Biohacking Your Wardrobe
Featuring NADS
If you are familiar with the concept of biohacking, I am sure the methods that initially come to mind include nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. In essence, tweaks you can make in your life to optimize your health. But have you ever considered that what you wear can be a form of biohacking?
This is not so far-fetched. Our skin is our largest absorbing organ; therefore, anything that sits against it — especially for long periods of time, such as clothing — can be taken in and impact the body’s normal functioning. Therefore, the items you choose to don on a daily basis can directly impact your health — for better or for worse.
This is especially true for underwear, as it sits closest to the skin and to our most sensitive and highly absorbent assets. But, how do we know what is healthy and what is harmful?
This is where NADS comes in (yes, you read that right). Founders Steve Ducey and Dan Baird are on a mission to revolutionize the way men dress, starting with the most essential piece of them all — underwear. Guys, read on to find out why NADS will soon be a staple in your wardrobe and ladies, take notes for your beau.
Low T-Levels, Decreased Fertility, Chemical Exposure — Oh My
Stemming from a lifelong pursuit of biohacking and optimizing health, “NADS was founded to be a men’s health movement”. But, you may be asking, movement away from what?
Toxins in Textiles
Over 60% of the clothing produced worldwide is made from synthetic fibers — mainly petrochemical-based — with underwear comprised mostly of polyester and added spandex to give it the stretch it needs.
Wearing plastic is just as unattractive as it sounds (polyester alone has been used as a male contraceptive), but the real problem lies in the chemicals needed to turn the fossil fuel into fiber.
These toxins are linked to a variety of negative health implications. For instance, BPA, a hormone-disrupting chemical, is used in clothing development to improve their lifespan, give them moisture-wicking and anti-static properties, as well as help fix dyes to the fabric. As an endocrine disruptor, BPA has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, various cancers (such as prostate and colon), decreased fertility, decreased testosterone, and erectile dysfunction.
PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down in nature and will remain present in the human body. This chemical treatment is used to process fibers to be water and stain resistant. Studies have shown that PFAS may interfere with the body’s natural hormones, reduce immune responses (including reduced response to vaccines!), increase the risk of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers, disrupt lipid regulation leading to an increase in cholesterol levels, and have negative reproductive effects such as decreased fertility. If only toxin-treated clothing came with a disclaimer!
The NADS Way
I think we can all agree at this point that exposing ourselves to low-quality fibers just won’t do. So, what makes NADS the healthier alternative?
GOTS-Certified Organic Cotton
NADS is made out of GOTS-certified organic cotton (with less than 5% of elastane for the perfect amount of stretch). This means that no pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, or synthetic fertilizers were used during the cotton farming process. The use of plant-based fibers reduces the exposure — and thereby the risks — associated with the aforementioned toxic chemicals and the microplastics found in polyester-based pieces. GOTS is the gold standard for organic cotton farming!
In addition, the production of conventional cotton requires significant water usage. Organic farming practices, on the other hand, provide a positive solution to minimizing water usage and waste. Along with their organic farming methods, NADS uses in-house water treatment plants, increasing water re-usage and further reducing water waste.
Climate-Friendly Manufacturing
Beyond the GOTS-approved farming practices, NADS has optimized its production process to reduce material waste by using leftover fabrics for samples and displays. All production occurs within a 55-mile radius, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. To top it all off, 40% of their facility runs on solar energy — they really have thought of everything!
Toxin-Free Dyes
Steve and Dan even went the extra mile to ensure the dyes used in their product are certified toxin-free. Dyes can be just as harmful as the chemical treatments used in fabric production; studies have linked the use of azo- and heavy metal dyes to cancer and the disruption of metabolic functions, respectively. And, once the effluents from factories reach waterways, they can block sunlight from reaching aquatic life and increase oxygen levels in the water thereby inhibiting photosynthesis and the re-oxygenation process that life within these waters — both plant and animal — need to survive. By ensuring all of the dyes used in their pieces are also GOTS-approved, NADS is looking out for both your health and the environment.
Shop NADS
Ladies, we all want our guys to feel and look great. Show him you are looking out for his health (and your future children) and get him a pair of NADS (you know what I mean). You can even get a pair of boxers for yourself — I have — they are super cute!
So, how can you get your hands on them? NADS come in two styles — boxers and boxer briefs. The guys have perfected the fit and feel, ensuring they are soft and comfortable for all-day wear, and lightweight enough to workout in* without bunching or riding up. The look is sleek black for a minimalist aesthetic (p.s., they just launched the briefs in navy). Guys, definitely a step up from the other options on the market!
*Working out in GOTS-certified organic cotton is ultra important. Sweat tends to pull out chemicals from fabric, so you do not want to optimize the environment for endocrine disruptors or forever chemicals to enter your system. Instead, keep your system clean with NADS.
Join the community of over 1,000 happy customers. Check out their site to shop and socials @nadsunder to follow along with the journey towards healthy fashion (their marketing is sure to keep you entertained). And (bonus!) enjoy 10% off your order with code LYDIA10!
