My guests on today's podcast—Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps—are two female entrepreneurs who came together to change the spa industry with revolutionary infrared light technology. Their company HigherDOSE is a new kind of spa that uses the power of light therapy to improve your health and mood. HigherDOSE goes a step beyond traditional self-care with offerings designed to transform your body, mind, and inner alchemy. By merging the beauty and wellness industry with powerful biohacking technologies, they have broken through to supercharge at-home wellness. Their products (which include an Infrared Sauna Blanket and PEMF Mat) are designed to naturally stoke a healthy DOSE of your brain’s feel-good chemicals (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins).
Lauren Berlingeri began as a renowned nutritionist, health coach, and host of the popular viral series Woman vs. Workout when she discovered the power of infrared saunas to help boost mood and recover from her intense exercise challenges.
Katie Kaps met Lauren while at a detox center in NYC. Katie is a former investment banker at Merrill Lynch and International Employee of the Year at Tough Mudder. She had just started pursuing her passion for consulting for health and wellness companies when she met Lauren. When she heard about Lauren's plan to bring a natural high to people through infrared sauna technology, she was hooked.
Founded in 2015, Brooklyn-based HigherDOSE is a rapidly growing, premium wellness/beauty brand offering differentiated spa experiences in and out of the home. Combining the benefits of infrared and healing light therapy, their signature Sauna Blankets and Infrared PEMF Mats leave customers feeling euphoric and rejuvenated—truly glowing from the inside out. HigherDOSE has both people and the press addicted to their benefits, with more than 1,000 mentions across media, including features in The New York Times, Forbes, NBC News, Entrepreneur, and other major publications.
During our discussion, you'll discover:
-History of the HigherDOSE name…07:30
- HigherDOSE (use code BEN to save $75)
- DOSE = Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins (happy chemicals)
- Getting high “naturally”
-About the infrared sauna blanket…09:15
- Began as infrared sauna “spas” in NYC
- The blanket gives the same benefits and tech but at a lower price
- Dr. Rhonda Patrick
- People can become more or less addicted to sauna
- Serotonin is the most potent happy chemical one can get from infrared light therapy (good for seasonal affective disorder)
- BioMat infrared sleep mat
- Ben's Youtube video on turning a BioMat into a sauna
- HigherDOSE Infrared Mat
- PEMF therapy in the blanket
- 25 lbs of crystals in the blanket
-How the sauna blanket avoids kicking out dirty EMF…16:25
- Clearlight Saunas
- It's a product that the founders created first and foremost for their own use
- The Riot and the Dance documentary
-The most common uses of the sauna blanket…19:50
- 80% use it for a deep sweat session
- Use for recovery, burning calories
- It's very portable for when you can't access a sauna
- Wearables that show an increase in calorie burn while the body is hot may not be accurate
- Keto Twins documented weight loss using sauna blanket (YouTube)
-The best way to maintain and clean the blankets…23:30
- Waterproof material, so it doesn't absorb the sweat
- Clean with water and essential oils after using
- To be launched soon: a sauna blanket cleaner
- Sauna blanket insert
-The importance of magnesium in remaining hydrated with regular sauna use…25:55
- Magnesium supplements; responsible for 300+ functions in the body
- Magnesium is a big part of the topical and ingestible line coming out soon
- Epsom salts
- Apple cider vinegar
-How crystals impact the efficacy of the Higher Dose PEMF mat…33:10
- People in Blue Zones have lots of exposure to the sun, time in nature
- Healing power of nature brought indoors
- Crystals are known to emit negative ions when combined with heat
- A sense of meditation without the effort
- NASA Clean Air Study
- AllerAir air filter
- Air Doctor air filter
- Replicating lying on a hot stone in nature
-Benefits of the light that is radiated by the blanket and mat…40:25
- Infrared light is invisible to the eye
- Can see the wavelengths recording it from the phone
- Launching a red light infrared face mask soon
- Alitura clay mask (use code GREENFIELD to save 20%)
- Benefits of red light:
- Feeds cells within the skin
- Builds collagen
- Increases blood flow and circulation
- Great to be paired with infrared
- Mood enhancement
- Boost testosterone and regulate hormones
-The benefits of dry skin brushing while in the sauna…48:10
-What to put on the body prior to a PEMF mat or sauna blanket…52:20
- BGF podcast with Dr. Pollack
- Magnesium oil
- Oil after dry brushing calms down the nervous system
- The oil helps to adjust to cold water easier
- Zen nasal spray (use code BEN to save 5%)
- Black pepper tea
-Differences in the biohacking field for women and men…55:10
- Most studies are done on men
- Lauren says that many of the popular biohacks put her in flight or flight mode
- Women are more suited to a home life from an ancestral perspective
- Women were not required to be included in scientific studies until 1993
- The hormonal changes are far more dramatic in women than men
- Biohack Her show soon to be on YouTube
- The Ultimate Guide To Nootropics: How To Safely Use Better Living Through Science To Get The Most Firepower Out Of Your Brain – Part 1
- Nootopia
-And much more…
Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.
Resources from this episode:
– Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps:
- HigherDOSE (Use code BEN to save $75)
- Coming Soon HigherDOSE Products:
- Red Light Face Mask
- Copper Body Brush
- Body Oils
- Endorphins
- E-Sensual Body Oils
- The Body Line
- Tech Accessories
- Mat Covers
- Blanket Bags
- Sauna Blanket Cleaner
- Woman vs. Workout YouTube Channel
– Podcasts And Articles:
- Everything You Need To Know About How To Use Heat Exposure To Enhance Performance, Burn Fat, Gain Muscle And Think Better, with Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
- Is All Water The Same?, with Dr. Pollack
- The Ultimate Guide To Nootropics: How To Safely Use Better Living Through Science To Get The Most Firepower Out Of Your Brain – Part 1
- 12 Basic, Natural & Easy Habits To Enhance Longevity.
– Gear:
– Other Resources:
- Dr. Rhonda Patrick
- Ben's Youtube Video On Using A Biomat As A Sauna
- Nootopia
- Magnesium Supplement
- Magnesium Bath Flakes
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Alitura Clay Mask (use code GREENFIELD to save 20%)
- Zen Nasal Spray (use code BEN to save 5%)
- Black Pepper Tea
- The Riot and the Dance Documentary
- NASA Clean Air Study
Upcoming Events:
- Join me and my wife Jessa at Runga for The Gathering. Click here to grab one of the very limited spots we have open to the public for The Gathering at Runga (October 7-9, 2021).
- Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldfitness.com/calendar
Episode sponsors:
–Kion Coffee: Elevate your daily grind with pure, delicious Kion Coffee. Available in Whole Bean or Ground, our coffee meets the highest standards for health and taste.
–Organifi Gold: A new take on an ancient secret: Pain-soothing herbs, incredible antioxidants, and phytonutrients all in one delicious, soothing “Golden Milk” nighttime tea! Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code BENG20.
–Butcher Box: Delivers healthy 100% grass-fed and finished beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage breed pork directly to your door on a monthly basis. All their products are humanely raised and NEVER given antibiotics or hormones.
–FUM: Fum is a no smoke, no vape, and no nicotine inhaler made in Canada. All-natural, sustainable, and it works! Use code BEN for a 10% discount.
22 Responses
Realistically, that much power from pellets will cause some bruising, welts, or wounds to the exposed area. There are a lot of paintball players that just get used to welts and bruising in the intense paintball showdown.
To look cool, some people expose their arms, legs, chests, and stomach, but the face, on the other hand, is the most fragile part of the body. I’ll be honest with you, you can lose an eye, or a couple of teeth, and don’t let fools tell you otherwise.
Does the blanket provide essentially the same benefits as an infrared sauna?
Love all the great info your podcast provides!! If you had to choose between the sauna blanket and the PEMF blanket which do you start with? Also thoughts on Joov vs the infrared used in this technology.
Do you have a recommendation for a similar product. I had a horrible customer service experience with them after the sauna blanket was lost in the mail. I’m hoping just for a refund and to buy something else.
Enjoyed this! Love hearing from gals on ways to improve and become more balanced!
Cool episode! What were the plug ins that you have in your house that transmit negative ions? Was very intrigued by that!
Hi Ben,
Long time listener and an appreciative fan. I love your podcasts, recommendations, Kion, etc.
That said, I was a bit put off by the introduction to this podcast. Women have played a big role in biohacking – working in labs, promoting researchers, and (maybe not as visibly as men) discussing new methods and medicines. It was strange to hear you suggest that women should be called something other than a biohacker.
As another commenter said, the comment about waxing your vagina was strange and off-putting.
Beyond those items, this podcast had a lot of great information and I am definitely interested in the products that were discussed. Thank you for having Lauren and Katie on.
I laughed at the vagina waxing. Lighten up :)
How lovely that you found it funny, please do not go and invalidate others’ experiences by telling them to “lighten up”.
So wonderful to hear two very smart women in the biohacking world, the number of podcasts I listen to in this field is diminishing as a lot of the information comes across as very male oriented and there is not a lot of research that accurately reflects the health of women especially women my age, which is waaay past menopause. Look forward to listening/viewing Biohack Her!
Thanks for having them on Ben.
I am wondering, I have a Sunlighten full spectrum infrared sauna. What is the difference between the benefits I get from that vs what I would get from the HigherDose Sauna blanket?
Ben – aside the heat, how is the blanket different form Joov in getting the infrared into the body?
Does the blanket provide essentially the same benefits as an infrared sauna?
Thank you !Thank you! For this episode focused on women and biohacking. As a woman going through perimenopause and in the medical field – hormone shifts greatly affect women’s health and quality of life and we all deserve a great quality of life. Would love to see more podcasts like this. Thanks again Ben for opening up this conversation.
Hi Ben,
Thanks for having Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps on your podcast – I really enjoyed the banter you had with them and the great information they provided.
I’ve just bought a HigherDose sauna blanket and can attest that it is a really great product! I am not sure what the crystals do and if they are not just woo, but I really appreciate the fact that it was developed in conjunction with the folks from Clearlight and that the blanket produces really low EMF. If you check Amazon there are less expensive blankets out there, but the low EMF was the real seller for me.
I’ve been using my blanket pretty much every other day and I am now up to 40 minutes per session! I will have to get some magnesium oil and pepper tea to see what effect that has. So far I have only tried niacin to help get the blood flowing.
Cheers
Hi Ralph, they are similar to the Dilithium Crystals from Rigel 12 used on on the TV show Star Trek and will work just as well. (joke)
Hey Ben – glad to know you don’t ‘wax your vagina’. Totally inappropriate thing to say and yes, inappropriate even in the context of you being a princess. So I will explain – when speaking to women (here 2 accomplished, successful and educated entrepreneurs) it is distasteful and boadering on misogynistic to talk about female private parts (outside of the context of medical/health related topics). Did you feel better inserting you alpha male banter into a conversation about infrared technology? Was that your way of shutting down or devaluing these ladies? Or were you just appealing to your base audience? Maybe next time you could invited them to your studio to record and reach out and give them a little nipple tweak. That is exactly the way it felt to me when I heard you ‘vagina’ comment. Sir, you need to check yourself. For all the insight you claim to have gained (referencing your book), it seems that you still have a ways to go. These women have a valuable contribution to make and you are in a position to help them. You can do that without referring to female anatomy. You think it’s funny – but what it really does is diminish. Imagine uttering that comment in a business meeting while sitting across from a woman. Shame on you. I feel fairly confident in saying this is not speech you would want your sons to emulate. I truly want you to think about this.
This is spot on, couldn’t agree more. I can’t imagine a scenario where this would be acceptable during an interview/podcast like this. Just comes off as completely tone deaf.
I had to rewind to make sure that was what came out of his mouth!
Ben… no, don’t do that, it lowered the particles of the universe and humanity by making the private-ness of a woman’s body sound like some gross joke.
Ben…. You are called to speak of the female body in an honoring way, thereby lifting the atmosphere of all women to a sacred place.
Cheers to the rest of the wonderful podcast where you honor what these two ladies are doing. Fantastic.
Wow, this is a real “Cringe Worthy” statement, and I’m glad I didn’t hear it. Ben, son, here are some famous old homilies-sayings you might want to keep in mind and take to heart.
“Open mouth, insert foot.”
“Think twice, and then say nothing.”
Ben, the info and link to the air purifying plants was great. This is just what I like to see in your podcasts!
Maybe, Dawn (Karen), you should wax yours.
Clearly you do know know Ben and his humour regarding how he takes care of every single part of his body, inside and out. If he was a female, he would wax his moot. If he was an alien, he would use a space probe daily, if he was a dog, he would sniff the highest organic quality poop he could find.
Thank you for being a stereotype we were waiting to see in the comments.
Thanks Jack… I think ;)