6 Times Biohacking Fitness Crosses the Line
Get plenty of examples of how and when biohacking can cross the line, and smarter, more natural, more ancestral alternatives to the current craze of cryotherapy, electrical muscle stimulation, digital meditation, nootropics, and strapping your own equivalent of a goat-limb prosthetic to your body.
Ben Greenfield
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6 Times Biohacking Fitness Crosses the Line
As you learned in Ben Greenfield’s Fitness Biohacking, the craze of biohacking in the fitness industry is becoming more extreme and often absurd. Here are six times it can cross the line:
Biohacking can take a dangerous turn when…
1. **Cryotherapy** – While this can relieve pain and reduce inflammation, extreme temperatures can also cause frostbite and other injuries.
2. **Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)** – While effective for some rehabilitation purposes, relying on EMS can lead to muscle atrophy.
3. **Digital Meditation** – Some apps encourage excessive screen time, countering the mental benefits of meditation.
4. **Nootropics** – These cognitive enhancers can be risky and often lack sufficient research regarding their long-term effects.
5. **Using Prototypes** – Strapping on devices that mimic body parts without proper guidance can lead to injuries.
6. **Extreme Dieting** – Fad diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies and have negative health impacts.
For each of these practices, there are safer, more natural alternatives that can provide similar benefits without the risks.
“A more balanced approach to fitness can be achieved through proper nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness.”
- — Ben Greenfield