5 Summer Biohacks

It seems that hacks have become the new “thing”.  

We hear about them everywhere. Productivity hacks. Food hacks. Exercise hacks. Sleep hacks. Travel hacks. Life hacks. And the list goes on and on.

But what exactly is a hack...or biohack? 

A hack is a simple and clever process, technique or tip for doing a familiar task or activity more efficiently and more easily. And a “biohack” is a simple way to do something that will affect your health- body, mind or spirit- to help you feel your best.

Biohacking has been around for a long time.

Biohacks have been getting a lot of buzz lately...and they’ve been around a long time in many cultures and healing traditions. In fact, some of the most well-known biohackers like David Asprey and Tim Ferriss traveled the world to learn how to “hack” their bodies and minds for peak performance, then wrote about their experiences and have helped thousands of people who want optimal health with their books and products. 

Biohacks have existed in Ayurveda for thousands of years but they aren’t called biohacks, they are called “practices” that are adjusted according to season. This allows us to live in harmony with nature and when we are in harmony with nature, optimal health becomes simple.

5 ways to biohack yourself this summer.

1. Rise and set (sleep) with the sun. In the summer, the days are longer because the sun sets later. Follow the rhythm of the sun and go to bed a little later and rise a little earlier when the heat of the sun is less intense.

2. Sunbath in the early morning. Take a 10-15 minute walk at sunrise when the gentle rays of the sun stimulate the energies in the mind that lifts mood and creates joy.

3. Go barefoot. Walking barefoot, also called grounding or earthing, connects you to the energy of the earth which then flows through you and balances you by restoring the electrical stability of the body.

4. Cool down your diet. Eat cooling foods to counter-balance the heat of the summer. Sweet, juicy fruits and bitter, astringent greens are cooling. Cool, but not iced, drinks with mint also help control the fire within.

5. Cool off with coconut. Coconut oil is cooling and is a great moisturizer for the skin and hair in the summer.

Happy biohacking!

Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD