AlphaBrain. Who takes it? Feedback pls.

So one of the guys at the gym started taking alphabrain a week ago. He said he likes it so far and doesn't feel as foggy as before. I would like some feedback.

Do you sleep better or feel more well rested? How much better is your focus? Do you experience the lucid dreaming? Do you take it in the morning or at night or both? Also, how many do you take every day? As an athlete, do you feel a difference with your performance as well as with your learning ability in your Jiu Jitsu?

I'm looking to improve all around, as an athlete, martial artist, competitor, wife, etc. I work two jobs and help run two businesses. I train five nights a week, work out 3, teach kids class, and am about to take on a women's class too. I would like to know if this is for me.

The biggest things about alpha brain are the choline and tyrosene, which are neurotransmitters. I personally take a LOT of choline every day. Like 1000-3000 mg. I buy bulk choline bitartate since it's cheaper. Some argue that it's more bio available in the cdp form which is in alpha brain. However, it's readily bioavailable either way.

Taking it as soon as I wake up helps me think incredibly clearly and very efficiently. Taking it before training has very evident effects on my performance quality, as choline is used by the CNS to communicate and cause muscular contractions.

There's a lot more to choline as well. I won't bore you with those other details right now though.

I've taken it since late last November, and I have to say I'm surprised how good it is and the effect its had on me

I started taking it with 'NewMood' as a test to try and cut out energy drink with supplements. in the mornings after breakfast and again before I would sleep (purely to see if the lucid dreams would occur) for the first two weeks, and I have to say even that early on I could definitely tell the difference. I was slightly worried at first it might just be an placebo effect kind of thing for the first month, I would still take it in the mornings but cut out the capsules in the evening once I was taking x4 daily for BJJ and taekwondo.

The first time I really knew it had an effect on me is when I ran out this February. I ordered it 30 capsules at a time and ran out a few days before a competition weekend, totally stuffed how I felt. Going from taking it every time I rolled and kicked to then going without it for a weekend of sports and two days of work just left me feeling foggy.

For me, it seems to not only effect my sharpness when doing more technical workouts and sparring but it really helps with my concentration, massively. Like I said, I take this religiously before sparring and rolling, but I do mix it with the ONNIT new mood during my work week, weather that helps extenuate the nootropic I don't know, but I can say that I am 100% aware of the positive boost it gives me. So much so that even typing this out at work right now, I have a pot of it on my desk.

You seem like a real busy person from the things you've listed that you'd like to try and improve on, and to do all those things, your work, your jiu jitsu, business development and teaching children, I would 100% recommend you give Alpha Brain a try.

The results aren't immediate, I would say you will need to make sure you take it regularly for a two week period before making a judgement, but also go cold turkey from it for a few days after the initial period of using so you can gauge for yourself if you can tell the difference. The guys at your gym probably described it best after a week, it feels like you have cleaned the windshield on your car and you can see clearly again.

Good luck, I'm sure it can help you

Rogan just had Aubrey Marcus on and they had just finished the Alpha Brain clinical trials. I guess their findings were really good and were the only zupplement in a long time (compared to commonly tested supplements) to show a real effect. I think there on to something with the Alpha brain wave science and trying to figure out how to induce it. I can remember some nights in high school and college basketball where I was in a completely different mindset, where the whole game I could score with ease and it was almost like I had activated a part of my brain that I never used. I think the best athletes have that strong alpha brain wave side. So I could relate to what Aubrey was trying to explain. I ordered some haven't recieved it yet but I will let you know what my experience is like.

I tried a few years ago, shroom tech sport as well. I gotta say though I didn't really notice a difference in either. I took them religiously before class but I don't feel it made a difference. No weird dreams either (sad face). I also tried 5-htp for a long time (not new mood) and I don't feel like I got anything from that either. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its all bullshit as I'm sure it has a profound effect on some people, I just didn't get much from it, although I would be willing to try them again. It seems the only life/performance enchancer for me is a good sativa :cool:

If I take any kind of choline supp in the afternoon I can never sleep. I've tried alpha brain and I couldn't feel any benefit personally.

I've been taking Alpha Brain for about a year now. As a business owner, it helps keep me sharp and make smart, quick decisions. For jiu jitsu, it does exactly the same thing. It really helps in retaining moves that I learn in class and in live rolling it I feel like I think clearer and can much faster, thinking several steps ahead. I say if you've never tried it before, give it a shot! The proof is in the pudding. If it doesn't work out for you, at least you know first-hand. Best of luck!

lets try it out! :)

Honestly, if you're not feeling anything, you probably aren't taking enough. However:

Alpha brain has Huperzine A which inhibits the breakdown of choline making it build up. However, this can be dangerous as the breakdown of choline is required for proper central nervous system communication (the human body practically runs on choline) and if neuromuscular junctions become clogged with excess choline, paralysis and death will transpire. This is what chemical warfare nerve agents do (oximes); they block cholinesterase from breaking down choline, thus clogging the neuromuscular junctions, leading to paralysis and death. Therefore there is a limit to the amount of Alpha Brain one should be able to take, as the Huperzine A blocks the cholinesterase.

Straight up choline, on the other hand, is incredibly safe. Since no cholinesterase is being blocked, you can overload your body full of choline to its daily upper limits of 4,000 mg. This has really had very incredible effects on my brain function and athletic performance.

Edit: this is not to say alpha brain is bad, as it does have really good stuff in it. Tyrosine and choline stacked are tremendous, and the Huperzine A is also helpful if taken in the proper manner (I've done some reading of literature on it). I'm just saying that anything with cholinesterase inhibitors should be taken with care.

Wow, this is all very interesting. Yea, out of all the reviews I've read it seems to work different for everyone. My training partner was also concerned about it possibly having a placebo effe, but he said he quit taking it for a week to see and it was a big difference..he felt foggy again.

Well, I think next month I will try to order some for me and Sean. I'll try it out before we compete..see what I think. :-) Ross, that makes sense..I don't think id take more than two a day. To be honest I may just order what you mentioned on the side if I want a more extreme effect. I'm so glad we have a forum so I can ask you guys about stuff like this. :-D

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Originally Posted by Tori Applegate

Wow, this is all very interesting. Yea, out of all the reviews I've read it seems to work different for everyone. My training partner was also concerned about it possibly having a placebo effe, but he said he quit taking it for a week to see and it was a big difference..he felt foggy again.

Well, I think next month I will try to order some for me and Sean. I'll try it out before we compete..see what I think. :-) Ross, that makes sense..I don't think id take more than two a day. To be honest I may just order what you mentioned on the side if I want a more extreme effect. I'm so glad we have a forum so I can ask you guys about stuff like this. :-D

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Just be sure to not take them together for the reason in my last post :)

I'd try it for a few weeks, seems to treat people differently but as for me I enjoyed it's effects and felt more alert for sure, kind of Zen like sometimes. But it also made me a bit too alert other times so I alternate when I take it but I can say it's effective and high quality stuff.

Mix it in with a little of the onnit new mood,it might give you the same effect it has on me before rolling…or just not work at all!

Alpha brain doesn't do shit to me :/ I wish it did but nothing.
Shroomtech sport on the other hand is fantastic!

I work as a software engineer which requires me to spend hours upon hours hyper-focused on mental constructs that represent million of lines of code and their inter-dependencies. Over the years I've become acutely aware of the exact limits of my concentration and focus, and how it varies on any given day.

Alpha brain for me makes a substantial difference in my ability to remain focused and not be mentally distracted. I am a more productive developer when I'm taking it.

I can't speak for it improving my reflexes like the clinical trials suggest, but in terms of mental focus it makes a substantial difference for me.

Hey you got me looking into this as well now and I've found either inositol or phosphatidylcholine. Thoughts? Kind of at Ross here as he is a chemistry guru.

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Originally Posted by Isaac Atley

Hey you got me looking into this as well now and I've found either inositol or phosphatidylcholine. Thoughts? Kind of at Ross here as he is a chemistry guru.

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Inositol has been shown to lower testosterone levels in multiple studies. I bought it once for anxiety, found out about it, and promptly threw it out. There are a lot of great nootropics out there. Piracetam has been clinically proven and relied on for decades. I personally have noopept which is fantastic for a pre training brain stack with choline. Like it makes a huge difference. Only problem is that it enhances emotions a lot, so if you're negatively stressed it can make you mad, so I just stick to pre workouts. But it enhances responsiveness. There's plenty more nootropics out there though.

And if you're reading this and thinking I'm crazy, alpha brain itself is a nootropic stack. To be classified as a nootropic, a chemical has to have high permeability through the blood-brain barrier, and it also has to be almost completely non toxic.

Definitely not a guru. But I guess you could say that I'm a purple belt in chemistry lol

Is it your field of study Ross?

Nay, biology is. But a strong base of chemical knowledge is required.

It works for me, I feel more focused. My dreams become more vivid as well.

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Originally Posted by DENNY PROKOPOS

It works for me, I feel more focused. My dreams become more vivid as well.

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This ^

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Originally Posted by DENNY PROKOPOS

It works for me, I feel more focused. My dreams become more vivid as well.

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I think if my dreams become any more vivid, they will come to life. :)

Does anyone use it mainly for the lucid dreaming?

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Originally Posted by Ross Davidson

Inositol has been shown to lower testosterone levels in multiple studies. I bought it once for anxiety, found out about it, and promptly threw it out. There are a lot of great nootropics out there. Piracetam has been clinically proven and relied on for decades. I personally have noopept which is fantastic for a pre training brain stack with choline. Like it makes a huge difference. Only problem is that it enhances emotions a lot, so if you're negatively stressed it can make you mad, so I just stick to pre workouts. But it enhances responsiveness. There's plenty more nootropics out there though.

And if you're reading this and thinking I'm crazy, alpha brain itself is a nootropic stack. To be classified as a nootropic, a chemical has to have high permeability through the blood-brain barrier, and it also has to be almost completely non toxic.

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Ross, I love the knowledge you are giving everyone on this topic because it has been something I have wondered about and tried to study on for awhile. You are saying you take straight choline just as the other guy asked about the different types of choline, I saw one with "bitartrate". Is there any difference with that or should I just stick to only choline? What type do you prefer that seems more organic/natural without extra ingredients?

As for Alpha Brain, I took it but it took awhile for it to actually work like about three weeks or so. After taking it for the only thing I noticed was my dreams were vivid. With all the other reviews it appears to depend on the individual as to how it will effect you.

I have tried 2 50 pill bottles consistently and although they gave me more vivid dreams, I did not feel any difference in mental clarity or increased cognitive function. But I feel that my mind was already running at high gears since I have lots of reading and lots of math for school.

Alpha GPC (form of Choline) definetily works if I use. Was mixing it with Huperzine A. I think it was. I think one or both of those might be in Alpha Brain. Cant remember exactly. Definetily made me sharper. Tried the stack of Forksalin/artichoke Extract/Alpha GPC/Huperzine. Was trying different stimulants at the time that were not caffeine, cuz the caffeine was taking more water out of my muscles than I could drink back in or digest properly or something. The Forksalin started messing with my muscle and nerve tissues and cause weird fatigue problems after continued use. A bit too rough on the nervous system.and body like a serious narcotic. The Alpha GPC with the Huperzine A is not too bad for what seemed like better memory recall,clarity, and sharpness.

I probably shouldve done as much research as Ross but I was in a hurry to ween myself off caffiene with something different. I get a little too carried away when I drink coffee and drink way too much.

IT was a little weird stopping the Alpha GPC(choline). Felt stupider but it wasnt lasting. The brain is pretty funny thing where you could feel smarter one day and stupider the next, then eventually smarter again and in different ways.

First, let me start off by amending a previous statement.

I said that Alpha Brain has CDP choline, when in fact it has alpha gpc choline (hence Alpha Brain, I suppose). Both of these forms are supposed to have higher bio-availability than choline bitartrate. But they're much more expensive, for what's in my opinion, something that is a small hindrance for such a higher price.

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Originally Posted by TThompson

Ross, I love the knowledge you are giving everyone on this topic because it has been something I have wondered about and tried to study on for awhile. You are saying you take straight choline just as the other guy asked about the different types of choline, I saw one with "bitartrate". Is there any difference with that or should I just stick to only choline? What type do you prefer that seems more organic/natural without extra ingredients?

As for Alpha Brain, I took it but it took awhile for it to actually work like about three weeks or so. After taking it for the only thing I noticed was my dreams were vivid. With all the other reviews it appears to depend on the individual as to how it will effect you.

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Ok, so every form of choline is composed of two separate entities, either bonded together or as an ionic salt; it is composed of the positively charged choline molecular ion, and a negatively charged molecular ion of a differing variety. This is how they make it into a dry, manipulative powder/crystalline form to put into capsules.

There are three main supplemental types: alpha GPC, CDP, and choline bitartrate. Most studies that I've seen have tested either CDP or alpha GPC; I personally haven't read any using choline bitartrate. Both GPC and CDP seem to have high bio-availability, and supposedly are better than choline bitartrate. HOWEVER, choline is ESSENTIAL for many functions within the human body, so when you eat it, your body is going to want to NOT let any slip through the cracks. So any bio-availability issues, in my opinion, are insignificant, especially when considering that buying bulk powder allows you to super saturate your body with the stuff. As for what is most "natural", I'd personally say they all are, but I'm coming from the standpoint of the essential aspect of choline. It's naturally found in eggs and meats, but if you're looking for a higher order nootropic effect, your diet is going to be pretty heavy on raw eggs. So I'd say that choline, period, is good for you.

One of the issues though, I guess (hasn't happened to me), is that bitartrate (the chemical itself) can potentially cause gastrointestinal issues at first, using high dosages. Like I said, this hasn't happened with me, although I did slowly build up to the large amounts I currently take. I am unsure of the other forms and their potential for issues as such.

This leads me to the next point, which is that every form you take only has so much choline per serving. Choline bitartrate, for example, is 40% choline and 60% bitartrate, so when I say I take 1000-3000 mg of choline each day, I'm talking about strictly the choline. The actual value of the total mass of the powder I take is much larger (~7500 mg).

As for your second paragraph, I'd say that it doesn't stop after three weeks, your brain and body just become normalized to the state that hyper-saturation gives you. If you're in it to get high or something, this isn't for you. If you're in it to enhance learning ability, concentration, nervous system response, and cell membrane quality, etc, then this IS for you.

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Originally Posted by Sean Marshall

Alpha GPC (form of Choline) definetily works if I use. Was mixing it with Huperzine A. I think it was. I think one or both of those might be in Alpha Brain. Cant remember exactly. Definetily made me sharper. Tried the stack of Forksalin/artichoke Extract/Alpha GPC/Huperzine. Was trying different stimulants at the time that were not caffeine, cuz the caffeine was taking more water out of my muscles than I could drink back in or digest properly or something. The Forksalin started messing with my muscle and nerve tissues and cause weird fatigue problems after continued use. A bit too rough on the nervous system.and body like a serious narcotic. The Alpha GPC with the Huperzine A is not too bad for what seemed like better memory recall,clarity, and sharpness.

I probably shouldve done as much research as Ross but I was in a hurry to ween myself off caffiene with something different. I get a little too carried away when I drink coffee and drink way too much.

IT was a little weird stopping the Alpha GPC(choline). Felt stupider but it wasnt lasting. The brain is pretty funny thing where you could feel smarter one day and stupider the next, then eventually smarter again and in different ways.

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Yes, they are both in Alpha Brain,which is good as you can use less with a greater effect, but if you're using it to help with things like athleticism, it's not good.

Acetylcholine (the metabolite of choline which acts as the neurotransmitter) is depleted by up to 50% in plasma upon the completion of intense exercise—this is one of the reasons that you get fatigued after an intense workout. The reason for this is that your body pumps choline through the CNS to differing muscles in the body, which is then used to force muscle contractions; so the harder you work, the more acetylcholine is used. This means that more choline = more ability to exert yourself. But like I said before, the body then needs to break this acetyl choline down after its use, which is where cholinesterase comes in. This breakdown ALLOWS the muscles to stop contracting. Therefore, you can think of it as burning fuel for a combustion engine (although ATP synthase is a different animal) to send signals.

But yes, you are totally right about the effects after stopping. Your brain gets really foggy. For me this is just you realizing that this is how you always were before excess choline supplementation lol. Might be wrong about that, but that's just my guess/opinion. However, the effects you receive while on choline supplementation are indeed permanent, or at least NOT short-term. I've seen a study which has shown that increased choline supplementation earlier in life can result in a much lower chance of Alzheimer's.

Another study I've read has shown that 1g of choline in a fasted state, or a state without insulin spikes from sugars/proteins (insulin and GH are antagonistic), results in a 19x spike in hGH production in humans. The effect is short term, lasting only two hours, but it's the same time-frame as if you were to inject yourself with synthetic hGH. The reason why this is intriguing isn't really about the GH itself, but all of the growth factors that it stimulates into production during that window of time, IGF-1 in particular.

Wow. Sorry for the essay. I've just done waaaaaaaay too much reading on the subject. I also jump at every chance I get to talk about the benefits of choline supplementation. lol.

So in short, Alpha Brain is good, because it has choline and results in higher levels of choline (Huperzine A). But any extra choline source is good for you, in my opinion. Alpha Brain also has Tyrosine, which is also used as a neurotransmitter, but I haven't done much reading on that at all.

Yeah Ross, on the permanent effects or not short term effects of choline, I could see that being easily possible with the findings on neurogenesis.

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Originally Posted by Sean Marshall

Yeah Ross, on the permanent effects or not short term effects of choline, I could see that being easily possible with the findings on neurogenesis.

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Yes!

I don't notice anything taking the maximum dose, but a lot of guys at the gym swear by it for whatever that's worth.

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Originally Posted by Ross Davidson

First, let me start off by amending a previous statement.

I said that Alpha Brain has CDP choline, when in fact it has alpha gpc choline (hence Alpha Brain, I suppose). Both of these forms are supposed to have higher bio-availability than choline bitartrate. But they're much more expensive, for what's in my opinion, something that is a small hindrance for such a higher price.



Ok, so every form of choline is composed of two separate entities, either bonded together or as an ionic salt; it is composed of the positively charged choline molecular ion, and a negatively charged molecular ion of a differing variety. This is how they make it into a dry, manipulative powder/crystalline form to put into capsules.

There are three main supplemental types: alpha GPC, CDP, and choline bitartrate. Most studies that I've seen have tested either CDP or alpha GPC; I personally haven't read any using choline bitartrate. Both GPC and CDP seem to have high bio-availability, and supposedly are better than choline bitartrate. HOWEVER, choline is ESSENTIAL for many functions within the human body, so when you eat it, your body is going to want to NOT let any slip through the cracks. So any bio-availability issues, in my opinion, are insignificant, especially when considering that buying bulk powder allows you to super saturate your body with the stuff. As for what is most "natural", I'd personally say they all are, but I'm coming from the standpoint of the essential aspect of choline. It's naturally found in eggs and meats, but if you're looking for a higher order nootropic effect, your diet is going to be pretty heavy on raw eggs. So I'd say that choline, period, is good for you.

One of the issues though, I guess (hasn't happened to me), is that bitartrate (the chemical itself) can potentially cause gastrointestinal issues at first, using high dosages. Like I said, this hasn't happened with me, although I did slowly build up to the large amounts I currently take. I am unsure of the other forms and their potential for issues as such.

This leads me to the next point, which is that every form you take only has so much choline per serving. Choline bitartrate, for example, is 40% choline and 60% bitartrate, so when I say I take 1000-3000 mg of choline each day, I'm talking about strictly the choline. The actual value of the total mass of the powder I take is much larger (~7500 mg).

As for your second paragraph, I'd say that it doesn't stop after three weeks, your brain and body just become normalized to the state that hyper-saturation gives you. If you're in it to get high or something, this isn't for you. If you're in it to enhance learning ability, concentration, nervous system response, and cell membrane quality, etc, then this IS for you.

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Thanks for the information, and no I not looking to get high I'm looking for better concentration and enhance learning.

What's the word on the Total Primate stuff?

I take it, highly recommend it and can feel a noticeable difference when I do or don't take it. For me, and I'm sure you call can agree, jiu jitsu is a seconds game. If you miss a brief moment opportunity, the entire outcome of the match can be changed. Alpha Brain helps me capitalize on those split second reactions. I've had training partners take it and love it and others say they didn't feel any noticeable differences. Which is understandable. Not everyone is completely in tune with their body either. I say this, if you're training consistently, sleeping and eating well and doing every possible thing to better your game, then Alpha Brain is a nice thing to supplement with. Otherwise, cover those bases first. And for the record, I take a wide array of other vitamins religiously before training or tourneys (shroomtech for sure) and like a good amount of caffeine before, as well, which helps me with the mental acuity .

It helps me with reading at ton and focus during technical training sessions. Affected my life positive so far.

I took shroom tech and alpha brain and didn't notice any difference other than my dreams. I definitely had crazy dreams and remembered them more often. Other than that I never felt like I had more energy on shroom tech nor did I focus better on alpha brain.

Shroom tec sport + Alpha Brain + blue dream or golden goat + 3 red vines is my pre train formula. Something in there works.