Unlocking the Myths of Health Hacking: You Can’t ‘Hack’ Your Health, Part 1
You can’t “hack” your health.
If you don’t have a chronic health concern and you use biohacking techniques to optimize your physical performance, there’s no need to read any further. This post isn’t for you because you may be among the lucky few who can successfully hack a thing or two. But if you struggle with an unresolved health issue – whether it’s related to pain, fatigue, digestion, immune function, focus, or your ever-changing hormones – then I regret to relay that the hacks you seek may do more harm than good.
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In a world where information flows freely at our fingertips, the seduction of swift solutions to chronic health dilemmas grows increasingly irresistible. Biohacking, a term coined to describe self-implemented technologies, testing, and precision-tailored lifestyle adjustments, has surged in popularity. It has ignited the passions of health enthusiasts, solution seekers, and social scrollers worldwide, offering valuable tools and added knowledge for some, but confusion and unnecessary concern for others. Yet, amid this fervor for personalized health insights, a curious question emerges:
“Why, in the age of the biohacking boom, do the rates of chronic health challenges continue to rise?”
The realm of biohacking is vast, encompassing diverse practices, from microdosing psilocybin to engaging in 3-minute cold plunges to wearing blue light glasses to block screen glare at night. But one of the most widespread trends are wearable health devices like Fitbits, Apple Watches, and Oura rings. These sleek gadgets promise to quantify our health by measuring heart rate, step counts, and nightly sleep scores. They’ve become a common sight on wrists and fingers everywhere, and their allure is undeniable.
Biohack vs. Mindful Practice
In the world of biohacking, and our collective pursuit of quick fixes for health improvements, I'll readily admit that I love my gear and gadgets, too. I happily wear my compression socks, check the sleep score from my Oura ring every morning, sip my apple cider vinegar, and take my daily supplements. So before I go any further and dare to incite fervor from the biohacking believers among us, I must be clear that I’m not here to dismiss our individual and preferred lifestyle modifications. Instead, I invite you to join me in exploring these tools and techniques within the broader context of our health and desired outcomes – to consider the difference between a quick hack, and a mindful practice that involves a more deliberate and sustainable approach. It's important to recognize that while our long-term practices may include some of our favorite hacks, relying solely on these enticing shortcuts and data sets is unlikely to support our ultimate health goals.
For instance, someone using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) might notice a spike in their blood sugar levels after consuming a particular food. Instead of examining the broader context of their meals, like what they ate before or after, their stress levels, or even their physical activity prior to eating, they may quickly attribute the spike solely to that specific food, missing the intricate interplay of various factors in a blood sugar response. As a result, wearables can inadvertently promote a contemporary version of applying a Band-Aid to an assumed issue, without truly grasping its underlying causes, frequently neglecting more straightforward solutions.
Here’s a personal example: Let’s say that the sleep score on my Oura ring repeatedly tells me that my REM (rapid eye movement) sleep score is low. My phone app displays a red line for REM whereas the other sleep markers are blue, with a notation of “good,” or “optimal.” Now I know all too well that sleep is a Non-Negotiable, and that REM sleep is a key stage in the sleep cycle benefiting health outcomes related to my cognitive, immune and cardiovascular function, as well as my hormone and metabolic health, not to mention my creativity and emotional well-being. I want that REM!
The repeated “bad” score and the longing for more deep sleep may lead me to suspicions about my biological needs and challenges, prompting me to search for quick solutions from magnesium to melatonin, GABA to gingko, cannabis to chamomile. While I’m not opposed to any of these agents in the right circumstances, some may be more supportive than others for my particular body and my overall health. In fact, some could introduce imbalances in my system if not needed or inappropriately used. Meanwhile, there are highly effective lifestyle shifts that can better address my quest for more REM. These include my sleep schedule, bedtime routine, nighttime screen time, caffeine and alcohol intake, the timing of my last meal in relation to my body’s requirements for rest, exercise timing and intensity, stress management, and more. When I neglect those essential lifestyle factors in favor of a cure-all informed by my wearable and internet wanderings, I miss some key factors that will undoubtedly impact my wish for more REM, but also other seemingly unrelated aspects of my health objectives.
Qualitative VS Quantitative
This example highlights a prevailing trend in the age of biohacking – the pursuit of quick-fix solutions based on quantitative metrics. The data collected from wearables may tell us something about our health, but it can also lead to impulsive actions that fail to address the underlying issues. In fact, it can steer us towards a path of excessive spending on targeted remedies that, in the end, might not move the dial on our chronic health concerns at all. Sometimes, these knee-jerk interventions can unintentionally introduce additional imbalances that become part of the internal and underlying terrain and contribute to the signs and symptoms we’re so eager to resolve. This phenomenon underscores the need to rethink our approach to self-healthcare, moving beyond the allure of quick-fixes and quantitative data alone and towards a more holistic and qualitative understanding of our unique health journeys.
Otherwise, as the supply of these insights, findings and formulas increases, shouldn’t we see a corresponding decline in the prevalence of chronic health challenges? Wouldn't the abundance of data and the relentless pursuit of symptom resolution lead to a noticeable reduction in the burden of chronic diseases that plague so many lives? As a clinician who’s seen many people try (and then try even harder) to find answers, I’ve come to recognize that it's a mystery that demands our exploration. Is there one hack, pill, powder or test that we’ve missed in our endless quest? Or are we overlooking something altogether different and potentially critical amidst the sea of data and high-tech therapeutics?
Here I’ll posit that it's the latter. That we've collectively ventured away from a path that has the potential to provide us with profound insights into some of the real root causes of our unresolved ailments. The root causes are not your methylation, mitochondria or mold. They are not your anxiety, autoimmune condition or asthma. The root causes are deeply intertwined with our lifestyle, emotional health, and the broader context of our lives. Amidst the endless pursuit of relief, we cannot overlook the essential role of these foundational factors in shaping our health outcomes and it would benefit us to spend more time exploring the fabric of our foundations.
Context Matters
Beneath the promises of biohacking for health optimization and answers lies a paradox. Many individuals find themselves endlessly chasing elusive solutions, spending countless resources, and facing confusing guidance from numerous health and medical advisors, all while enduring the persistent pain and symptoms of a chronic health condition. This frustrating cycle often leads to feelings of despair and impatience, compounding the suffering caused by these ailments. Chronic health issues, ranging from autoimmune disorders to metabolic challenges, affect millions worldwide, profoundly impacting their quality of life. The search for solutions, fueled by enticing wearables and a multitude of "experts" promoting various cure-all methods, including cryotherapy, saunas, nootropics, and dietary theories like ketosis, often sends people down a convoluted path of costly and experimental interventions. In this quest, individuals throw various remedies at the problem, hoping that one will provide relief, resulting in a cycle of uncertainty, frustration, and financial strain.
As a Functional Medicine Nutritionist with a deep understanding of the physiological intricacies of chronic health conditions, I’ve witnessed the allure of biohacking firsthand in both patients and the practitioners I’ve trained for over a decade. While the pursuit of better health is commendable, it must be guided by a thoughtful and sustainable approach. Sadly, in the frenzied and frustrated state that (reasonably) stems from the lack of resolution, it's tempting to turn to even more hacks – tests, techniques, pills, protocols – in pursuit of a breakthrough. In this tunnel-vision state, we seek anything that vows to alleviate the discomfort and the unknown, even if it costs us our savings, our pleasures, or both.
But what if the narrow lens provided by the biohacked result actually leads us astray? What if that melatonin I chose to help my REM introduces digestive distress or daytime drowsiness, or, worse yet, negatively interacts with or counteracts some other part of my healthcare protocol? Or what if I trial a sleep supplement that includes several agents and cannot tell where or why the rash that’s now appeared has come from?
What if we’re chasing the wrong kind of data altogether?
In the upcoming installments of this blog series, I’ll delve deeper into the distinction between quantitative and qualitative data, exploring how more qualitative data can contribute to an understanding of our persistent health challenges and desired outcomes. I’ll explore how qualitative insights complement the quantitative metrics provided by biohacking tools, techniques, and tactics. And together we’ll uncover how health is not merely about chasing numbers and quick fixes, but about uncovering the deeper meanings behind our life experiences.
“Every illness is a narrative, a story waiting to be told.”
Narrative Medicine Invitation
After reading this portion of the article, I invite you to reflect on one “hack” that you've tried once or twice or that you’ve adopted long-term. What have you learned from this experience? How did it fit into the broader context of your health journey?
Note: There is no “right” or “wrong” here. No “good” or “bad”. You may continue to love this tool or technology or found it to be useful. Set your timer for 5 minutes, see what comes to mind, and write!
Share your insights and reflections in the comments below or feel free to send them to me at scribe@andreanakayama.com.
Once you’ve had a chance to complete your writing, be sure to check out Part 2 of Unlocking the Myths of Health Hacking: You Can’t ‘Hack’ Your Health.
