Higher Antioxidant Intake May Lower The Risk Of Obesity In Sleep-Deprived Men
We all know our diets have a significant correlation with our waistline. Simply consume a highly refined diet high in carbohydrates and you’ve drastically increased your risk of obesity.
Could Blocking A Reproductive Hormone In Menopausal Women Result In Weight Loss?
It’s all so common for middle-aged women to struggle with their weight even though they’re consuming a healthy, wholefood diet and exercising regularly.
Medical Breakthrough Finds Affordable Prevention For Miscarriages & Birth Defects
A medical breakthrough that is considered one of the most significant discoveries for pregnant women since folate.
A landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found the simple supplementation of vitamin B3 could prevent miscarriages and birth defects.
Stem Cells in The Brain May Be The Key To Reverse Ageing
Ground breaking research has led to scientists finding a pea-sized part of the brain which may be the key to reversing ageing.
As we age, cells decline in numbers over time and if their function is compromised, we age at a faster rate. By replenishing stem cells, researchers have discovered it is “possible to slow and even reverse various aspects of ageing throughout the body”.
Top 5 Countries For Performing The Most Cosmetic Procedures Revealed
The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) last month confirmed what we’ve known all too well: the demand for cosmetic surgery is on the rise.
Learning From Courteney Cox’s Plastic Surgery Regrets
Hollywood stars, in particular women, have been long-term supporters of plastic and cosmetic surgery. The demanding on-screen business and a critical audience has no doubt fuelled its popularity as many battle against ageing.
Fat Recycling – Going Green with Liposuction
Today, we’ve become more conscious of reducing our waste and recycling where possible. Food packaging is designed to be recycled, public bins offer a place for people to dispose of their rubbish correctly and the ‘ban the bag’ movement is growing traction.
The drive to maintain a green lifestyle is not just limited to food manufacturers, the building industry and transportation. Being green isn’t just about solar panels and rain water harvesting. The cosmetic and plastic surgery industries are doing their part by recycling fat rather than discarding it as medical waste.
Have we been watching our salt intake for the wrong reasons?
We’ve all heard the warnings about consuming too much salt. A diet high in sodium has been found to increase blood pressure, which raises your risks of heart disease and stroke.
Health professionals have based this on a theory that was discovered more than 200 years ago, but could everything we’ve known about salt be wrong? (more…)
Will cosmetic surgery interfere with Australia’s border security?
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has recently announced it is seeking tenders for new self-processing systems for Australian airports. The latest technology which includes facial and fingerprint recognition will allow travellers to enter or exit the country without presenting their passports.
Silicon Valley Start-Ups Are Living Better by Fasting
Silicon Valley, home to high-tech corporations and thousands of start-ups, is also the place of biohacking enthusiasts trying to improve their health and wellbeing.
Nootrobox, a “smart drug” subscription service, is one of these young start-up companies that are looking to hack the body’s systems to enhance their mental fitness and extend their lifespan. Besides making supplements of cognition-enhancing compounds, the team are part of a growing community called WeFast.
WeFast is a club of intermittent fasters who believe the lifestyle of fasting is key to longevity, productivity and maintaining a healthy diet. The club serves as a hub for people world-wide to engage in intermittent fasting and biohacking.
In Silicon Valley, intermittent fasting is become increasingly more popular. For Nootrobox, intermittent fasting is a core part of their company culture. Cofounder and COO of Nootrobox Michael Brandt describes intermittent fasting as a way he can hit the rest button on his wellness. Geoffrey Woo, fellow cofounder of the startup says his fasting days as his most productive.
The effects of intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is a term used to describe several forms of fasting that transition from periods of eating to periods of fasting. The fasting window will depend on the method you choose. The two most popular protocols are the 16:8 and the 5:2.
As part of the 16:8, you fast daily for 14-16 hours and eat for 8-10 hours. For example, if you consume your last meal at 8pm, you don’t begin eating again until noon the following day. During the 5:2 fast, five days a week you eat as normal and on two days you restrict your intake to 500 calories.
Regardless of which protocol you choose, studies have found you can start reaping the benefits of fasting in as little as 12 hours. Some of these benefits include:
- Increase neuron production and signalling to improve cognitive function
- Improved insulin sensitivity, organic function and tissue repair, resulting in improved longevity
- Enhanced metabolism
- Enhance immunity and reduced inflammation
The life of a faster in Silicon Valley
The entire company at Nootrobox fast on Tuesdays. Brandt jokes that fasting isn’t part of the company policy. ‘No one’s getting fired for eating on Tuesdays,’ he laughs. ‘We’re not slapping sandwiches out of people’s hands”!
The team meet up with a group of Wefast members every Wednesday at a local restaurant for breakfast. By the time they sit down to eat, most of the fasters haven’t consumed anything beyond water, tea or coffee in about 36 hours.
Brandt says when he fasts, there’s no need to worry about the afternoon food comas or problems with digestion. He’s never thinking about where his next meal is coming from, instead he is highly focused on his work.
When social media manager, Zhill started at Nootrobox he was initially shocked that the team voluntarily fasted. In his first week he decided to give intermittent fasting a go and found himself thinking more clearly throughout the day and having more time.
Fellow co-worker Paul Benigeri, started intermittent fasting before he began working at Nootrobox, which was no doubt a tick on his CV. While most of his friends and family couldn’t get their heads around the concept of starting their day without a hearty breakfast, Benigeri knew there was something beneficial about maintaining this lifestyle. When he began working with Nootrobox, he was surrounded by a group of people who all had an interest in biohacking.
This is the environment the Nootrobox founders set out to create. A community where people trade stories and tips on fasting, and feel empowered to hack the human body!