The Basics of Being a Biohacker with Dr. Molly Maloof
What’s the best route to optimal health? The truth is much simpler than you might think — and it lies in being a biohacker.
Being a biohacker isn't mad science. It's a far more logical approach to understanding information readily available to you about your body, health, and wellness. However, a critical element of effective biohacking is in your diet. So that begs the question: what's the most effective diet for health?
In this episode of Radically Loved, Dr. Molly Maloof explains the basics of being a biohacker. Dr. Molly talks about her book, The Spark Factor, and why the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. She lays out a lot of information surrounding oils and sugars. Health is a top priority for most people, so we also discuss a non-negotiable exercise that helps bolster your longevity and health — even into your older years.
If you’re looking for up-to-date information about your health — or maybe considering being a biohacker yourself — this episode is for you!
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Learn what it means to be a biohacker — and why it’s beneficial to be one.
Discover a wealth of information on how to pick some of the most common foods in the grocery — like milk, oil, and fruit.
Find out why you should be doing weight training and why it’s not about weight loss.
Resources
Connect with Dr. Molly: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram.
Get The Spark Factor
Listen to an in-depth educational lecture about mitochondria by Dr. Douglas C. Wallace, Ph.D.
Check out Dr. Molly's Online Course
Pre-order Dr. Molly's book and get your free gifts here:
Molly’s Stanford Course “Your Healthspan Journey” – Offered Exclusively for $500 (MSRP $1500).
Levels continuous glucose monitoring — 2 additional months free added to your 12-month membership.
Hanu Health heart rate variability monitoring — 20% off the platform cost plus 1 month for free
Othership Breathwork App — Complimentary Three Month Subscription
Lumen metabolic flexibility monitor — $50 off your Lumen Device
HPA Axis Dysfunction Protocol for Mastering Stress
Stress Warning Signals Questionnaire
Burnout Questionnaire
Dr. Molly’s Recommended Technology
Dr. Molly’s Recommended Supplements
Top Labs Markers by Dr. Molly
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Episode Highlights
[02:29] The Spark Factor
Dr. Molly was thinking about mitochondria while writing The Spark Factor.
There is literally electricity running through your cells. Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell — without it, there wouldn’t be life.
People thought genetics were the secret to health and disease — but that was wrong.
When Molly talks about “the spark factor”, she’s talking about the spark of life.
[06:15] Women: The Original Biohackers
According to Dr. Molly, women are responsible for creating life; doing so uses up a lot of resources.
Biohacking is using information to change your biology. Women were the original biohackers and had to figure out fertility themselves.
Even something like changing your diet is biohacking — like what Rosie did to address her PCOS.
There is no single catch-all diet for biohacking. Different diets will work for different people.
Listen to the full episode for a list of devices you can use to get valuable data about your body and become a biohacker yourself.
[07:08] “Biohacking is taking information from either your internal world or your external world and using that information to change your own personal biology.” - Click Here to Tweet
[14:27] Alternative Kinds of Milk
Oat milk is a controversial topic for many people — for instance, it has a very high glycemic index.
Not everyone metabolizes milk the same way. Some people can even drink raw milk, but it can be problematic for others.
Every country has a different food system, which dramatically affects health.
The makeup of the milk is affected significantly by how a country’s farmers raise and treat their cows.
[25:10] “There's a lot of preservatives in our food in America. It's part of the reason why we have such a sick country; probably it's why we have microbiomes…” - Click Here to Tweet
[27:56] Thoughts On Oil
Fruit oils are not necessarily good for you. Many products marketed as a specific oil are not actually what they advertise.
The way the food industry processes fruit oils, such as olive or avocado oil, damages the end product.
Coconut oil is mostly saturated fat, so it's vital to consume it in moderation.
Look for the press date of oils you buy, and try to buy oils stored in dark or opaque containers.
[28:47] “I believe health is wealth, more than anything else. I'd rather spend more money on things that I know are good for me than just buy anything I can find at the store.” - Click Here to Tweet
[29:49] A Non-Negotiable Exercise
Your muscles are giant battery packs. Without weight training, you will lose muscle mass — it’s inevitable.
Weight training also helps build and maintain bone density.
Regularly using your muscles helps improve multiple aspects of your health, such as blood sugar metabolism.
Weightlifting isn't necessarily about losing weight. It's about having a better physique and body composition.
[34:31] Discussing Fruits and Sugars
Whole fruit is good, but it’s still sugar-related. As with any food, don’t eat fruits in excess.
Dr. Molly doesn’t eat a lot of dates — maybe one a day — but some of her friends can eat several dates in a single sitting without any ill effects.
As with any diet, it’s vital to remember what your body can process effectively and to eat in moderation.
Dr. Molly sees juice cleanses as more of a challenge to your system than a cleanse.
Pure veggie juices are good, but ultimately, being an effective biohacker requires testing to get accurate data about your body.
[40:34] Marathoning: A Biohacker Story
Dr. Molly taught one of her friends how to fast.
Her friend then tried for a marathon. In this marathon, one of her other friends on a high-carb diet had difficulty in the race because they ran out of carbs midway.
However, Dr. Molly’s friend was fat-adapted and metabolically flexible, allowing them to finish — even without training as hard.
Training for physical activity is always vital, but being metabolically adapted is another significant factor.
[44:37] “Muscles are basically the organ of longevity.” - Click Here to Tweet
[47:11] Takeaways and Being Radically Loved
There is no one right way to eat.
Different people thrive on different diets.
The ideal diet for you might change as you age.
[48:11] “We need to stop fighting with one another about our nutrition and start learning to love our bodies and love what our bodies can do for us.” - Click Here to Tweet
About Dr. Molly Maloof
Dr. Molly Maloof is a biohacker and the bestselling author of The Spark Factor: The Secret to Supercharging Energy, Becoming Resilient, and Feeling Better Than Ever. She’s also an accomplished biohacker, has been a medical adviser to multiple organizations, and founded several companies that focus on people’s modern health. Dr. Molly also lectured at Stanford University’s Wellness Department of the School of Medicine.
Today, she's the founder of DrMolly.co, a brand that aims to inspire, educate, and motivate people to improve their lifestyles to live healthier and actualize their potential.
Learn more about Molly’s work on her website. You can also connect with her through LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
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To feeling radically loved,
Rosie