How Far Would Americans Go to Gain 10 Extra Healthy Years?

A nationwide survey reveals the lifestyle changes Americans are willing to make, from daily supplements to extreme biohacks like cold exposure

The question of how to extend your life span by several healthy years is no longer just a topic for scientists: It’s moving from the pages of science fiction into daily decisions about food, fitness, and wellness. From strict diets to biohacking routines, the pursuit of longevity has become one of the defining health goals of our time. Americans spend an estimated $480 billion a year on wellness, supplements, and preventive health products [1], all in pursuit of more energy, vitality, and control over aging.

Yet longevity isn’t just about what you can buy. It’s about what you’re willing to change. To understand where Americans draw the line, health experts at Drip Hydration conducted a nationwide survey centered on one core question:

“What if you could add ten extra healthy years to your life — what would you give up to get them?”

The survey also reveals which longevity hacks Americans have actually tried, highlighting a mix of mainstream and innovative practices, from meditation and cold showers to the use of modern gadgets like apps.

Dr. Neal Kumar, a board-certified dermatologist with an MBA in health management and co-founder of Drip Hydration:

“Americans are increasingly exploring ways to extend their healthy years—from daily supplements to innovative wellness routines. This survey highlights not just what people are willing to try, but where evidence-based interventions and modern health technologies can meaningfully support long-term health and vitality. Longevity is no longer an abstract goal; it’s reflected in everyday choices around diet, movement, and preventive care.”

Moderate Changes Win: What Americans Are Willing to Do for a Decade of Extra Healthy Years

Americans are willing to make lifestyle changes for a decade of extra healthy years, but their willingness depends on the effort involved. Nearly half would be willing to drink a shot of kale juice each morning, give up coffee, or take daily supplements. More extreme routines, such as doing 100 push-ups every day, taking freezing cold showers, or walking barefoot in snow, see much lower willingness.

The data suggests that while longevity is a powerful motivator, comfort and practicality still play a decisive role:

• 49% would drink a shot of kale juice every morning
• 48% would stop drinking coffee
• 47% would swallow 10 supplement pills every day
• 46% would move to a remote area with clean air but no nightlife or restaurants
• 45% would give up social media forever
• 41% would meditate for 2 hours every morning
• 40% would give up all junk food and alcohol
• 34% would do 100 push-ups daily
• 32% would take a 5-minute freezing cold shower every morning
• 22% would walk barefoot in ice-cold snow for 10 minutes every day

From Cold Showers to Supplements: Generational Divides in Health Habits

Americans’ willingness to adopt extreme or moderate health habits varies across generations, gender, and region.

Gen Z: The Biohacking Generation

Younger Americans are the most willing to embrace physically demanding practices, with particularly high openness among those aged 16 to 24:

• 100 push-ups daily: 56% (compared to 34% in the general population)
• Cold showers: 55% (compared to 32%)
• Walking barefoot in snow: 29% (compared to 22%)

These habits reflect a “no pain, no gain” mindset amplified by social media wellness trends such as cold plunges and ice baths, which are widely discussed as ways to enhance circulation and may boost mood by triggering the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine [2].

Boomers Bet on Supplements, Not Sweat

Americans 55+ favor lifestyle changes focused on overall daily routines and structure rather than strenuous physical effort:

• 10 supplement pills daily: 54% (compared to 49% overall)
• Giving up social media: 52% (compared to 45%)

Gender Differences

Men show a higher willingness for physically demanding routines:

• 100 push-ups daily: 45% of men vs. 24% of women
• Cold showers: 37% of men vs. 26% of women
• Walking barefoot in snow: 25% of men vs. 18% of women

Women are more likely to adopt supplements and dietary changes, suggesting a preference for sustainable, long-term wellness over extreme routines.

Where You Live Shapes How Far You’d Go for Longevity

Coastal cities, Southern metros, and select health-conscious urban areas are generally more open to wellness trends, while some Northeast and Midwest cities show stronger resistance. Austin consistently ranks among the cities most willing to adopt life-extending health behaviors, leading the nation in pursuit of a healthier life:

• Giving up junk food and alcohol: Austin (50%), Phoenix (49%), Houston (48%), New York (47%), and Boston (47%) are most willing, while San Antonio (25%), Detroit (31%), and Charlotte (33%) show far lower willingness.
• Daily supplement routines: Appeal most to Austin (61%), Houston (56%), and Jacksonville (55%), whereas West Coast tech hub like San Diego (24%) and San Jose (25%) show notable skepticism.
• Cold showers: Embraced mainly on the West Coast, with San Francisco leading at 57%, followed by Austin (50%) and Phoenix (49%).
• Kale juice: Most popular in Houston (65%), Austin (61%), and Seattle (58%), reflecting regional enthusiasm for superfoods trend-driven nutrition.
• 100 push-ups every day: Most popular in San Diego (62%), Houston (58%), and San Francisco (55%), while Northeast and some Southern metros exhibit strong resistance.
• Meditation for two hours daily: Top interest in San Francisco (61%), Memphis (59%), and Austin (56%), highlighting regiona engagement with mindfulness.
• Giving up social media forever: Boston (58%) and New Orleans (58%) lead, while West Coast tech hubs are more resistant.
• Giving up coffee: Highest in Austin, Houston, and San Diego (all 67%), contrasting with lower willingness across Northeast cities.
• Moving to a remote area with clean air: Resonates most in Memphis (61%), San Francisco (57%), and San Antonio (54%), while large coastal metros show less interest.

Exploring Biohacks: Americans’ Most Popular Health Practices

Beyond hypothetical willingness, Americans are actively experimenting with a range of wellness practices to boost health and longevity. Some of these biohacks are already considered mainstream, while others are highly innovative and exploring new frontiers of health optimization.

Established health practices remain the most common, with daily supplements at the forefront, alongside meditation and popular diet approaches such as intermittent fasting or keto. More specialized strategies are less idely used, though emerging research suggests potential benefits for certain populations:

• Wearable devices track sleep, heart rate, and recovery to optimize daily routines
• High-intensity workouts strengthen the body and improve cardiovascular health
• Cold exposure, such as ice baths or cold showers, may reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and enhance mental resilience
• DNA testing can identify hidden health risks or guide personalized diets
• Red light therapy may support skin health and recovery
• Hormone optimization helps balance energy and metabolism
• IV nutrient drips deliver vitamins and minerals directly for fast replenishment

Just one in five Americans reports not trying any of these approaches, indicating that curiosity about health optimization is widespread—even if adoption varies by age, gender, and geography.

Age and Gender Trends in Health Optimization

• Supplements dominate: 59% of Americans report taking daily vitamins or wellness supplements, with the highest usage among adults 55 and older (68%).
• Younger adults embrace extremes: Members of Gen Z are the most likely to experiment with cold showers (41%) and high-inten workouts (36%).
• Diet hacks: Intermittent fasting and the ketogenic (keto) diet are most popular among adults aged 25–44.
• Mindfulness: Meditation and breathwork are more common in 35–44-year-olds.
• Gender differences: Women are more likely than men to take supplements (65%) and adopt diet hacks (27%), while men show high-engagement with high-intensity exercise (27%) and cold exposure (25% vs. 12% for women).

Experimentation Across the States: How Americans Approach Longevity

Wellness trends vary widely across the U.S., shaped by regional culture, lifestyle, and access to health resources. Some cities embrace experimental routines and tech-driven biohacks, while others stick to more familiar practices like supplements and diet changes.

• West Coast leads experimentation: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Seattle rank highest for cold showers, high-intensity exercise, and tech-based biohacks. San Francisco stands out, with 55% of adults having tried cold showers and 39% engaging in high-intensity exercise. These trends reflect the region’s strong wellness culture, tech innovation, and social influence from biohacking and fitness communities.
• Diet-forward Southern cities: Austin, Houston, and San Antonio lead in intermittent fasting and the ketogenic
  diet (up to 48% in San Diego, 44% in Austin) and daily supplement use (Austin 72%, Houston 69%), highlighting a strong focus on nutrition and foundational wellness practices—particularly notable given that Southern states have some of the highest obesity rates [3].
• Meditation hotspots: Mindfulness practices such as meditation and breathwork are most prevalent in Los Angeles (43%), Phoenix (42%), and San Diego (38%).
• Medicalized or niche biohacks: Advanced interventions remain relatively rare, with DNA testing reported by 28% of adults in Austin, hormone optimization by 18% in San Francisco, and IV nutrient drips by 22% in San Francisco—primarily concentrated in West Coast innovation hubs.

Sources

[1] The trends defining the $1.8 trillion global wellness market in 2024 – McKinsey
[2] Short-Term Head-Out Whole-Body Cold-Water Immersion Facilitates Positive
Affect and Increases Interaction between Large-Scale Brain Networks – PubMed Central
[3] U.S. States With the Healthiest Diets – TraceOne

Methodology

The findings are based on a nationwide survey conducted by health experts at Drip Hydration among U.S. adults aged 16 and older. Respondents were asked how likely they would be to adopt specific lifestyle changes if doing so guaranteed an additional 10 healthy years of life, and which methods or habits they have already tried to improve their health and life expectancy.