Sulfurophane
Was listening to the latest episode of Smart Drug Smarts. In it, Jesse interviews Dr. Jed Fahey of John Hopkins University, on the profound health benefits of Sulfurophane, and it got me thinking about a few tweaks I’ve made to diet and lifestyle to trigger a more resilient immune system. Below are the easiest, quickest and cheapest ones.
Back to sulfurophane.
There is brand new research linking the Sulfurophane – found naturally in cruciferous vegetables, specifically Broccoli and Broccoli sprouts – to cancer prevention, stronger autoimmunity, decreased chances of stomach ulcers, and decreased symptoms of autism in children.
It works on several fronts – first through a process called Hormesis, wherein it’s a mild toxin introduced into the body, triggering an autoimmune and natural antioxidant response from the organism. Exposure of Sulfurophane tricks your body into creating a stronger immune system, Biohacking at its best.
The only reason it’s not a bigger deal, is that there’s nothing to patent in the compound, and no known way to synthesize a more potent version, so pharmaceutical companies can’t make a drug out of it. Without their research and marketing budgets, it will likely stay in the realm of biohacker obscurity.
I’ve been throwing Broccoli Sprouts into salads and smoothies for months now, since Dr. Rhonda Patrick mentioned their potency on the Tim Ferriss Show.
You can buy fresh sprouts in some grocery stores, or grow them in your kitchen with some sprout seeds from Amazon.
Chaga
My chaga quest started with a way to hack brain function. Nerding out on it, I learned that the immune boosting properties, blood sugar regulation, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It helps regulate immune function: improve it when it’s weakened or temper it if overactive.
Chaga is a mushroom that grows on birch trees, and survives by living off of their nutrients. That’s what makes it so nutrient-dense, specifically full of polysaccharides and antioxidants. Please don’t take my word for it, read the Chaga research and studies presented by the Memorial Sloan Cancer Center.
To take, I either use wild harvested chaga chunks, thrown into a slow cooker on low for 8 hours, drinking either warm with honey or chilled. Or I get some pure chaga extract and throw it in my smoothie, with the Broccoli Sprouts.
Cold Exposure
There’s an unfortunate belief that the cold makes people sick. The overwhelming body of research says otherwise – cold exposure promotes healthy metabolic function, helping to burn fat, and create a healthier immune system.
Back to Dr. Rhonda Patrick – kind of like how Sulfurophane stresses the body to produce a stronger immune system, cold exposure has a similar Hormetic response.
Best way to start is by topping off your showers with the water set to ice cold for 30 seconds. I alternate between pleasant warmth and freezing cold a few times through the shower, to help trigger heat shock protein. If you’re really bold, try an ice bath.
Good luck on your Posthuman journey, fellow biohackers.
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