How to be human

With so little information readily available regarding #nutrition, #supplements and #nootropics you’ll need to have some good and reputable sources to do your homework. Here’s a list of reputable publications to use as a good starting point.  

1. Journal of Nutrition: 

Mission: The first journal in its field, The Journal of Nutrition continues to have as its goal the publication of papers based on original nutrition research in humans and other animal species. In circulation since 1928, it is distributed to more than 4,500 subscribers worldwide. 

Publisher: The American Society for Nutritional Sciences 

Frequency: monthly 

Contents available online: 

Tables of Contents (free) 

Abstracts (since 1997, free) 

Full text (since 2000) 

Website: 

www.nutrition.org 

2. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: 

Mission: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is the most highly rated peer-reviewed journal in ISI’s nutrition and dietetics category and publishes the latest worldwide basic and clinical studies relevant to human nutrition in topics such as obesity, vitamins and minerals, nutrition and disease, and energy metabolism. 

Publisher: The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc. 

Frequency: monthly 

Contents available online: 

Tables of Contents (free) 

Abstracts (free) 

Full text 

Website: 

International access: http://intl.ajcn.org/ 

US access: www.ajcn.org 

3. British Journal of Nutrition: 

Mission: The British Journal of Nutrition is an international, peer-reviewed journal publishing papers and articles on human and clinical nutrition, general nutrition, and animal nutrition. Topics covered include: Molecular Nutrition and Gene Expression, Metabolism and Metabolic Studies, Nutritional Immunology, Body Composition, Dietary Surveys and Nutritional Epidemiology, Neurobiology and Behaviour, Nutritional Energetics, Nutrient Requirements, Obesity 

Publisher: Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society 

Frequency: monthly 

Contents available online: 

Tables of Contents (free) 

Abstracts (free) 

Full text 

Website: 

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=bjn 

4. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition: 

Mission: The primary aim of this unique international journal is to integrate food science with nutrition. Topics covered include: impact of nutritional science on food product development, nutritional implications of food processing, bio-availibility of nutrients, nutritional quality of novel foods, food-nutrient interactions, use of biotechnology in food science/nutrition. 

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Health Sciences 

Frequency: 8 issues a year 

Contents available online: 

Tables of Contents (free) 

Abstracts (free) 

Full text 

Website: 

www.tandf.co.uk 

5. Journal of the American Dietetic Association: 

Mission: The Journal’s purpose is to: provide a distinguished site for the publication of original articles prepared by scholars and practitioners in the field and reviewed by qualified peers, publish manuscripts that advance knowledge across the range of research and practice issues in nutrition and dietetics and that support the professional growth of Association members. 

Publisher: American Dietetic Association 

Frequency: monthly 

Contents available online: 

Tables of Contents (since 1993, free) 

Abstracts (since 1993, free) 

Full text (limited to ADA members and print subscribers) 

Website: 

http://www.adajournal.org/ 

http://scholar.google.com/ is another good source for technical/papers. Just type in nootropics for an overwhelming amount research papers. 

If you’re a listener of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast you’ve heard all about Alpha Brain. Joe is quick to hook his guests up with a bottle of Alpha Brain and praise the nootropic concoction on just about every show. I think it may even be an official sponsor of the podcast along with some strange sex toy called the flesh-light.  I get the idea Joe probably has a stake in the company but don’t know for sure. Regardless, I am interested in the idea of Alpha Brain and wanted to see what it would take to make your own Alpha Brain clone. Joe’s said more than once “look, if you want to go out and buy all of the ingredients… and make your own, go ahead” and to his credit he’s being about as transparent as you can be. The Onnit.com site has all of the ingredients listed with dosage amounts and really makes it pretty easy to clone. But is it worth it? I decided to find out. I asked Fancy Hands (awesome personal assistant service) to do the math. Here’s what they found:

*Be human, assess the information and make a decision for you. I don’t endorse Alpha Brain and haven’t tried it yet. This is just a bit of research I did and am sharing with anyone who cares. If you have tried it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. 

From FancyHands.com

I am sure their “you can buy the ingredients separately for half the price” slogan would depend on whether or not you plan to buy in bulk. There are a few places I have found that list most of these ingredients as ones they stock. The catch being you have to order 5kg or more, which, will probably not be what you are looking for. Just in case, here is a reputable raw ingredient wholesaler:

http://www.nutritionmanufacturer.com/raw_materials.html

This company carries an A+ Rating with the BBB

If you are trying to create a cocktail of vitamins and minerals that mimic the Alpha Brain Supplement, there are two things that will hinder you.

1. The ingredients are generally available to purchase, but the price of all of them well exceeds the price of one bottle of the Alpha Brain Supplement.

2. It seems almost impossible to find ready made capsules/pills that are in the dosages you need. This will not make the mixture you create exactly mimic the Alpha Brain Supplement.

Here are the links you asked for: (Note, I did not choose the cheapest ones, however, that would still put you over the price tag of $34.95)

___________________

GPC Choline - $23.74 / 300mg / 60 Capsules

Now Foods Alpha GPC

Carries a 5 star rating

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RYKA3U/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0045WBGPM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=019H640CWMN7C3WWKT72

Huperzia Serrata - $13.99 / 200mcg / 120 Tablets

Source Naturals Huperzine A, 200mcg

Carries a 4 star rating

http://www.amazon.com/Source-Naturals-Huperzine-200mcg-Tablets/dp/B000WJH2HI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319690436&sr=1-1

Vinpocetine - $9.89 / 30 mg / 60 Capsules

Triple-Strength Vinpocetine 

http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Strength-Vinpocetine-30-60-Caps/dp/B0017OFRWY/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319690618&sr=1-4

AC-11 - $13.37 / 5000mg / 120 Capsules

From what I understand, Cat’s Claw is AC-11. 

Now Foods CAT’S CLAW

http://www.amazon.com/Foods-CatS-Claw-5000-Vcaps/dp/B0013OXCJI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319690729&sr=1-1

Bacopa - $8.49 / 20% Bacosides / 100 Capsules

Vitamin Shoppe - Bacopa, 100 capsules

Carries a 5 star rating

http://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Shoppe-Bacopa-100-capsules/dp/B00013Z196/ref=sr_1_5?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691004&sr=1-5

Pterostilbene - $7.49 / 50mg / 30 Capsules

Swanson Ultra Pterostilbene 

http://www.amazon.com/Pterostilbene-50-30-Veg-Caps/dp/B0051T9YLG/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691137&sr=1-2

Mucuna Pruriens - $12.60 / n/a / 90 Capsules

Now Foods Mucuna DOPA 15% Extract (was not able to find %50)

http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Mucuna-Support-L-Dopa-400mg/dp/B001QG5F0W/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691228&sr=1-1

GABA - $8.78 / 750mg / 100 Capsules

Now Foods GABA

http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Gaba-750mg-Vcaps/dp/B0013OVZAG/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691447&sr=1-1

Oat Straw - $11.34 / 1lb

Starwest Botanicals Oatstraw C/S Organic

http://www.amazon.com/Starwest-Botanicals-Oatstraw-Organic-1-pound/dp/B003AYEHK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691520&sr=1-1

Vitamin B6 - $10.89 / 100mg / 250 Tablets

Spring Valley - Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)

http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Valley-Vitamin-Pyridoxine-Tablets/dp/B001RBLASC/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691577&sr=1-1

As it would seem, the cost of the actual supplement is far more appealing in terms of creating the supplement (dividing ingredients into proper dosages). While I did not see if in taking the time to divide the ingredients, it would be more cost effective, it does seem easier to just go with the supplement.