I biohacked my way to a better body, hair, and skin – it’s not just for rich men, my best tips are free or under $5
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YOU can biohack your way to being hotter for less than $10, according to an expert.
Aggie Lal was suffering from hair loss and had a “puffy face” before she found the "lazy person’s way to stay fit and healthy without putting much effort in."
Certified nutrition coach Lal, 36, was a “hardcode vegan” for seven years — but in her early thirties, she realized it just wasn't working for her.
“My hair was falling out in patches,” she told The U.S. Sun.
“I had alopecia, which causes quite embarrassing bald patches all over your head.
“Two things that impact women the most are hair and skin.
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“I had a bloated, had a puffy face, couldn't sleep, and had anxiety attacks.
“I was thinking, 'There has to be a better way to live. I'm sicker than my parents and I'm still super young.'”
Having read all of the books and listened to the podcasts by the founder of biohacking Dave Asprey, Lal eventually met him at an event.
WHAT IS BIOHACKING, EXACTLY?
Lal, who lives in Los Angeles, said biohacking is a term used to describe science and technology that helps to extend your life.
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However, she has a different interpretation of the word.
“My personal definition of biohacking would be: it's a lazy person’s way to stay fit and healthy without putting much effort in by using science to their advantage,” she said.
There’s a misconception that biohacking is only for “white rich men” over 40.
Lal hopes to bring more female representation by sharing budget-friendly ways to manage health using science on , where she has over 78,000 subscribers.
DO IT FOR CHEAP
“There are natural ways to detoxify your body,” she insisted.
“Dry brushing, for example, or tongue scraping every morning, having apple cider vinegar — everything that I just mentioned is under $5 and allows you to detoxify.
“You can make your own teas, dandelion, and burdock and all of these things to support that process.
Red light is great, but you can spend 10 minutes in the sun.
Aggie Lal
“You don't have to go super high-tech and spend a lot of money.
“For every grounding mat, you literally have to stand barefoot outside for the exact same benefits in two minutes.
“Red light is great, but you can spend 10 minutes in the sun.
“Cold plunge is amazing but you can take a cold shower and that's enough for women.
“In fact, for a lot of women, cold plunging isn't as good for our hormones.
“Put a ball of ice on your face to restore your vagus nerve — it's very good for your skin, just don't get frostbite.”
Lal learned from Chinese medicine and Ayurveda that the body should be kept cool.
She said people who naturally always feel hot, sweaty, and anxious may need to use cooling techniques more frequently to get the benefits.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
As a vegan, Lal was “basically on a liquid diet” with smoothies, processed foods, and vegan versions of cheeses while avoiding fat and meat.
She hasn’t looked back since overhauling her diet in June 2020.
“The moment I got into biohacking I told myself I'm going to start eating meat a little bit at least,” she said.
“The benefits were pretty immediate, I felt like my body just got plugged into power."
Lal said she eats much more now than when she was vegan but is mindful of how she prepares her food, avoiding see oils and blended fruit that can cause glucose spikes.
“These small changes have given me so much energy," she said.
SIMPLE SKINCARE
Lal would spend an excessive amount of money on skincare products before she began biohacking.
Younge Goose’s pricey moisturizer has remained a staple in her daily routine.
However, she started experimenting with natural products after discovering the impact endocrine disruptors have on hormones.
“I needed to stop bombarding my body with toxins,” she said.
What is are endocrine disruptors?
According to , endocrine disruptors are substances found in cosmetics, food, packaging, and certain chemicals.
They disturb the body’s system responsible for producing hormones which can lead to issues such as cancer, infertility, obesity, and diabetes.
Experts recommend using products that don’t have chemicals, but as endocrine disruptors are found in water, air, diet, and skin contact it’s impossible to completely avoid them.
“Now I wake up in the morning and spend at least 10 to 15 minutes outside or do some sort of grounding.
“Whether it's sitting on my balcony or going outside with my dog for a walk.”
Managing stress is one of her key focuses for healthy skin and avoiding sickness.
“I always say that the morning routine starts in the evening,” she said.
“So by 6 pm, I let my phone die, chill, and have an early dinner.
“I do anything that relaxes me instead of sitting on my phone till 10 pm as that would lead to bad sleep.”
HYDRATION HEROES
Lal has replaced her morning coffee with mineral-infused water that has a pinch of sea salt.
She said minerals are equally important as vitamins but the soil in which our food is grown is “super depleted” in them.
“I have this black thing called shilajit, which is volcanic and full of 86 minerals,” she said.
“It gives me so much energy and I still have my coffee because I love it, but not from a place of, ‘Oh my God, I will not wake up.’"
Once your body releases a toxin, your hair gets better and your energy is better and everything is better.
Aggie Lal
Lal drinks up to 5 liters of water daily but believes the quality is more important than the quantity.
After filtering water, she recommends adding a pinch of good-quality sea salt.
“I'm like a water connoisseur, I stopped drinking alcohol and got really into water.”
BEAUTY BOOSTERS
Lal revealed her daily supplements include natural herbs sold by her own company.
Among them is a natural detoxifier made from dandelion root and fennel seed.
Supplements support the body after it's been bombarded with toxins in “hairsprays, perfumes, and dishwashing liquid" as well as air pollution.
“I do everything I can to help my body detox," she said.
“Once your body releases a toxin, your hair gets better and your energy is better and everything is better.
“And usually toxins get stored in the fat cells and it's a spiral that makes it hard to lose weight and have energy,” she said.
FIT FOR LIFE
Before biohacking, Lal would exercise six days a week including Barry’s Bootcamp and F45 classes.
She now uses a timer on her phone to stretch and move her body throughout the day and avoids sitting for long periods.
“I work out three times a week and instead of doing any sort of conditioning or soul cycle or whatever, I just do heavy weights,” she said.
“I try to lift as heavy as possible for about 30 minutes, three times a week.
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“That’s enough for me to feel stronger and build muscle.”
Aggie Lal shares more affordable biohacking tips in her book available on .
