Is it possible to live in such a way that you can slow ageing without spending millions of dollars on it? According to Martin Helstáb, it is. The Hungarian art teacher and biohacker has developed a lifestyle that, according to measurements, sees his body age by just 0.62 years annually. His aim is not merely longevity, but to extend the number of years spent in good health. Remarkably, he claims to achieve this at relatively low cost and with limited sacrifice. This is how.
A teacher slowing down ageing
While the world’s wealthiest biohackers spend millions of dollars attempting to slow the ageing process, the 31-year-old Helstáb insists it can be done on a far more modest budget. The Budapest-based form tutor’s body has aged just 0.62 years over the course of a year, placing him among the leading ranks of the international Longevity World Cup, according to Blikk. He has previously ranked as the fourth slowest-ageing person globally; although he slipped down the table as participation grew, he has since climbed back, currently holding seventh place.
Helstáb now demonstrates a biological age 18.2 years younger than his chronological age. The rankings are based on official laboratory tests: detailed blood results are analysed by an algorithm that calculates biological age. Participants, he says, do not view one another as rivals but as collaborators, sharing insights in a collective effort to better understand how ageing can be slowed. Ultimately, all stand to benefit, as each may enjoy longer, healthier lives.
From illness to optimisation
His journey, however, began not with records but with serious illness. At 24, he was diagnosed with autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis, leaving him in constant pain and suffering from extreme fatigue. He recalls that even a short walk once required rest; today, he says, he feels entirely healthy, living without pain and with sustained energy.
One of the cornerstones of his daily routine is sauna use, which he adopted to reduce inflammation. When finances were tight, he purchased a portable sauna, funding its daily electricity costs by returning deposit bottles. In his experience, heat alleviates his autoimmune symptoms, whereas colder periods — particularly Hungarian winters — make daily life more difficult. He previously lived in Malta, where this was less of a concern.
Discipline without deprivation
His anti-ageing regimen is built on strict principles. He takes 22 different vitamins, has eliminated coffee entirely, and refrains from eating after 7pm. Yet he does not view this as deprivation. Instead, he believes harmful habits should be replaced with activities that deliver long-term benefits without negative after-effects the following day.
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Managing modern stress
Teaching places a significant mental burden on him, prompting a structured approach to stress management. Throughout the day, he incorporates 10–20 minute relaxation intervals, using tools such as an acupressure mat, TENS muscle stimulator, or sauna. These, he says, help regenerate the nervous system and reduce everyday tension.
Helstáb is keen to emphasise that biohacking is not solely the preserve of the wealthy. The first step, he argues, is not expensive devices or supplements, but abandoning harmful habits. Cutting out sugary and highly processed foods, avoiding coffee, prioritising sleep, and eating more consciously can, in his view, significantly improve quality of life. His own diet is built from simple, shop-bought ingredients, reflecting his belief that the goal is not perfection, but better choices.
A data-driven approach to ageing
What distinguishes the longevity mindset from conventional lifestyle changes, Helstáb suggests, is its scientific, data-driven nature. The objective is not simply improved wellbeing or weight loss, but the measurable slowing of the ageing process. Regular laboratory tests, DNA methylation analysis, and epigenetic measurements indicate whether the body’s biological clock is genuinely ticking more slowly.
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