What's your idea of a long enough life? Probably 80 good years followed by Alzheimer's or a degenerative disease, climaxing into death! Right? Well, prepare to be surprised because humankind has discovered the elixir to slow down aging! Today's biohackers are hell-bent on finding anti-aging technology and methods that could enable people to live for at least 180 years!

Super Human: The Bulletproof Plan to Age Backward and Maybe Even Live Forever (2019) by Dave Asprey presents the latest research and cutting-edge technology on longevity. This book is an opportunity  to learn how to look younger, maximise your life, and become superhuman!

Dave Asprey is a Silicon Valley investor, best-selling writer and an entrepreneur. Let's explore his bulletproof plan for leading a long and healthy life - beginning with mitochondrial degradation and how it impacts aging.

Have you ever wondered what exactly happens inside our bodies that causes aging?  Somewhere along the line something happens and the inevitable signs appear – a gray hair, a forgotten name, less energy running up the stairs. Why? What's causing this?

Enter the mitochondria – a mitochondrion is an organelle present in our cells responsible for the production of energy and respiration. It uses aerobic respiration to create chemicals called ATP or adenosine triphosphate. ATP is the powerhouse of the cell, remember?

As you age, mitochondria start slowing down. They can't metabolize as efficiently and leave toxic byproducts called free radicals. Too many free radicals disrupt normal cellular processes. And even though our mitochondria try hard to neutralize them with internal antioxidants - sort of a personal cooling and filtering system - after a point of time, it's just not enough. You've officially begun aging! mso

And here's where it gets more tricky. Your cells may hit 70 before you do. Sorry to break it to you, but there's a difference between your actual age and the biological age. Biological age is how old your cells are. Dave Asprey discovered first-hand that while he was in his 20s, his biological age was already half way through its life span. He suffered from asthma, arthritis, and high blood sugar for years. Also, his body failed to produce thyroid and testosterone hormones. He had hashimoto's thyroiditis; most cases of which happen between 40 to 60 years of age!

The key to staying young, biologically, is to avoid mitochondrial degeneration and increasing our antioxidants by taking care of our body. This discovery led Dave to reinvent himself and put focus on health. After conducting thorough research and meeting anti-aging experts, Dave realized dietary deficiencies can limit antioxidant output potential. And thus was born The Bulletproof diet phenomenon. Since then, Dave has learnt a lot about aging. He knows whether you wish to increase your biological age, look younger, or feel more energised, or avoid chances of untimely death, it can all be controlled at the cellular level! Yea yeah, it's all in the genes. We've heard that! But genes are only a part of the puzzle; lifestyle matters, too.

Now one way mitochondrial health can be maintained is by a change in diet. Let us see how.

Maintaining healthy Vitamin D levels is crucial, yet around 1 billion people worldwide are deficient. Everyone knows overexposure to sun rays can cause cancer. And as frightening as that is, research shows that avoiding the sun entirely ain't that good either. It actually lowers life expectancy - even more than smoking! A Swedish study points out that complete avoidance of sun exposure lowers life expectancy by between 0.6 and 2.1 years. How could sunlight be so risky yet also so vital?

Well, here's the deal. Our skin needs some exposure to sunshine in order to produce and activate vitamin D. Scientists believe that at least 20 minutes of exposure should do the trick. Supplements help boost vitamin D, sure. But they can't fully replace what our body does with sunlight. When the UV rays from the sun reach our skin, it converts vitamin D into a more powerful, usable form - the sulfated form.”

And what's vitamin D have to do with aging? It’s crucial for the regulation of calcium and phosphorus in the body - nutrients that promote the health of muscles, teeth and bones. Also, it regulates sugar levels and stops the accumulation of amyloids - a protein that leads to Alzheimer's. So, yea, the vitamin itself may not directly determine longevity, but it does help keep everything smooth so you can age with grace!

People from all over the world are instead overexposing themselves to blue light - light emitted from phones and computers. This blue light is absolutely nasty. It totally messes with our sleep cycle by decreasing the body's ability to produce the sleepy hormone melatonin. Plus, late night blue light spikes blood sugar, possibly promoting obesity and diabetes. Yikes!

Being a part of modern society means you can't completely do away with gadgets. However, most scientists recommend down time post 7 PM. But if you must, you can use some methods to limit the exposure. Apps like f.lux or Iris adjust display color to limit blue light. And a pair of yellow-tinted glasses for additional protection. Healthy aging, here we come!

Next, let's dive into the exciting possibilities that medical technology brings for reversing aging.

Way back when our author was just a reckless teen, he hurt his shoulder. Fast forward to 2015, he underwent his first treatment, receiving injections into the injured shoulder and upper back and even on his face which somehow tightened the collagen in the skin. And man! Was he satisfied with the results or what!!

So, what was this magic treatment that practically made him good as new? And more importantly, why isn't everybody doing it?

You may have guessed, it was a stem cell treatment. What is a stem cell? Stem cells are special shape-shifter sort of cells with the natural potential to form into any type of cell.  Put them in a wound and they can help repair damaged tissue by becoming new skin cells. They're crazy flexible! This regenerative potential of a stem cell was what helped Dave cure his injuries. Tissue healing is just the beginning; imagine the potential of stem cells in the eyes of anti-aging scientists and researchers.

Now, you may be wondering - if stem cells occur naturally in our bodies - in bone marrow, fat tissue, etc - what are the injections for? Well, as you age, the reserves of stem cells in the body decrease, so the body is unable to heal from damage or create new cells. So, the doctors harvest stem cells which can then be concentrated and reinjected into damaged areas.

Okay, you now know that aging causes stem cell levels to decline over time. That means kids and babies must have high levels of stem cells, right? And that's where it gets… controversial. See, the most versatile stem cells come from embryos and to get these embryonic stem cells, the embryo has to be destroyed. Clearly not something that'll sit well with everyone. In the 1980s, stem cell research was stopped for many years. Now, the treatment is strictly regulated. But, its superhuman potential has every lab coat nerd crossing their fingers.

Now, on to another marvel of medical technology: hormone therapies!

This anti-aging method is almost as controversial as the stem cell treatments. Here's what you need to know. Hormones rule the show when it comes to aging. Testosterone, estrogen, thyroid - when these start dropping off in middle age, that’s when aging shifts into high gear. But thanks to our modern lifestyles, our hormones fall way too early than that. Well, it doesn’t have to be this way. Improvement starts with the two things we already know are very important: diet and lifestyle. Speaking of lifestyle, make time for high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts 1-3 times per week. HIIT involves intense exercise alternated with rest, and it’s one of the most efficient ways to naturally increase hormones, especially testosterone!

And if you still need an extra nudge, there are some extra reinforcements you could call. Consider bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The hormones are lab-made but identical on a molecular level to your body’s own juices. Now, is HRT for everyone? No. There are always risks to weigh. For example, estrogen HRT may raise heart attack and breast cancer risks in some women. It's all still debated but plenty of anti-aging doctors swear by bioidentical HRT to help patients regain strength and vitality with minimal side effects.

Next up, let's explore one of the least controversial hacks to reverse aging. Hint: you've been doing it since birth!

One of the most powerful methods to slow aging requires zero effort - just let your eyes drift shut! Deep, rejuvenating sleep is the body’s natural detox. While sleeping, fluids drain from tissues and cells flush out waste. So, morning-you is sharper and healthier, ready to take the day. Sleep also balances hormones so you feel satisfied after a full night's rest. Be regular enough and it helps with healthy cell growth and glowing skin as well.

To really refresh your brain, you want to max out on what is called the REM and deep sleep. REM, which stands for rapid eye movement, is the dream phase where your brain is active even though your body remains still. Deep sleep aka delta sleep is like your body's nightly maintenance mode. During this period, your breathing slows, heart rate drops, and brain activity minimizes. It's a critical reset button that transfers memories, fights stress, and boosts your immune system's performance. - pretty amazing! Now, are you getting enough of these REM and deep sleep cycles?

Lucky you, sleep quality is no longer a mystery. There are apps and actual devices that can track your sleep. The Sleep Cycle app or the Ōura Ring device, for instance. These can track your sleep cycles by capturing heart rate variability, breathing patterns and body temperature. Armed with data, you can experiment to find your optimal amount of sleep. While some doctors still recommend adults get 6-8 hours nightly, surprisingly one study found people over 30 who slept only 6.5 hours actually lived longer. Either way, the goal is to make sure you get enough sleep to wake up both physically refreshed and mentally sharp, for all the years to come!

If you’re with us so far, pat yourself on the back. Next up? Collagen!

Can you age backwards? Except Benjamin Button, no one can! But it’d be great to get rid of wrinkles, baldness or gray hairs, won't it? The author suggests taking collagen protein supplements. Collagen is a structural protein found in the connective tissues of our body and is responsible for the maintenance of skin cells, cartilage, blood vessels and bones. Breakdown of collagen is what leads to wrinkles. So, obviously collagen supplements can have anti-aging effects, like increase in hydration and a restoration of skin's elasticity.

Here's how it works: just 10 grams of grass-fed collagen protein supplements can boost the levels of amino acids required to create collagen. Another way to prevent wrinkles is by loading up on food items that are high in antioxidants. Leafy greens, berries, flaxseeds, nuts are loaded with polyphenols, a category of antioxidants. Even some dark chocolate if you've got a sweet tooth.

If you've not noticed yet, antioxidants are basically the magic bullet. In fact, the reason you start going gray early is also due to not having enough of this antioxidant called catalase in your body. By getting antioxidants like vitamin E, curcumin or ashwagandha through supplements, your hair pigment should remain just fine!

Similarly, for people facing balding, consider the use of DHT-blocking shampoos - sex hormone DHT is linked to premature balding. Another reason could be an imbalance in the production of T3 and RT3 thyroid hormones in the body. Or perhaps stress! Try regular exercise and meditation for that one. Rest, check with an anti-aging specialist for the best results.