Imagine wearing a mask while running that makes you breathe in less oxygen. Or putting laser lamps in your nose. How about quantum energy devices?
If you are now wondering who does such a thing, then the answer is: Ben Greenfield. These are just some of the many strange things the biohacker does to live longer and healthier. Greenfield believes in combining ancestral wisdom with modern science to unlock longevity. And his efforts have paid off. He tests the length of his telomeres, which indicate the age of the body. At the chronological age of 34, when he started all this, Ben's biological age was 37. After a year, his biological age had dropped to 36. And when he was 36, his biological age even dropped to 20 years.
In total, he has reduced his age by 17 years in 3 years! This puts the American in a similar category to Bryan Johnson or Dave Pascoe. In this article, we want to introduce you to Ben Greenfield and look at what he does to “hack” his life.
Ben Greenfield - The Quantified Self Pioneer and Biohacking Guru
Ben Greenfield is probably one of the best-known biohackers. As a former competitive athlete, bestselling author and fitness expert, Greenfield has made it his mission to push the human body and mind to their limits using modern science and technology. The American shares his knowledge in his books, on his website and in countless blog articles and podcast episodes.
Who is Ben Greenfield?
Greenfield, born in 1981, has had an impressive career as an athlete. He was College tennis player, water polo professional, bodybuilder and above all, an extremely successful triathlete. With 13 completed Ironman triathlons and numerous victories in obstacle races, he has repeatedly demonstrated his physical capabilities.
Additionally, he was voted America’s Best Personal Trainer by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
But Greenfield is more than just an athlete. He is a pioneer in the field of Quantified Self – measuring and analyzing various body data to optimize performance and health. Using modern trackers and sensors, he constantly monitors his vital signs, sleep patterns, nutrition and much more in order to gain valuable insights for his health.
The Biohacking Empire of Ben Greenfield
Greenfield's true passion lies in biohacking – the optimization of the human body and brain through various technologies, dietary supplements and lifestyle interventions. You can find out more about this in our biohacking Guide.
He is the author of several bestselling books on fitness, health and anti-aging, including "Beyond Training," "Boundless," and "Fit Soul."
On his website, in podcasts and books, Greenfield regularly shares his insights and experiences from the world of biohacking.From taking specific dietary supplements such as resveratrol, NAD boosters and quercetin about new training methods such as high-intensity interval training to advanced technologies such as cold and heat exposure, light therapy and Neurofeedback – Greenfield lets nothing on the way to ultimate performance on the track.
We take a closer look at his methods and compare him with other biohackers in the field.
Nutrition
An important part of Greenfield's approach is his diet. Similar to other biohackers, he practices a form of intermittent fasting and avoids processed foods. Instead, he eats a nutrient-rich diet with lots of vegetables, high-quality protein sources and healthy fats. On his website you can find some information about his favorite foods, which change from time to time. Ben Greenfield's meal plan would look something like this:
Typical breakfast:
- Green smoothie with almond milk, leafy greens, protein powder, chia seeds, hemp seeds, raw cocoa, spirulina, dulse algae and cinnamon
- Handful of walnuts with salt and pepper, glass of homemade kombucha
Typical lunch:
- Large salad always with avocado, sprouts, seaweed, seeds and various vegetables
- Often seafood or fatty fish such as salmon
Typical dinner:
- Often beef or other lean meat
- Lots of green leafy vegetables
- Whole grain sources such as quinoa or wild rice
Are vegetable oils bad for your health?
Ben Greenfield is an avowed opponent of vegetable oils because he sees them as a major trigger for chronic diseases. He argues that vegetable oils negatively affect metabolism, inflammation levels, oxidative stress, weight problems and cancer risk.
In a conversation with Jeff Nobbs of Zero Acre Farms, Greenfield stresses that many people have not yet realized how harmful vegetable oils really are. The toxic compounds they contain would make the consumption of fried foods virtually as harmful as smoking cigarettes.
Instead Greenfield recommends saturated fats such as olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil for preparing food. In general, he advocates steaming, boiling or preparing food in a steamer and adding fats only after cooking. His goal is to completely eliminate vegetable oils from the food system, as he sees them as a massive threat to health.
Ben Greenfield and the Keto Diet
The biohacker practices, in contrast to the past, no strict ketogenic diet more, but has a more balanced approach. According to his own statements, he was inspired by the podcast of Peter Attia came across the keto diet as a possible nutritional option for endurance athletes. In the meantime He avoids carbohydrates during the day for more focus, but eats 200-300g of carbohydrates in the evening for better sleep and balanced hormones. He also switched from a fat-heavy keto diet to a Mediterranean-inspired diet with foods like olives, avocados and olive oil.
Another issue on which the biohacker has changed his mind is regarding cholesterol-lowering drugs.Ben was initially very critical of statins, among other things. However, advanced heart tests that showed plaque deposits made him change his mind. He is now taking a PCSK9 inhibitor as well as low doses of rosuvastatin and ezetimibe.
If you want to learn more about the topic, you can get an overview in our blood lipid levels Get the article. There we explain in detail why blood lipid levels are so important for your health and how we can interpret the laboratory values.
Ben Greenfield's supplements
In addition to his diet, an important part of his routine is the daily intake of nutritional supplements. Ben Greenfield has even founded his own brand under whose name he sells supplements in the USA. Although the American is not quite as extreme as other biohackers (Bryan Johnson and Dave Pascoe both take over 100 different supplements a day!), but he also takes a number of nutritional supplements, including:
- coenzyme Q10
- magnesium
- NAD booster
- calcium
- Sleep booster, similar to QNIGHT
- zinc
- resveratrol
- quercetin
- creatine
- whey protein
- krill oil
- oregano oil
- alpha-lipoic acid
- Green tea extract, e.g. EGCG
Why does Ben Greenfield take supplements?
As a biohacker, Ben Greenfield tries to get all the possible benefits for his body while being in harmony with nature. Why is it that he relies on so many nutritional supplements? In his blog, he explains that our modern, post-industrial lifestyle with many pollutants and stress factors is increasing our nutritional needs. no longer solely through normal and balanced nutrition makes it coverable.
In addition, modern agriculture has made soils less nutrient-rich, meaning that conventionally grown foods contain fewer important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. As we age, our ability to efficiently absorb nutrients from food also decreases.
As an active endurance athlete, Ben Greenfield has significantly higher nutrient requirements than the general population. Even in organically grown products, the nutrient composition is often not optimal compared to the historical food sources of our ancestors. In addition, modern processing and storage methods can further reduce the nutrient content.
Greenfield argues that our ancestors consumed herbs, extracts and other "supplements" in addition to food to meet their entire nutritional needs. He therefore sees dietary supplements as a useful addition to a nutrient-rich diet to compensate for deficiencies and to optimize health and athletic performance.
sport
Describing the biohacker as athletic would be an understatement. Hardly anyone in the scene is as athletically successful and versatile as Ben Greenfield. In addition to interval training, his preferred training methods also include special strength exercises such as foundation training to strengthen the core muscles. He also swears by the positive effects of sauna and ice bath sessions to promote regeneration.
In addition to his own experiments, Greenfield also offers coaching services and online courses such as the "Ben Greenfield Life Masterclass" in which he passes on his knowledge to other health enthusiasts.
On his website and in the podcast he reports what his usual training plan looks like:
Morning:
- 20-30 minutes of sauna combined with yoga, mobility exercises and a subsequent 3-5 minute cold bath
- Or alternative 30-45 minute workout
- Sometimes both - sauna and short workout in the morning
Afternoon:
- Cold compression place bath or other energizing routines such as Tibetan longevity exercises or biocharger session to reboot for the afternoon
- Afternoon time slot from about 3-5:30 pm
In general, Greenfield changes his workouts regularly and combines different training methods and sports. These include:
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- circuit training
- Superslow high-intensity training
- sandbag training
- martial arts training
- To swim
- rowing
- Ride a bike
- running training
- yoga
- resistance training
What makes Ben Greenfield different from other biohackers?
Compared to other prominent biohackers like Dave Pascoe or Dave Asprey Greenfield is characterized by its holistic approachWhile many focus on specific aspects such as supplementation or training, Greenfield follows a comprehensive strategy that includes body, mind and even spirituality.
Another difference is Greenfield’s strong presence on social media and as an influencer. With his books, podcasts, blog and online courses, he has a large following of over 1 million followers and contributes significantly to the spread of the biohacking philosophy.
In addition, Greenfield is known for his continuous development and openness to new methods. He is always looking for the latest scientific findings and technologies to expand his biohacking repertoire, such as new "Longevity Workouts" to expand.
Ben Greenfield and his faith
Ben Greenfield’s deep faith in God and Jesus plays a central role in his everyday life and his actions. And this faith sets him apart from many other biohackers, such as Bryan Johnson, David Sinclair or Andreas Breitfeldwho tend to describe themselves as atheist.
Although Greenfield says he still has many questions and doubts about his religion, he tries to deepen and strengthen his faith through practices such as prayer, meditation, reading and research.
Every day he practices four spiritual disciplines: service, gratitude, search for meaning and self-reflectionIn doing so, he not only wants to optimize himself, but above all to do good for other people and make the world a little bit better.His deepest motivation seems to be to enjoy God's creation to the fullest and to fulfill his unique purpose in life on this "magical planet".
Greenfield repeatedly emphasizes that it should not be about self-optimization and personal success, but about being able to be there for others through a healthy mind and body.
Decisions should never be made in one's own interest, but always for the benefit of others - this is the true meaning of life.
In addition to these spiritual-philosophical approaches, Greenfield also practices very concrete things such as gratitude diaries and regular self-reflection, asking himself when he came closest to finding meaning in life that day.
Is Greenfields Biohacking the Key to Longevity?
Greenfield's ultimate goal is to fully realize human potential in terms of health, performance, and longevity. Through his biohacking practices, he claims to have significantly slowed his aging process and significantly reduced his biological age compared to his actual age.
Ben Greenfield inspires many people to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle. His mission to push the boundaries of what is possible and defeat aging continually drives him to new heights.
Did you know?
In addition to being an author, trainer, and biohacking pioneer, Ben Greenfield is also a successful entrepreneur and investor. He serves as an advisor, investor, and board member for several companies in the fitness and health industry. His company "Ben Greenfield Life" offers a variety of products, services and content related to an optimized life.
Ben Greenfield's tips for strengthening the immune system
Who hasn't experienced it? Cold season is upon us again and we're already sick in bed. The American has put together a few tips for exactly this scenario. One of his key strategies is the consumption of fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, kefir and fermented cucumbers. He explains that by supporting his gut flora with a high intake of fermented foods and probiotics, his frequent seasonal colds have drastically reduced. He also takes a symbiotic to microbiome If you want to know more about the intestine and its impact on health, read our article on QBIOTIC through.
Greenfield also relies on immune-boosting mushrooms such as shiitake, maitake or cordyceps and chaga. He explains that many of these mushrooms regulate the cellular and adaptive immune system through a process called modulation. In addition, Greenfield praises the antiviral power of honey, especially Manuka honey with a high methylglyoxal (MGO) content to inhibit the replication of influenza viruses.
A day in the life of the biohacker:
Now that we have learned a lot about the biohacker, let's take a look at his daily routine. A typical day for Ben Greenfield starts very early around 4 am. However, he doesn't spend the first few hours working, but rather reading, writing, meditating, working out and spending time with his family. He doesn't start his actual work with podcasts, books, etc. until 10 a.m.
His daily routine includes various biohacking rituals such as red light and infrared therapy, cold exposure through ice baths, sauna sessions, intake of specific supplements and photon-stimulating substances. Greenfield also places great value on being close to nature by walking barefoot, spending time in the forest and drinking spring water.
The training is short and intensive with only 20-30 minutes of high-intensity workouts or super-slow training. In general, it follows the principle of the "minimal effective dose" - only spend as much time as necessary to achieve the desired effect.
The afternoon is reserved for less focused activities such as emails and phone calls. Overall, Greenfield tries to structure his day in such a way that, in addition to optimizing his own performance, he can be available to and support other people.
Ben Greenfield and peptides
In addition to his diet, exercise, supplements and all the other tools, Ben Greenfield is very interested in the research area of peptides.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids - the basic building blocks of proteins. They can perform a variety of important tasks in the body by docking specifically onto certain receptors and thus triggering or regulating biochemical processes.
In the biohacking scene, some people use synthetically produced peptides as a kind of "next-generation supplementsThe idea behind it is that peptides, due to their specific mode of action, can control certain functions such as muscle building, fat burning, regeneration or anti-aging more efficiently and specifically than conventional nutritional supplements.
In Germany and most other countries Peptides are legally considered medicinal products and may not be used without a doctor's prescription. The free sale or self-application of such substances for the purpose of biohacking is therefore illegal.
Modern approach or a dangerous experiment
In the USA the situation is somewhat different and Ben Greenfield is experimenting, similar to Mark Hyman, likes to use such peptides. In a blog post he mentions various peptides that he takes. For faster regeneration and healing, Greenfield uses the "Recover Like Wolverine" stack consisting of BPC-157, TB-500, Ipamorelin, Tesamorelin and GHK-Cu.
For muscle building and fat loss, he uses a mixture of IGF-1 LR3, Ipamorelin, CJC-1295 and Tesamorelin. IGF-1 LR3 is said to increase the number of muscle fibers, while the other peptides stimulate the production of growth hormone and IGF-1, which can promote muscle building and fat loss.
For a strong immune system, it combines TB-500, thymalin and LL-37. TB-500 and thymalin regulate the immune system, while LL-37 is said to have antimicrobial, antibiotic and antiviral properties.
For anti-aging and longevity, Greenfield uses a stack with Epithalon, Thymalin, GHK-Cu, MOTS-c, Humanin and FOXO4-DRI, each of which is designed to act on different mechanisms of cell aging and rejuvenation.
These treatment methods are highly experimental and it is questionable whether they have more advantages than disadvantages. If you want to implement some of Ben Greenfield's routines, you should integrate his exercise and supplement routines into your daily routine. Peptides are still a relatively new field of research and the risks are not yet fully understood.
Conclusion: A pioneer in Quantified Self and Biohacking
Ben Greenfield is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in the field of biohacking and health optimization. With his passion for science, technology and performance enhancement, he has become a true pioneer in this movement.
Whether his methods hold the key to longevity remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that Greenfield is an inspirational figure who encourages many people to do more for their health and to constantly push the boundaries of what is possible. Through his entrepreneurial skills, he is also bringing biohacking to a wider audience.
