Biohacking is a practice with HUGE potential for our health and wellbeing. And, while it’s been a primarily male-dominated industry, women innovators are leading the way in understanding how biohacking can improve our lifestyle. 

For those who don’t know much about this field, biohacking is the idea that we can use science and biology to “hack” our bodies – to become stronger, build a better immune system, increase energy, or try to live longer. Biohacks range from the more technological to building healthy practices into our lives: things like tracking our sleep, for instance. 

The History of Biohacking 

The term “biohacking” started trending in the early 1990s, but many practices used by today’s biohackers have their origins in holistic medicine. The advent of computer programming inspired a new generation of DIY biologists to try applying the principles of data and technology to the human body. 

The biohacking movement today is diffuse and involves many different areas of research and practice. Broadly speaking, biohackers focus on three categories:

1. Nutrigenomics: looking at how the food you eat interacts with your genes, as well as how different nutrients impact how you think, feel, and behave.
2. DIY Biology: scientists and other qualified experts look at how genetics and life science can be used to improve the human body.
3. Grinder: a subculture of biohacking that involves “optimizing” the human body with technological gadgets, chemical injections, and implants.

Biohacking doesn’t always involve radically altering the human body, but it does involve using data and feedback to try to improve our health and wellness. 

Women in the Biohacking Movement

Like many other industries, biohacking has been dominated by male experts. Leaders in this field include Tim Ferriss; Dave Asprey, the founder of Bulletproof coffee; and Gary Wolf, the co-founder of the Quantified Self Movement. Jack Dorsey and, former NASA employee, Josiah Zayner are huge advocates of biohacking.

However, women are starting to take on leadership the biohacking movement. Liz Parish is the CEO of BioViva, a company that aims to target biological aging at the cellular level. Dr. Rhonda Patrick is the founder of FoundMyFitness, which has a similar focus. Ellen Jorgen is the name behind GenSpace, a nonprofit that makes biohacking experimentation accessible. Big-name celebrities like Gwenyth Paltrow are advocating biohacks to their followers regularly. 

HigherDOSE founders, Lauren and Katie, have cracked the code on using infrared light as a biohack to feel good inside, look great on the outside. Their infrared saunas are shown to have many health benefits – light at red and near-infrared wavelengths helps reduce wrinkles, acne scars, and heal burns. A session at our spa is just one way to hack your appearance while taking care of your circulation, stress, and refresh your energy. 

Other women making waves in the biohacking industry focus on hacking our hormones. Kay Ali, hormone expert and founder of You Need A Nutritional Therapist, and Alisa Vitti, founder of FLO Living, look at how women’s hormones can be tracked and “tricked” to avoid those peaks and lows throughout the month, thereby avoiding mood swings, feeling tired, and other hormonal related behavior changes. Both of these disruptive women in healthcare are finding ways to help women even the playing field at work and in life. 

How do you biohack?

These women are seriously inspirational! We love seeing how they’re using natural solutions to try to improve our health and wellness. 

If you’re just starting to learn about biohacking, there are some easy ways to try out some biohacks for yourself: 

• Stop by any HigherDOSE locations in NY for an infrared sauna session, or try one of their infrared sauna blankets at home
• Use breathwork to breathe through any anxiety and prime the parasympathetic system (here’s how). 
• Hack your workout with better hydration: try drinking watermelon water before your workout to bring oxygen to your muscles. One expert recommends drinking tart cherry juice stimulate recovery after a tough gym sesh.
• Track your cycle to start noticing dips in energy and weird cravings throughout the month (there are plenty of apps for that).
• Try a nootropic, like Female Fuel, to boost your brain for better mood, focus, motivation, and memory. A nootropic is also known as a “smart drug.” This supplement is designed for women, by women to help maximize your brain functionality.

Women are the perfect leaders for innovating in the field of biohacking. “Women make the best biohackers because they are typically more in tune with their bodies,” Dave Asprey told Well and Good. “Women go through changes every month and naturally find ways to deal with things like cravings, low energy, and pain.”

What biohacks do you use in your life?

This article first appeared on HigherDOSE.com