May 19th 2023 // SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Upgrade Labs, the world’s first Human Upgrade™ Center and brainchild of Bulletproof® Coffee founder Dave Asprey, is gearing up to open its first franchise location. Located in Meridian, Idaho at 2206 N Eagle Rd, Suite 110, this will be the brand’s newest facility with an anticipated soft opening date of May 17th, 2023. On June 10th, they will be hosting a grand opening event, offering a tour of the center, an introduction to their performance and recovery technology, opening week discounts, prize raffles, local vendors providing samples, and more.
Upgrade Labs Meridian will be the first franchise location for the brand. The facility boasts a fully remodeled interior, including upgraded air quality, grounded counters, circadian lighting, a Danger Coffee Bar, Neurofeedback station, Mitochondria station, recovery stations, and a performance and cardio station. It will be owned and operated by Idaho natives, friends, and business partners Hailey Smith and Becky Granden. The pair are health and wellness enthusiasts with a passion for sharing the benefits of biohacking, and they could not be more excited to bring the future of health and wellness to their home state and local community.
“I first discovered Dave and his work in the biohacking world after a run-in with mold-related illness during a home renovation,” shared Granden. “Once I saw just how beneficial biohacking was for my own health, I knew I wanted to help make these services more accessible to my family, friends, and community.”
One of the driving forces behind Hailey’s passion for health is her father, who first introduced her to the field before he passed away 10 years ago. Smith believes that having access to the current technologies offered at Upgrade Labs would have made a huge difference in his health, and could have extended his time with her. After working a career in tax at a Fortune 500 company, and later taking on the role of President in her father’s business, Hailey knew it was finally time for her to follow her passion. Once she learned about the opportunity to open an Upgrade Labs, she knew it was the perfect fit to carry out her dad’s legacy while helping those in her community.
“Becky and I both share a love for staying healthy and active, and we love encouraging our friends and family to do the same,” added Smith. “After my dad’s passing I knew I wanted to make these life-changing technologies available to as many people as possible, and we are so excited to be bringing Upgrade Labs to the Treasure Valley. We cannot wait to see how our services will impact our community.”
Founded in 2017 by Dave Asprey, Upgrade Labs was designed to help people reach their highest levels of performance. Asprey coined the term biohacking, which is the art and science of using technology combined with the environment in order to take control of human biology. With the help of Upgrade Labs Meridian, members will reach their highest level of physical performance & well-being through unique and innovative technologies, giving dramatically better results than traditional wellness and exercise techniques.
“Hailey and Becky could not be a more perfect fit to join the Upgrade Labs family,” said Asprey. “We are so excited to see the positive impact Upgrade Labs will bring to the Meridian community, and to continue to watch Hailey and Becky thrive in their new business.”
Upgrade Labs is actively seeking single and multi-unit franchise partners across the United States and Canada. As the brand begins its franchise expansion, it is looking for partners that are passionate about upgrading humanity and want to introduce biohacking into new communities.
Founded in 2017 and franchised since 2021, Upgrade Labs is the world’s first Human Upgrade™ Center and brainchild of Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof® Coffee and Father of Biohacking. Biohacking \ ˈbī- ō- ˌha- kiNG \ noun, the art and science of using technology and the environment around you in order to have full control of your biology. Upgrade Labs, the premier biohacking center, helps members reach their highest level of physical, cognitive and cellular performance through proprietary technologies. Each location offers services that help members become smarter, faster & stronger, resulting in a more rejuvenated & resilient version of themselves. The services offered help members spend less time exercising, decrease recovery times, and retain higher levels of concentration and tranquility. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and expert Biohacker Technicians, Upgrade Labs helps its members live their lives to the fullest potential. Membership & packages are available and include a tailored selection of services. For more information, please visithttps://www.upgradelabs.com/.
The Biohacking Facility is set to open its first franchise in Meridian in May
May 12, 2023 // Franchising.com // SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Upgrade Labs, is gearing up to open its first franchise location. Located in Meridian, Idaho at 2206 N Eagle Rd, Suite 110, this will be the brand’s newest facility with an anticipated soft opening date of May 17th, 2023. On June 10th, they will be hosting a grand opening event, offering a tour of the center, an introduction to their performance and recovery technology, opening week discounts, prize raffles, local vendors providing samples, and more.
Upgrade Labs Meridian will be the first franchise location for the brand. The facility has a fully remodeled interior, including upgraded air quality, grounded counters, circadian lighting, a Danger Coffee Bar, Neurofeedback station, Mitochondria station, recovery stations, and a performance and cardio station. It will be owned and operated by Idaho natives, friends, and business partners Hailey Smith and Becky Granden. The pair are health and wellness enthusiasts with a passion for sharing the benefits of biohacking, and they could not be more excited to bring the future of health and wellness to their home state and local community.
“I first discovered Dave and his work in the biohacking world after a run-in with mold-related illness during a home renovation,” shared Granden. “Once I saw just how beneficial biohacking was for my own health, I knew I wanted to help make these services more accessible to my family, friends, and community.”
One of the driving forces behind Hailey’s passion for health is her father, who first introduced her to the field before he passed away 10 years ago. Smith believes that having access to the current technologies offered at Upgrade Labs would have made a huge difference in his health, and could have extended his time with her. After working a career in tax at a Fortune 500 company, and later taking on the role of President in her father’s business, Hailey knew it was finally time for her to follow her passion. Once she learned about the opportunity to open an Upgrade Labs, she knew it was the perfect fit to carry out her dad’s legacy while helping those in her community.
“Becky and I both share a love for staying healthy and active, and we love encouraging our friends and family to do the same,” added Smith. “After my dad’s passing I knew I wanted to make these life-changing technologies available to as many people as possible, and we are so excited to be bringing Upgrade Labs to the Treasure Valley. We cannot wait to see how our services will impact our community.”
Founded in 2017 by Dave Asprey, Upgrade Labs was designed to help people reach their highest levels of performance. Asprey coined the term biohacking, which is the art and science of using technology combined with the environment in order to take control of human biology. With the help of Upgrade Labs Meridian, members will reach their highest level of physical performance & well-being through unique and innovative technologies, giving dramatically better results than traditional wellness and exercise techniques.
“Hailey and Becky could not be a more perfect fit to join the Upgrade Labs family,” said Asprey. “We are so excited to see the positive impact Upgrade Labs will bring to the Meridian community, and to continue to watch Hailey and Becky thrive in their new business.”
Popular biohacking franchise Upgrade Labs is the world’s first Human Upgrade Center and brainchild of Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof Coffee and father of biohacking. The franchise offers a diverse array of performance, recovery, cognitive and diagnostic biohacking technologies to its guests.
Here, the experts at Upgrade Labs share their top five wellness technologies, selected because of their popularity, effectiveness, efficiency and extensive list of applications in upgrading the human body, mind and spirit (in no particular order!).
1. RedCharger
Mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) are responsible for about 90%-95% of the body’s energy levels in any given moment. During a private session on the RedCharger, amber, red and infrared light all travel varying lengths of depth into the body and “charge up” the mitochondria, allowing them to create more ATP, or cellular energy.
These frequencies of light are beautiful, mimicking and supplementing the light that we naturally receive from the sun at sunrise and sunset. As the cells create more energy, clients thoroughly enjoy significantly decreased inflammation, more beautiful skin, relaxed and eased muscle tension and pain, and a more natural sleeping rhythm, among many other benefits.
Bonus: The RedCharger stacks well with other technologies, especially cryotherapy, to deliver enhanced benefits.
2. The Oxygen Trainer
The Oxygen Trainer is part of the next generation of performance, recovery and cognitive upgrading systems. During a session, clients relax in a zero-gravity chair and receive a “passive workout,” in which nearly every cell in the body is strengthened through intermittent hypoxia training.
In a fully relaxed state, clients are connected to The Oxygen Trainer via a breathing mask and tube. The device controls the concentration of oxygen that they receive. The air typically around us is known as normoxia (20.9% oxygen). During the session, clients cycle through normoxia and lower concentrations of oxygen (hypoxia). These breathing cycles safely stimulate all the benefits of altitude training, no matter what sea level you are at.
Clients love this technology as their body responds to it with significantly increased energy levels, better endurance, higher cognition, improved longevity markers, better hormone levels, better sleep and overall vitality.
3. Upgraded PEMF
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) delivers electromagnetic energy as a pulse through the guest’s body. During a session on Upgraded PEMF, copper coils emit electromagnetic energy that, when absorbed by the body, restores the proper charge to our ions, such as oxygen, potassium and calcium. This restores the ions’ ability to perform their function, which is to go into the cells, remove waste and allow nutrients to flow in.
The effects of this are profound. In recharging their “cellular batteries,” clients can enjoy significant pain reduction, enhanced injury recovery times, increased bone density, nervous system regulation and reductions in stress and migraines.
4. The CHEAT Machine
The CHEAT Machine provides just a few minutes of high-intensity resistance training, helping users achieve the benefits of a week’s worth of exercise. They go through a full body workout, typically chest press, row and leg press movements, working out against an AI-controlled motor. Users can maximize both the concentric and eccentric phases of the lift in a way that could not be safely replicated in a typical gym setting.
Clients love The CHEAT Machine for its ability to rapidly stimulate significant muscle growth, endurance, hormonal response and bone density. It’s also beloved for offering clients significant savings in time, as well the ability to track output data as they get stronger over time.
It’s also safe for almost everyone without an acute injury, because the user’s own strength constantly determines the resistance.
5. Cell Health Analysis
Our clients’ journey into health optimization through biohacking rests upon the Cell Health Analysis. This unique diagnostics technology uses a bioelectrical impedance, or a sonar signal, to precisely gauge a variety of key health indicators.
Following a quick scan, users are guided through a report detailing the current state of their health: how much muscle mass they have, is it sufficient to support them, how much fat mass they have, how much visceral fat they have, where in the body they have inflammation, as well as a vital whole-body phase angle.
The phase angle is a measure of the integrity of the cell membrane, how well it keeps out toxins and allows nutrients to flow in. It goes up when you’re healthy, down when you’re sick, up with muscle mass and down with inflammation. It is a metric that cumulatively considers how your current lifestyle impacts your health on a cellular level.
For technicians at Upgrade Labs, this health scan provides the opportunity to have an honest conversation about our clients’ health and put a protocol in place, so that a person’s biohacking journey is maximally smooth, effective and enjoyable.
SANTA MONICA, Calif.– Upgrade Labs – the world’s first Human Upgrade™ Center and brainchild of Bulletproof Coffee founder Dave Asprey – plans to continue its exciting national growth by offering franchise opportunities in the southern side of Florida, focusing on the Greater Miami Area.
With successful centers operating in California and British Columbia, in addition to territories sold in Austin, TX, Charlotte, NC, Nashville, TN, Boise, ID, and Salt Lake City, UT, Upgrade Labs is set to continue its rapid expansion. The brand is looking to award franchise licenses in the southern end of Florida.
“Upgrade Labs is ready to disrupt the Southern Florida fitness and wellness space,” said Asprey. “We look forward to offering franchise opportunities in as many states as possible to make biohacking technology accessible to all communities throughout the nation.”
Upgrade Labs was founded in 2017 by Dave Asprey with a mission to help people reach their highest levels of performance. Asprey coined the term biohacking, which is the art and science of using technology combined with the environment in order to take control of human biology. The brand helps its members reach their highest level of physical performance & restorative abilities through unique technologies, giving dramatically better results in less time than they would spend exercising the old way.
Each Upgrade location offers several innovative performance services such as The Cheat Machine, a patented, motorized resistance and computer software adaptive technology that gives you a week’s worth of resistance training in just 15 minutes. Additionally, Upgrade Labs pairs its performance services with a unique range of recovery services including The Big Squeeze, an FDA-approved full body detox massage and lymphatic drainage technology that gently removes excess water, slims the body, and expels toxins to improve the immune system. Members report having stronger immunity, reduced inflammation, increased energy, enhanced longevity, improved sleep quality, and much more.
“Upgrade Labs is a place where people go to take responsibility for their health and thrive,” said Jenna, a member of Upgrade Labs Victoria. “I became a member because I believe we grow better in a community. It’s a place where I can go to Upgrade not only my biology, but my community and connection as well.”
Recently, Upgrade Labs added Cryotherapy to its U.S. franchise model, which chills the whole body for two to three minutes at -166 to -220 degrees to help decrease inflammation, boost metabolism, and significantly increases deep and REM sleep.
“I created Upgrade Labs as a way to make biohacking accessible for all,” continued Asprey. “The unique technologies we utilize have previously been reserved for those with celebrity or high-level status, and now we look to offer it as a standard service that many can utilize to achieve their long-term health goals.”
Upgrade Labs is currently seeking additional single and multi-unit franchise partners across the United States and Canada. As the brand begins its franchise expansion, it is looking for partners that are passionate about upgrading humanity and want to introduce biohacking into new communities. Including the franchise fee, the initial investment for an Upgrade Labs location ranges from $663,000 to $1,070,000.
Founded in 2017 and franchised since 2021, Upgrade Labs is the world’s first Human Upgrade™ Center and brainchild of Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof® Coffee and Father of Biohacking. Biohacking \ ˈbī- ō- ˌha- kiNG \ noun, the art and science of using technology and the environment around you in order to have full control of your biology. Upgrade Labs, the premier biohacking center, helps members reach their highest level of physical, cognitive and cellular performance through proprietary technologies. Each location offers services that help members become smarter, faster & stronger, resulting in a more rejuvenated & resilient version of themselves. The services offered help members spend less time exercising, decrease recovery times, and retain higher levels of concentration and tranquility. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and expert Biohacker Technicians, Upgrade Labs helps its members live their lives to the fullest potential. Membership packages are available and include a tailored selection of services. For more information, please visithttps://www.upgradelabs.com/.
A practice known as “biohacking” is gaining popularity among celebrities such as Brooke Burke, Tom Brady and Jeff Bezos — it’s means of improving health, fitness and vitality by making small and incremental lifestyle changes.
But is this “DIY biology” really all it’s cracked up to be?
Experts weighed in for a crash course on the topic.
What is biohacking?
Biohacking is a broad concept that can be applied to many aspects of physical and mental health, from eating and exercise to sleep and stress management.
Proponents say people can hack into their own biology to achieve different goals, whether it’s losing weight, boosting memory, living longer, getting better sleep or even alleviating chronic pain.
David Asprey, author and founder of a health and wellness company called Bulletproof 360 in Seattle, calls himself the “father of biohacking.”
He told Fox News Digital via email that he started the biohacking movement in 2011.
Brooke Burke told Fox News Digital that people can “start small” when it comes to taking care of their bodies and overall health — and that the “worst thing” to do would be nothing at all in terms of workouts or exercise. (Getty Images)
“Biohacking is the science of changing the environment around you so that you have full control of your own biology,” Asprey said.
“It allows you to get more results with less time. Instead of pushing and trying, you change things around you so that your body effortlessly gives you what you want, such as more energy or less fat or a better brain.”
He believes that people who embrace biohacking likely will live a better life with more energy, peace, calmness and control over how they look and feel.
Asprey runs an online community of biohackers called The Upgrade Collective.
Hundreds of members, he said, have been helped profoundly by taking control of their own biology.
Tom Brady has taken meticulous care of his body and his overall health and conditioning for many years. (Gilbert Flores/Variety)
“Some have learned how to sleep for the first time in years, others have lost 100 pounds, and some feel more energy than they ever believed was possible,” he said.
Biohacking isn’t a one-size-fits-all practice. Individuals can pick and choose the elements of their choice to focus on — and how far to take it.
Hot and cold therapy explained
Cold therapy, or cryotherapy, is one of the most common approaches to biohacking.
Athletes have long used it to reduce inflammation and ease sore muscles after tough training sessions, but it’s also gaining widespread popularity for its purported mental and physical health benefits.
Cold therapy, or cryotherapy, is one of the most common biohacking strategies. Athletes have long used it to reduce inflammation and ease sore muscles after training sessions. (iStock)
Melanie Avalon, an actress, author and avid biohacker in Los Angeles, California, does daily sessions of cryotherapy.
“It helps to reduce inflammation and ‘upregulate’ neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and epinephrine,” she said.
Cold therapy can be as simple as applying an ice pack to a localized area or taking a cold shower.
Others may do full-body ice baths, “polar plunges” or whole-body cryotherapy in a cryochamber, which is cooled to frigid temperatures with liquid nitrogen.
For those who can’t take the cold, another form of biohacking involves heat therapy.
Avalon said she does sessions in an infrared sauna as a means of reducing muscle soreness, sweating out toxins, boosting the immune system via the stimulation of an artificial fever, and activating longevity-promoting heat shock proteins.
(Always consult with a doctor or health care provider before starting any cold or hot therapy.)
Intermittent fasting revealed
While biohackers put a big emphasis on what they eat, when they eat is perhaps just as important.
Brooke Burke, for example, has long been an advocate of intermittent fasting, which restricts meals to a certain window of time.
Intermittent fasting has been shown to produce numerous benefits, including improved heart health, weight loss, better memory and cognitive functions, higher athletic performance, and management of type 2 diabetes. (iStock)
One example is the 16/8 method, in which the person fasts for 16 hours and then eats only within an eight-hour span, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Others may opt to fast for a full 24 hours once or twice per week, or to limit their calories on fasting days.
Intermittent fasting has been shown to have numerous benefits, including improved heart health, weight loss, better memory and cognitive functions, higher athletic performance, and management of type 2 diabetes, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.
More advanced biohackers may get into nutrigenomics, which involves studying how different foods interact with the body’s genes as a means of preventing disease.
Sleep optimization explained
To promote healthy sleep, biohackers focus on regulating the circadian rhythm, which is like the body’s 24-hour biological clock.
Exposure to light sources triggers the body to enter the “wake” cycle in the morning — and when it gets dark the body begins producing melatonin to prepare for sleep. When the circadian rhythm is out of whack, it can disturb the sleep cycle.
To promote healthy sleep, many biohackers focus on regulating the circadian rhythm, which is like the body’s 24-hour biological clock. (iStock)
On his website, biohacker Dr. Greg Wells, based in Toronto, offers a few tips for regulating the circadian rhythm.
These include exposing the eyes to light first thing in the morning, even if it requires the use of artificial sunlight, and avoiding exposure to light before bed.
He also recommends keeping the bedroom at 66 degrees Fahrenheit to promote optimal sleeping conditions.
“Biohacking is the science of changing the environment around you so you have full control of your own biology.”
Avalon supports her own healthy sleeping habits by using a cooling mattress, blackout curtains and blue light-blocking glasses to filter out blue-violet light rays from digital screens.
Red light therapy: What is it?
An increasing number of biohackers are touting the health benefits of red light therapy.
This involves exposure to red light in certain wavelengths to trigger changes in the body’s cells. People can lie in full-body beds or use a handheld device to apply the red light.
Biohackers tout the health benefits of red light therapy, which involves exposure to red light in certain wavelengths to trigger changes in the body’s cells. However, more research is needed on this, says the Cleveland Clinic, to determine the effectiveness. (iStock)
Red light therapy is said to effect pain relief, wound healing, decreased side effects from cancer treatments, reduced inflammation and skin improvements — although the Cleveland Clinic states on its website that more research is needed to determine its effectiveness.
Health tracking and how to do it
A big part of biohacking is what Avalon calls “self-quantification,” which involves practices that measure various states of the body.
Today, wearable devices can track almost every imaginable metric — heart rate, physical activity, calories burned, sleep cycles, glucose (blood sugar) levels, reproductive cycles, even the amount of fat the body burns.
“By intensely monitoring one’s biomarkers, such as heart rate variables, body temperature, sleep rhythms, blood glucose and blood markers, biohackers receive feedback for what is and isn’t working, so they can optimize how they tackle any given day,” Avalon said.
“In a way, whether they know it or not, everyone is a biohacker.”
Asprey touts a sleep-tracking system as the most important piece of technology that will tell you whether you’re moving in the right direction.
“As you improve your health markers and biometrics, your score increases,” he said. “When you are over-training or emotionally stressed, your score is lower. There’s no tricking yourself.”
Blood testing touted
Many biohackers monitor their bloodwork to track things like cholesterol, vitamin and mineral levels, organ health, inflammation, cellular function, immune system health and thyroid function.
Blood tests can also determine whether dietary changes or supplements are having the desired effect.
Biohacker Dave Asprey is an avid proponent of blood testing. “If you wait until you’re sick to take a blood test, you won’t know where you were when you were well,” he said. (iStock)
Asprey said he has always been an advocate of blood testing.
“How could you try to fix something if you don’t know where it is or where it’s going?” he said. “It’s something healthy people should do, because if you wait until you’re sick to take a blood test, you won’t know where you were when you were well.”
For safe biohacking, start slowly
As with any lifestyle decision, pushing biohacking to the extreme comes with some degree of risk.
“The risks can come from pushing the body from a state of hormetic [beneficial] stresses, to overtaxing and detrimental physical stress,” said Avalon.
“Ample recovery is important. Biohacking techniques should not be seen as salvation, but rather as a tool to enhance our well-being and existence.”
Anyone considering starting a new biohacking practice should first consult with a doctor or health practitioner. (iStock)
For those just getting started, Asprey recommends picking just one thing to focus on, as opposed to setting a more general goal of “getting healthy.”
This might be incorporating better sleep habits, eating a healthier diet or getting daily exercise.
“In a way, whether they know it or not, everyone is a biohacker,” he said.
“The environment around you, the food you eat, the space you live in and the things you do are always affecting you. Every one of us is in charge of our environment, consciously or unconsciously.”
All those considering starting any new biohacking practices should first consult with their doctor.
SANTA MONICA, Calif.– With increasing consumer demand for AI driven integrated performance and wellness services,Upgrade Labs – the world’s first Human Upgrade™ Center and brainchild of Bulletproof Coffee founder Dave Asprey – continues its national growth by offering franchise opportunities across Chicago.
With successful centers operating in California and British Columbia, in addition to territories sold in Austin, TX, Charlotte, NC, Nashville, TN, Boise, ID, and Salt Lake City, UT, Upgrade Labs looks to continue its expansion into the state of Illinois. The brand is looking to award franchise licenses in the state’s most populous city, Chicago.
Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the US with a population nearing three million people, making it a perfect place for the growing business to expand. Health and wellness is a major priority for many people living in the city, and with a self-proclaimed goal to make Chicago “The Healthiest City in the U.S.” Upgrade Labs is set to assist the city reach these aspirations through their cutting-edge biohacking services.
“I created Upgrade Labs because you have a right to fill yourself with energy with enough time left over to do your work in the world,” said Asprey. “This is the technology that turned on my superpowers. Now everyone can access recovery technology that used to be locked away for astronauts, pro sports teams, billionaires and celebrities. Join me on this journey to Upgrade Humanity.”
Upgrade Labs was founded in 2017 by Dave Asprey with a mission to help people reach their highest levels of performance. Asprey coined the term biohacking, which is the art and science of using technology combined with the environment in order to take control of human biology. The brand helps its members reach their highest level of physical performance & restorative abilities through unique technologies, giving dramatically better results in less time than they would spend exercising the old way.
Each Upgrade location offers several innovative performance services such as The Cheat Machine, a patented, motorized resistance and computer software adaptive technology that gives you a week’s worth of resistance training in just 15 minutes. Additionally, Upgrade Labs pairs its performance services with a unique range of recovery services including The Big Squeeze, an FDA-approved full body detox massage and lymphatic drainage technology that gently removes excess water, slims the body, and expels toxins to improve the immune system. Members report having stronger immunity, reduced inflammation, increased energy, enhanced longevity, improved sleep quality, and much more.
“Upgrade Labs is a place where people go to take responsibility for their health and thrive,” said Jenna, a member of Upgrade Labs Victoria. “I became a member because I believe we grow better in a community. It’s a place where I can go to Upgrade not only my biology, but my community and connection as well.”
Recently, Upgrade Labs added Cryotherapy to its U.S. franchise model, which chills the whole body for two to three minutes at -166 to -220 degrees to help decrease inflammation, boost metabolism, and significantly increases deep and REM sleep.
“The technologies we offer are traditionally looked at as inaccessible to those outside of the highest status, such as billionaires, celebrities, or professional athletes,” said Asprey. “This is one of the things we look to change with our brand. Our services are accessible to everyone, giving more people the opportunity to work on themselves in a unique and different way. Just like Bulletproof®, Upgrade Labs is another step in my plan to Upgrade Humanity.”
Upgrade Labs is currently seeking additional single and multi-unit franchise partners across the United States and Canada. As the brand begins its franchise expansion, it is looking for partners that are passionate about upgrading humanity and want to introduce biohacking into new communities. Including the franchise fee, the initial investment for an Upgrade Labs location ranges from $663,000 to $1,070,000.
Founded in 2017 and franchised since 2021, Upgrade Labs is the world’s first Human Upgrade™ Center and brainchild of Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof® Coffee and Father of Biohacking. Biohacking \ ˈbī- ō- ˌha- kiNG \ noun, the art and science of using technology and the environment around you in order to have full control of your biology. Upgrade Labs, the premier biohacking center, helps members reach their highest level of physical, cognitive and cellular performance through proprietary technologies. Each location offers services that help members become smarter, faster & stronger, resulting in a more rejuvenated & resilient version of themselves. The services offered help members spend less time exercising, decrease recovery times, and retain higher levels of concentration and tranquility. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and expert Biohacker Technicians, Upgrade Labs helps its members live their lives to the fullest potential. Membership packages are available and include a tailored selection of services. For more information, please visithttps://www.upgradelabs.com/.
After decades of turning to diet pills, steroids and plastic surgery to alter their bodies inside and out, people are increasingly open to an alternative method: injecting themselves with peptides at home.
Proponents say that peptides—a broad category of substances including FDA-approved drugs, supplements and experimental treatments—can help them build lean muscle, shed weight, increase energy and get a dewy glow. Though the term has appeared on a range of consumer products for years, injectable peptides are getting more attention as celebrity doctors and influencers share stories of physiological transformations that go beyond diet and exercise.
These substances are being prescribed to patients by doctors as well as paramedical providers such as nurses and naturopaths, even though several in-demand peptides are not approved by regulators. The lack of oversight has raised concerns about the purity of ingredients, improper dosing and unknown side effects. But advocates say they’re comfortable with any risks.
“I remember filling up my first syringe, and I was thinking, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t believe I’m gonna do this,’” said actor Brian Austin Green. Despite his fear of needles, he started taking peptide injections in 2021, when he was a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars,” under the guidance of William Seeds, an orthopedic surgeon.
Soon, he was taking three injections every morning for several months. He said that even with the show’s physical demands and grueling rehearsal schedule, “I so didn’t feel my age.”
Actor Brian Austin Green started injecting himself with peptides while competing on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
This year, Mr. Green turns 50. Heis in talks with Telegenixx, a telehealth startup where Dr. Seeds is a board member and co-founder, to start peptide injections again and promote the treatments on social media. The startup’s chief executive declined to disclose which peptides it offers.
“People are more interested now in, What can I do to protect myself as I am aging, against disease, against stress?’” Dr. Seeds said.
Mr. Green, a father of five, said it’s important to him to be an active dad. “I don’t necessarily want to feel like I’m aging,” he said.
For years, peptides such as BPC-157, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin have been popular among bodybuilders and athletes who are seeking to speed up healing or build muscle. The substances are being procured from compounders, a patchwork industry made up of state-licensed and FDA-registered providers, whose quality standards vary. Regulators have cracked down on their sales, and the World Anti-Doping Agency has expressly banned their use.
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That hasn’t crimped broader interest. Doctors and medical spas nationwide are listing “peptide therapy” among their services and supplying injections to patients who are paying hundreds of dollars a month to take them at home. Some consumers are going directly to suppliers of ingredients intended only for research in order to obtain the substances cheaply and without medical consultation, providers said.
In scientific terms, a peptide is a short chain of amino acids. There are thousands in the human body, and lab-produced versions that mimic them—insulin has often been cited as the first—marked great advancements in modern medicine. Peptide-based drugs have been approved for treating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. But as the term “peptides” has entered the consumer vernacular, some providers have come to market them not as drugs but as rejuvenation treatments.
“We’re in this age of hyperfocus on wellness, antiaging, preventive health,” said Abraham Malkin, co-founder of two companies that offer at-home medical care. Both of them have six peptide injections on the menu, some of which Dr. Malkin takes himself. Only two of them have FDA approval, but Dr. Malkin’s website lists them for purposes outside those uses.
“We are very clear with our patients that peptides are generally not FDA-approved at this time, however we do talk to our patients to understand their health needs and enable them to purchase peptides that we feel can allow them to meet their health goals,” Dr. Malkin said.
Bec Donlan, a 36-year-old fitness coach and wellness consultant in Los Angeles, was introduced to peptide injections several years ago, as she sought to address autoimmune symptoms she believes were related to her breast implants.
“I’ve gotten back to normal health, but now I’m like ‘Great, so what else can I do?’” Ms. Donlan said. She is following a peptide regimen that she says has reduced inflammation, boosted her immune system and increased her metabolism. Sometimes she posts about her regimen on Instagram, where she has more than 59,000 followers.
“If I can be a superhero and function at my absolute optimum, why wouldn’t I?” Ms. Donlan said.
Jamie Sherrill, a registered nurse who specializes in aesthetics, shared a TikTok last year in which she described “peptide therapy” as the future, holding a syringe in one hand and a vial in the other. She is known on the platform as Nurse Jamie.
Ms. Sherrill said her medical spa in Los Angeles County has a naturopath doctor who writes prescriptions for peptide injections. Speaking of the laser treatments and fillers she offers clients, she said, “I just think it all works so much better if you are taking a peptide.”
Some clients remain squeamish about at-home injections, Ms. Sherrill said. But she has seen interest rise over the past two years, especially as Type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic, which is taken by injection, has gained traction among people looking to lose some weight.
In addition to injections, some peptides are sold and prescribed as nasal sprays or capsules.
“I’ll have influencers or models come in and say, What can I use in addition to my Botox, microneedling or whatever else they are having done,” said Neil Paulvin, a regenerative-medicine doctor in New York City.
Tyler Jean, a 30-year-old naturopathic doctor in Los Angeles, started injecting the peptide BPC-157 daily—and sometimes twice a day—last fall alongside regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Upgrade Labs CEO Dave Asprey injected himself with peptides on his podcast.PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
“I wanted to see how I could leverage some of these resources to better support my body’s ability to slow aging, optimize metabolism, maintain lean muscle,” said Dr. Jean, who is a patient of Dr. Paulvin. (Ms. Donlan, the fitness coach, is also one of Dr. Paulvin’s patients.)
Dr. Jean said that he stocks up on injections in New York, where they’re easier for him to get. After recently running out, he began taking BPC-157 in pill form.
Regulators have taken action against providers who sell unapproved peptides, including Tailor Made Compounding, which formerly supplied to patients of Dr. Paulvin. In 2020, the Kentucky-based compounder pleaded guilty to a federal charge for distributing unapproved drugs, including peptides BPC-157, ipamorelin and melanotan II, also known as the Barbie peptide for its purported weight loss and tanning effects. The company was ordered to forfeit $1.7 million and placed ona three-year probation.
Now under new ownership, the company does not dispense the unapproved drugs referenced in the settlement, said Blake McLeod, the chief operating officer. Dr. Paulvin said he now works with multiple other compounders.
Generally speaking, pharmacies are not permitted to compound drug products with unapproved substances, the FDA said. A representative for the agency added that “compounded drugs should only be used to meet the needs of patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug.” Unlike supplements that come in the form of capsules and powders, injections are subject to the agency’s premarket approval process.
While many of the peptides aren’t new, they have found new resonance in an era where influential podcasters are promoting nonconventional treatments to their audiences. In March 2020, Upgrade Labs CEO and well-known biohacker Dave Asprey self-injected various peptides on his podcast, which included a video component. In an emailed statement, Mr. Asprey said, “You are in charge of your biology. Not your doctor. Not your government. You.”
Podcast host Joe Rogan has said he’s used peptides.PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Joe Rogan, who apologized in 2022 after critics said his popular podcast spread misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines, discussed his use of peptides on the show “Flagrant” the same year. Mr. Rogan did not respond to requests for comment.
Jordan Green, a biomedical engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University, said peptide-based drugs can sometimes be safer than other drugs meant to treat the same conditions. In 2011, he co-founded a startup that researches and develops peptide-based treatments for eye diseases. “But, as with any drug, it needs to be carefully studied before the government and then physicians feel comfortable prescribing it to patients,” he said. Some of the results patients are describing could simply be placebo effects, he added.
Musician George Clanton, 35, learned about the at-home injections from watching the reality show “90 Day Fiancé,” on which a cast member was self-injecting a peptide called sermorelin. “I looked it up and found a whole subculture of thousands of people discussing it every day on Reddit,” Mr. Clanton said. He ordered a few peptides online from a site that sells the substances for research purposes and indicates that they are not for human consumption. “I realize it’s stupid,” he said.
For several months before going on tour, he self-injected.
“It wasn’t like I was getting jacked,” he said, but “slowly, I just started to realize, I was waking up in the morning, ready to talk and think, instead of having to lay in the bed for an hour, and then have coffee and then mope around.”
Aside from some bruising and soreness, he hasn’t seen any downsides.
“People in my line of work, you know, sometimes there’s people injecting black-tar heroin into their bloodstream,” he said. “So I feel like this is so much less risky.”
TODAY, DAVE ASPREY’S new book Smarter Not Harder hits shelves, and I’ve been poring over it for weeks. As a former TCM guest editor, creator of Bulletproof Coffee, host of The Human Upgrade podcast, and self-proclaimed “father of biohacking,” Dave’s books always hit hard.
We appreciate Asprey’s zeal for diving deep on the newest science and forging progress in the way we approach food, health, technology, and the way they intersect — however controversial his takes may be (vegans, beware).
In the new book, one topic stood out to me most. In this excerpt from Smarter Not Harder, Dave talks about the modern diet and our over-consumption of anti-nutrients, specifically phytic acid. Enjoy this excerpt and skim our actionable suggestions below.
Let’s Talk About Phytic Acid: Dave Asprey Wants You To Think About Anti-Nutrients
The biggest cause of friction in your diet is a natural plant chemical called phytic acid. Phytic acid is a potent anti-nutrient that binds to calcium, iron, magnesium, chromium, manganese, and zinc; when it binds to a mineral, it creates a compound known as phytate.
Once that binding happens, your body can no longer process the mineral and you get stuck in a less functional, less energetic state. Phytic acid has become a much bigger problem in the last decade as Big Food companies have succeeded in selling “plant-based” foods as being good for you and the environment, even though the real reason is that they are high-profit, low-cost foods. Phytic acid was one of the five anti-nutrients I wrote about in my first big diet book, but it’s an even bigger problem than was understood at the time.
The list of foods that are allegedly good for the environment and for you reads like a laundry list of high–phytic acid foods: nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, whole grains, soy, and corn. Humans don’t make meaningful amounts of the enzyme that cancels out phytic acid, so we can’t safely eat those foods unless we undertake arduous preparation techniques. Even worse, Big Food doesn’t have any incentive to use complex processing techniques to reduce the phytic acid in the foods they sell. We’re facing an epidemic of metabolic dysfunction and osteoporosis, and a huge amount of that can be traced to the increased phytic acid in “plant-based” diets in combination with our getting fewer minerals because of nutrient-depleted soil.
It’s a perfect storm nutritionally. We are eating fewer minerals and at the exact same time eating more of the stuff that sucks them out of our bones. The lack of resources is dragging us down.
To operate efficiently and generate full energy, your cells require a full dose of macro, or “big,” minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur), along with trace minerals (iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, and selenium) and ultra-trace minerals, which are biologically useful but found in only tiny quantities in Earth’s crust. These minerals help build critical proteins, move chemicals into and out of cells, and transmit signals. Most of us are deficient in at least some of them, and phytic acid is one big reason why.
Reducing the amount of phytic acid in your diet is therefore crucial for having more energy. Just look at the problems caused by mineral deficiencies: Low levels of chromium, vanadium, and selenium are associated with diabetes. A shortage of molybdenum slows down one of the body’s major detox systems. In general, you need minerals to make enzymes, the specialized proteins that facilitate the chemical reactions required to build cells and run your metabolism. Enzymes enable reactions that would normally require a lot of heat and energy to occur with very little energy. Take away the minerals, and your enzymes don’t work properly, causing more friction. Suddenly, you are losing the components that enable the magic of life to happen.
Although scientists have only recently begun to understand the chemical workings of phytic acid, our ancestors knew since prehistoric times that plants contain harmful compounds. The best way to eat grains and seeds (if you must) is to use traditional processing techniques, the kinds that few people do any more: sprout the seeds, then treat them with acid or ferment them, often for several days.
Go to Central America, and look at how the locals used to prepare quinoa. Quinoa can wreck your gut—and it does when you eat it the way it’s served now in the West—but in the local tradition, people fermented it for a couple days or pressure-cooked it to make it easier on the digestion. They didn’t know the exact chemical reason why those preparations helped, but what they were doing was breaking down the phytic acid in the plants.
What Next: 4 Ways To Manage Phytic Acid In Your Diet
To leave you with some actionable insights (beyond picking up Smarter Not Harder), here are a few tools that’ll help you counter or reduce phytic acid in your diet.
Trace Minerals ConcenTrace Drops | Supplement with trace minerals. Add these low-sodium drops with 72+ ionic trace minerals to water daily.
Learn to soak beans and grains | Review our story on the simplest health tip ever, soaking grains and beans before cooking.
Our Place Always Pan with Spruce Steamer Basket | Lightly steam veggies to help improve bioavailability and partially reduce anti-nutrients. We lover the steamer basket insert from Our Place!
Fermentation Crock | Pickles are all the rage and there couldn’t be a better time to embrace the trend. Fermentation has a big impact on anti-nutrients and fermented veggies are great for gut health. Try your hand on fermenting at home with a full crock set-up, or quick pickle with a tutorial like ours HERE.
Terra Cotta Microgreen Sprouter | Start sprouting at home! We love this pretty terra cotta sprouter from Etsy if you really want to commit to the habit, but you can start even more simply with tips from our recent sprouting class HERE.
February 24, 2023 // Franchising.com // SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Upgrade Labs announces its partnership with husband-and-wife duo, Billy and Natalie Ledbetter. The pair recently signed a multi-unit deal to bring the innovative wellness concept to the greater Austin area.
Billy is a Medical Doctor with extensive experience working in allopathic and alternative medicine, while Natalie is an anesthetist and a Doctor of Chinese Medicine. Billy and Natalie live an active lifestyle and are passionate about helping others achieve optimal health, already owning three other medical aesthetic and longevity clinics in the Austin area. Choosing to grow their passion for health and wellness with Upgrade Labs was an easy choice for the pair, and they are excited to share their expertise with the Austin community.
“Billy and I have been passionate about optimizing health, vitality and longevity for over 20 years,” says Natalie. “Upgrade Labs is the perfect way for us to help others in our community reach their peak level of wellness.”
Upgrade Labs was born from the goal of helping clients utilize unique technologies to help them reach their highest level of physical performance. These technologies and restorative therapies allow for dramatic results with minimal time investment. Each Upgrade Labs location offers performance enhancing services like the AI Adaptive Bike, which allows clients to enjoy the benefits of a 40 minute jog with only 40 seconds of work by learning the client’s body and adapting the bike to give the perfect workout each and every time.
“My goal at Upgrade Labs has always been focused on creating innovative ways to promote effective and efficient methods of wellness,” said Asprey.
Ever wish you could update your brain for better performance? In this episode Dave Asprey, “The Father of Biohacking,” shares how to work smarter, not harder, to achieve better results — and feel better while doing it.
Hosted by Jeff Krasno, the Commune podcast features thoughtful conversations for modern times. Not always comfortable but definitely needed, we explore both humanity and our human-ness. How can we live healthy, purpose-filled lives and be in service of something bigger? Guests include spiritual teachers, poets, scientists, philosophers, and activists for food sustainability, functional medicine, mental and physical health, and collective healing.
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