Team Asprey

Do You Want to Live to Be 100?

June 27, 2019 by Team Asprey

Who wouldn’t want to live to be 100-years-old? Apparently, that’s not as common a sentiment as one might think.

Bulletproof recently conducted a survey to find out more about what people think of their health and lifestyle choices. The respondents included people who are already Bulletproof customers and people from the general population. Read on for the surprising results.

Forever young

More than 70% of the people who follow the Bulletproof philosophy say they want to live to be 100 or more. By contrast, less than 40% of respondents from the general population want to live to be that old.

This gap is profound. One of the possible reasons Bulletproofers aspire to live to a ripe old age is that Bulletproof empowers people to not only think it is possible to live longer, but to think it is possible to spend your senior years living well.

By contrast, perhaps the general population perceives living beyond the age of 70 or 80 as a miserable existence, and they don’t want to spend decades trapped there.

Fewer doctor visits

A related finding from the survey is that people who follow the Bulletproof philosophy say they don’t see their doctor as often as the respondents from the general population say they do.

This is somewhat unexpected because the Bulletproofers who responded to the survey (generally age 45-64) skewed older than the respondents from the general population (which included a number of people 25-34), and the older people get, the more medical attention they typically need. Moreover, given that Bulletproof people say they want to live longer, it seems they would want to see their doctor to help them stay healthier.

But people who follow the Bulletproof lifestyle are able to defy their chronological age, meaning the number of birthdays they’ve had. Instead, they focus on how old their bodies appear to be, and are able to reverse their biological age.

Bulletproofers who aim to live longer don’t see this as an idle wish. While 70% of the general population says they want to lose weight, it’s significant that people who follow Bulletproof are much more likely to be taking active steps to do so. Following the roadmap to a Bulletproof Diet is the best way to start.

No matter what the reason, our research shows that Bulletproof empowers people to want to live longer and better lives.

Two Hours in Nature a Week Makes You Happier and Healthier, Finds Study

June 24, 2019 by Team Asprey

Spending two hours a week in nature can make you healthier and happier, according to a new study.

The report, led by the University of Exeter and published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that people who spent at least 120 minutes in nature per week were healthier and expressed a greater sense of wellbeing than people who didn’t get outside at all.

The study looked at data from nearly 20,000 people in the UK who took part in a government-led survey about how they engage with the natural environment. They were asked about their general health, and how satisfied they were with life.

It didn’t matter whether they spent 120 minutes outside at one time, or whether they achieved the goal with a number of shorter visits. The benefits were also true for everyone — men and women, young and old, and those living in rich or poor areas.

Spending less than two hours a week did not have a significant effect on health or wellbeing, and spending more than five hours offered no extra benefits.

“It’s well known that getting outdoors in nature can be good for people’s health and wellbeing but until now we’ve not been able to say how much is enough,” said Dr. Mat White, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the study. “Two hours a week is hopefully a realistic target for many people, especially given that it can be spread over an entire week to get the benefit.”

Nowadays, many people live in a domesticated environment. They get up, drive to work, sit in front of a computer all day, maybe squeeze in a gym workout on the way home, eat dinner, and go to bed. That’s a far cry from how your ancestors went about their day.

Your body evolved feeling the cold, sweating in the sun, touching plants, seeing trees, and eating real food. Spending time in nature increases your performance and makes you healthier, stronger, and fitter. Read on for ways to get more of the natural world into your daily life.

Easy ways to reap the benefits of nature:

Stay local: The study found that most of the people visited greenspaces within two miles of their home, so even going to your local park carries benefits.
Take a daily walk outdoors: Just half an hour a day will help you achieve the two-hour quota a week.
Eat outside: Instead of eating lunch at your desk, head over to a park and take in the scenery.
Pay attention to fractals: Take time to look up at clouds passing by, or tree branches swaying in the breeze. Nature is full of fractals — patterns that repeat over and over again in smaller magnification. Studies show that simply looking at fractals lowers stress by up to 60%. Learn more about fractals here.
Try forest bathing: Forest bathing means immersing yourself in nature, ideally by taking a gentle scroll under a canopy of trees. Forest bathing carries numerous benefits, including reduced stress, improved mood, and increased energy.

3 Things Happy People Do

June 18, 2019 by Team Asprey

Bulletproof recently conducted a “Feel Eat Live” survey to find out more about what people think of their health and lifestyle choices. The respondents included people who are already Bulletproof customers and people from the general population.

Some of the most compelling information revealed in the survey involves happiness. What makes people happy? And what can you do to increase your happiness? Read on to find out.

3 happiness hacks

1. Make friends

As we shared in a previous blog about this survey, people who follow the Bulletproof philosophy tend to have more friends. But the survey also found that, even when Bulletproof and general population respondents are combined, 94% of people who say they have five or more friends also say they are happy.

2. Get high-quality sleep

Sleep is crucial to our well-being, and no surprise, it is also an important indicator of how people feel. Out of all the respondents who said they get six hours of sleep or more a night, 89% report being happy.

3. Meditate regularly

One of the most intriguing happiness findings was that people who meditate are happier. Out of the people in both groups who say they meditate, 91% report being happy.

There are so many benefits to meditation. Here’s how to get started and meditate effectively.

Sleep, hang out with good friends, and meditate — all good steps to take to improve your happiness.

Discover other ways to hack your happiness. Get exercise, take supplements to improve your mood, and buy experiences rather than things, to name a few.

One of the key sources of happiness is gratitude. Studies show that two weeks of simple gratitude practice creates long-term changes in positivity and happiness. It lights up positivity pathways in your brain and gradually strengthens them over time, rewiring your brain for optimism.

Try the 11 ways to build gratitude and see for yourself. Gratitude is a daily practice, similar to meditation. Like meditation, it becomes more natural over time.

Remember, you are in charge of your own happiness!

Does Biohacking Make You a Better Friend?

June 11, 2019 by Team Asprey

Can being Bulletproof help you make more friends?

And guess what? Bulletproof respondents reported having more friends than the general population respondents. Here are a number of possible reasons why, according to the data. And if you need a primer on what being Bulletproof actually means, head over here.

Happiness is contagious

A higher percentage of Bulletproof respondents report being happy, compared to the general population. And happy people tend to be easier to be around. But it works both ways – people with 5+ friends reported being happier. Spending time with friends is one of the best ways to hack your happiness. Which is the cause and which is the effect?

The older you get, the fewer friends you may have

There are more respondents from the general population who happened to be elderly (aged 54-74) compared to the Bulletproofers who took the survey (generally 45-64). Perhaps later in life, when people aren’t likely to be in the workforce or out and about as much, they have fewer friends in their lives. Making a new friend can be as simple as joining a local hiking club or taking a cooking class. Learn more about the different ways to upgrade your social life here.

Diet counts

When you’re following the Bulletproof lifestyle, you may be attracting more friends because you’re a more pleasant person when your blood sugar isn’t all over the place. The Bulletproof Diet does much more for your health than helping you lose weight. What you eat has a direct effect on your mood and energy levels. Learn more about the benefits of the Bulletproof Diet here.

This is the first of what will likely be a quarterly index, so check back in for more data as we keep digging into these trends.

Father’s Day Gift Guide for the Biohacking Dad

June 10, 2019 by Team Asprey

Step away from the ties (or socks, or “#1 Dad” mug). This Father’s Day, show the dad in your life that you really get him with gifts that’ll make him stronger, happier, and more productive (not to mention the coolest dad on the block). From high-tech to budget-friendly buys, these gifts are the perfect way to say thank you to your very own superhero.

Father’s Day Biohacking Gift Guide

Thermapen Instant Read Thermometer

$99

Okay, okay, so including something grill-related for Dad may not be the most original idea, but the Thermapen is special. Bulletproof staffers swear by it for perfectly cooked meat (nobody wants a well-done steak when what you’re going for is medium rare). It displays temperatures in 2 to 3 seconds flat, and the rotating display makes it easy to read. He’ll be king of the grill all summer long.

TrueDark blue light-blocking glasses

$139 TrueDark 24 Hour Solutions

It’s not only millennials that are staring at their phone or laptop screens all day — dads do it, too. But all that blue light exposure is ruining his sleep. Protect his eyes from too much junk light with blue light blocking glasses. The TrueDark Classic Twilight and Daylights24 Hour Solutions Bundles gives you more ways to choose your 24-hour protection: One pair for the daytime, and another pair with a more powerful lens at night. He can be like Bulletproof Founder Dave Asprey and wear them around town — they’re a great conversation starter and are way cooler than black-rimmed reading glasses, promise.

PowerDot

$199 and up

If your dad knows his HIIT from his CrossFit, help him recover faster from his workouts with the PowerDot muscle stimulator. Small pads send electrical impulses to your muscles during exercise and post-workout, causing them to contract. Stimulating muscles in this way hastens recovery, protects against injury, and soothes pain. PowerDot connects to an app on your phone, giving you access to various training programs.

NeuroMaster

$55.95

Look, dad jokes can be endearing (they’re what make him so lovable!), but not when he recycles the same material over and over (and over) again. Give dad the mental edge with NeuroMaster. Whole coffee fruit extract increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a little protein that produces new brain cells and strengthens existing ones (aka makes you smarter). A sharper brain equals better dad jokes. You’re welcome.

Compression socks

$26.99

I know we promised no socks, but these aren’t your typical dad socks. Compression socks improve circulation in your legs and help prevent blood clots. Dave wears these whenever he flies, and says they leave him less puffy and inflamed.

Try these well-reviewed (and affordable) Sockwell Men’s Elevation Graduated Compression Socks.

Bulletproof Coffee Cold Brew with Collagen 12 ct. case

$59.88

Make dad’s mornings infinitely easier with Bulletproof Coffee ready-to-drink Cold Brew with added collagen. One bottle contains coffee, Brain Octane Oil (a high-quality MCT oil), grass-fed butter, and collagen. The result? Sweet and creamy, minus the sugar. Cold Brew with collagen protein comes in original, vanilla latte, and dark chocolate. Pro tip: Pour over ice and enjoy. Get 15% off through July 4th.

Philips’ SmartSleep headband

$399

Help dad get better quality sleep with the Philips’ SmartSleep headband, which has built-in sensors that track and react to your sleep patterns. When it detects your deepest stage of sleep, it plays soft sounds to increase the number of your slow brain waves. More slow waves lead to deeper sleep.

Sonic Sleep Coach

$49.99 for a premium one-year subscription

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly sleep aid, why not gift Dad a subscription to the Sonic Sleep Coach app? The app links to your smartphone microphone while you snooze. If it senses any sound, it plays soothing audio like pink noise or falling rain so your sleep isn’t disturbed. Other features include an alarm clock that wakes you up during your lightest sleep cycle, and meditations to help you drift off.

Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative grass-fed meat box

Prices vary

Grass-fed meat is way better for your health, and for the planet. You want your dad to live a long and healthy life, so help him along with a box of pastured-raised meat, delivered right to his door. Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative sources meat from small-scale family farms that raise their animals outside with sunlight, fresh air, and clean grass. Build dad’s box from a selection of beef, pork, and poultry. Use code DAVE on grassrootscoop.com for $30 off + FREE SHIPPING on orders of $150 or more. Offer expires June 15.

Game Changers: What Leaders, Innovators, and Thinkers Do to Win at Life

$28.99

Give dad the tools he needs to take his performance to the next level with Dave’s latest book, “Game Changers: What Leaders, Innovators, and Thinkers Do to Win at Life”. Based off his interviews with hundreds of cutting-edge innovators and thinkers, Game Changers offers proven ways to become smarter, faster, and happier.

Halo Sport

$399

Dad will geek out over the Halo Sport, the first-ever brain stimulator that can help him learn skills faster. The headphones use neurostimulation technology to stimulate the area of the brain responsible for movement, increasing training gains in strength, skill, and endurance. Dad will join the ranks of thousands of athletes and musicians worldwide who use Halo Sport, including members of the NFL, NBA, PGA Tour, and US Olympic teams. Watch Bulletproof Founder Dave Asprey give the Halo Sport a try in this video.

Go to gethalosport.com/bulletproof to unlock a special discount. Preorder the new Halo Sport 2, which ships later this month.

Bulletproof Chocolate and Vanilla Collagen Bundle

$79.90

It seems every influencer and celebrity is scooping collagen into their coffee and smoothies. To prevent FOMO, give dad Bulletproof’s Chocolate and Vanilla Collagen Bundle. Collagen keeps skin young, accelerates weight loss, and heals your gut. Just two scoops a day can turn back the clock. Get 15% off through July 4.

Aku ball

$40

If dad is already missing Game of Thrones, help him channel his inner Jon Snow with the Aku Ball. This black stress ball with spikes looks more like a medieval flail. By squeezing it or rolling it across your skin, you increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and ease anxiety.

Viome gut test

$199

Is dad feeling down, stressed, or in pain? All of these issues — and more — can be traced back to the gut. Help him discover what’s going on in his stomach with the Viome gut test. He sends the company a stool sample and they give him a detailed report on all the types of bacteria in his gut, with food and supplement recommendations. He can take the test again to monitor his progress and to see if the changes he made are working.

What Are Stem Cells And Why Do People Get Stem Cell Treatments?

March 27, 2019 by Team Asprey

[tldr]

Stem cells have a reputation for being an ultra-advanced, super expensive, and controversial biohacking procedure.
That’s changing. Treatments that you once had to go overseas to get are now available all over the U.S..
The government already approved stem cells as a treatment for a narrow assortment of cancers, and as safety and knowledge around stem cells expands every day, a wider range of applications should follow.
Keep reading to find out what a stem cell does and to see what happens at the stem cell clinic.

[/tldr]

Stem cells have a reputation for being an ultra-advanced, super expensive, and controversial biohacking procedure. That’s changing at lightning speed. Just a short time ago, most people who wanted stem cell treatments had to go overseas to get it. Now, there are stem cell clinics all over the U.S., and regenerative medicine, the science behind tissue repair, is solidifying into an accepted medical discipline.

Stem cell research breakthroughs are happening every day. For example, scientists have been able to create primitive human kidneys and restore vision in blind patients using stem cells.

Costs have already fallen through the floor. As more and more facilities begin to offer stem cell procedures, you’re going to see costs come down even more. When the government starts approving stem cells as a legitimate treatment, you may someday get treatments covered by insurance. As of now, stem cell treatments are not approved for injuries and overall aging benefits, even though people use them for just that.

The government already approved stem cells as a treatment for a narrow assortment of cancers, including cancers of the blood and bone marrow, and as safety and knowledge around stem cells expands every day, a wider range of applications should follow.

Keep reading to find out what a stem cell does and to see what happens at the stem cell clinic.

Instantly download a 30-day program to upgrade your mind and body.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are cells that are undifferentiated — meaning, they’re not assigned a cell type, like bone cells and nerve cells, when they’re in stem cell form. Depending on what kinds of stem cells you’re talking about, they can differentiate into many different types of cells to build brand new organs when you’re a fetus, or regenerate and repair damaged tissues when you’re an adult.

Types of stem cells

You have several types of stem cells in your body right now, and other types are available for treatments.

Adipose-derived stem cells

You get adipose-derived stem cells from your adipose tissue, aka your fat cells. These are ideal for regenerative therapies like IV stem infusions for overall resilience, because you can extract them over and over without much pain or risk of infection.[ref url=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5040903/”]

Mesenchymal stem cells (from your bone marrow)

To get to mesenchymal stem cells, you have to get to your bone marrow, which is as painful as it sounds. Mesenchymal cells can differentiate into some of the same types of cells as adipose-derived stem cells, and also into different types of cell lines. Your doctor will know which types to use for your goals.

VSEL stem cells – very small embryonic-like stem cells

You have a small number of very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs or V-cells), circulating in your bloodstream. These are made in the bone marrow and organs,[ref url=”https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556508001642″][ref url=”https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12015-008-9018-0″] and are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier.[ref url=”https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12015-008-9018-0″] Extraction is as simple as a blood draw, but they’re more plentiful in umbilical cord blood. VSEL treatments are a cutting-edge science that not many stem cell centers offer to the public yet. It’s legal to use them in humans for research, but not yet approved as a treatment.

Cord blood stem cells and placenta stem cells

Instead of extracting your own stem cells, you can purchase stem cells that have been harvested from newborn umbilical cords and placentas that have been donated and would otherwise be incinerated and disposed of.

Stem cell secretions

The fluid that stem cells secrete is rich in growth factors, which are a mix of vitamins and hormones that stimulate cell growth. This is how stem cells signal for repair and anti-inflammatory compounds to promote healing.[ref url=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197270/”] Some stem cell clinics will offer stem cell fluid in combination with stem cells themselves.

What does a stem cell do?

There’s a common misconception that stem cells float around your body and become whatever they need to become. That’s not the full story. Here’s what actually happens.

The stem cells that are already in your body will sense things like:[ref url=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197270/”]

Low oxygen (hypoxia)
Inflammation
Abnormal cell proliferation (tumors)

Stem cells will migrate to the site of these stimuli and hang out there for a few weeks. While there, they will secrete a fluid that is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, chemicals that regulate the immune system, antitumor compounds, and growth factors for regeneration.[ref url=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197270/”]

So, if you’ve hurt your wrist, you probably tore up your collagen. Stem cells will sense inflammation, and the stem cell juice will signal to your fibroblasts (collagen-producing cells) to start linking up amino acids to make collagen for the injury site.

If your body does this already, why do you need a doctor to take stem cells out and put them back in?

Your body’s own healing mechanisms only take you so far, and your pace of healing and repair declines with age. That’s where regenerative medicine comes in. There are two main reasons stem cell clinics can boost healing and regeneration using stem cells: growth, and direction.

Stem cell growth

Depending on your treatment goals, the doctor may extract your stem cells and put them right back in, or opt to grow your cell line, or reproduce them in a culture dish. If you plan to get a series of treatments or get on a stem cell maintenance program, it may be a good idea to grow the cell line so that you don’t have to extract them over and over. They’ll be ready when you are.

How labs grow stem cells

After the doctor extracts your stem cells, they will flash-freeze them and send them to a lab for culture. From there, the lab thaws your vial and spins it in a centrifuge to separate out the live stem cells. Stem cells are immediately placed into an incubator with a “feeding” solution — a mix of growth factors, amino acids, and other compounds to encourage cell replication. Lab technicians feed and monitor the cell culture every day, and freeze and send them back when ready.

That means you’ll need two appointments — one to extract your cells, another several weeks later to use them.

Targeted regeneration with stem cells

Once the doctor has your stem cells, she can then put them back into your body. If your goals are to address an injury or arthritis, the doctor can simply inject them into the injury site.

If the goal is to act on your aging clock, improve the body process you cannot see, and increase your overall resilience, the doctor may administer stem cells intravenously (IV). That way, the stem cells can course through your bloodstream and find their home in areas of low-level inflammation that you don’t even know you have.

Who should get stem cell treatments?

Stem cell treatments will be much more common in the near future than they are now. For now, people get stem cell treatments to address things like:

Injuries
Arthritis
Localized pain (muscles, joints)
Cancer
Autism
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
Alopecia (hair loss)

Stem cells have not been approved as a therapy for many of these conditions.

Clinics will also administer IV stem cells for general wellness and as an anti-aging preventive measure, and the procedure can be repeated yearly or twice a year. The idea is that stem cells in your bloodstream will find places in your body in need of repair and distribute to multiple sites to strengthen them.

“The two main contributors to aging are inflammation and oxidation,” says Dr. Harry Adelson in an episode of Bulletproof Radio (iTunes) featuring himself and Dr. Amy Killen, both doctors of regenerative medicine at Docere Medical in Utah. “Your body’s biologic aging really is a response to how well you can cope with and respond to inflammation and oxidation. Both of those processes are entirely controlled by stem cells.”

Stem cells aren’t just about injuries. The hallmark of a youthful body is your cells’ ability to recover from everyday stresses and strains. As long as you get as much out of its way as possible, your body’s ability to heal itself is amazing. Stem cell therapy takes self-healing a step further. Working with a qualified doctor to direct the stem cells that you already have can make incredible strides in reversing aging and recovering from injuries and everyday wear and tear to reverse your aging clock.

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