How To Biohack Your Way To Better Health
How To Biohack Your Way To Better Health

How To Biohack Your Way To Better Health

Biohacking may sound a bit sci-fi, but it’s actually a back-to-basics approach to wellness that focuses on bringing the body into balance. Intrigued? Here’s what two leading biohackers want you to know – and some simple ways to get started.
By Tor West
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Image: JUNO/STOCKSY UNITED

So what exactly is biohacking?

“Biohacking may sound scary, but the idea behind it is surprisingly simple. Biohacking is a trendy way of saying health optimisation. It’s a holistic way of life where you stay in tune with your body and mind by tracking certain biomarkers – such as your sleep, stress levels and physical performance – with wearables and apps, then implementing healthy routines and using the right supplements to optimise your health and wellbeing. It’s about tweaking your daily habits to keep you thriving physically and mentally.” – Sophie Chabloz, co-founder & CPO of Avea Life

Tell us more about the benefits…

“Biohacking can deepen your awareness of your health and what you need to do personally to support and optimise your wellbeing. Many people accept symptoms like low energy, gut issues like bloating or inconsistent bowel movements, hormonal imbalances, headaches and chronic pain as a part of life and something they have to put up with. But this shouldn’t be the case. Your body is always striving to heal and achieve a state of harmony and balance – we just need to support it in doing so. Clients I’ve seen who biohack report better energy levels, brighter, clearer skin, better sleep, improved mood and clarity of mind, reduced stiffness and fat loss.” – Kim Pearson, nutritionist

Who’s it for?

“If we think of biohacking as a way to better understand the body and optimise health, everyone can benefit. However, women can especially benefit from biohacking due to their cyclical nature. Each week of our cycle looks different in terms of how we feel and what we need to optimise wellbeing and performance. For example, our oestrogen levels rise and peak in weeks two to three of our cycle, which can boost energy levels and mood. We can use this information to make the most of high-intensity workouts and strength training. Hormones aside, biohacking can be a powerful way to manage chronic health conditions or genetic predispositions to certain conditions.” – Sophie 

“Biohacking is about TWEAKING YOUR DAILY HABITS to keep you thriving physically and mentally.”

Why should we be biohacking?

“Unfortunately, we live in a world where it takes work to be healthy. Despite our best intentions, both our lifestyle and environment do a lot of work against us. The food that’s easily accessible and readily available is mostly highly processed and nutrient devoid. The air we breathe in our homes and offices is often oxygen devoid and filled with synthetic chemicals from cleaning products, air fresheners and perfumes. Our tap water is laden with contaminants. We can all benefit from paying more attention to how our day-to-day behaviours and environment are helping or hindering our health.” – Kim 

Is it safe?

“Many biohacking practices, such as improving diet and exercise habits, practising good sleep hygiene, and managing stress, are generally considered safe and are supported by scientific research. However, some more experimental or extreme biohacking practices, such as using untested supplements or undergoing unregulated procedures, may carry greater risks and should be approached with caution. Always do your research and consult with a healthcare professional before implementing any biohacking practices.” – Sophie 

Any other advice before getting started?

“Biohacking is about optimising your own personal health, so it’s important to remember that different things work for different people. Just because someone you follow on Instagram eats one meal a day and that works for them, it doesn’t mean that’s right for you. And keep things in perspective – becoming obsessed is not a healthy approach.” – Kim 

Laura Chouette/Unsplash

How do you incorporate biohacking into your life?

“The Whoop band is a great way to keep an eye on your sleep and recovery to ensure you’re getting an optimal amount of rest. I try not to obsess over the data, though. When I do stay up late and have a glass of wine or two, it’s a conscious decision rather than a mindless, regular habit. I have worn continuous glucose monitors for periods of time, so I have a very clear understanding of how different foods impact my blood sugar levels. I know that, due to my genetics, I am particularly sensitive to carbohydrates, so I stick to a low-carb diet. Using a glucose monitor periodically helps me get even clearer on the foods that spike my blood sugar and those that don’t. I also have regular blood tests to check nutrient and hormone levels, so I can supplement accordingly.” – Kim 

“Getting daylight first thing is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Five minutes of grounding (standing barefoot in the grass) is also a powerful morning habit. An overnight fasting window of 12 hours keeps me on track – as a woman, it’s best not to fast for longer than 14 hours to keep your hormones balanced. Men can easily fast for longer windows of time. I’ve been converted by the Glucose Goddess and opt for a savoury breakfast – it’s made a big difference in my energy levels and cravings. Wearing blue light-blocking glasses in the afternoon when I’m working on my computer and when watching Netflix in the evening ensures my body produces optimal melatonin levels to support my circadian rhythm.” – Sophie  

What are some of the most common misconceptions about biohacking?

“People often think biohacking is expensive, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Sunlight, good sleep, nature, movement, meditation and being in tune with your body and mind are free. At the same time, biohacking is not a quick fix. It’s a continuous process of experimentation and learning what works best for your body and mind. It requires patience, dedication and consistency. You also won’t improve your health with one magic supplement. Focusing on the basics like diet, sleep, movement and stress management should be the priority. These are simple and low-cost ways to improve your health and wellbeing that don’t require special tools or gadgets.” – Sophie 


Feeling inspired? Here, the experts share their tips on how to upgrade your wellbeing…

Start Small

“Take a step back and be honest with yourself – what in your life needs addressing first? It could be your sleep, nutrition or drinking enough water – you’ll likely know the answer. Start with that first thing, do it to the best of your ability, establish it as a habit, then start on the next thing. It’s better to establish long-term habits over time rather than trying to do everything at once and falling at the first hurdle.” – Kim 

Expose Yourself To Daylight

“Most of us have a dysfunctional relationship with light. We get too much of the wrong types of light from our screens and indoor lighting, and not enough daylight. Work with your circadian clock. Get daily light first thing in the morning and avoid light from screens in the evening. If you can’t avoid them completely, use blue light-blocking glasses.” – Kim

Get Tracking

“If you don’t track it, you can’t hack it. Invest in a device like a Whoop strap or Oura ring to monitor your sleep and recovery. I’m also a big advocate for regular testing. It’s important to keep an eye on your basic health markers like liver function, blood sugar levels, hormones and nutrient levels. Navigating tests can be a bit of a minefield so, if in doubt, speak with a qualified nutritionist or functional medicine doctor who can guide you around testing.” – Kim 

Prioritise Sleep

“Poor sleep negatively impacts many aspects of our health and wellbeing. Work out how many hours of sleep a night is optimal for you and do your best to get that much most nights. Going to bed at the same time each night, avoiding afternoon caffeine, not eating too late and implementing a bedtime routine that avoids blue light exposure all support good sleep.” – Kim 

“Wearing blue light-blocking glasses in the afternoon will ensure your body produces OPTIMAL MELATONIN for deeper sleep.”

Tweak Your Diet

“Focus on adding healthy foods to your plate rather than restricting your diet. If your plate is filled with 50% vegetables and plant-based foods, you’ll have less space in your stomach for more indulgent foods. An overnight fast of 12-14 hours can also help improve your blood sugar control and support gut health.” – Sophie Shotter, aesthetic doctor

Book A Blood Test

“For best results, any supplements you take should be bespoke, based on data and advised on by an expert. Start with a basic blood test – you can even do this at home through fingerprick testing – to understand your personal levels of micronutrients and curate a targeted nutrition regime. At the same time, we can all benefit from taking an NAD supplement. NAD is an enzyme found in our cells, but levels drop as we age. Supplementing with NAD will increase energy levels, improve cognitive function and protect the body against ageing. It’s a great biohacking supplement.” – Sophie 

Keep An Open Mind

“Don’t knock biohacking till you’ve tried it. Even small tweaks to your lifestyle can make a difference to your overall health, energy and vitality. Of course, there are some areas of extreme biohacking that aren’t safe and you’d be right to be sceptical about these, but others have a significant amount of evidence behind them. A huge part of biohacking is about having increased knowledge of your own body – and that’s something you can’t go wrong with.” – Sophie 

For more from the experts, visit Avea-Life.com, Kim-Pearson.com & DrSophieShotter.com. You can also find Kim at RoseBar, the cutting-edge new longevity club housed within Six Senses Ibiza, where she is lead nutritionist. Kim’s clinic team are based in London and consult clients internationally online. Visit RoseBarLongevity.com for more information. 

DISCLAIMER: Features published by SheerLuxe are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programme.

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