What is longevity hacking?

Whether you've been reading our blog for a while or you're brand new, in this article we'll explain the basics of what longevity hacking is and give a general overview of the topic.

What is longevity hacking anyway?

You have probably heard of the word biohacking. This generally describes the manipulation of biological mechanisms of the body to improve health, performance or quality of life. Longevity hacking builds on this in principle - but focuses even more on optimizing the lifespan. It is therefore also tried 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 differs fundamentally from that of anti-ageing. Longevity hacking is not just about stopping the ageing process - no, not only that - we actually want to reverse it! Studies are now increasingly showing that this is not some crazy dream of the future, but is already possible in the present. For this reason, measures are being taken not only to counteract or slow down the ageing process, but also to have a rejuvenating effect. The term "rejuvenation" is used to describe an increasing number of approaches aimed at doing just that: Reversing the ageing process in humans through targeted measures such as stem cell therapies or gene therapies.

There is still no pill or therapy that can quickly turn an 80-year-old man with all kinds of age-related illnesses back into his 30-year-old self, full of vitality. But researchers all over the world are working towards this goal. Exactly what such rejuvenation will look like in the future and when it will be possible remains to be seen. The fact is that more and more money is flowing into this field of research. For example, extremely wealthy people such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Blueprint founder Bryan Johnson are investing millions of dollars in the biotech companies of the longevity future.

Evidence-based against degradation

What is also certain is that we can already undertake some longevity hacks that can positively influence our aging process. These are based on clinically proven and data-driven measures in the fight against the aging process. In this regard, the aging process affects all human bodily 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 disease or dementia
• Sarcopenia (age-related muscle atrophy)
• Osteoporosis and thus increased risk of bone fractures
• Cancer
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD for short)

The goal is to keep all bodily functions healthy. One wants to be able to see at 80 or 90 years of age just as well as one did when one was younger. One wants to maintain or even improve physical fitness to be able to move about in the world. One would like to maintain the mental clarity and cognitive acumen of one's younger self even in old age and not be limited in any way.

Longevity hacking differs significantly from anti-ageing in the way it achieves its goal. While anti-ageing is about combating superficial or visible signs of ageing, longevity research focuses on the molecular roots of ageing. These molecular causes are also referred to as hallmarks of ageing. For example, there is more telomere attrition in old age, inflammaging describes chronic inflammation in old age or mitochondria no longer function as well(mitochondrial dysfunction).

Longevity Hack No. 1 - Nutrition

Probably the most everyday influence we have on our biological systems is our diet. What 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. For example, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables protects against the development of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. secondary plant substances in plant-based foods. These are not found in animal products.

But longevity hackers not only want to live as long as possible, they especially want to stay healthy as long as possible. This is the difference between Lifespan and Healthspan.

We don't want to prolong life and grow older - we want to be able to spend time in full health if possible. This is the goal of a longevity hacker: to stay healthy as long as possible.

Longevity Hack No. 2 - Supplements

In addition to a plant-based diet rich in phytochemicals, there are other strategies. Directly linked to nutrition is the intake of so-called food supplements.

Many of the so-called longevity supplements have their origin in nature or in our diet. For thousands of years, people have been using plant extracts and the like to treat and alleviate illnesses. Especially in the field of longevity, many substances have been analyzed in recent years with regard to their life-prolonging effect. Some examples of these 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: e.g. from wholemeal breads, pulses and nuts

These substances are offered in isolation as dietary supplements based on some studies. Diet should be the foundation of a longevity hacker in any case, but in consultation with a doctor, taking selected longevity supplements can contribute to a healthy and long life.

However, longevity research is also focusing on other substances that do not occur directly in plants, but nevertheless affect our metabolism. These include alpha-ketoglutarate, vitamin D, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine. Vitamin D and omega 3 are among the five supplements that you should be aware of despite a healthy diet.

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 such as Peter Attia recommend high intensity interval training (HIIT for short). In addition, plenty of exercise in everyday life is an important part of keeping us healthy and fit. You should always walk around 10,000 steps a day. Studies also show that certain types of sport, such as tennis, as part of a healthy lifestyle protect against cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Some longevity hackers optimize their physical performance by taking creatine monohydrate. Creatine is an endogenous substance that is formed in the liver and kidneys from several amino acids. The body produces approx. 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 an increase in performance. In addition, maintaining healthy muscle mass is essential for all people as they age.

Longevity Hack #4 - Sleep and Regeneration

Once you have exercised, eaten well and supplied your body with all the important nutrients, it is important to ensure sufficient regeneration. This mainly happens during sleep. It is therefore particularly important to sleep for around seven hours a day. Studies show that a healthy sleep pattern is associated with better health and fewer illnesses in old age.

Just as important as having a good morning routine to start the day, having a healthy evening routine before bed is just as important. Whether it's a certain tea, turning off your cell phone at a certain time or using essential oils such as lavender oil, an evening routine can help prepare you optimally for sleep and consequently regenerate your body.

Longevity Hack #5 - More Longevity Therapies

In addition to the aforementioned longevity hacks, there are a variety of longevity therapies that aim to extend life and increase health. These include many applications from the biotech scene:

• Intravenous NAD+ injections
• Stem Cell Therapy
• Oxygen therapy
• Cryotherapy
• Gene Therapies
• Certain medications 

In addition, abstaining from high amounts of alcohol and tobacco consumption is recommended in any case, as these are both main 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 makes sense to take certain substances as needed in consultation with a doctor. These 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.