I Tried Extreme Celebrity Biohacks (Here’s What Actually Works)

After years of sports injuries, motorcycles, and osteoarthritis, Berg invested in celebrity‑hyped therapies with little effect. Myofascial stretching became the only intervention that consistently reduced his arthritis symptoms. Fascia is a continuous sheet of connective tissue enveloping muscles and organs; chronic tension or adhesions can restrict movement and promote inflammation. By systematically stretching the fascia, Berg likely improved tissue sliding, circulation, and proprioceptive feedback, which may explain the pain reduction. He combines it with dietary measures (omega‑3 fatty acids, cod liver oil, seed‑oil elimination) for a comprehensive anti‑inflammatory approach.

Berg initially used ice baths for their anti‑inflammatory effect on his arthritis, but the brain boost became the primary reason he continues. He describes a ritual of overriding the body’s scream to exit, entering the tub quickly, and managing the gasp reflex with deep breaths. The mental clarity after a session allows him to film videos with almost no edits. The same benefit can be reaped from cold showers, and even chilling a single limb can initiate some metabolic heat production. He does not advocate going below 50°F for himself, having tried and failed, but 50°F five minutes a few times a week suffices.

Berg first used an expensive clinic machine that precisely controls oxygen levels. He quickly found the principle could be replicated with a mask that manually restricts airflow. He now alternates between restricted and open breathing during sprints, effectively creating an intermittent hypoxic‑hyperoxic cycle. His self‑experimentation taught him the necessity of gradual adaptation: a two‑week period of immune discomfort convinced him that too much, too soon releases toxins into the bloodstream. The protocol is scalable; any healthy individual can try it with a cheap mask and a treadmill or bike. He suggests always having an ‘off’ switch—opening the valve fully—to recover immediately if needed.

Berg’s own stem cell procedure involved liposuction, processing, and re‑injection of his own adipose‑derived stem cells, a costly and uncomfortable process that yielded only slight improvement. He then discovered that a simple 3‑day fast could produce a ‘huge spike’ in stem cells, making the therapy largely unnecessary for him. He clarifies that fasting for healing is distinct from fasting for weight loss: in healing mode, the body should rest, whereas for weight loss, one might add intense workouts to augment energy expenditure. This advice aligns with the concept of ‘rest and repair’ during prolonged fasts. He emphasizes that the stem cell stimulation from fasting is free and available to almost everyone, in contrast to the $10k‑class biohack.

Berg describes his own ozone therapy experience where blood was drawn, ozonated, and re‑infused, calling it a 'very deep cleaning' useful for hidden infections. However, he immediately points out that one can get 'a version of ozone therapy' through simple daily habits. This reframes a $100‑$300 clinical treatment as a trainable endogenous system. It’s a clear example of his broader thesis: adding hormetic stress through natural means can achieve similar results to pricey biohacks.

Berg undertook dry fasting in part because he was told not to. He acknowledges that the body can produce biological water from fat, making extended dry fasting feasible, but he underscores that the practice is not for the uninitiated. He contrasts his personal misstep of working in the sun while dry fasting with the ideal of resting in a cool place. The protocol exists as an extreme tool, not a routine recommendation. The underlying idea that constant hydration is unnecessary—and possibly harmful—ties into his broader scepticism of mainstream hydration advice.

Berg describes himself as a ‘human guinea pig’ for therapies. His osteoarthritis persisted after peptides and a $10k‑class stem‑cell extraction from his own fat, which involved over 125 injections and a painful recovery. In contrast, a nightly routine of myofascial stretching—targeting the fascia, the body‑wide ‘wetsuit’—gave him hands‑down the best relief. He still recommends omega‑3s (cod liver oil) and eliminating seed oils, but fascia work became his non‑negotiable tool. He doesn’t dismiss peptides or stem cells for others, especially given many success stories, but his personal experience makes myofascial stretching his primary recommendation for arthritis.

Berg explains the machine mimic’s altitude training: a short oxygen‑low phase (30 s–1 min) makes cells hungry for oxygen, then an oxygen‑flood phase drives oxygen into tissues. Over time the body builds new capillaries, improving oxygen delivery and reducing inflammation. However, he cautions that going too aggressively caused him a two‑week immune reaction, likely from mobilising toxins. His solution: a popular ‘high altitude training mask’ with adjustable resistance. By doing sprint intervals where he closes the mask’s valve to restrict air, then opens it to breathe freely, he gets comparable adaptive benefits at a fraction of the cost.

Beyond inflammation relief, Berg found the brain effects so pronounced that he now schedules ice baths before recording videos. The cold stress forces the body to generate massive heat via mitochondria, ‘wasting’ energy, which he ties to both cognitive benefits and weight loss. He sticks to 50°F for about five minutes, keeping his forearms out because they get too cold. He notes that his mood elevates sharply, making it a mood‑hacking tool as well. The practice is easy to scale down to a cold shower or partial cold exposure, and he recommends starting at 60°F if needed.

Berg highlights the biological water phenomenon: one pound of fat yields more than one pound of water, meaning the body can internally hydrate during a dry fast by metabolising stored fat. This contributes to fat burning and triggers a more intense autophagic and stem‑cell response than water fasting. However, he emphasises the importance of a gradual introduction, rest, and staying cool (he made the mistake of gardening in heat). He doesn’t recommend dry fasting for the general public unless they thoroughly educate themselves and ideally have supervision. He also uses this to challenge the mainstream mantra of continuous drinking, noting ancient humans drank intermittently and that constant water intake can deplete minerals like sodium.