Did Sen. Booker biohack a wellness trend during his marathon speech?

• Sen. Cory Booker’s 25-hour Senate speech broke a record and required extended fasting and dehydration for logistical reasons. Interestingly, this unintentional routine aligns with the wellness trend of autophagy, where the body recycles damaged cells.
• Autophagy is believed to reduce inflammation, slow aging, boost brain health, and lower disease risks, but it isn’t safe for everyone.
• The rise of fasting as a biohacking strategy has sparked interest in longevity and mental clarity, though health experts caution against its unsafe application for vulnerable groups.

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Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., spoke for 25 hours on the Senate floor. He broke a record and may have triggered a buzzy wellness trend: autophagy.

The New Jersey Democrat went without food for days and limited his water intake ahead of the speech. Though the tactic was political, it mirrors extreme fasting routines promoted by biohackers and wellness influencers.

CNN anchor and chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju posted on X about Booker’s condition during the speech.

“Cory Booker tells a group of us he didn’t have to go to the restroom over 25 hours because he hasn’t eaten since Friday and stopped drinking water Sunday,” Raju wrote. “He said he intentionally dehydrated himself.”

Raju added that Booker began cramping due to a lack of hydration. But what he may not have realized is that he may have unintentionally tapped into autophagy.

What is autophagy?

Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning itself out during extended fasting periods. Instead of focusing on digestion, the body begins breaking down and recycling old or damaged cells. It’s often described as “taking out the cellular trash.”

The Cleveland Clinic says autophagy may begin 24 to 48 hours into fasting, peaking around four days. That’s the same window Booker found himself in during his record-breaking speech.

The process is believed to offer various potential benefits:

• Reducing inflammation
• Slowing aging
• Boosting brain health
• Possibly lowering the risk of certain diseases

Though Booker was fasting for logistical reasons, his routine closely aligns with the growing interest in autophagy among health enthusiasts and influencers.

The rise of biohacking

Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, known for his extreme anti-aging protocol, recently spoke at the “Don’t Die Summit” in New York. His schedule includes an 18-hour fast each day and a 4:30 a.m. wake-up time.

Fasting has become a core strategy in the biohacking world. Many claim it helps with longevity, energy and mental clarity. However, health experts say the practice isn’t safe for everyone.

Is autophagy safe?

Fasting long enough to trigger autophagy can be risky for certain people. Doctors warn that fasting could be dangerous for:

• Pregnant individuals
• People with diabetes
• Those with a history of disordered eating
• Individuals on medication that requires food

It’s also important to note that while autophagy might help prevent some diseases, it can work against patients who already have cancer. Some research suggests autophagy may actually help cancer cells survive treatment in those cases.