Biohacking India: Sleep, Jet Lag, Hidden Environmental Killers, Air Pollution, Antiviral Tips, Eating For Longevity & Much More!

Mar 19, 2020

Guest

Kris Gethin

Guest

Jag Chima

In this vibrant discussion, entrepreneur Jag Chima and fitness guru Kris Gethin share their insights from a recent biohacking tour in India. They dive into the mysteries of sleep optimization and tackle hidden environmental threats. Expect tips on enhancing energy levels, anti-aging diets, and strategies for rapid fat loss. The duo also explores the interplay of body, mind, and spirit in achieving wellness, alongside the powerful benefits of breathwork and community engagement for a healthier, longer life.

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INSIGHT

Boundless Energy

Ben Greenfield believes energy is the root of many health issues, and he wrote "Boundless" to address it.
He emphasizes a three-pronged approach: mind, body, and spirit optimization for boundless energy.

ADVICE

Sleep Hygiene

Optimize sleep hygiene by controlling light, temperature, and noise.
Get natural light in the morning and reduce blue light exposure at night.

ADVICE

Bedroom Safety

Associate your bedroom with safety and relaxation for better sleep.
Avoid working or doing stressful activities in bed.

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Boundless

Tracing Land and Dream in a New Northwest Passage

Kathleen Winter

In 'Boundless', Kathleen Winter recounts her 2010 journey across the Northwest Passage, accompanied by marine scientists, historians, archaeologists, and anthropologists. The book delves into the impacts of climate change, the emergence of new hybrid species, and the geopolitical tensions over sovereignty in the region. Winter also reflects on her personal odyssey, including her childhood migration from England to Canada and the complexities of cultural identity and traditional ways of life among the Inuit population.

The Blue Zones

Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest

Dan Buettner

In this book, Dan Buettner documents his research on the Blue Zones, areas around the world such as Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece, where people consistently live longer and healthier lives. Buettner identifies nine common lifestyle habits, known as the 'Power 9® principles,' which include moving naturally, having a sense of purpose, reducing stress, eating a plant-based diet, and maintaining strong social connections. The book provides detailed accounts of the research team’s observations and interviews with centenarians and their communities, offering practical advice on how to apply these principles to one’s own life to achieve better health and longevity.

The body electric

Robert O. Becker

Robert O. Becker's "The Body Electric" explores the often-overlooked electrical nature of living organisms. Becker details his groundbreaking research on the body's electrical system and its role in healing and regeneration. He challenges conventional medical understanding by demonstrating the importance of direct current in biological processes. The book delves into the implications of electromagnetic fields on health, highlighting the potential risks of exposure to certain frequencies. Becker's work has influenced the field of bioelectromagnetics and continues to inspire research into alternative healing methods.

The Lost Art of Running

A Journey to Rediscover the Forgotten Essence of Human Movement

Shane Benzie

The Lost Art of Running is a book that combines narrative and practical advice on running techniques. Shane Benzie takes readers on a journey across five continents, documenting his work with elite athletes and indigenous runners. The book is divided into three parts: 'The Journey,' which details Benzie's global travels; 'The Foundations,' which explains his theories on tensegrity, fascia, and elastic running; and 'The Practical,' which provides tips and advice on various aspects of running technique such as foot placement, cadence, stride length, and posture. Benzie's approach emphasizes natural movement, fluidity, and the use of the body's fascia system to run more efficiently and effectively[1][3][4].

On my recent whirlwind media and Boundless book tour of India, I hosted, along with my friends Jag Chima and Kris Gethin, a massive biohacking Q&A and panel in New Delhi. We covered an enormously wide range of topics, including:

How to have energy at your beck and call, all day long...
Hidden environmental killers and how to hack your environment to remove them...
Ben and Kris' latest updated sleep and jet lag tips...
Eating for anti-aging and longevity...
How to lose fat faster...
And much more!

Jag Chima, born in England UK, is an entrepreneur, investor, visionary, health and fitness enthusiast and philanthropist with business interests that include Real Estate, Construction, Finance, Lifestyle, Health & Fitness.

Jag is the founder of The London Group, a diversified conglomerate with extensive operations in UK, India and other parts of the world. The London Group is comprised of companies in Property Consultancy, Property development, Estate Agents, Lifestyle brands, Fitness Education, Talent Management and Health Clubs. Jag has carved a niche for himself as a passionate and astute professional, with experience which started in 1998. He has also been featured on many media platforms which include BBC News Asia, BBC Asian Network, MATV.

Jag is a sought after speaker and strategic advisor on business affairs. Jag believes in facing fears and taking on challenges for growth and personal development. Jag recently completed a triathlon and also a 1450 km Cycle ride from Delhi to Mumbai.

He is a proud supporter of The Unique Home for Girls in Jalandhar India. The Unique Home for Girls is a home for unwanted, abandoned girls in Punjab, India. Originally from Wales, Kris Gethin has established himself as one of the most versatile fitness entrepreneurs in the industry. Before founding Kaged Muscle, Kris competed as a lifetime natural pro bodybuilder, placing as high as second place in the Natural World Championships.

As a personal trainer, his clients have included Bollywood celebrities, billionaire businessmen, and champion athletes. In between training clients, he has certified more than 800 personal trainers. Somehow, this tireless innovator found time to co-found a health club franchise called Kris Gethin Gyms. He has shared his extensive knowledge through books, newsletters, videos, and podcasts. Now, he’s moved into the nutrition sector with Kaged Muscle, a company dedicated to creating cutting-edge, ultra-premium sports nutrition supplements for athletes of all types. All of Kris’s pursuits are consistent with his mission of helping others reach their health and fitness goals.

In this episode, you'll discover: -Ben discusses the motivation behind writing Boundless...8:30

It's about energy; it's what's lacking in most people
Combine ancestral medicine w/ modern science
We can tap into more energy than we're capable of currently
3 angles: Optimize the mind, body, spirit
Book: Blue Zones by Dan Buettner
Have a personal mission statement
Click here for international delivery of Boundless

-Kris Gethin's thoughts on being "boundless"...15:38

We all struggle to work our "soul" muscles
A long-term investment to gain a long-term return
Blue Zone in South India until 1950's; westernized culture has changed it
DNA hasn't changed; surroundings have changed
Eat the cake before the icing; optimize your environment before pursuing biohacks

-The missing link in optimizing sleep...19:02

Basic concepts: Light, Temperature, Silence
Light:
- Circadian rhythm begins when the sun comes up
- Minimal amounts of natural light will affect your sleep
- Human charger simulates sunlight in the ears
- Photobiomodulation (code: GREENFIELD)
- Replace LED bulbs w/ incandescent bulbs
- Iris software
- Expose to as little blue light in the evening as possible
- RA Optics blue light blocking glasses (code: BEN10)
- Red incandescent bulbs
Temperature:
- Cold shower before going to bed
- Wearing socks help regulate body temperature in bed
Silence:
- Put phone in airplane mode
- Sleep Stream app
- Pink noise while falling asleep
- Sleep Phones - headphones for sleeping on your side (code: GREENFIELD)
Safety:
- Don't associate the bed w/ work
- Gravity blanket
- Be aware of evolutionary mismatches
- Dopamine fix while scrolling through social media
- Cortisol levels increase, affects sleep
Morning and evening routines:
- No devices before bed, nor first thing in the morning
- Meditation - helps w/ falling asleep indirectly
- Make the phone as boring as possible in the evening
- iPhone red light trick (youtube video)
Diet considerations:
- Fast for one hour before bed, and in the morning
- Kris advocates for increasing fats and reducing complex carbs throughout the day
- Ben recommends restricts carbs throughout the day and a carb refeed in the evening
- Nut butter mixed w/ raw honey and sea salt helps sleep quality while fasting
- Ben's homemade jello (rich in glycine)
  - Gelatin
  - Hot water
  - Coconut oil or kefir as a base
  - Stevia
Other hacks and tips:
- WiFi kill switch
- Oura ring
- Whoop (code: BEN)
- Apollo wearable
- Silent Mode eye mask
- Mind Fold eye mask
- NuCalm (code: BEN500)
- Defender Shield phone covers
- Digital wall timer to control the WiFi router power
- Faraday blankets and clothing
- Qi, BluShield, Somavedic, WiFi scramblers
- Breath to control physiology
  - Alternate nostril breathing
  - Box breathing
  - 4-8 breathing (4 count in, 8 count out)
  - Breathe out for a longer period of time than breathing in
- Relaxator

-Why sitting for long periods of time is the death-knell to a healthy life...59:15

Sitting is associated w/ shortened hip flexors
Poor glute activation contributes to lower back pain
Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT)
- Number of calories burned doing small movements
- Far outweighs calories burned w/ exercise
- Ben does 15k steps in addition to working out
Drop in bone density related to sitting vs. squatting while eating, defecating, etc.

-Chronological vs. biological ages and extending your longevity...1:02:30

Kris' chronological age is 45; biological age is 38
Optimized sleep has reduced biological age
Low level activity:
- Treadmill at the desk (code: BEN10)
- Air squats on the plane
- Kettlebell swings
- Hex bar (deadlift weight is correlated to longevity)
- Brachiation (hanging) pull-up bar
Spectra Cell telomere analysis
DNA methylation clock
Ben's 3 longevity tips:
- Fasting
  - Intermittent fasting (12-16 hours each night and morning)
  - 24 hour dinner to dinner fast 1-2x per month
  - Eat 40% of normal calorie consumption for 5 days (Valter Longo)
- Peptides
- DNA and cellular repair mechanisms
  - NAD supplement
  - Sirtuins must be present
Major causes of aging faster than the actual age
- Loss of purpose or meaning for one's life
- Working out too much
- Not present with the activities in your daily life

-Food choices and anti-aging...1:20:30

Glycemic variability and inflammation are the two biggest factors
Ceylon cinnamon
Apple cider vinegar
Cocktail w/ bitters, spices affects glucose response
Rancid, processed vegetable oils are the biggest culprits
You can burn off sugar, not so w/ vegetable oils
Dr. James DiNicolantonio
Glycine can protect cells from vegetable oils
Spirulina (code: BEN)
Lactose intolerance can be confused w/ a damaged gut
BGF podcast with Dr. Zach Bush
Ion Biome supplement
SEED probiotic (code: BEN15)
Slow vs. fast food preparation (fermentation)
Be wary of things like kombucha which may raise blood sugar levels
5 minutes of cold therapy in the morning is Ben's best tactic for regulating glycemic variability
Kion Lean

-The benefits of fasting...1:39:54

Enhances cellular autophagy
Glycemic variability lower
Fasting is not the same as calorie restriction (intermittent fasting)
Fasting is a spiritual and personal discipline
Autophagy: The cleanup of metabolic waste products in the cell
Grazing throughout the day isn't efficacious
Countdown app

-Benefits of nasal breathing...1:54:00

You breathe through the diaphragm
Increased Co2
Release of cortisol
Mouth taping

-Where to start with health optimization...1:56:22

Book: The Body Electric by Robert Becker
Calcium can affect the electro chemical balance
Magnesium supplement
Think of the body as a battery:
- Grounding and earthing
  - Grounding mats, shoes (code: BENG10)
  - BGF podcast w/ Clint Ober
- Sunlight, photons of light charges the body
  - Human body can photosynthesize
- Cold exposure regularly
- Water and salt
Coconut water is a great hydrating fluid

-Core bracing while lifting...2:03:15

Essentially a breathing exercise
Foundation Training (Dr. Eric Goodman)

-Reversing damage from blue light...2:05:00

BPC-157 (code: BEN)
Visomitin
Astaxanthin
Macu Gold Plus

-Stopping autoimmune disease...2:06:45

Gut and inflammation are the most common factors
Breathwork, limit vegetable oils, etc.
Heal the gut
Kion Colostrum
Bone broth (code: GREENFIELD)

-Ben's thoughts on veganism and vegetarianism...2:10:15

Source of the animal is often problematic; proper preparation
Excess consumption of meat products
The human body needs omega 3 fatty acids, creatine, taurine, Vitamin B12, that are difficult to obtain on plant-based diet
Eat in a parasympathetic state, with gratitude, spiritual discipline

Resources mentioned:

- Boundless book - Health Kik

Episode sponsors:

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-X3 Bar: Grow muscle 3x faster than you can with free weights! The X3 Bar will change the way you train forever. Get a $50 discount off your X3 bar when you use discount code: BEN

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