Biohacking is one of 2024’s biggest wellness trends.
The topic has over 58.9 million views on TikTok with so-called experts making wild claims about the foods, minerals and vitamins we should all be eating and taking to live longer, healthier, better and smarter. But these videos can feel controversial for controversial sake in the hopes of going “viral”, which means it can be hard to know where to start and what to believe.
Biohacking is all about setting good practices and changing up your lifestyle with small, simple and manageable switches. The foundation is good sleep, better hydration and nutrition, improving VO2 max which is the measure of physical fitness and supporting the normal functioning of your metabolism. So, biohacking supplements are designed to encourage the aforementioned.
You may be looking to improve your gut health which is linked to a whole host of benefits, from an improved mood and better digestion to fewer sick days. In this case, you may add probiotics to your diet. To boost your immune system, vitamin C is a popular tablet too.
If you’re hoping to naturally energise, while reducing anxiety, ashwagandha may be what you’re searching for. To encourage a sounder slumber, magnesium is the mind and body resetting powerhouse, while fatty acid-rich omega-3s support the health of the body systems including the brain and heart.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First and foremost, let’s dive into the world of biohacking.
What is biohacking?
Dr Harpal Bains, longevity doctor and Medical Director at Harpal Clinic explains, “Biohacking refers to the upgraded tweaking of your health beyond conventional advice to maximise health gains. The idea is to enhance the body in more efficient ways with the target objective usually being the brain, athletic performance and weight changes. One of its most relevant uses is encouraging habit changes supported by data”.
How to biohack your body
“Depending on your goals, you can biohack the body in various ways”, says Dr Bains. “For mental or cognitive benefits, some common hacks are nutrigenomics, smart drugs (nootropics) and timed caffeine consumption. Physical hacks include wearable devices which measure heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep, step count and so on”.
Does biohacking work?
“Biohacking can be an invaluable tool in your health journey”, reveals the longevity doctor. “Wearable devices are a good place to start with constant new research to support their use and nudge people to change their habits. Lesser-known hacks with limited scientific data, however, have the potential to waste time and money or worse, harm one’s health”.
Shop the best supplements to support your biohacking goals.
Heights’ Smart Probiotic
Vogue Williams loved these probiotics so much that she decided to invest in them. Heights’ Smart Probiotic has been proven to deliver 20 billion colony-forming units (CFU) in each daily capsule, and its slow-release design means more of these good bacteria are able to reach the gut than most other popular brands.
With over 200 five-star reviews, many have said they have noticed results fast and said taking the probiotic has boosted their energy levels and reduced their bloating. Win-win.
Buy now £50.00, Heights
Nourished The High Flyer Stack
Nourished’s High Flyer stack doesn’t just tackle fatigue from one angle, instead offering a whole stack of different nutrients that aim to combat those feelings of exhaustion in multiple ways.
Containing scientifically proven nourishments to help reduce stress and anxiety, maintain focus and boost natural energy levels, it brings together a range of impressive ingredients including ashwagandha, LactoSpore Probiotics, vitamin B12 and black pepper extract. Bonus points for its sweet, blackberry-esque flavour: the closest thing you’ll find to adult-sized gummy vitamins.
Buy now £37.99, Nourished
anatomē Reset, Relax + Sleep - 60 capsules
One of magnesium’s most enticing attributes is its ability to improve sleep quality by relaxing our bodies and brains. By resetting the mind and relaxing tense muscles,anantomÄ’s blend of minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts helps achieve peaceful and restorative sleep, and alleviates the twitching, tossing and turning that can be a problem for many of us as we settle into bed and begin recovery.
anantomÄ’s formula was created with those who have an active, hurried lifestyle in mind, as well as night owls who prefer to exercise in the evenings. The added botanical extracts of ashwagandha, chamomile, lavender and peppermint invigorate the body through restful sleep, increasing energy levels and balancing the mood.
It’s recommended to take three capsules a day, with the last just half an hour before bedtime for that helping hand to the land of nod.
Buy now £30.00, Anatome
Wild Nutrition Food Grown Pure Strength Omega 3
Wild Nutrition’s omega-3 supplement is formulated with sustainably sourced concentrated Wild Alaska Pollock oil. Free from added artificial colours, sugars, flavourings and preservatives, Wild Nutrition has gone for a 2:1 ratio of EPA and DHA.
Buy now £35.00, Wild Nutrition
Puresport Mind & Body Mushroom Blend Nootropic Capsules
If your year has been a whirlwind of late nights and early mornings and your immune system needs a boost, these Nootropic capsules from Puresport, with six medicinal mushrooms, will give you the energy you’re craving. The premium quality adaptogens and nootropics are created to optimise focus and memory.
A different kind of magic mushrooms, the natural nootropics of Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Shiitake, Cordyceps and Maitake, help with brain function and some medical experts suggest there are benefits for memory conditions like ADHD, Alzheimers and Parkinson's.
Buy now £35.00, Amazon
WelleCo The Calm Elixir
As its name suggests, WelleCo’s The Calm Elixir was designed to help you feel a little more Zen when everyday life decides to really test you. Containing a brilliant botanical blend of passionflower, lemon balm and ashwagandha, The Calm Elixir utilises magnesium to support the nervous system and vitamin B6 to maintain physiological function and the regulation of hormonal activity. In short: everything you need to go about your day feeling more put together and in control, naturally.
Buy now £40.00, Selfridges
Raise & Replenish Catch Some Zen
Raise & Replenish’s Catch Some Zen is basically a hug in a cup: a smooth and sweet cacao blend that provides you with the perfect bedtime treat to drift off feeling safe and comfortable after a busy day.
While they may look like cups of coffee to an outsider, each plant-based latte actually contains ashwagandha, cacao, Montmorency cherry and magnesium which, together, provide the ideal blend to help you settle down.
Buy now £42.00, Holland & Barrett
Dirtea Cordyceps Mushroom Powder
Not a fan of swallowing your supplements? Try drinking them instead. Dirtea’s Cordyceps Mushroom Powder offers a natural and potent remedy in place of traditional powders. Cordyceps is similar to Lion’s Mane, and has a slight nutty taste, making this tea more pleasant to drink than your usual heath-food option. It’s rich in antioxidants, beta-glucans and polysaccharides, which are all essential nutrients that aid in combating free radicals and improving overall health. Just mix in a mug with your favourite milk and enjoy.
Buy now £39.99, Selfridges
Nature's Bounty Vit C + Zinc 60 Gummies
This is a highly-rated supplement that is beloved for its sheer ease of consumption. Nature’s Bounty has created a dietary add-on in gummy form that makes it a tasty treat in the day and thus means you are getting the immune system support you are looking for, while relishing chewing the vitamin C and zinc-based product. The latter has been selected for its scientifically proven ability to support the work of vit C in protecting the body’s cells. It is sugar-free yet sweet-like in its orange taste.
Buy now £9.99, Holland & Barrett
OSU Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
OSU has spent 200 years expertly crafting and perfecting vinegars in Japan. This original vinegar has been blended with 100 per cent natural apple juice and the ‘mother’ to bring an enjoyable balance of sweetness and tanginess, with a smooth taste in the mouth. Free from artificial flavourings, preservatives and colourings, it is also presented in a pretty bottle to stand out in your kitchen.
Buy now £7.50, Sainsbury's
Better You Good Night Spray with Magnesium Oil
This topical spray is great for a quick dose of magnesium before bed - it’s recommended to spray 5 to 10 sprays on the skin around the body and massage it well. Despite the slight sting that comes from topically applying magnesium spray, this is a great way to get more magnesium into your routine.
Buy now £9.98, Amazon
The Nue Co. Vitamin C Capsules
The Nue Co. creates its supplements using the finest natural ingredients, each of which is selected after a rigorous process of scientific testing. This targeted option is all about ensuring that we get our daily dose of vitamin C where the brand uses citrus bioflavonoids to encourage better absorption by the body.
The antioxidant-rich capsules were designed to provide an energy boost, and support immunity and there is also a suggestion from reviewers that it brightened their complexions. The label provides a vegan option that is free from nasties or fillers.
Buy now £16.00, Cult Beauty
VITL Rise & Energise
VITL’s Rise & Energise vegan pills are a popular choice for tackling fatigue during day-to-day life. Formulated with a range of the purest and most bioavailable vitamins, they’re easy to absorb, allowing you to enjoy all of the goodness contained in each digestible capsule.
These hard-hitting supplements don’t hold back the benefits. There’s a blend of a full B vitamin complex with vitamin C as well as Siberian ginseng to help reduce fatigue and support energy levels and CoQ10 to help reduce symptoms of fatigue.
Buy now £8.99, VITL
Rheal Coco Dream Superfood Blend 150g
Relatively new to the scene, Rheal was developed after its founder was diagnosed with coeliac disease and discovered the health-boosting benefits of superfoods. The brand’s certified organic products have been crafted to deliver delicious-tasting products which, as a bonus, can help to support the general health of your immune system. Coco Dream combines the power of reishi mushrooms and KSM-66 ashwagandha alongside raw cacao and cinnamon to help you relax and unwind.
Buy now £21.25, Rheal
Purolabs Iron Complex
While iron supplements shouldn’t be taken without consulting a doctor first, PuroLabs’ are some of the best once you’ve got that seal of approval. Formulated with easy to digest vitamin C, B12 and folic acid, these capsules are stomach-friendly and less likely to cause any digestive issues that other iron supplements may result in. Plant-powered and vegan-friendly, each of these capsules contains gentle iron bisglycinate and is totally free of any unnecessary or unnatural bulking ingredients.
Buy now £24.99, PuroLabs
Ancient + Brave True Collagen
You may immediately associate collagen with divisive anti-ageing claims – and it is a component that is crucial in the structure of our skin, but its benefits go beyond ensuring a youthful complexion. The ingredient aids cellular renewal and gut health, supporting the skin, bones, tendons and more. The dissolvable powder can be added to your morning cuppa, adding no taste to the brew for ease in slipping into your routine.
Buy now £29.00, Ancient + Brave
JSHealth Vegan Vitamin D Formula
JSHealth was founded by clinical nutritionist and health author Jessica Sepel and offers well-being support through the wonderful world of vitamins. The brand’s Vegan Vitamin D Formula is packed full of goodness. Take one capsule a day for your much-needed hit of the sunshine vitamin, which maintains and supports bone health. Vitamin D3 also promotes muscle health, immune system health and healthy teeth.
Buy now £19.99, JSHealth
