5 NATURAL BIOHACKS TO ROCK YOUR OVER 35 LIFE
Hello my “over-35” (and loving it, right? Or ARE you?) friend! Here’s your “Over Thirty-Five” Survival Guide, so you can Rock your thirties, forties and beyond and stop worrying about “feeling old” as you get older!
My name is Shaun McKee and I’m a neuroradiologist (trust me, you never want to “need my services”) and a two-time Ironman triathlete and Ultramarathoner. I’m also a mom of two amazing teen boys and married to the sweetest guy in the world, my gastroenterologist hubby (and dog-mom to Henry and Doodles). I help health-minded professionals over 35 slow body and mind aging so they can become the happiest and best version of themselves NOW, and not have to worry about “feeling old” as they grow older
Have you ever noticed how, with each passing decade, you collect one or more “isms” (or –itises)? I mean, like, did you have to take a day or two to recover as a kid whenever you ran around outside all day? Or reach for something for your aching back or feet? How was your energy level? I don’t remember having issues with those as a young person either, but in our mid-thirties, things like those and more crop up every single day. I know what you’re thinking…”I’m already doing everything right! I’m making better choices with my food, I’ve eliminated sugar, gluten, dairy & soy, I’m reading up on all the best supplements, and adding new ones every month or so, and exercising.” Heck, you’re probably trying to breathe mindfully (meditate?) every once in a while, and maybe even have incorporated a stretching routine and/or yoga.
And yet…
You STILL feel a bit “off” … not quite as “vitalized”, energetic, relaxed, focused, calm, fast, sharp, you name it, as you were in your twenties and early thirties…
I hear you.
Seven years ago I also felt like I was doing everything “right”. I was taking supplements, eating healthy, and working out like crazy. But I was exHAUSted. Every morning, my husband would come into the bedroom with a cup of coffee to get me up in the morning, and every evening, after work, I would fall asleep while he was talking to me about his day. My kids would laugh because every single time we’d go to see a movie I would be OUT in the first five minutes. I was no longer the joyful, energetic, vibrant version of myself I was used to being (and wanted to be again). My sweet hubby (did I mention he was the sweetest guy in the world?) lovingly suggested I see a holistic doctor to get some labs done. She put me on dozens (!!) of supplements…I left her office with instructions to take 28 pills a day, which I did not like, but dutifully did for the next 6 months (wanted to give them a fair shot after all).
But you know what?? None of them made lick of difference. Why is that? Because NONE got to the root cause of WHY I was exhausted , foggy (and a bit achy). “Well, what is that?”, you ask…
Oxidative stress. And we all have it. It’s the “rusting” of our cells due to the toxic by-products of the air we breathe (the same air that turns a cut apple brown or a shiny copper roof green), and the foods we eat.
So what are these Biohacks you speak of?
Biohacking is the art of optimizing your own cellular biology using nature’s built-in mechanisms to stack the cards in your favor and become the absolute best version of yourself. We can “Biohack” in 5 distinct areas…
1. The first step is to REDUCE oxidative stress.
By activating a master regulator (a protein present in every cell, and especially “active” when we’re young), we can “turn on” the production of thousands of survival genes, that code for everything from antioxidant protection, reduced inflammation, detoxification, stress/heat shock capacity, and cellular housekeeping…good things that keep the body’s cells “humming”. These are collectively known as the “survival genes” or “cellular defense system” (aka “Good guys”).
2. The second step is to repair and replace the “cellular power sources” that were damaged by all that oxidation, your mitochondria. These tiny “organelles” (little organs) make up over 95% of the energy your cells need to operate…to do everything from “breathe” to “digest” to “think”.
These cellular “powerhouses” are physically right AT the source of all that “exhaust” or damaging toxic free radical production from producing the very energy that keeps us going. The mitochondrial membranes have no protection from this oxidation and when they are damaged to a point beyond optimal function, they begin to produce less and less energy and more and more free radicals (oxidative stress), setting up a vicious cycle.
Well, the GREAT news is that while you can reduce the oxidative stress above by increasing the “good guys” to clean up the damage, you can ALSO turn on the master regulator of mitochondrial repair and biogenesis.
3. Did you know you are less than 1% HUMAN (as far as your DNA)??
Yep! You are 99% microbial from a DNA perspective…that’s right the bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa present in your intestinal tract vastly make up YOU.
These “buggers” constitute a 4 pound “organ” that is responsible for everything from neurotransmitter status and prevalence which, impacts mood and mental processing ability (yes, you know it in your gut) to antioxidant production, digestion, metabolism/fat storage and immunity. Fully 80% of your immune system is in the gut, not only in the bowel lining, but also immune boosters produced by these delicate gut microbes (which are damaged by mouthwash, artificial sweeteners, coffee, and alcohol).
You may have heard of probiotics…these are designed to replenish the good bacteria.
BUT…the issue with 9 out of 10 probiotics on the market today? These same delicate microbes that are damaged by all of the above are killed by the same oxygen that turns apples brown and copper roofs green…and those that do survive exposure to the air inside the bottle or in the capsule, are then mostly killed by the harsh acidic environment of the stomach…
That’s right…fully 94-96% of those expensive probiotics you take to replace the “good bacteria” in your gut are DEAD before they get where they’re needed.
So the trick is to “hack” these vulnerabilities so the beneficial microbes get to where they’re needed and support your immune system.
4. The fourth step is to optimize cellular communication by supplying the necessary raw materials (fatty acids) for healthy and “flexible” cellular membranes, so your cellular communicators (neurotransmitters) can efficiently get from one cell to the next and thus signal vital cellular processes. Without membrane flexibility, cellular communication is not efficient.
Essential fatty acids must be supplied by the diet because the body cannot produce them and they’re critical for normal growth and functioning of the cells, muscles, nerves, and organs. Unfortunately most of these fatty acids consumed in the standard American diet are of the unhealthy, inflammatory-provoking omega-6 variety. Omega-6 directly competes for the same raw materials as the omega-3 and if the omega-6’s are more prevalent, inflammation ensues.
The PROBLEM with most omega-3 supplements is that they are sourced from contaminated fish with toxic PCB’s, dioxins, organic pollutants, mercury, and other heavy metals-yuck!
Add that to the fact that most fish oils are oxidized (rancid), giving rise to those nasty “fish burps” and you have a recipe for increasing oxidative stress (and decreasing healthspan).
There’s a hack for that!
5. The most common reason people go to see their doctor in the US is lack of energy.
But it’s not necessarily physical energy that’s lacking (although it can be a factor).
The real underlying issue is a lack of MENTAL energy.
Fortunately there are certain compounds found in nature that specifically give metabolic energy to your mind for more mental clarity, focus, and concentration without jitters or crash associated with the usual “solutions” of sugar or caffeine.