Regardless of whether you have been reading our blog for a long time or are completely new to it: in this article we will explain in detail what so-called longevity hacking actually is and give a general overview of the topic.
What is longevity hacking anyway?
You've probably heard the word biohacking before. This generally describes the influencing of the body's biological mechanisms to improve health, performance or quality of life. Longevity Hacking is based on this in principle – but has an even greater focus on optimizing life span. It also tries to to achieve an optimization of physical functions and thus the health span through certain “longevity hacks”You can find out exactly what these are in this article.
But first a few words about longevity hacking in general. The mindset of longevity hacking is fundamentally different from anti-aging. Namely, in the sense that with longevity hacking you don't just want to stop the aging process - no, not only that - we even want to reverse it! Studies are now increasingly showing that this is not a crazy thing of the future, but is already possible in the present. Therefore, not only measures are being used to counteract aging or slow down this process, but also measures that have a rejuvenating effect. Under the English keyword "rejuvenation" you can find more and more approaches that aim precisely at this: reversing the aging process in humans through targeted measures such as stem cell therapies or gene therapies.
There is still no pill or therapy that can quickly transform an 80-year-old man with all kinds of age-related illnesses back into his 30-year-old version full of life energy. But researchers all over the world are working on this goal. What exactly such rejuvenation will look like in the future and when it will be possible remains to be seen. The fact is: More and more money is flowing into this field of research. Rich people like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos or the Blueprint founder Bryan Johnson millions of dollars in the biotech companies of the longevity future.
Billionaires like Jeff Bezos are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the search for the holy grail of longevity.
Evidence-based against the reduction
What is also certain is that we can already implement some longevity hacks that can positively influence our aging process. These are based on clinically proven and data-supported measures in the fight against the aging processThe aging process affects all human body functions and longevity hackers want to protect themselves as best as possible from such age-related diseases. Some of them are:
- Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke
- Neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's or dementia
- sarcopenia (age-related muscle wasting)
- Osteoporosis and the resulting increased risk of bone fractures
- cancer
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD for short)
The goal is to keep all body functions healthyYou want to be able to see just as well when you are 80 or 90 as you did when you were younger.You want to maintain or improve your physical fitness so that you can move around in the world. You want to retain the mental clarity and cognitive acumen of your younger self even in old age and not be limited in any way.
Longevity hacking differs significantly from anti-aging in the way it achieves its goal. While anti-aging is about fighting superficial or visible signs of aging, longevity research focuses on the molecular roots of aging. These molecular causes are also known as Hallmarks of Aging As we age, we experience more telomere attrition, the Inflammaging describes a chronic inflammation in old age or with mitochondria no longer functioning so well (mitochondrial dysfunction).
Longevity Hack No. 1 – Nutrition
Perhaps the most everyday influence we have on our biological systems is through our NutritionWhat we eat and drink has a direct effect on our bodies. Studies show, for example, that a plant-based diet can protect against certain diseases. A diet with lots of fruit and vegetables protects against the development of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. The main factors responsible for this are the secondary plant substances in plant-based foods. These do not occur in animal products.
But longevity hackers don’t just want to live as long as possible, they also want to stay healthy for as long as possible. This is the difference between Lifespan and Healthspan.
We don't want to prolong our lives and grow older - we want to be able to spend our time in as much health as possible. This is the goal of a longevity hacker: to stay healthy for as long as possible.
Longevity Hack #2 – Supplements
Next to plant-based diet with a wealth of secondary plant substances, there are other strategies. In direct connection with nutrition is the intake of so-called dietary supplements.
Many of the so-called longevity supplements have their origin in nature and in our diet. For thousands of years, people have used plant extracts and the like to treat and alleviate illnesses. Especially in the longevity area, many substances have been analyzed in recent years with regard to their life-prolonging effects. Some examples are:
- fisetin: e.g. from strawberries
- quercetin: e.g. from onions and garlic
- resveratrol: e.g. from peanuts and red wine
- spermidine: e.g. from wheat germ or soybeans
- magnesium: egfrom whole grain breads, legumes and nuts
These substances are offered in isolation as dietary supplements based on a number of studies. Diet should always be the foundation of a longevity hacker, but in consultation with a doctor, taking selected longevity supplements can contribute to a healthy and long life.
Longevity research also focuses on other substances that do not occur directly in plants but still affect our metabolism. These include, among others: alpha-ketoglutarate, Vitamin D, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine.
For powder fans and capsule lovers - Trans-Resveratrol from MoleQlar is there for everyone.
Longevity Hack No. 3 – Exercise and Sport
In addition to diet and nutritional supplements, exercise and sport also have a direct influence on our physical systems. This is where experts like Peter Attia including so-called high intensity interval training (short: HIIT). In addition, much Movement an important part of everyday life to keep us healthy and fit. You should definitely walk around 10,000 steps a day. Studies also show that certain sports such as tennis As part of a healthy lifestyle, protect against cardiovascular diseases and obesity.
Some longevity hackers optimize their physical performance by taking creatine monohydrate. creatine is a substance produced by the body from several amino acids in the liver and kidneys. The body itself produces around 1-2 g of creatine every day. This can be used as an energy substrate, especially during fast and explosive physical activity. This can lead to increased performance. In addition, maintaining healthy muscle mass in old age is essential for all people.
Longevity Hack No. 4 – Sleep and Regeneration
Once you have exercised, eaten well and provided your body with all the important nutrients, it is important to ensure that you have enough regeneration This happens mainly in the Sleep. Therefore, it is especially important to sleep about seven hours a dayStudies show that healthy sleep habits are associated with better health and fewer diseases in old age.
Just as important as having a good morning routine to start the day is having a healthy evening routine before going to bed. Whether a certain tea, the turning off the cell phone at a certain time or the use of essential oils like lavender oil: an evening routine can help to optimally prepare you for sleep and consequently regenerate your body.
Longevity Hack No.5 – Other longevity therapies
In addition to the longevity hacks mentioned above, there are a number of longevity therapies that aim to extend life and improve health. These include many applications from the biotech scene:
- Intravenous NAD+ injections
- stem cell therapy
- oxygen therapy
- cryotherapy
- gene therapies
- Certain medications
In addition, it is recommended to avoid large amounts of alcohol and tobacco consumption, as these are both major risk factors for the development of numerous diseases.
Conclusion
A healthy and balanced lifestyle is the foundation of every longevity hacker. In addition, after a thorough needs analysis, it is advisable to take certain substances in consultation with a doctor if necessaryThese include dietary supplements such as vitamin D, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, but also more specific longevity supplements such as AKG, glucosamine and Co.
