What is the most powerful brain supplement?
- Thread starter Moma
- Start date
I've tried countless different supplements for countless different things over the year, some for months on end and genuinely I've never noticed any obvious difference from them. Not saying they don't help as some of them are probably beneficial for my health without being noticeable but nothing to make me want to continue long term. I need something that helps with focus and cuts through the brain fog I constantly experience but supplements so far haven't helped.
POM:
Methylphenidate/MPH(Ritalin)
Modafinil
MPH works better if you are a natural procrastinator but modafinil has fewer sides. I prefer ritalin for the laser focus and the motivational kick up the arse, but I don't use it for longer than a few months at a time and only when the need is pressing. Modafinil I've used fora whole year before with no problem coming off except a bone-deep weariness for a week or two after quitting.
It's possible to become addicted to ritalin and end up an abuser if you are that way inclined and not too careful. I know one person who experienced amphetamine psychosis because she used ritalin irresponsibly, but she was a little crazy to begin with anyway. If you've ever been addicted to stimulants or you suffer from anxiety or depression then it's best to give MPH a miss.
From personal experience it is possible to become habituated to them as well so that you can sometimes feel that you cannot possibly work without them. It can be a real problem if your work requires you to be creative (writing, music, mathematics, etc). It's something of which you should be aware, but you can use some of the more effective nootropics until the mental block passes.
I've tried many nootropics but none of them come close to MPH or modafinil in effect, however the nootropics below certainly work and are relatively side free.
Chemical Nootropics:
ALCAR (acetyl l-carnitine) - gives you both mental and physical energy
Piracetem - cheapest of the racetams, can buy it in bulk
Choline - take it with any racetam for increased effect
Sulbutiamine - memory enhancement and has a mild stimulant effect
Centrophenoxine - alertness
L-tryrosine - motivation and focus
Smart Nutrition do a decent nootropic stack called Get Smart that contains most of the common nootropics. Not every ingredient is at a high enough dosag to be completely effective, but it worked well for me at 2 pills a day for boosting memory, creativity and focus.
If you've been diagnosed with ADHD, I would definitely get a script for ritalin. Personally, I don't believe that ADHD is a real condition that warrants medical intervention, but ritalin and modafinil certainly have their uses.
D.
Methylphenidate/MPH(Ritalin)
Modafinil
MPH works better if you are a natural procrastinator but modafinil has fewer sides. I prefer ritalin for the laser focus and the motivational kick up the arse, but I don't use it for longer than a few months at a time and only when the need is pressing. Modafinil I've used fora whole year before with no problem coming off except a bone-deep weariness for a week or two after quitting.
It's possible to become addicted to ritalin and end up an abuser if you are that way inclined and not too careful. I know one person who experienced amphetamine psychosis because she used ritalin irresponsibly, but she was a little crazy to begin with anyway. If you've ever been addicted to stimulants or you suffer from anxiety or depression then it's best to give MPH a miss.
From personal experience it is possible to become habituated to them as well so that you can sometimes feel that you cannot possibly work without them. It can be a real problem if your work requires you to be creative (writing, music, mathematics, etc). It's something of which you should be aware, but you can use some of the more effective nootropics until the mental block passes.
I've tried many nootropics but none of them come close to MPH or modafinil in effect, however the nootropics below certainly work and are relatively side free.
Chemical Nootropics:
ALCAR (acetyl l-carnitine) - gives you both mental and physical energy
Piracetem - cheapest of the racetams, can buy it in bulk
Choline - take it with any racetam for increased effect
Sulbutiamine - memory enhancement and has a mild stimulant effect
Centrophenoxine - alertness
L-tryrosine - motivation and focus
Smart Nutrition do a decent nootropic stack called Get Smart that contains most of the common nootropics. Not every ingredient is at a high enough dosag to be completely effective, but it worked well for me at 2 pills a day for boosting memory, creativity and focus.
If you've been diagnosed with ADHD, I would definitely get a script for ritalin. Personally, I don't believe that ADHD is a real condition that warrants medical intervention, but ritalin and modafinil certainly have their uses.
D.
http://www.smartnutrition.co.uk ?
Can't see the Get Smart product listed. Would be interested in trying that.
Can't see the Get Smart product listed. Would be interested in trying that.
Check out this Doctor,you can see him talk on youtube,he's got some ideas on brain and supplements:
www.dockidd.com/
www.dockidd.com/
Alfonzo
Robin
Ok I read some stupid stuff on this post . First I have ADD so I will respond to some of the issues .
The ADD pills will not be good for everyone. Adderall or other anphetamines med can be good for someone and for someone else he will have really bad side effects . It depend of your body . If your not diagnosted with add take other alternative like natural things , like omega 3 with more dha,green tea and probably just have a healthy lifestyle(good sleep, eat well,etc) .
Another point that annoy me when people said add people are dumb . They just don't know shit what they talked about . For my self And all the majortity of Add people than I know We had the better result in IQ and other psychologic test at school . I will talk for my self because we all got different level of symptome . But for my self it's the focus,procrastination ,day dream,fog and brain hyperactivity that are severe .All of these symptomes are really annoying in your 20's so if you have these issues and they are severe like me , you should consult and pass all the test . I retook control of my life since i'm medicated .
The ADD pills will not be good for everyone. Adderall or other anphetamines med can be good for someone and for someone else he will have really bad side effects . It depend of your body . If your not diagnosted with add take other alternative like natural things , like omega 3 with more dha,green tea and probably just have a healthy lifestyle(good sleep, eat well,etc) .
Another point that annoy me when people said add people are dumb . They just don't know shit what they talked about . For my self And all the majortity of Add people than I know We had the better result in IQ and other psychologic test at school . I will talk for my self because we all got different level of symptome . But for my self it's the focus,procrastination ,day dream,fog and brain hyperactivity that are severe .All of these symptomes are really annoying in your 20's so if you have these issues and they are severe like me , you should consult and pass all the test . I retook control of my life since i'm medicated .
I'mWaitingForTheMan
Woodpecker
Choline+Uridine+Fish Oil(Omega
This is without a doubt the best natural combination brain booster out, and it has reasonably hard science behind it, as hard as you'll be liking to find as the field of cognitive enhancement is in its absolute infancy.
N-3(also known as Omega-3) Fatty acids, are far and away the most essential ingredient in this triple threat combo. The Only two of these fatty acids you want are EPA(Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA(Docosahexaenoic acid). What people don't realize is that you need WAY more than an extra strength fish oil tablet to get the cognitive benefits, though you may still get the heart/cholesterol benefits from just a recommended serving. You need at least 3 Grams of combined EPA/DHA to get the cognitive/mood benefits. Always make sure the fish oil you buy states exactly how much EPA/DHA is in each serving, as those are the only two ingredient you are concerned with. Watch out for the serving size, sometimes they say each serving is 2 gel capsules, so do your math accordingly. When purchasing fish oil, shoot for the ones that say they are purified to remove mercury. From what I've read the mercury in fish stays in their meat/protein for the most part, so whatever makes it into the oil is negligible and then purified. This is probably safer than eating 5-6 servings of fish a week regarding mercury intake anyways.
Keep in mind, some evidences suggests it is the ratio of n-3 fatty acids to n-6 that garners more neurocognitive improvement. This means you want to try to get more of your fats from EPA/DHA than all the rest.
alpha-Linolenic acid: This is another Omega-3 fatty acid. This is not useful for increasing brain function/mood. This is because it eventually gets converted to EPA and then DHA, but at an extremely non efficient conversion rate. What this is useful for is helping you get a better n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio. Ideally in today's world you would want N-3/N-6 to be at a 1:1 ratio. With all the shitty fats they throw at us cheaply, if you can get your N-3/N-6 ratio at 1:2, that is one hell of an accomplishment. So what you want is Flax Oil supplements which have tons of alpha-Linolenic acid. No adverse effects from these in my usage, cheap over the counter. This way alpha-Linolenic acid can enter into competition at substrate binding since on enzymes that catalyze reactions with both n-3 and n-6 fatty acids(such as both of the cyclooxygenase isoforms. The n-6 fatty acids produce a lot more inflammation than n-3's and are not preferentially incorporated into brain membrane phosphatides like EPA and DHA are. Sorry for the length, I've kept this in layman's terms as much as possible.
The getting on a proper n-3 regimen will provide around 70% of the cognitive and mood enhancing benefits alone.
Uridine: This is a nucleoside that is also part of the cycle that builds brain membrane phosphatides (for those so inclined it is called the Kennedy Cycle) Basically the brain enzymes that build membrane phosphatides and incorporate them into brain cells, most notably the synapses where neurons communicate with one another, (Thought to be the site targeted for enhancement by these supplements.)increase how fast they make the new structural components of brain cells. This is because they have a low affinity for these substrates(Uridine, Choline, EPA/DHA). Basically if you put more of this stuff in, you get more out, allowing brain cells to be much more versatile and have greater plasticity. There is also a secondary mechanism due to stimulation of one of the subtypes of purinergic receptors that aids in synaptogenesis.
Uridine accounts for roughly 20%
Unfortunately Uridine is a bit expensive and it has to be ordered from a special online store. There are a few and I don't recommend any of them over another as I have only tried one once. When I purchased it back in December it was roughly $50 for 25 grams. The ideal dose for me was 1g/day split into two 500mg. If you have all the other components of this trifecta on lock, you can get by with 500mg-750mg a day to save dough.
Choline: (in the bitartrate form): Cheap as hell. I just picked up some today from GNC. $8.50 for 100 250mg tablets. I take 4 (1 gram) a day so this is a 25 day supply. Choline is another building block of brain membrane phospatides, so you get how this goes by now. We add each piece of the puzzle to complete the trifecta.
Choline accounts for perhaps 10% of the benefit alone.
If all of these supplements are combined, their whole is greater than the sum of each of their parts. Saturating the Kennedy Cycle enzymes along each step to creating the components of brain cells has additive effects.
I tried this full out with exactly the right dosages for about two months, then had to stop because I was too broke to afford the Uridine. While I was on it I felt incredibly clear headed, learning even 400 level math classes at university was a breeze.(Granted, they are not hard for me anyway, I just need to put a bit of studying in and pay attention in class.) But after about 4 weeks on this regimen I didn't need to really pay attention in class, taking notes went out the window. I just ended up bring some leisure reading in and half paying attention. I actually did better than before. The best part about it was that my mood felt so calm. On a 1-10 scale with 1 being ready to kill yourself and 10 full-blown mania, I never went below a 6. I was able to be happier when situations warranted it also.
Keep in mind, it takes at least 4 months before high dose EPA/DHA can kick in, so this is no quick fix, but once you get there it is worth it. All of these things are foods, you are just taking a larger amount
This is without a doubt the best natural combination brain booster out, and it has reasonably hard science behind it, as hard as you'll be liking to find as the field of cognitive enhancement is in its absolute infancy.
N-3(also known as Omega-3) Fatty acids, are far and away the most essential ingredient in this triple threat combo. The Only two of these fatty acids you want are EPA(Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA(Docosahexaenoic acid). What people don't realize is that you need WAY more than an extra strength fish oil tablet to get the cognitive benefits, though you may still get the heart/cholesterol benefits from just a recommended serving. You need at least 3 Grams of combined EPA/DHA to get the cognitive/mood benefits. Always make sure the fish oil you buy states exactly how much EPA/DHA is in each serving, as those are the only two ingredient you are concerned with. Watch out for the serving size, sometimes they say each serving is 2 gel capsules, so do your math accordingly. When purchasing fish oil, shoot for the ones that say they are purified to remove mercury. From what I've read the mercury in fish stays in their meat/protein for the most part, so whatever makes it into the oil is negligible and then purified. This is probably safer than eating 5-6 servings of fish a week regarding mercury intake anyways.
Keep in mind, some evidences suggests it is the ratio of n-3 fatty acids to n-6 that garners more neurocognitive improvement. This means you want to try to get more of your fats from EPA/DHA than all the rest.
alpha-Linolenic acid: This is another Omega-3 fatty acid. This is not useful for increasing brain function/mood. This is because it eventually gets converted to EPA and then DHA, but at an extremely non efficient conversion rate. What this is useful for is helping you get a better n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio. Ideally in today's world you would want N-3/N-6 to be at a 1:1 ratio. With all the shitty fats they throw at us cheaply, if you can get your N-3/N-6 ratio at 1:2, that is one hell of an accomplishment. So what you want is Flax Oil supplements which have tons of alpha-Linolenic acid. No adverse effects from these in my usage, cheap over the counter. This way alpha-Linolenic acid can enter into competition at substrate binding since on enzymes that catalyze reactions with both n-3 and n-6 fatty acids(such as both of the cyclooxygenase isoforms. The n-6 fatty acids produce a lot more inflammation than n-3's and are not preferentially incorporated into brain membrane phosphatides like EPA and DHA are. Sorry for the length, I've kept this in layman's terms as much as possible.
The getting on a proper n-3 regimen will provide around 70% of the cognitive and mood enhancing benefits alone.
Uridine: This is a nucleoside that is also part of the cycle that builds brain membrane phosphatides (for those so inclined it is called the Kennedy Cycle) Basically the brain enzymes that build membrane phosphatides and incorporate them into brain cells, most notably the synapses where neurons communicate with one another, (Thought to be the site targeted for enhancement by these supplements.)increase how fast they make the new structural components of brain cells. This is because they have a low affinity for these substrates(Uridine, Choline, EPA/DHA). Basically if you put more of this stuff in, you get more out, allowing brain cells to be much more versatile and have greater plasticity. There is also a secondary mechanism due to stimulation of one of the subtypes of purinergic receptors that aids in synaptogenesis.
Uridine accounts for roughly 20%
Unfortunately Uridine is a bit expensive and it has to be ordered from a special online store. There are a few and I don't recommend any of them over another as I have only tried one once. When I purchased it back in December it was roughly $50 for 25 grams. The ideal dose for me was 1g/day split into two 500mg. If you have all the other components of this trifecta on lock, you can get by with 500mg-750mg a day to save dough.
Choline: (in the bitartrate form): Cheap as hell. I just picked up some today from GNC. $8.50 for 100 250mg tablets. I take 4 (1 gram) a day so this is a 25 day supply. Choline is another building block of brain membrane phospatides, so you get how this goes by now. We add each piece of the puzzle to complete the trifecta.
Choline accounts for perhaps 10% of the benefit alone.
If all of these supplements are combined, their whole is greater than the sum of each of their parts. Saturating the Kennedy Cycle enzymes along each step to creating the components of brain cells has additive effects.
I tried this full out with exactly the right dosages for about two months, then had to stop because I was too broke to afford the Uridine. While I was on it I felt incredibly clear headed, learning even 400 level math classes at university was a breeze.(Granted, they are not hard for me anyway, I just need to put a bit of studying in and pay attention in class.) But after about 4 weeks on this regimen I didn't need to really pay attention in class, taking notes went out the window. I just ended up bring some leisure reading in and half paying attention. I actually did better than before. The best part about it was that my mood felt so calm. On a 1-10 scale with 1 being ready to kill yourself and 10 full-blown mania, I never went below a 6. I was able to be happier when situations warranted it also.
Keep in mind, it takes at least 4 months before high dose EPA/DHA can kick in, so this is no quick fix, but once you get there it is worth it. All of these things are foods, you are just taking a larger amount
I'mWaitingForTheMan
Woodpecker
gringochileno said:
I am prescribed Provigil by my doctor. Yes, it is a stimulant like adderall which is CII, though modafinil(the generic name of ProVigil is only a CIV stimulant. It has a far lower abuse liability and was originally considered to be introduced as a non-controlled substance.
My experience: It lasts 8-12 hours on a 200mg dose versus 3-6hrs for adderall instant release. It allows you to focus on tasks at hand, but not quite as much as adderall which tends to put you in a hyper-focused drive type state totally engrossed with the task at hand. This is a negative aspect of adderall, as you start to ascribe over importance to mundane tasks while losing focus of the big picture.
Modafinil: Increased focus though not on quite the level of adderall. Though if you take 400 or 600mg of modafinil and not the recommended 200mg, it starts to feel comparable to adderall but much longer lasting, more like ritalin(methylphenidate)without the crash. Modafinil does not over-focus you, so you still gain the concentration bonus and don't sacrafice any creativity like you do with the harder stimulants. With a 10-15 hour half life it gets you through your working day.
The best part is there is no crash(besides maybe the first time you try it if you are stimulant naive), and no cravings to do it recreationally. It gives you a mild mood boost, just a bit stronger than drinking a strong pot of coffee I'd say. This is not a drug that you are going to go seeking outside of a doctors office to get "high" off of. One of the best if not the best productivity and memory recall enhancers on the market today in terms of the cost benefit ratio compared to other stimulants. Virtually no come down. The only comedown is when it's time to sleep once you've finished your work. No bad feelings at all. The shit will have you feeling absolutely normal walking down a street after having been up 48hrs straight.
By rights you should pass out on that park bench ahead but, nah, you're not tired, you have a 10 hour shift to put in waiting tables.
I'mWaitingForTheMan
Woodpecker
I think this might be a data sheet by itself if I cite the sources I have. Would it be possible to change this to its own thread and then I can gather my links. I can also delve a little deeper into why it works, such as the specific ways it enhance synaptic communication between neurons. If a forum MOD could get back to me about this it would be greatly appreciated.I said:
I have a few more things to add to it and I think my title would be Data Sheet: Nootropics/Brain Boosting Supplements. I have a lot of knowledge in this area relating to the science of brain boosting supplements and nootropics in general, I could break down other people's suggestions by the science behind then and see whether those two mesh, then let forum members judge by their experience. Obviously no single one is the best, we all have different situations, but it can't hurt to have it laid out in a scientific manner for the members.
All of the "natural" supplements are complete bs.
They should be regulated, which would result in most being banned and their employees prosecuted for fraud.
They can give you a powerful placebo effect though.
As for what actually works and is sustainable - look to medical students and residents. These are intelligent people who study the human body for a living, have to perform at a very high level for long hours and maintain focus, so if there is anything, they would know and use it.
I know several of these people. The majority don't take anything beyond coffee, and focus on maintaining focus and energy levels through diet, exercise, and sleep.
Some will take adderall or vyvanse for short periods of time during major exams, but again, taking these in higher doses for longer periods can cause serious problems.
Others will take Provigil(modafinil), which can help you stay up and/or adjust your sleep cycle during shifting work hours, but it doesn't work well for some people.
They should be regulated, which would result in most being banned and their employees prosecuted for fraud.
They can give you a powerful placebo effect though.
As for what actually works and is sustainable - look to medical students and residents. These are intelligent people who study the human body for a living, have to perform at a very high level for long hours and maintain focus, so if there is anything, they would know and use it.
I know several of these people. The majority don't take anything beyond coffee, and focus on maintaining focus and energy levels through diet, exercise, and sleep.
Some will take adderall or vyvanse for short periods of time during major exams, but again, taking these in higher doses for longer periods can cause serious problems.
Others will take Provigil(modafinil), which can help you stay up and/or adjust your sleep cycle during shifting work hours, but it doesn't work well for some people.
A colleague of mine and I looked into this extensively some time last year. To sum up our conclusions, there are a couple of ways to look into this.
You can think about endurance. Depending on what you're focusing on, it is often more important to have sustainable high performance. This involves monitoring blood glucose levels. There are a few papers out recently (start with Baumeister, Gailliot) which argue that becoming frustrated with work happens if and only if your blood glucose level drops. You can preempt this to some extent by eating foods with low glycemic index (whole grains, certain legumes etc.).
Let's talk a bit about (illegal) drug use, or performance drugs. Cocaine is allegedly used extensively in wallstreet (although I only have hearsay to back that claim), and methylphenidate and things like adderall (ADD meds) are well known to be used by students (c.f. the many billboards against them at a uni). Modafinil is allegedly used by businessmen ( http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1869435,00.html ).
There is a lot of discussion about the ricetams but my studies have found no correlation between them and coginitive performance.
Ephedrine and its close cousin pseudoephedrine have CNS effects, and these are magnified if you supplement with coffee.
Creatine has been shown to have nootropic effects ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine#Improved_cognitive_ability )
Always look into the action. There is a lot of discussion here about Ginkgo balboa Ginko increases attention but it is an aphrodisiac.
The most important thing I can mention is that you should monitor your own food intake... set an alarm if you need to and forcefeed yourself the sandwiches. You don't want to look like those kids on the meth commercials. If anything, you should eat more on CNS drugs.
Does anyone here have experience with cocaine for performance (not recreation)?
You can think about endurance. Depending on what you're focusing on, it is often more important to have sustainable high performance. This involves monitoring blood glucose levels. There are a few papers out recently (start with Baumeister, Gailliot) which argue that becoming frustrated with work happens if and only if your blood glucose level drops. You can preempt this to some extent by eating foods with low glycemic index (whole grains, certain legumes etc.).
Let's talk a bit about (illegal) drug use, or performance drugs. Cocaine is allegedly used extensively in wallstreet (although I only have hearsay to back that claim), and methylphenidate and things like adderall (ADD meds) are well known to be used by students (c.f. the many billboards against them at a uni). Modafinil is allegedly used by businessmen ( http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1869435,00.html ).
There is a lot of discussion about the ricetams but my studies have found no correlation between them and coginitive performance.
Ephedrine and its close cousin pseudoephedrine have CNS effects, and these are magnified if you supplement with coffee.
Creatine has been shown to have nootropic effects ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine#Improved_cognitive_ability )
Always look into the action. There is a lot of discussion here about Ginkgo balboa Ginko increases attention but it is an aphrodisiac.
The most important thing I can mention is that you should monitor your own food intake... set an alarm if you need to and forcefeed yourself the sandwiches. You don't want to look like those kids on the meth commercials. If anything, you should eat more on CNS drugs.
Does anyone here have experience with cocaine for performance (not recreation)?
I reiterate my point about med students and residents. They are some of the most competitive, single minded people you can meet, and a number have borderline personality disorders.
If it would give them even the slightest edge, there are a good 10% or more who would do just about anything, from cocaine to tree frog venom to chugging horse piss in the morning.
So if they don't do it, it doesn't work.
57% of these people admit they would eat a poop hotdog to get into their first choice school:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1007
If it would give them even the slightest edge, there are a good 10% or more who would do just about anything, from cocaine to tree frog venom to chugging horse piss in the morning.
So if they don't do it, it doesn't work.
57% of these people admit they would eat a poop hotdog to get into their first choice school:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1007
I'mWaitingForTheMan
Woodpecker
Keyser Söze said:
I know a whole family of doctors, the mom, son and dad who take all kinds if brain boosting supplements. Not to mention one of his grandparents. They know what works earlier on before it disseminates to the general public and being semi-retired they have plenty of time to read the latest medical journals.
You are right, up to a point. The majority of those are utter crap and thinking that a pill will make you smart is generally foolish.
The thing is, the human brain is one of the most perfect organs we have come across. It's not completely perfect and there are chinks in the armor that can let substances in to enhance it's function.(And of course affect it's function negatively.)
What you are not considering is that this medical knowledge actually shelters them from living life, seeing health problems in every corner, because doctors see the worst of the worst. Crazy psychotic episodes etc. etc. These events are very rare yet doctors see them all the time because it's their job to. Think they might have a skewed point of view?
Did you ever consider being in medical school is a huge indoctrination program where they scare all these sheltered straight A med students by tooting the whistle about the crazy effects drugs can have on an absolutely minuscule percentage of the population.
I was in medical school for a year and then dropped out because I didn't want to work 120 hour work weeks, no thanks, I'll pass on being a slave even if it's a "respectable" occupations. My friend stopped after two years because he couldn't take the stuff they were teaching us that we knew wasn't true based on new research coming out in journals. Not to mention the fact that the pharmaceutical industry has complete control over what drugs come to market, whether they are helpful or not.
You work with all kinds of paperwork and pointless learning you need to be doing on top of seeing tons of patients. Yeah you make good money working at theBare minimum of 80 hours a week, maybe 100. So after malpractice insurance a new physician nets roughly $150,000 and goes up from there. But don't get me started on the 4 year residency after medical school where you work 80-100hrs a week and get a salary in the high 40,000 dollar range.
They wonder why we have bad health care in the U.S., it's because of this shit.
When do they have time for diet/exercise/sleep working 16 hours a day?
A normal physician is just a glorified tech for seeing patients. The people who actually innovate and come up with new treatments are research pharmacologists, medical physicists, and plenty more, you know the people that have a Masters or a PhD and do research in the medical field and come up with new ideas to treat people. The M.D.s just implement what researchers tell them to, broadly speaking.
It is not the job of an M.D. to pay attention to cutting edge research, even once it has been well established. So why the hell would their opinions or lifestyle choices have any bearing on an essential completely different field of science. Ever heard of the trend toward greater specializations in the hard sciences. These two branches don't even speak the same language.
They only pay attention to it when big pharmaceutical companies decide to monetize a new idea by making a pill and patenting it. And everybody who knows anything about the vetting process for new drug approval knows that the drug company can jerry-pick which studies they want made public and those they do it.
If we regulated all natural supplements that would just stuff more money into the pockets of the A.M.A. and Pharmaceutical Industry.
I honestly don't know where you get off thinking you are some kind of expert on this. Neuropharmacology is a far more detailed and nuanced topic than you can imagine, or that humanity has imagined for that matter, if these are your opinions on it now, you will never achieve even a beginners level understanding in it, quit now and devote your time to whatever you want to do with your life.
"As for what actually works and is sustainable - look to medical students and residents. These are intelligent people who study the human body for a living, have to perform at a very high level for long hours and maintain focus, so if there is anything, they would know and use it."
You have this flip flopped the complete wrong way. Medical students and residents work roughly 100 hours a week! Yes, they are intelligent people who study the human body for a living.
And as you say "have to perform at a very high level for long hours and maintain focus, so if there is anything, they would know and use it."
There are things that do this, they sure as all hell know about it, and sure as all hell at least 50%(probably more like 80%) are taking it just like you said: Adderall, Vyvanse(which is timed release dextroamphetamine), ProVigil(which not really that big of a deal), I guarantee these people you know are taking these stimulant drugs on a far more normal basis than they let on, not just to "cram." The med school/residency burnout rate is so high because they keep demanding physicians do more and more.
I digressed a bit. Bottom line is your friends in medical school and in residency do not have the fucking time to read these studies that are on the absolute fringe of medicine compared to what they are doing now. No disrespect to them at all. My best brain supplement post has good science behind it, granted some in that thread don't.
I just take issue with your proselytizing in a blanket manner across this whole thread. You want to sound smart and drop some lingo and some names of your friends in med school? Go right ahead buddy and try to fool us, I take offense to you telling a bunch of members that their ideas are worthless. I suppose you just got un-lucky that I was trolling the forum and know plenty more than you about about this topic. I can't help but call Bullshit when you imply you're such an expert that every single other member's contributions to that thread is worthless. You should have stopped right away, assuming you started on the last page, you would have read my entry and realized you were out of your league.
Anways, it's been a fun vent, nice to get that out of my system. I can't stand people who pretend to be experts on things so they can make the most absolutely ignorant generalizations.
I'mWaitingForTheMan
Woodpecker
On a side not Keyser, you shouldn't ever try to talk intelligently about science again. But great luck on your future forum endeavors. Looking forward to your game posts, which haven't been discredited yet, as far as I know.