Biohacking on Ultrahuman Blog

How palm cooling improves physical performance

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:29:49 +0000

The human body performs best within a narrow temperature range. Even small deviations, especially increases in core temperature during exercise, can compromise performance by disrupting cellular energy production.

One emerging strategy to counteract this: palm cooling.

Why thermoregulation matters

During physical activity, your body temperature rises. Once muscle temperature crosses 40°C, enzyme function begins to shut down. One critical enzyme affected is Pyruvate Kinase (PK), which is essential for producing ATP, the energy source for muscle contraction. When PK is inhibited, muscles can no longer generate force efficiently.

Introducing the Body Signal upgrade

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 22:20:05 +0000

Truly understanding your health means looking beyond last night’s sleep.

Our behavior drives sleep, stress, movement, and recovery, and guides your overall health over the long term. The true power of wearables such as the Ultrahuman Ring AIR is understanding our body signals outside of the noise of everyday life.

Body Signal on Ultrahuman Ring AIR distills long-term behavior into easy-to-understand insights, supports healthy habits with redesigned Streaks, and offers unprecedented longitudinal health insights with Milestones.

Mouth taping for sleep: Benefits and risks explained

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:45:04 +0000

Mouth taping has gained popularity online as a sleep hack – but does it actually work?

Mouth taping is the practice of placing adhesive tape over the lips before bed, to forcibly keep the mouth shut and promote nasal breathing. It has surged in popularity among sleepmaxxing TikTok trends .

Sleepmaxxing and mouth taping advocates claim it encourages nasal breathing, which improves oxygen intake and sleep quality, and even promotes a stronger jawline. And it’s also linked to improved oral health, too.

Sleepmaxxing: The evidence behind the TikTok trend

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:56:05 +0000

Sleepmaxxing has become a huge TikTok trend, amassing over 100 million posts on the platform . But what is sleepmaxxing? Aimed primarily at Gen Z, sleepmaxxing TikTokers share tips and hacks for better sleep.

The trend is fueled by the immense longevity benefits of good sleep and the perceived beauty enhancements. Many sleepmaxxing techniques on TikTok are popular because they’re designed to boost everything from facial symmetry and jaw alignment to physical and mental recovery.

Ultrahuman Ring AIR: Dynamic Recovery

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 20:00:59 +0000

Highlights

The Ring AIR’s Dynamic Recovery is an aggregate measure of five parameters determining your body’s preparedness for the next day and changes throughout the day. It is a percentage measure from 0-100, a higher (85 or above) number indicating better recovery.
The Dynamic Recovery has five factors which include - Sleep quotient, temperature, stress rhythm, temperature, resting heart rate and HRV form
Dynamic Recovery is dynamic and can be improved throughout the day by regulating stress, maintaining good sleep and sleep hygiene, proper exercise routine, eating balanced and timely meals, hydrating well and including cold therapy and active recovery.

Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough energy to carry on with your day? Or do you wake up from an 8-hour-long sleep only to feel exhausted? We associate extra hours put in for work or working out with better or even faster gains. When the focus shifts to bettering health, we add exercise and nutrition to mix and assume the ‘rest’ will work itself out.

The Science And Risks Of Using Berberine And Metformin

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 10:58:00 +0000

Berberine has been prescribed for the same but in addition to high blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol. There is a lack of scientific evidence to support its use for the treatment of many conditions, and its use as a supplement is still under examination.

Do note that Ultrahuman does not recommend or prescribe the use of any supplements or regulated drugs.

Highlights

Berberine has been reported to be prescribed by medical professionals to treat metabolic syndrome, inflammation and cancer cases.
Metformin has been prescribed by medical professionals in combination with a diet and possibly other medicines to lower blood sugar levels and regulate how the body draws energy from food.
Both berberine and metformin can impact how nutrients are transformed into energy, as well as how much energy is stored, distributed, and absorbed by cells and other organs in our body.

What is Berberine?

Berberine is a bitter-tasting, a yellow bioactive compound found in some plants, including the Oregon grape and Chinese goldthread. It has been in regular use in botanical medicine. However, recent research around it has accelerated and led to it becoming more commonly known and available.

Autonomic Control: Believe It Or Not, It's In Your Hands

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 12:21:00 +0000

The peripheral nervous system has a component in it called the ANS or autonomic nervous system. This system in our body is responsible for various vital body functions such as heartbeat, digestion, breathing and stress response. The ANS teams up with different parts of the body in different situations to produce an internal solution that can initiate recovery processes or solve a specific source of stress such as the limbic system or the vagus nerve.

Miniature Dynamos that Power Our Cells

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 11:04:00 +0000

Shaped like tiny batteries in our cells, mitochondria are just that: power producers. Their primary role is to break down carbohydrates and fatty acids and convert them into energy. However, these miniature dynamos do so much more than help our heartbeat and biceps pump at the gym. We could not live without them, literally. So let’s take a closer look at how mitochondria manage our inner world.

Highlights

Mitochondria are specialised structures (organelles) in our cells that are responsible for energy production, signalling between cells and necessary cell death,
Chemical energy (stored as carbohydrates, glycogen or fats) is absorbed from the food we eat and transformed by the mitochondria into ATP (adenosine triphosphate),
It has been discovered that mitochondria inside neurons involved in anxiety-related behaviours produced strangely low levels of energy and didn’t work as well as they should.

What are mitochondria?

Mitochondria have been called many things. In 1890, the first observer of the organelle, Richard Altmann, called them ‘bioblasts’. Microbiologist Carl Benda made the name more visually descriptive in 1898 by combining two Greek words: mitos, meaning ‘thread’ and chondros, meaning ‘granule’ (Benda was observing developing sperm at the time). (6)

Ultrahuman Raises $17.5 mn Series A

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:22:00 +0000

Over a billion people in the world suffer from metabolic health disorders. Many more have early symptoms / precursors of a metabolic disorder.

Metabolic disorders have been linked to Type 2 diabetes and other major disorders like PCOS, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, and many more. In fact, the relationship between elevated levels of blood glucose and Alzheimer’s is so strong that some people call it ‘diabetes of the brain’ or ‘Type 3 diabetes’.

Methylation And MTHFR Gene

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:17:00 +0000

How do we exist physically? We exist because of carbon chemistry and its rules which allow us to thrive and grow but sometimes result in illness and disease. DNA methylation is part of the mechanisms of epigenetics, which refers to changes caused by modification of how the gene is expressed, without a change in the genetic make-up itself. That means these changes can be reversed.

Highlights

Methylation and how DNA methylation suppresses the expression of certain genes,
This gene mutation can also reflect high homocysteine levels and/or excessive blood clotting. This is because optimum methylation is required to break down and clear homocysteine from your body.

Our DNA consists of four bases: cytosine, guanine, adenine and thymine. A methyl group, which contains one carbon and three hydrogen atoms, can be combined with cytosine, which results in the DNA become methylated. When the methyl group is removed from cytosine, that DNA becomes demethylated. DNA methylation suppresses the expression of certain genes. An example of the methylation process can be stopping a tumour-causing gene from expressing and hence preventing cancer.

Neuroscience: How Attention Drives Transformation

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 09:37:00 +0000

When we start thinking about embarking on a journey of transformation, we often envision ourselves at the pinnacle of success. We are running that 5K, conversing in Spanish fluently, seeing an ideal body, or are getting a stellar review. However, once we really get down to work we quickly realize that making that change isn’t quite so easy.

In fact, most successful transformation journeys are a blend of small successes, small stumbles, support and encouragement from friends or community, big leaps of courage and vulnerability, some stalling and frustration, uncovering self-compassion, and then getting back to progress. And repeat.

10 Anti-Ageing Hacks For Your Brain

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 09:25:00 +0000

Even though mental decline with age is common, many studies suggest it’s not inevitable. You’re not bound to grow old fumbling for words even though you were only trying to order your favourite cup of coffee.

Just like your body, your brain also needs to work out to stay sharp. It can get bored of routine tasks and needs a certain level of stimulation to preserve cognition (the ability to plan, foresee, focus and make decisions) with age.

Why CRISPR Is Trending In The World Of Genetics

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 06:52:00 +0000

There is an increase in the buzzing mentions of CRISPR (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)—a gene-editing tool developed by scientists that recently underwent a significant trial. A lot of the potential applications of CRISPR may sound superficial and fantastical and are made far too early in the life of the field’s research. Publications frequently carry pieces on the revival of extinct species or cures for cancer, the medical holy grail. This sustained flow of CRISPR publicity has made it the subject of curiosity and conversation beyond the scientific and research-led world. Why is it all the rage in the world of genetics? What possibilities does it hold? Let’s dive in to understand where CRISPR stands today.

Breaking Down The Buzz Around Biofeedback

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 05:53:00 +0000

What if you were told that you can train your body to change its involuntary functions? What would you teach your body? What would you want to unlearn? Biofeedback, an alternative medicine approach, claims to improve your mental and physical health by aiming to control your body functions like heart rate, blood flow, skin temperature, brain waves and blood pressure to address a health condition or to enhance physical performance. For instance, practitioners assert that it can train you to relax the muscles in your neck, shoulders or face to lower tension.

Conscious Breathing: Benefits & Techniques to Reduce Stress & Anxiety

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 16:54:00 +0000

When confronted with uncomfortable emotions of others like anger, nervousness or panic, the advice that is generously doled out most often is ‘Take a deep breath.’ But what is breathing really?

What is conscious breathing?

An individual who practices conscious breathing develops a soft awareness of their breath as it moves through their body. In order to engage more deeply with life, you can cultivate a sense of calm and presence through this practice

Rewiring your Brain through Neuroplasticity

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 10:34:00 +0000

Neuroplasticity is a term that refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of experience. Neuro relates to neurons, the nerve cells that are the building blocks of the brain and nervous system, and plasticity refers to the brain’s malleability.

Each neuron in your brain has one long cable that snakes away from the central part of the cell. This cable, several times thinner than a human hair, is called an axon, and it is where electrical impulses from the neuron travel away to be received by other neurons.

8 Everyday hacks to boost this overlooked Brain Protein

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 11:13:00 +0000

Ageing is an inescapable fact of life but it doesn’t mean you have to lose your mental spark too. Unlike the aching joints, sagging skin and wrinkles, the human brain can be rewired. It can stay resilient, active and sharp, keeping you just as on the ball in your later years as you are today.

Your brain relies on a variety of chemicals to help it function optimally throughout your life. This is where BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein produced inside nerve cells, comes into the picture. Synaptogenesis is a process that connects different brain cells by forming structures called “synapses” that are vital for cell-to-cell communication and long-term memory. BDNF stimulates synaptogenesis and increases the efficiency of synapses to transmit signals. With an average of 86 billion neurons in an adult brain, each of these is competing for BDNF in order to function well and regulate healthy neurogenesis—the growth of new neurons in the brain.

Gaba: The brakes of the Brain

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 09:57:00 +0000

When our lives and bodies are in balance, we naturally “switch off” before bedtime as our mind shifts gears and starts to slow down. One of the key players in this relaxation process is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid produced naturally in the brain, which works as a neurotransmitter promoting calm, good sleep and overall metabolic health.

There are many neurotransmitters in your brain—some induce activity while others inhibit it. GABA is a type of neurotransmitter that has an inhibitory effect on the neuron, meaning it inhibits some brain signals and reduces activity in your nervous system and reduces the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential.

Breaking down the Science of Dopamine fasting

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 08:35:00 +0000

Admit it. You’ve lived through most of the pandemic staring at a screen. Or multiple screens. The idea of binge-watching the new season of that show you’ve declared “the best of our times” is what’s getting you through the day, as is the guilty-pleasure meal that will go with it.

Just the mere thought of the cheesy pasta accompanying that murder mystery series makes you feel good right? What you’re experiencing is dopamine being released in your brain.

Food Logging: Hacking Nutrition with the Cyborg

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 07:52:00 +0000

Eating healthy can be a Herculean task for some people. Whether you want to cut back on sugar or reduce your portion size, figuring out where to start and what to do can be overwhelming. This is not a one size fits all approach and an ‘ideal diet’ is a fallacy. Personalised food choices are at the heart of metabolic health. Knowing what works for your body is the best way forward. Logging your food digitally and receiving insights with the use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is one way to kickstart the habit of eating right.

Neuropriming: Hacking the Brain for peak performance

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:11:00 +0000

Perhaps the most clichéd, and yet the most powerful, statement made by neuroscientists is that “neurons that fire together, wire together.” It also finds resonance in the field of athletics and brain stimulation.

Let’s consider this—did you ever imagine that in the near future you could wear headsets that could improve your sporting performance? Enter neuropriming—the technology that has been gaining traction in the world of athletics.

Professional sport is all about extraordinary performances and major financial stakes, and any small advantage or improvement can make a massive difference to an athlete.

Biohack Your Breathing: The Wim Hof Method

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 04:42:00 +0000

The Wim Hof method is based on the belief that we, as humans, have grown overly comfortable in our modern surroundings, that we no longer battle the extreme temperatures and harsh environments and are losing our incredible power to adapt by giving way to homeostasis—a state of steady internal and physical conditioning. This method claims to be able to correct that—to voluntarily influence the autonomic nervous system as well as the body’s innate immune response to revive this allegedly immense, dormant capacity.

Biohacking 101: Cryotherapy

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 00:08:00 +0000

Introduction

Cryotherapy was conceptualised in physical medicine for athlete recovery, sports performance improvement and in the healing of inflammatory and muscular pathologies. As the science around metabolic health, exercise and wellness continues to progress, it has found many other applications. Cryotherapy literally means cold therapy. Let’s examine some of the types, applications, benefits and risks of cryotherapy.

What is cryotherapy?

According to Pharmaceutical Journal, cold analgesia or cryotherapy is defined as the ‘local or general use of low temperatures (close to or below freezing) in medical therapy, or the removal of heat from a body part to relieve pain’. Essentially, the reduction of temperature in one part of the body or throughout the body can have many uses.

What is Thermotherapy and its benefits

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:52:00 +0000

According to the Pharmaceutical Journal, thermotherapy is defined as the application of any substance to the body that increases tissue temperature. Heat therapy, or thermotherapy, can refer to any method of applying warmth to the body, either in one particular area or over the entire body. Most commonly, thermotherapy is used in case of injuries or for pain relief, though it could also have other uses or medical benefits as heat widens blood vessels, and increases blood flow to the skin.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 11:23:00 +0000

Introduction

Light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, is a non-invasive form of therapy that uses wavelengths of light to treat a variety of conditions. Only a select range of wavelengths of red light and near-infrared light is seen as being potentially therapeutic. The window of wavelengths ranges from 600–1200 nanometres. (1)

Red light absorbs into the skin and can provide therapeutic benefits at the cellular level. Unlike other light-based treatments, red light therapy (RLT) doesn’t cause damage to the skin (2 ), and it doesn’t rely on heat, drugs, chemicals or excess UV rays. (1) RLT isn’t new. Photobiomodulation has been studied for decades and research continues to be done to test its effectiveness.

Self-care tips for the festive season

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:27:00 +0000

It’s that time of the year when we’re slowly winding down to the close of the year, but we’re also stepping into a vibrant season of festive spree. The colours of Dusshera and the lights of Diwali mean wonderful things and times of cherished sharing and happiness, but they can also be a trigger for stress if we’re not on our guard.

Festivities bring their to-do lists of shopping, cooking, socialising, cleaning up, dressing up, among other things and can be overwhelming. The preparation that leads to them and our desire to have it all turn up a certain way can leave especially those of us with the responsibility of organising overworked. During our time with loved ones we may end up indulging more than we should and spiralling into guilt. The constant advertisements nudging us to buy things and the habit of comparing with others may mean our finances are adversely affected.