Don’t be concerned, but I’m 24, and I’m already worrying about aging.
I religiously reapply sunscreen throughout the day and keep a ready supply of colorful roasted vegetables in my fridge (you did good, mom), but the San Francisco biohacking event I attended this month made me feel like a longevity fraud.
From neurofeedback to red light therapy, several technologies used for wellness were available — so, naturally, I tested everything I could get my hands on and observed the products I couldn’t try. Some products proved immediately valuable, while others left me altogether confused.
As experts have told my colleagues on Business Insider’s health team for years, the best way to protect our health long-term and boost our longevity is to nail the basics: eating a balanced, nutritious diet; regularly doing exercise we enjoy; getting enough sleep; and having meaningful relationships and purpose in life. Still, I couldn’t help being curious about what the biohackers could offer me.
With price, overall benefit, and ease of daily use in mind, these are the longevity technologies that I actually found worth trying, ranked from least to most appealing.
Neurofeedback 60-minute consultation and 45-minute session: $175
Neurofeedback didn’t feel worth the investment.
The woman who facilitated my experience told me that neurofeedback helped her overcome her public speaking anxiety, and claimed that it can improve sleep, relaxation, and mood.
Sensors were placed on my scalp to track brain waves, and then a personalized feedback signal was sent to the headphones in the form of music to regulate my brain functions. As the desired brainwaves are reached, the music is supposed to become clearer, therefore training your brain on how to function over an extended period of time. Depending on the target, the desire could be better focus, more calmness, or deeper relaxation.
It was nice and relaxing to lie back and listen to meditative music with the sound of crashing waves in the background, but I might’ve felt just as relaxed lying back and listening to Spotify. Plus, I couldn’t hear any changes in the audio with the sounds of people and music from the event around me.
B12 shot: ~$50
The B12 shot that was administered at the event made me feel skeptical of using B12 injections as a simple wellness tool.
I have a clinical B12 deficiency and already go in for monthly B12 injections from my primary care physician. When I saw a doctor at the event offering B12 shots for anyone willing to sign the waiver, I was apprehensive, but excited to finally not have a copay.
Despite no evidence supporting the claims, the B12 injections were intended to boost energy and mental clarity, with effects lasting 24 to 72 hours. The company that administered my shot didn’t list the price of one injection, but I’ve seen local prices advertised online for around $50.
I didn’t notice any changes over the next few days.
The doctor mentioned that it’s important to find the cause of fatigue and mood changes, instead of just covering them up with the injections. I appreciated the caution.
I wouldn’t take B12 injections if it weren’t for my deficiency, and I echo the doctor’s statement to look deeper at the core reasons for symptoms.
Hydration IV drip: $250
The line for an IV drip was so long that I didn’t get to try it. There’s a lack of evidence that suggests people with normal nutritional levels would benefit from it, but because of its popularity in the wellness space, I couldn’t leave it off this list.
By the time I got over to the IV drip station for a nurse-administered injection of hydrating fluids, they were fully booked out for the day. I’m not sure if the line was due to high demand or the fact that one IV drip takes 45 minutes.
Each session costs $250 and claims benefits for people experiencing jet lag, dehydration, stress, and more.
For a jet-setting CEO or a startup founder meeting VCs over drinks, I could see how an IV drip might help speed up recovery from severe dehydration and help them get back to business, but I’ll stick to my electrolyte packets.
Sound therapy Crescendo Bass Bed: $2,650
I’m still thinking about the sound therapy.
The Bass Bed is essentially a mattress that vibrates to music playing through noise-canceling headphones. The mattress acts as a subwoofer, meaning low-grade vibrations are directed to your body through the bed, while you listen to music at full volume through headphones and a headphone amplifier.
It’s designed to enhance your music listening experience and promote deeper relaxation.
The first time the bass hit and the vibrations went rippling through me, the biggest smile spread across my face. It felt like my body was melting into the mattress, and the music was insanely satisfying to listen to with the added sensory input.
The bass bed is $2,650, aka out of my price range, but I absolutely loved it.
If you’re a music-lover with cash to spend, the Crescendo bed could be a great purchase. But there are way too many free ways to relax for me to ever justify this purchase.
Red light vest: $249
Red light therapy is one of the more inexpensive investments, but it requires commitment.
While I’m used to seeing influencers online religiously wearing red light face masks to help with things like acne, scarring, and wrinkles, I had the opportunity to try a red light vest over my shoulders, back, and chest for pain relief. Evidence suggests that low-level red light can be used for pain from most musculoskeletal conditions. As a journalist currently hunched over my laptop, I was game.
I wore the vest for about 15 minutes and didn’t feel much of anything since I had to wear it over my clothes — it works best directly on skin.
The representative recommended using the vest multiple times a week for roughly 15-minute sessions, which is entirely plausible for me. At $249, it could be a good investment, even though I didn’t get to experience the results.
Portable ice bath ($1,295) and infrared sauna pod ($995)
While there wasn’t an ice bath or sauna to try at the event, a contrast therapy brand was there to promote their products. I haven’t done contrast therapy, which is moving from one extreme temperature to the next within a short timeframe, but I’m no stranger to saunas and cold plunges.
Last year, I used a sauna every day for 30 days, and I don’t think anything has ever made me feel more relaxed. The heat helped me release tight muscles after resistance workouts, and the intensity required a level of presence that felt quite meditative.
I’ve also tried out cold plunging, which gave me a massive “high” of energy and focus, though I’ve been advised by my doctor not to continue using either due to my chronic illnesses. Ice baths are a buzzy topic, but the evidence is not strong enough to show health benefits from them. Contrast therapy, on the other hand, has been proven to improve heart health.
Despite my now-avoidance of saunas and cold plunges, I absolutely would recommend these wellness tools to others with the consultation of a doctor. It’s my favorite on this list, and I heard from a few event guests that it’s a non-negotiable in their daily routines for focus.
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