Silicon Valley Living

Smarter. Fitter. Healthier. Does the tech world hold the key to a better life?

- Kate Leahy

A new, unlikely health hub has emerged. Taking over from New York and Bondi Beach, Silicon Valley is fast becoming the place for the most forward-thinking practices. Yep, not content with changing our lives forever with apps, the tech gurus also want their brains and bodies to function at their very peak. Presumably so they can create the next Uber/ Tinder/Facebook without pesky things like tiredness, colds and even ageing getting in the way. The practices they’ve created? Not “diets” or “habits” but “biohacks” – and we’ve decoded the elite’s favourites. Warning: calming yoga these are not…

CRYOTHERAPY

WHAT’S THE HACK?

Imagine a vertical tanning booth, where instead of being sprayed with fake tan, you’re covered in a freezing-cold grey mist. It’s liquid nitrogen and the temperature can reach as low as -130°C – and you’re expected to stand in there for up to three minutes. It’s a dry therapy, though, so no need to worry about getting wet, removing make-up or catching a cold.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

A lot. The benefits are said to outweigh the icy temperatures by boosting the body’s recovery times, shaking off aches and pains, triggering endorphins, stimulating collagen production(hello, skin-tightening) and increasing metabolism. One key factor is that cold exposure can also decrease chronic inflammation, which has been shown to lengthen telomeres (protective strands on your DNA) – the longer they are, the longer your lifespan is said to be.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Clinics have now hit the UK and LondonCryo (Londoncryo.com) offers whole body sessions from £90.

SHOULD YOU?