Why we should talk about bio optimising instead of ‘biohacking’

The body is an amazing biological force, working mostly in perfect harmony and synergy. While our knowledge around the body grows daily, still we know so little of how it functions with such supreme synchronicity. We should be in awe of the body it is truly incredible.
 
The world of biohacking over the past decade has boomed, and yay for that because it has brought into focus holistic healing modalities and options that really we should all know about. Holistic health agency, owning our own health and healing, has the potential to change the face of health care in so many ways.

​What is ‘hacking’?
Let’s consider what ‘hacking’ is as a term; essentially, it’s the creative manipulation, or repurposing, and in some cases exploitation of systems as in the case of tech, to encourage the system to work differently or better than it did previously, often the intention is to improve the efficacy and gains and minimise losses and negative changes.
 
Hacking your biology conjures up a range of imagery, from amazing holistic therapies like red light through to blood and plasma-based interventions, implantation of tech devices, and experimental hormonal manipulation. Regardless of their testing and evidence these sorts of interventions truly to sit in the realm of ‘hacking’.
 
If we put this context of the body bio hacking is the manipulation of the body and its systems in order to improve performance, longevity and health, and overcome ageing, inflammation and disease.

​Why bio optimise is more appropriate
Bio Optimise on the other hand is everything anyone can do to support the natural cycles and physiology without the use of invasive treatments, side effects, risk or huge cost. It’s safe because it doesn’t seek to push the body beyond its natural function, instead it seeks to optimise it.
 
A Bio Optimise® approach seeks to holistically enhance not just our physical wellbeing, but being holistic it also seeks to enhance our mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Bio optimise does this through evidence-based strategies that optimise the body’s biology and capacity to function at maximal levels for wellbeing and health-filled longevity. Optimising the biology of the body supports natural immunity, efficient metabolism, effective detoxification processes and maximal energy production and use. Bio Optimising is synergistic with the body’s own natural cycles and seeks to support the whole body.
 
Bio optimising is health in the hands of the people, not the few for the few, it seeks to grow health literacy by explaining more than just the what, it dives into the how. It’s in understanding that true health agency occurs, when we understand the foundation workings of the body, and the mechanisms of interventions, strategies and protocols that we can make truly health-informed choices and support others to do the same. It’s in this space that toxicity based ‘health’ and the business of polypharmacy become outdated and holistic health is revived.

​Why we should use the term ‘bio optimise’
For most of us who simply want to live a purposeful, and health- and wellness-filled long life.  ‘Hacking’ is not in the equation, in fact, it could be said that hacking the body is something best left to those keen to push beyond the body’s natural preference for health and balance. Hacking and the body are at odds in natural health, health’s only short cut is through nature; health is about honouring the body, not seeking to overcome it.

​Let’s reframe the discussion
Let’s all work toward health that is in our hands, that is affordable, doable, safe and honours nature by talking about bio optimising. Next time you go to use the term ‘bio hack’ or ‘biohacking’ and you’re referring to a natural health-promoting therapy or strategy try using the term bio optimise or bio optimising, you’ll likely feel it aligns more strongly and fits beautifully.

Author

Written by Director and Founder of Well College Global, Leanne Cooper.
If you are interested lifestyle medicine principles, functional health approaches and  preventive and integrative health try our latest course, Bio Optimise free sampler.