended books: The Power of Now, Breath, and Think Like a Monk.
My favorite biohacking tools:
- Oura ring: it allows me to track my sleep and it also tracks my body temperature variances. This allows me to identify my peak day accurately. Yay!
- Coldwater shower: this has incredible benefits such as reducing stress levels, enhancing a robust immune response, more energy, alertness, and resilience. The king of the Ice is the Dutch author Win Hof.
- My Flo App: this app allows me to track my cycle easily. It shows your trends over time and allows you to track symptoms. It offers helpful advice based on the information you provide.
- Ninja Blender: I literally love my blender because it allows me to make so many things in an instant. I literally throw all my veggies in it and drink it on the go. There are no excuses when it comes to getting all your macronutrients.
