What is Biohacking? Is it some weird sci-fi type of application of melding man and machine? It sort of sounds like it, but it has nothing to do with robots.
Biohacking is changing your physiology and chemistry through the use of self-experimentation and science to increase one’s energy and vitality. I’m not talking about implanting micro-chips or anything like that which is “biotechnology.” I’m talking about biohacking through the use of diet, exercise, supplements and detoxification methods such as infra-red sauna and cryotherapy/cold therapy.
As women enter their late 40’s, they experience peri-menopause and will see their menstrual cycles become sporadic, heavier and shorter. Fluctuating hormone levels can also create more lapses in memory with increased forgetfulness. Estrogen and progesterone are key factors in cognitive function as well as libido, skeletal health, joint health, and metabolic processes. As someone whose already experienced menopause, I can tell you from personal experience what I use and what has helped me get through menopause and be stronger, fitter and faster.
The market for supplements is humongous and can be overwhelming as to what works to help women minimize symptoms of menopause. To keep it simple, I’ll cover just one bio-hack in this blog post. In future posts, I’ll discuss others I use that have made a difference.
Nod your head if you ever heard of CARBON60 or C60, as it’s referred to in the Bio-hacking community? I’ll guess that less than 1% of you reading this are familiar with carbon 60. Carbon 60 is a supplement that consists of 60 carbon atoms in a lipid solution of either extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil or avocado oil. Those are the typical oils that are used as its delivery system to get into the cells.
A little history may be helpful in understanding why this supplement is changing the lives and health of so many. The discovery of the carbon 60 molecule has been around since the 1960’s but it wasn’t until a group of researchers with the use of mass spectrometry were able to verify its existence in 1996 and won a Nobel prize that put C60 on the map.
C60 is shaped like a soccer ball and was named “Buckyballs” or “Buckminster Fullerenes” because the molecule resembles a soccer ball which looks like the geodesic shapes that architect, Richard Buckminster Fuller designed.
Science is about proof of concept and even though there was evidence of this molecular structure, it wasn’t until another study called the “Rat Study” in 2012 that showed what C60 can do for biology. The study divided several groups of Wistar rats and gave one group water, another just olive oil, and the third group had olive oil with carbon 60. The results were nothing short of astounding. Upon studying the rats’ urine, blood, and brain samples, they discovered something amazing. The rats that were given olive oil had increased their lifespan by 30%. But the rats that were given the olive oil with C60 increased their lifespan by almost 90%! In short: olive oil with C60 made the rats live 90% longer.
So what does this mean for humans? It means that C60 has shown to increase longevity. Now the question you may be wondering is, “But how and why does this work?”
Okay, let’s go down this rabbit hole a little bit more. Ever since the industrial revolution, our lives have become increasingly more prone to toxicity. The majority of humanity has moved away from living amongst nature and using its resources that come from mineral rich soil. Urban environments like cities may have some conveniences such as subways, high tech, and 24 hour food services but it all comes with a price.
We are drowning in a bathtub of electric pollution from 5G [a.k.a EMF], consuming nutrient poor food that comes from a box, antibiotics, pharmaceutical drugs [more people die from iatrogenesis: “Almost all men die from their drugs and not from their diseases” – Molière – 1622-1673, The Imaginary Invalid, Act III] the use of chemical laden products on our body and to clean our homes that disrupt our hormones and spend more time on digital devices than we do outdoors and with our loved ones.
When we create an atmosphere of stress and toxicity we create free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are highly reactive and unstable molecules that are missing an electron. They are naturally occurring as a byproduct of metabolism. A diet rich in anti-oxidants can help neutralize these little buggers that have a lifespan of only a fraction of a second. However, during that short amount of time, they can still do some damage to our DNA, cause mutations, and increase one’s chances of developing heart disease or other serious health conditions. That’s the bad news. I know that sucks. Read on to hear the really good news.
Here’s the really good stuff that I’m excited to tell you. Carbon 60 works because it has 60 atoms in its molecular structure and is an electron donor. Think of C60 as a very generous aunt or uncle that has so much money that he or she knows what to do with and loves helping others constantly. That’s C60. It donates electrons to the unstable molecules [Free radicals] which reduces the oxidative stress that causes aging and disease. This is the reason the Wistar rats in the study I mentioned lived 90% longer than the other rats. They reversed oxidative stress by stabilizing all the molecules that were missing an electron.
Another benefit of C60 is a reduction in inflammation, improved hormonal regulation, better mood, improved sleep etc.. You get the picture. So when it comes to reducing menopausal symptoms, carbon 60 is a wonderful addition to your diet. I have found that it’s best to start off with this dosage:
- 1/4 of a teaspoon a day for the first week
- 1/2 tsp a day on week two
- 3/4 tsp a day on week three
- 1 tsp a day on week 4
You can take up to a tablespoon a day. As we age, we’ve accumulated more oxidative damage so 1 tablespoon is fine to take. Best to take it after food and earlier in the day as some people may experience more energy and a stimulating effect. Everyone’s chemistry is different. Some people may want to stay with one dosage for 2 weeks and then increase. I’m just providing a suggested dosage.
I’d like to add that C60 is by no means going to be your one and only savior so you can be reckless with your diet and continue to use toxic body and house cleaning products. Uh-uh. This is a lifestyle. I understand it’s no quick task to overhaul one’s entire way of life but start with one thing at a time. Maybe switch from using “Tide” to wash your clothes to a chemical free laundry brand like “BioKleen.”
To purchase Carbon 60, I found the following sites very reputable and have purchased from both of them. There are other sites that sell C60 but I have not tried them and some are in Europe. If you purchase from Europe, it will likely take longer. Both the sites often have sales and deals. It is an expensive supplement but one that has made a major difference in how I recover from workouts and how my joints feel. It’s worth it to feel good!
If you have any questions about C60, please DM me on Facebook or email me at sharon@kuhlebody.com