thesis huberman reddit

Get the Reddit app

The place for fans of Dr. Andrew Huberman and the Huberman Lab. In this subreddit we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life. In keeping with that theme, be kind and understanding of other members. We're all here to learn and help. This community is here to support your health, wellness, and learning journey. Feel free to drop the mod team a question when you need it. And of course, thank you for interest in science!

Anyone read this write up about Huberman?

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/andrew-huberman-podcast-stanford-joe-rogan.html?utm_campaign=nym&utm_medium=s1&utm_source=insta

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

Do you recommend any nootopics

Andrew Huberman recommends cautious use of nootropics and emphasizes that their effectiveness often involves multiple factors such as focus, alertness, and sleep. While acknowledging that some compounds may enhance cognitive functions, he advises that these substances often include a stimulant like caffeine and may impact sleep quality. For sustainable cognitive enhancement, Huberman highlights the importance of deep restful sleep and not relying overly on stimulants 1 .

He has also discussed the company Thesis, which creates custom nootropics tailored to individual goals and needs. Huberman shares his positive experience with their products, specifically highlighting formulas for motivation and mental clarity. Custom nootropics from Thesis are made with high-quality ingredients like alpha GPC and phosphatidylserine, aimed at supporting specific cognitive or physical tasks without the typical one-size-fits-all approach 2 3 4 .

Learning and Nootropics

Huberman Lab

For more specific recommendations, he suggests consulting resources like Examine.com to assess the safety and efficacy of any supplements 1 .

Tell me more about Thesis nootropics and personalization.

Thesis offers a unique approach to nootropics by focusing on personalization. Here's a detailed overview based on what Andrew Huberman shared about Thesis:

Concept of Personalization :

Thesis creates custom nootropics tailored to individual cognitive and physical goals. The personalization addresses the user's unique brain chemistry and genetics [ 1 ].
Users can try different blends through a monthly subscription to see what works best for their specific needs [ 2 ].

Specific Formulations :

Personalized Nootropics

The ingredients are of high quality, including substances like alpha GPC and phosphatidylserine. Certain ingredients like Ginkgo biloba can be excluded based on the individual's tolerance [ 1 ].

User Experience and Consultation :

Thesis offers consultations with a brain coach to help users find the most effective formulas, further enhancing the personalization process [ 2 ].
Andrew Huberman has shared his positive experiences, noting particular formulas like motivation and clarity that have been effective for him [ 2 ].

Process to Get Started :

To begin with Thesis, users take a three-minute quiz online. Thesis then sends four different formulas to try in the first month, allowing users to explore various combinations and find what best suits their needs [ 2 ].

Thesis stands out by rejecting the "one-size-fits-all" approach typically seen in the nootropic market, instead offering tailored solutions that align more closely with the individual's unique cognitive and biological makeup.

- worldnews
- todayilearned
- nottheonion
- explainlikeimfive
- mildlyinteresting
- OldSchoolCool
- television
- TwoXChromosomes
- LifeProTips
- dataisbeautiful
- Showerthoughts
- askscience
- Futurology
- UpliftingNews
- InternetIsBeautiful
- GetMotivated
- announcements
- WritingPrompts
- philosophy
- Documentaries
- EarthPorn
- photoshopbattles
- listentothis
other discussions (7)

use the following search parameters to narrow your results:

e.g. subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog

see the search faq for details.

advanced search: by author, subreddit...

HubermanLab

10 users here now

A subreddit for discussion of the Huberman Lab, a neuroscience podcast by Dr Andrew Huberman

message the mods

Welcome to Reddit,

the front page of the internet.

and join one of thousands of communities.

Has anyone had luck with Huberman's sleep cocktail? ( brainflow.co )

submitted 1 year ago by Impossible_Today8279

Want to add to the discussion?

What are you looking for?

Search ideas for you, thesis nootropics review.

Sheridan Grant

Content Specialist

Sheridan is a writer from Hamilton, Ontario. She has a passion for writing about what she loves and learning new things along the way. Her topics of expertise include skincare and beauty, home decor, and DIYing.

Table of Contents

About Thesis Nootropics

Hands up if you guzzle five coffees a day to stay awake, have tried all the supplements in the book desperate to improve your headspace, and aren’t interested in prescribed medications. Designed to increase focus , Thesis nootropics might be for you.

Thesis offers a customized blend of ingredients designed to optimize your cognitive function , with personalized details that tackle your specific needs. Nootropics boost brain performance in the same way a stimulant would, without the common negative effects.

A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that nootropics may help improve cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Interested in finding out more about the brand and how it works? Leaf through our Thesis Nootropics review. We’ll be your guide through the company and the process, as well as details on the treatments, highlights from customer reviews, answers to important FAQs, and more, to help you decide if it’s worth the try.

Pros and Cons

Multiple cognitive benefits: Thesis Nootropics offers a variety of blends that cater to multiple aspects of cognitive function.
Long-term effects: On top of short term benefits for daily life, Thesis nootropics ingredients are designed to impact the brain in the long-term.
Personalized recommendations: Thesis Nootropics makes personalized recommendations based on your goals and unique brain chemistry.
Potential side effects: The most common side effects to watch out for when you start taking Thesis Nootropics include heartburn, headaches, confusion, dizziness, loss of appetite, and digestive issues.
Need to stop taking if issues arise: If you experience a headache or an upset stomach that won’t go away while taking their nootropics, Thesis recommends that you stop taking them.

What is Thesis Nootropics?

Nootropics are nutrient compounds and substances that are known to improve brain performance , such as caffeine and creatine. They help with issues that affect motivation, creativity, mood, memory, focus, and cognitive processing.

Nootropics are the ideal addition to an already healthy lifestyle that consists of exercise, proper nutrition, and enjoyable activities. Thesis nootropics are carefully formulated to target specific needs, ranging from energy to creativity. The brand focuses on safety, ensuring that all supplements adhere to FDA guidelines and go through multiple clinical trials.

How Thesis Nootropics Works

With all that being said, you may be wondering how Thesis provides users with an option that is specific to their needs. Fortunately, the process is simple and hassle free. Here’s how it works:

Take the Thesis nootropics quiz
Answer questions about your basic information
Receive personalized recommendations
Get your starter kit for $120 , or $79 monthly when you subscribe

After that, you’ll select one formula to take each week, taking one day off in between each different option. You’ll also track your results in the daily journal over the month to see how they affect your daily life.

From there, it operates as a subscription service. Users will be able to optimize their next shipment by telling the brand which formulas worked best.

If you don’t like any of the blends in your box, let the company know and they’ll switch it for something that’s a better fit for your lifestyle, genetics, and goals.

Thesis Nootropics Ingredients

Thesis Nootropics is a brand that offers personalized nootropics designed to enhance cognitive function and overall brain health. Their blends contain a variety of ingredients that are carefully chosen for their cognitive-boosting properties. Here are some of the key ingredients in Thesis Nootropics:

Cognizin (Citicoline) : Cognizin is a type of choline that is known for its ability to enhance cognitive function, including memory and focus.
L-Theanine : L-Theanine is an amino acid that is found in green tea, and is known for its ability to promote relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom : Lion’s Mane Mushroom is a type of medicinal mushroom that is believed to have cognitive-boosting properties, including improved memory and focus.
Rhodiola Rosea : Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogenic herb that is known for its ability to reduce stress and fatigue, and improve mental clarity and cognitive function.
Ashwagandha : Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that is known for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve memory and cognitive function.
Phosphatidylserine : Phosphatidylserine is a type of phospholipid that is found in high concentrations in the brain, and is believed to support cognitive function, including memory and focus³
Alpha-GPC : Alpha-GPC is a type of choline that is known for its ability to enhance cognitive function, including memory and focus.
TAU (uridine): TAU is a blend of uridine, choline, and DHA, which is believed to support brain health and cognitive function.
Artichoke extract : Artichoke extract is believed to enhance cognitive function by increasing levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is important for memory and learning.
Dynamine : Dynamine is a type of alkaloid that is believed to enhance cognitive function by increasing levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is important for mood and motivation.

Overall, the ingredients in Thesis Nootropics are carefully chosen for their cognitive-boosting properties, and are designed to work together to enhance overall brain health and cognitive function.

Thesis Nootropics Health Benefits

Thesis Nootropics is a brand that offers personalized nootropics designed to enhance cognitive function and overall brain health. Their blends contain a variety of ingredients that are carefully chosen for their cognitive-boosting properties, and offer numerous health benefits. Here are some of the health benefits of Thesis Nootropics:

Increased cognitive energy : One of the key benefits of Thesis Nootropics is increased cognitive energy, which can help improve productivity, mental alertness, and motivation, as it contains cognizin .
Enhanced mental clarity : Another benefit of Thesis Nootropics is enhanced mental clarity,given from Lion’s Mane Mushroom which can help reduce brain fog and improve focus.
Improved memory and learning abilities : Thesis Nootropics contains ingredients that are believed to improve memory and learning abilities, like Phosphatidylserine , which can help users retain information more effectively.
Elevated mood : Thesis Nootropics may help elevate mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, thanks to ingredients like L-Theanine and Ashwagandha .
Lowered stress levels : The adaptogenic herbs in Thesis Nootropics, such as Rhodiola Rosea and Ashwagandha , are known for their ability to lower stress levels and promote relaxation.
Boosted focus : Thesis Nootropics contains ingredients like Alpha-GPC and Artichoke extract , which are believed to boost focus and concentration.

While Thesis Nootropics offers numerous health benefits, it’s important to note that the long-term effects of nootropics are not yet fully understood and more research is needed.

3 Thesis Nootropics Bestsellers

Thesis energy review.

If you’re constantly struggling to keep up with the demands of your busy life, it might be time to try a natural energy booster like Thesis Energy. This powerful nootropic blend is specifically designed to increase energy, overcome fatigue, and build mental stamina.

Thesis Energy is caffeine-free, making it a great option for those who are sensitive to caffeine or looking for a natural alternative to traditional energy drinks. The Energy formulation is designed to help improve focus and mental clarity, increase cognitive energy, and reduce fatigue. Whether you’re facing a busy day at work, recovering after a night of poor sleep, or gearing up for an intense workout, Thesis Energy can help you power through.

Each ingredient in Thesis Energy is carefully chosen for its energy-boosting properties. The specific ingredients can vary depending on your needs, but they work together to help increase energy, improve mental clarity, and reduce fatigue.

To get the most out of Thesis Energy, take it every morning on an empty stomach. You can also take it again after lunch if you need an extra boost. It’s designed to help you tackle busy, hectic days, recover from poor sleep, and power through intense workouts.

If you’re tired of relying on coffee and energy drinks to get through the day, it might be time to give Thesis Energy a try. Check availability and start boosting your energy naturally today!

Thesis Creativity

If you’re someone who struggles with creativity or finds yourself feeling stuck in your creative endeavors, Thesis Creativity may be worth considering. This nootropic supplement is designed to help spark inspiration, enhance verbal fluency, and boost confidence in your own great ideas.

So what’s in Thesis Creativity? The ingredients may vary depending on your specific needs, but these ingredients work together to support stress management, memory function, mood regulation, and energy production.

By supporting stress management, memory function, and mood regulation, Thesis Creativity can help free up mental space for more creative thinking. Additionally, the caffeine and L-theanine combo can provide a boost of energy and focus without the jitters and crash that can come with caffeine alone.

To get the most out of Thesis Creativity, it is recommended to take it every morning on an empty stomach and again after lunch if you need an extra boost. This nootropic blend is particularly helpful for brainstorming and creative thinking, writing and creative projects, and public speaking and social situations.

As with any nootropic supplement, it’s important to note that the long-term effects of Thesis Creativity are not yet fully understood and more research is needed. It’s always a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplements to your routine.

In summary, if you’re looking for a little extra help in the creativity department, Thesis Creativity may be a valuable addition to your nootropic lineup. Its unique blend of ingredients can help support mental clarity, mood regulation, and energy production, making it a valuable tool for any creative individual.

Thesis Logic

If you’ve been having trouble with your memory lately, such as forgetting what you had for lunch yesterday or struggling to recall common words, then Thesis Logic may be just what you need. This formula is designed to help enhance your processing speed, boost your memory, and deepen your thinking.

Thesis Logic is caffeine-free, making it a great option for those who are sensitive to caffeine. The formula is ideal for use during deep, focused work, complex problem-solving, research projects, and completing tedious tasks.

Taking Thesis Logic is easy – simply take it every morning on an empty stomach, and take it again after lunch if you need an extra boost. By incorporating Thesis Logic into your daily routine, you may notice improvements in your cognitive function and overall mental performance.

Who Is Thesis Nootropics For?

Thesis nootropics are designed for a number of different specific needs, including anyone who wants to focus better, have more energy, and maintain mental clarity. All in all, the products are specifically formulated to improve day to day life and target your specific needs .

Thesis Nootropics Side Effects

While Thesis nootropics are designed to enhance cognitive performance and provide a range of benefits, it’s important to be aware of the potential side effects that can occur. As with any supplement, individual reactions can vary, and some people may experience side effects while others may not.

Some of the potential side effects of Thesis nootropics include:

Insomnia : Some nootropics contain caffeine or other stimulants that can disrupt sleep patterns and lead to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Blurry vision : Certain nootropics, such as those containing alpha GPC, have been linked to temporary blurry vision.
High blood pressure : Stimulant-based nootropics can increase blood pressure, which can be dangerous for people with hypertension or other heart conditions.
Fast heart rate : Similarly, stimulants can also increase heart rate, leading to palpitations or a rapid pulse.
Circulation problem s: Certain nootropics, such as vinpocetine, can affect blood flow and circulation, leading to issues like dizziness, nausea, or headaches.
Addiction : Some nootropics, such as those containing racetams, have been associated with the potential for addiction or dependence if used long-term.

It’s important to remember that not all nootropics will produce these side effects, and the severity of any reactions will depend on individual factors such as dosage, duration of use, and underlying health conditions. However, it’s always wise to discuss any potential risks with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen.

Additionally, it’s important to follow dosage instructions carefully and not to exceed recommended amounts, as this can increase the risk of side effects. By being mindful of potential risks and using nootropics responsibly, users can reap the benefits of these supplements without experiencing adverse effects.

Thesis Nootropics Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

At this point in our Thesis nootropics review, it’s time to turn to what customers are saying. So, we sourced testimonials from the brand’s website, Reddit, and ZenMasterWellness. And spoiler alert, the Thesis nootropics reviews we came across have nothing but good things to say.

On takethesis.com , the brand earns 4.4/5 stars out of 7,956 reviews. One patron describes their particular blend as the perfect alternative to prescription meds :

“ I have been off stimulants for months now and these formulas are far superior. My husband and daughter both noticed the change and said I have been more productive, focused, less anxious, and more “thinking outside the box”. I have tried for years to get off stims and nothing would work .”

On Reddit, many reviewers share similar sentiments about how effective the products are. One buyer shares that they tried tons of different nootropics on the market, and Thesis stands out amongst the crowd .

On ZenMasterWellness, one reviewer states that their blend provided the exact results they were looking for :

“ They offer notable improvements to how well I’m able to focus, stay on task, and grind when it’s time to grind. In practice, this usually looks like a clearer mind and an improved ability to just… chill. With the Clarity and Creativity blends, in particular, I just feel leveled out .”

Backed by clinical trials and real customer experiences, Thesis stands out in the world of nootropics and supplements. The personalized selections prove effective, while the quality ingredients live up to expectations.

Is Thesis Nootropics Legit?

If you’re wondering if this brand offers products that are too good to be true, this Thesis nootropics review is here to say that it is the real deal .

The brand is backed by numerous clinical trials, which highlight how 86% of customers reported improvements in a wide range of cognitive challenges, while 89% noticed an improvement in their ability to reduce stress and maintain energy.

Is Thesis Nootropics Worth It?

Thesis is an appealing choice in the world of nootropics because it provides a completely customized selection based on your needs and goals. Plus, the ingredients are potent and ensure the best effects—and you only end up paying for the benefits you actually need.

With that in mind, this Thesis nootropics review deems the brand worth the try.

Alternatives

Here are some alternatives to Thesis Nootropics that you might find interesting:

Mind Lab Pro – This nootropic supplement is designed to improve cognitive function and mental performance. It contains 11 ingredients that work together to enhance memory, focus, and overall brain health.
Thorne Supplements : If you’re looking for high-quality, science-based supplements, Thorne is a great choice. Their products are designed with the latest research in mind and are rigorously tested for quality and purity. Some of their popular offerings include multivitamins, protein powders, and omega-3 supplements.
WeAreFeel Supplements : WeAreFeel is a supplement brand that offers a variety of products designed to support different aspects of your health. Their supplements are vegan-friendly and free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Some of their popular offerings include multivitamins, probiotics, and omega-3 supplements.
Neuro Gum : If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to boost your focus and energy levels, Neuro Gum is a great option. This gum is infused with caffeine and other natural ingredients that can help improve mental clarity and alertness. Plus, it’s sugar-free and comes in a variety of delicious flavors.
Neuriva Plus : Neuriva Plus is a brain supplement that’s designed to improve memory, focus, and cognitive performance. It contains a blend of natural ingredients, including coffee fruit extract and phosphatidylserine, that have been shown to support brain health. If you’re looking for a natural way to boost your cognitive function, Neuriva Plus is worth considering.

Thesis Nootropics Promotions & Discounts

There aren’t currently any Thesis promos or discounts available. That being said, if you subscribe for recurring shipments of your recommended products, you’ll save $40 monthly .

Where to Buy Thesis Nootropics

At the time of this Thesis nootropics review, the products are exclusively available on the brand’s website, takethesis.com .

Is Thesis Nootropics vegan?

Thesis nootropics are made with only vegan ingredients . That being said, while the brand has taken precautions to protect against cross contamination, the products are not certified vegan.

Is Thesis Nootropics gluten-free?

On top of being vegan, Thesis products are made without gluten, eggs, or nuts . Again, while the brand strives to protect users against cross contamination, the products are not certified gluten free.

What is Thesis Nootropics’ Shipping Policy?

If you’re anxiously awaiting your order from this Thesis nootropics review, you’ll be happy to hear that the company offers speedy shipping, sending orders out within 1 business day. After that, packages should arrive within only 1-3 business days . Costs are calculated at checkout.

At this time, Thesis is not able to offer international shipping. This Thesis nootropics review recommends following the brand on social media and signing up for the newsletter to stay up to date with shipping policies.

What is Thesis Nootropics’ Return Policy?

If you find that your Thesis formula isn’t working out, the company requests that you contact them to make changes and adjustments to ensure you are able to receive the proper help.

If you would still like to make a return, follow these simple steps for a refund:

Submit your refund request
Ship the items back within 30 days of the original delivery
Send an email with your tracking number to the brand
Return any remaining product in their original packaging to:

Thesis Returns 902 Broadway

6th Floor New York, NY

Once your return has been received, a refund will be processed and email confirmation will be sent. It’s also important to note that the brand can only refund one month’s supply per customer and return shipping is the customer’s responsibility.

How to Contact Thesis Nootropics

We hope you enjoyed this Thesis nootropics review! If you have any further questions about the brand or its products, you can contact them using the following methods:

Call 1 (646) 647-3599
Email [email protected]

902 Broadway Floor 6 New York, NY 10010

If you’re looking for other ways to boost your productivity via supplements, check out these other brands we’ve reviewed:

Thorne Supplements Review

WeAreFeel Supplements Review

Neuro Gum Review

Neuriva Plus Review

Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the web’s best products. If you purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Our editorial team is independent.

Ask the community or leave a comment

Customer reviews, leave a review, ask the community or leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This field is required

This field is required Please use a valid email

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also be interested in

Alo Yoga Review

James Allen Jewelry Review

Freshly vs Factor_ Review

Topo Designs Backpacks Review

- worldnews
- todayilearned
- nottheonion
- explainlikeimfive
- mildlyinteresting
- OldSchoolCool
- television
- TwoXChromosomes
- LifeProTips
- dataisbeautiful
- Showerthoughts
- askscience
- Futurology
- UpliftingNews
- InternetIsBeautiful
- GetMotivated
- announcements
- WritingPrompts
- philosophy
- Documentaries
- EarthPorn
- photoshopbattles
- listentothis

use the following search parameters to narrow your results:

e.g. subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog

see the search faq for details.

advanced search: by author, subreddit...

HubermanLab

10 users here now

A subreddit for discussion of the Huberman Lab, a neuroscience podcast by Dr Andrew Huberman

message the mods

Welcome to Reddit,

the front page of the internet.

and join one of thousands of communities.

My 3 best Huberman protocols - what are yours? Discussion ( self.HubermanLab )

submitted 9 months ago by UpvoteBeast

After experimenting with a bunch here are my top protocols:

Getting morning sunlight. Every morning right when I wake up I immediately go outside and look at the bright sky. I’ve seen a drastic increase in my mood and energy throughout the day and I’ve found that I fall asleep easier, which was always a problem for me
Not looking at my phone for 1.5 hours after waking up. Huberman called this the “single most poisonous activity he can think of doing.” It really is. I starting using the “Present - Screen Time Control” app after hearing about it on this sub and it’s been a game changer. I automatically lock my phone until 10am every morning and it has worked WONDERS. If you wake up and start scrolling you should try this asap. You’ll see the benefit on your first day
Morning ice bath. When I lived in the city I would do cold water exposure here or there. But the first thing I did when I moved to the suburbs was put an ice bath in my yard. Fricken love it. Immediately feel energized and ready to workout and take on my day. I can’t imagine doing anything else in the morning now

I haven’t tried all of his protocols though and am constantly looking for more that I would love.

What are your top Huberman protocols?

55 comments

Want to add to the discussion?

I Tried 4 Thesis Nootropic Blends (My 2024 Review)

Prime Male vs. Nugenix Total T (I Tried Both): Who Wins In 2024?

I Finally Found the Best Reishi Mushroom Supplement (2024)

8 Best Budget Barbells (2024): Cheap Barbells That Don't Suck

Hunter Test vs. TestoPrime (I Tried Both): Who Wins In 2024?

Hunter Test vs. Prime Male (I Tried Both): Who Wins In 2024?

Big Belly? The Best Fat Burners For Men Over 40 (2024)

July 2024 Jiu-Jitsu Highlights: Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour Begins And

Hunter Test vs. TestoFuel (I Tried Both): Who Wins In 2024?

I Lost 10lbs In 2 Weeks Taking Capsiplex Burn (My 2024 Review)

My Experience Taking OM Master Blend (2024 Review)

Thesis stands out in the wellness industry with its personalized nootropic supplements, designed to cater to the individual’s specific cognitive needs. It has been pushed by health and wellness celebrities, causing a wave of popularity.

Do Thesis nootropics live up to the hype?

Variety Of Blends: Various nootropic blends based on individual brain chemistry, maximizing effectiveness for each user.
Strong Advocacy and Support: Gained endorsements from notable wellness advocates and public figures, like Andrew Huberman, enhancing credibility.
Limited Clinical Research: While the company plans clinical trials, the current scientific backing may be limited.
Price: The ongoing cost of customized nootropics may be higher than standard off-the-shelf supplements or medications.
Dependence on Self-Reporting: The effectiveness of blends relies partly on user feedback, which may not always be accurate or consistent.
Many Underdosed Ingredients: As you’ll read below, many ingredients are dosed below what was used in human clinical trials.

Quick Verdict

Thesis has a range of suitable nootropic blends to cater to many needs.

However, our #1 nootropic of choice is NooCube. It’s designed for long-term brain changes, not just short-term boosts in mental performance.

What Is Thesis Nootropics?

Thesis Nootropics is a company specializing in customized cognitive performance products. It was founded by Dan Freed in 2017.

Freed’s personal challenges with focusing, which he faced from a young age, led him to discover nootropics.

This personal journey of transformation through nootropics inspired him to create Thesis, aiming to help others find the right combination of nootropic ingredients that work for them.

The company’s unique approach involves allowing customers to experiment with high-quality nootropic ingredients to maximize results systematically.

Thesis has gained popularity primarily through word-of-mouth and a strong focus on personalization.

The company has raised over $13.5 million in funding and is reportedly profitable with a robust growth trajectory.

Thesis has garnered support from health and wellness advocates like Dr. Andrew Huberman, Rich Roll, Kevin Love, and Kate Bock.

Thesis Nootropics

Customized Blends For Cognitive Enhancement

Take the quiz and see which blends are right for you.

Thesis Nootropic Ingredients

Thesis have six unique blends designed to target various aspects of cognitive function. What’s similar between them is the option to include or exclude caffeine and L-theanine. The caffeine and l-theanine combination is the most potent instant nootropic, making each blend effective.

The caffeine L-theanine stack benefits physical and cognitive function. Some advantages include faster reaction time, faster visual processing speed, better working memory, increased awareness, and less tiredness and mental fatigue [1] [2] .

The research employs a 2:1 L-theanine to caffeine ratio, which Thesis has followed. Since this stack is available in every blend, I won’t include it in the ingredients breakdown below.

Thesis Clarity Blend

Alpha gpc (speculative).

Alpha GPC, a choline-containing phospholipid, improves cognitive function in neurological conditions like dementia [3] .

Research indicates it enhances memory and attention and may support brain health. Clinical trials show it can improve cognitive performance, especially when combined with other treatments like donepezil [4] .

It’s generally well-tolerated and safe. Alpha GPC increases acetylcholine levels in the brain, which is essential for memory and learning [5] .

It’s used both as a medicine and a nutritional supplement. Studies suggest Alpha GPC effectively boosts cognitive functions, particularly in adult-onset dementia disorders [6] .

Thesis Clarity Blend contains 500 mg, which is more than any other nootropic available.

Lions Mane Mushroom (Speculative)

The Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) includes chemicals that stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, which is necessary for nerve cell proliferation and differentiation [7] .

According to research, Lion’s Mane improves cognitive abilities, particularly memory and brain cell regeneration [8] .

It is renowned for its neuroprotective qualities, which may be effective in treating illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment [9] .

Brain functioning, memory, and mood improvements have been linked to regular ingestion [10] .

While the mushroom does not directly improve cognitive skills, it does increase NGF, which improves brain health [11] . The dosage varies but is generally well-tolerated and has few negative effects.

Thesis Clarity contains 500 mg of Lions Mane, which may give a long-term nootropic effect.

Mycelium is typically avoided since the active chemicals are found in the primary mushroom. Jeff Chilton, a long-time mushroom researcher, discusses this in the podcast below:

Camellia Sinensis Tea Leaf (Speculative)

Camellia Sinensis, commonly known as tea, exhibits varying neuropharmacological effects based on the part of the plant used.

Seed extracts tend to be more stimulating, enhancing motor functions and showing potential as an antidepressant without causing drowsiness.

Leaf extracts, on the other hand, tend to produce a calming effect on the mind and mood. Both seeds and leaves have shown positive results in various tests assessing motor function and behavior in animal models [12] .

The study suggests these parts of the Camellia Sinensis plant have potential as cognitive enhancers, warranting further research, especially on seed extracts for their mode of action and possible new beneficial compounds.

I couldn’t find any human studies for this ingredient, so I can’t give you an efficacious dose range. But Thesis Clarity contains 278 mg of Camellia Sinensis Tea Leaf.

Dihydroxyflavone

Dihydroxyflavone research is all performed in rodents, so extrapolating to humans is rather challenging. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) is a compound that acts as an agonist for the TrkB receptor, which is associated with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

BDNF is crucial for neuronal survival and brain plasticity. Studies have shown that 7,8-DHF can improve memory and cognitive functions [13] .

It enhanced memory formation in healthy rats, and in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models, it improved spatial memory [14] .

Further, 7,8-DHF has been shown to counteract aging-related cognitive impairments in rats, improving spatial memory and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus [15] .

This suggests that 7,8-DHF is a potential therapeutic agent for memory impairment and dementia, at least in rodents.

Thesis Energy Blend Ingredients

Citicoline is commonly mentioned in relation to memory enhancement. According to studies, 500 mg daily may improve episodic memory or the ability to recall personal experiences and specific events [16] .

According to other research, taking at least 500 mg of this supplement daily may provide cognitive benefits to healthy persons [17] .

The formulation of Thesis Energy Blend contains 300 mg of Citicoline. This dose may not achieve the full potential seen in studies proposing a higher dose.

Mango leaf extract, rich in the polyphenolic compound mangiferin, shows promise in neuropharmacology due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties.

Studies indicate its potential in treating central complications associated with metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes, which are risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia [18] .

In animal models, mango leaf extract has demonstrated effects on reducing brain inflammation and spontaneous bleeding and improving cognitive functions [19] .

These findings suggest its utility in addressing symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairments [20] .

Thesis Energy contains 300 mg of mango leaf.

Theacrine is a purine alkaloid similar to caffeine, found in the Camellia Kucha plant, and often included in dietary supplements.

Studies show that it can increase energy, focus, and cognitive performance, similar to caffeine, but without habituation [21] .

Theacrine’s impact on cognitive performance and physical endurance has been researched in athletes, indicating possible benefits in reaction time and endurance [22] .

It may work well alone or in combination with caffeine to enhance cognitive function and physical performance [23] .

Theacrine appears to be a promising supplement for improving mental alertness and physical capacity. Bear in mind the manufacturers of Theacrine fund some of these studies.

Thesis Energy contains 100 mg of Theacrine, which tends to be less than the dose used in these studies, suggesting it may have a weaker effect.

N-Acetyl Cysteine

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is explored for its potential to improve cognitive functions in psychosis and bipolar disorder due to its antioxidant, neurogenesis, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Studies show N-acetyl cysteine can improve working memory in psychosis [24] . However, results in bipolar disorder didn’t show significant cognitive improvements [25] .

Research indicates potential benefits for Alzheimer’s disease by promoting cognitive health and countering oxidative stress [26] .

The effectiveness of N-acetyl cysteine in various cognitive disorders still requires more targeted, larger studies to confirm its benefits [27] .

N-acetyl cysteine’s role is promising but not yet firmly established in cognitive enhancement.

In human trials, it seems a 600 – 2000 mg dose is needed for cognitive benefits. Thesis Energy contains 500 mg, being potentially underdosed.

Indian Trumpet Tree

Indian Trumpet Tree is known as Oroxylum indicum. In a 12-week study, older adults with memory complaints took 500 mg of Oroxylum indicum extract twice daily [28] .

Compared to a placebo, this supplementation led to improvements in episodic memory and numeric working memory. It also accelerated learning in location tasks.

However, there were no significant changes in other cognitive tests or overall cognitive and memory skills.

The study suggests that Oroxylum indicum, while well-tolerated, may primarily enhance specific memory functions.

Its potential effects could be linked to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and interactions with neurotransmitters like dopamine and GABA.

This is the only human study on the Indian Trumpet Tree, so more research is needed to fully understand its impact on cognitive health. Thesis Energy only contains 100 mg of this, making it potentially underdosed.

L-tyrosine, an amino acid, has been shown to increase dopamine levels in the brain. L-tyrosine supplementation has improved cognitive regulation, particularly in mentally demanding settings [29] .

It is especially helpful in improving cognitive flexibility, which is impacted by dopamine.

While L-Tyrosine’s promise for treating clinical problems and improving physical activity is limited, it is useful in stressful or cognitively taxing situations.

It has the greatest cognitive benefits when neurotransmitter activity is intact, but dopamine and norepinephrine levels are momentarily decreased [30] .

According to research, optimal doses for cognitive improvement begin at a minimum of 2 grams. That is more than six times the dose in Thesis Energy.

Thesis Creativity Blend Ingredients

Thesis Creativity contains 150 mg of Alpha GPC, yet their Clarity Blend contains 500 mg. I’m not sure why there is a large discrepancy, especially when 500 mg is likely a more efficacious dose.

Agmatine Sulfate

Currently, agmatine sulfate has only been tested in rodents. It is a central nervous system (CNS) neurotransmitter/neuromodulator that has been studied for its potential effects on stress-related conditions like depression, anxiety, and cognitive performance.

Research suggests that agmatine can have antidepressant and anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects, possibly related to its influence on the nitric oxide pathway [31] .

It may reduce oxidative stress and corticosterone levels while increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is beneficial for brain health.

Agmatine sulfate has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in animal studies, with oral administration effectively increasing its levels in the brain [32] .

This indicates potential for therapeutic use in neurological disorders, though more research is needed to fully understand its effects and mechanisms.

Thesis Creativity contains 250 mg. In these studies, patients were administered 15-600 mg per kg, which is a much higher dose.

Panax Ginseng

Panax ginseng is available in two varieties: white ginseng and red ginseng. It has vasorelaxant and moderately hypotensive effects on nitric oxide generation in the body [33] .

It increases antioxidant enzyme activity and may prevent oxidative damage associated with aging in rats [34] .

Ginseng has shown promise in boosting memory, particularly in age-related cognitive decline, as well as in improving mental and physical resilience, reducing fatigue, and assisting the body in adapting to stress [35] .

Daily doses of 200 mg extract or 0.5 to 2 g dry root are recommended. It is not suggested for persons with acute asthma or hypertension because it may cause overstimulation and elevate blood pressure in excessive dosages.

Thesis Creativity has an effective dose of 200 mg, which may provide you with these mental performance benefits.

Ashwagandha Root

Ashwagandha is a traditional herbal remedy used to improve various health conditions. Animal studies have shown that it can increase blood cell counts, which might enhance aerobic capacity [36] .

It also demonstrates the potential to reduce oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which could be beneficial in treating disorders like tardive dyskinesia [37] .

Additionally, Ashwagandha has shown nootropic effects and might be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease [38] . Recommended dosages range from 6 to 10 grams of ground roots or 100 to 1250 mg of extract daily [39] [40] .

It’s generally safe but should be used cautiously, especially in cases of hyperthyroidism or pregnancy. High doses can have sedative effects and may cause gastrointestinal issues.

Thesis Creativity contains 300 mg of Ashwagandha, which is within the recommended range for cognitive benefits.

Sceletium Tortuosum

Sceletium tortuosum, also known as Kanna, is traditionally used for its mood-enhancing properties. It’s been studied for its potential in treating cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s [41] .

Research suggests its constituents could target enzymes and receptors relevant to these diseases, offering neuroprotective benefits like antioxidant activity [42] .

Additionally, Sceletium Tortuosum is known for its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, promoting relaxation and well-being, which could be beneficial in managing stress, anxiety, and depression [43] .

The plant’s bioactive alkaloids are also being explored for commercial medicinal use.

The 25 mg dose in Thesis Creativity is the same as used within the human trials.

Thesis Motivation Blend Ingredients

L-phenylalanine.

L-phenylalanine is a vital amino acid and has been explored for its potential benefits in managing conditions like attention deficit disorder and depression.

In studies, doses of up to 1200 mg showed initial improvements in mood and attention in individuals with attention deficit disorder, but tolerance developed over 2-4 months [44] .

In another study involving depressed patients, a dosage range of 75–200 mg/day for 20 days led to significant improvements in 12 out of 20 patients [45] .

However, the effectiveness and safety of L-phenylalanine can vary, and it is used in the treatment of various conditions, including depression and arthritis, and even as part of addiction recovery [46] .

Thesis Motivation has a 500 mg dose, which may provide some of these benefits. Will it improve motivation? I’m not sure.

Methylliberine

Methylliberine is a purine alkaloid explored for its cognitive and mood-enhancing effects. Studies have shown it can improve concentration, motivation, and mood, especially when combined with caffeine.

Methylliberine also appears to positively affect energy levels and well-being without significantly impacting vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure [47] .

These findings suggest its potential as a nootropic supplement, particularly for enhancing cognitive function and mood in various contexts, such as gaming or in tactical scenarios [48] [49] .

However, it’s essential to consider the dosage and combination with other compounds like caffeine for optimal effects.

The 100 mg dose in Thesis Motivation aligns with the current research.

Vitamin B12 (Speculative)

Vitamin B12 is essential for cognitive health and may be linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Low levels of B12 are associated with cognitive impairment, but supplementation is only shown to be effective in improving cognition in cases of existing B12 deficiency [50] .

There is limited evidence that increasing B12 levels benefits people without B12 deficiency [51] .

B12’s impact on cognitive health may involve multiple mechanisms, including brain volume and function [52] . However, more extensive research is needed to fully understand its effects and potential as a cognitive enhancer.

Thesis Motivation contains 1000mcg. The research states that it may have no effect if you’re not Vitamin B12 deficient.

Forskolin (Speculative)

Forskolin has only been studied in rodents regarding cognitive function. Forskolin is an herbal extract that shows the potential to improve memory and reduce Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.

In studies, it restored nest-building and social behaviors in mice with Alzheimer-like symptoms, reduced amyloid plaque deposition, and regulated brain inflammation [53] .

Forskolin also influences memory and tau protein phosphorylation in the brain, which is relevant in Alzheimer’s [54] .

Additionally, forskolin has shown protective effects against Huntington’s disease-like neurodegeneration in rats by improving learning and memory and reducing oxidative stress [55] .

These findings indicate forskolin’s potential as a neuroprotective agent for certain neurological conditions, at least in rodents.

I’m skeptical whether 250 mg of Forskolin in Thesis Motivation will help you “feel” more motivated.

Artichoke (Speculative)

Artichoke extract is known for its prebiotic properties and promotes probiotic bacteria growth in the gut, potentially benefiting cognitive functions in mice [56] .

In elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment, combining artichoke extract and aerobic training improved cognitive status and reduced blood glucose and insulin resistance [57] .

Artichoke varieties Spinoso Sardo and Romanesco Siciliano demonstrated antioxidant properties and potential protective effects against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, with Romanesco Siciliano showing higher antioxidant power [58] .

The 450 mg dose is well under the dose used in these studies.

Thesis Confidence Blend Ingredients

Saffron (speculative).

Saffron is traditionally used in herbal medicine and shows promise in improving cognitive function in individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) [59] .

Research indicates that saffron’s effectiveness is comparable to common drugs used for these conditions without increasing side effects. It’s also well-tolerated in cognitively normal individuals [60] .

However, most current studies have a high risk of bias. More comprehensive, low-bias clinical trials are needed to confirm saffron’s potential as a treatment for cognitive impairments like AD and MCI.

All of the research used 30 mg of saffron daily. Thesis Confidence has 28 mg, and I’m unsure why they formulated it without the extra 2 mg.

Magnesium Bisglycinate

Magnesium is essential for brain functions and has been researched for its potential cognitive benefits. Magnesium is particularly effective in increasing brain magnesium levels and has shown promise in improving memory and cognition in healthy adults [61] .

However, its role in anxiety and mood disorders is less clear [62] .

Studies indicate magnesium may help reduce symptoms of depression, but results are not consistent across all mental health conditions [63] .

Further research is needed to conclusively establish magnesium’s effectiveness and appropriate use as a therapeutic supplement in various psychiatric and cognitive disorders [64] .

500 mg of magnesium may help if you’re deficient, but there’s no clear benefit to making you more confident.

Sage (Speculative)

Sage is known as Salvia and has been traditionally known to enhance memory. A recent study supports this, showing that acute ingestion of sage oil can significantly improve immediate word recall in healthy young adults [65] .

This suggests that sage may positively influence cognitive functions like memory, potentially due to its acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity in the brain.

However, this has not been replicated.

While historically used for various mental disorders, such as depression and age-related memory loss, contemporary research is needed to fully understand its benefits and potential as a cognitive enhancer.

Regardless of the 333 mg dose, this is one of the more speculative ingredients in all Thesis blends.

Sceletium Tortuosum (Speculative)

As mentioned in the Creativity Blend, Sceletium Tortuosum is known for its mood-enhancing properties. It is the same dose of 25 mg, which is used in human trials.

Magnolia Bark (Speculative)

Magnolia officinalis is commonly used in traditional medicine for mental disorders like anxiety and depression and shows potential as a nootropic supplement.

Studies have demonstrated that its ethanol extract can improve cognitive function and memory in stress-induced situations. It also exhibits anxiolytic properties, reducing anxiety-related behaviors in rats [66] .

The extract’s effectiveness is also evident in lowering stress-induced increases in corticosterone and tyrosine hydroxylase levels.

Moreover, Magnolia officinalis, especially its component honokiol, has neuroprotective effects and can regulate mood disorders by modulating GABA and CB1 receptors in rats [67] .

These are rodent studies, so it’s impossible to extrapolate to humans. Regardless, it’s included based on the mechanistic data with the theory of doing the same thing in humans with the 10 mg dose.

Ashwagandha Leaf & Root

The 120 mg of root and leaf ashwagandha may be enough to have a nootropic effect as the extract dose is between 100-1200 mg, as stated in the Creativity Blend section. However, this is root and leaf, and the main benefits are derived from the root.

Thesis Logic Blend Ingredients

Ginko biloba.

Ginkgo biloba is extracted from the leaves and fruit to improve cognitive function. Its compounds include antioxidants, enhance blood flow, and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Ginkgo biloba extract has been shown in animal studies to help with chronic brain difficulties by modifying inflammatory mediators and the cholinergic system [68] .

It has been shown in clinical trials to improve working memory and processing speed [69] . However, its usefulness in healthy people under the age of 60 is debatable [70] .

Typical daily doses vary from 120 to 300 mg. Although side effects are uncommon, they can include stomach irritation and headaches, which may cause blood to thin, affecting people on certain drugs.

Thesis Logic contains 160 mg of Ginkgo Biloba, which is within the recommended dosage range.

Theobromine

Theobromine is a compound found in chocolate and has been studied for its potential cognitive effects.

Research indicates that theobromine might have a lesser immediate nootropic effect compared to caffeine but could have neuroprotective benefits with long-term consumption, possibly reducing Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology [71] .

Further studies are needed to fully understand its impact on cognition.

Additionally, theobromine’s effects on mood and vigilance appear to be different from caffeine, with some studies suggesting it might not significantly influence these aspects in nutritionally relevant doses [72] .

However, combining theobromine with caffeine could modify its effects, potentially offering cognitive and mood benefits without significant blood pressure increases [73] .

More research is required to confirm theobromine’s cognitive and mood-related effects.

Thesis Logic contains 100 mg of theobromine, but it seems doses greater than 400 mg are needed to enhance cognition.

Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine is essential for proper brain function. Phosphatidylserine has been proven to be critical for maintaining nerve cell membranes and myelin, which is required for successful neurotransmission [74] .

Phosphatidylserine can help reverse cognitive loss as the brain ages by boosting cognitive activities such as memory formation, learning, concentration, and problem-solving [75] .

It is well absorbed in humans and crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Supplements containing phosphatidylserine have been shown to increase cognitive functions and are generally well-tolerated, with dosages ranging from 100 to 800 mg per day advised for cognitive support [76] [77] .

Thesis Logic contains 400 mg of phosphatidylserine, which may provide you with these cognitive-enhancing effects.

High DHA Algae

DHA is a vital component of neuronal membranes and plays an important role in brain health and cognitive function.

Adult cognitive abilities are improved by DHA consumption, especially when paired with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) [78] .

This impact is most noticeable in older people who have mild memory problems. Higher DHA and EPA doses (above 1 g per day) have been associated with better episodic memory.

Observational studies also show a link between DHA/EPA intake and memory performance in the elderly. DHA, both alone and in combination with EPA, improves memory in the elderly.

Thesis Logic contains 200 mg of DHA, suggesting insufficient DHA to provide a benefit.

Triacetyluridine (Speculative)

Triacetyluridine is being explored as a potential treatment for bipolar depression. In a study involving eleven patients with bipolar depression, high doses of triacetyluridine (up to 18 g per day) were administered over 6 weeks [79] .

The study measured the effects on depression symptoms using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and evaluated cellular bioenergetics using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (P-MRSI).

Results indicated significant early improvement in depression symptoms.

Additionally, triacetyluridine responders showed notable differences in pH changes from baseline, suggesting triacetyluridine may improve mitochondrial function and reduce symptoms of depression.

Thesis Logic has 30 mg of triacetyluridine, which is well below the dose used in this study.

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa monnieri is a traditional plant that has been shown to improve cognitive performance, particularly memory.

Bacopa extract, namely bacosides A and B, has been demonstrated in studies to increase memory formation, recall, and cognitive function [80] .

It has neuroprotective properties and is used to treat cognitive dysfunctions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Adults should take between 200 and 400 mg each day. Bacopa is generally well accepted, with only rare reports of mild drowsiness or stomach difficulties.

Clinical trials show that older people have better memory, attention, mood, and overall cognitive ability [81] [82] [83] . More research is needed, however, to thoroughly grasp its usefulness across many cognitive domains.

Thesis Logic contains 320 mg of Bacopa, giving you the efficacious dose to feel these benefits.

Thesis Nootropics Price

Thesis has two options: one time purchase or a subscription. Here’s how the prices break down:

Subscription = $79
One Time Purchase = $119

This is regardless of whether you purchase a personalized starter kit or build your own box.

You can’t buy them individually either. You must purchase 4 boxes. When building your own, you can choose if you want 4 of the same blend or mix and match.

They want you to try each blend for a week as part of the starter kit (there’s only a week’s worth of each blend in each container) to see which you like best.

Thesis has positioned itself as the most expensive nootropic available by adding the personalized element.

Is Thesis Nootropics Really Personalized?

I went through the initial quiz to see how they “personalize” their nootropic stack.

Here is what they recommended me:

Look, I get the marketing angle. In no way is this a truly personalized nootropic product. It’d be nearly impossible to create custom formulations for every unique individual.

However, the fact they have multiple blends means people can experiment to find which works best for them.

I will say, though, if you choose the caffeine options, every blend will work. Many of the ingredients used in these blends are speculative and only based on animal research, with many being underdosed.

Benefits Of Thesis Nootropics

Multiple blends for different purposes.

To be honest, this benefit is more of a marketing tactic. However, some people may find certain blends jive well with them over others, giving you options within the same brand.

Further, Thesis claims the ingredients in each formulation work synergistically. There’s no research to back that claim, but at least know there are no negative side effects from their interaction.

Options For Stimulants Or Not

You can choose whether or not you want stimulants within your Thesis Blends. Every blend will provide similar benefits if you add the caffeine and L-theanine nootropic stack, which is the most potent synergistic brain booster.

However, if you’re already a coffee addict or plan to take Thesis in the evening, having no stimulants is the better option.

My Experience With Thesis

Based on my quiz, I was recommended Thesis Clarity, Logic, Motivation, and Confidence Blends. I tried each for a week to see if one stood out. I took them without caffeine as they all work if you have the caffeine L-theanine stack.

I have to say the Confidence and Motivation Blends did absolutely nothing for me. I didn’t “feel” any brain-boosting effects or feel more confident or motivated.

I felt the Logic and Clarity Blends had small positive effects when concentrating on mentally demanding tasks like writing, coaching, or podcasting.

If I were to continue taking Thesis, I’d opt for either of these two blends.

Who Is Thesis For?

Busy working professionals.

Thesis Nootropics are ideal for busy professionals facing demanding schedules and high-stress environments. These blends can help enhance focus, improve decision-making, and increase productivity.

They are designed to support sustained mental energy throughout the day, enabling professionals to manage their workload more effectively without the usual mental fatigue.

Creative Artists

For creative artists, Thesis offers blends that stimulate creativity and enhance divergent thinking. These nootropics can aid in breaking through creative blocks, fostering innovative thinking, and maintaining a heightened state of inspiration.

They are particularly beneficial for artists seeking longer periods of creative flow and those seeking fresh perspectives.

Students can significantly benefit from Thesis Nootropics, especially during intense studying or when facing challenging academic projects.

The blends are formulated to enhance memory retention, improve concentration, and boost learning capabilities. This makes them a valuable tool for students who need to absorb and retain large amounts of information and perform well in academic assessments.

Gamers find Thesis Nootropics beneficial for improving their gaming performance. The blends can enhance reaction times, increase focus, and improve strategic thinking skills.

They are particularly useful during long gaming sessions, helping gamers stay alert and responsive, which is crucial in competitive gaming scenarios.

Coffee Haters

Thesis Nootropics provides an excellent alternative for those who dislike coffee or want to avoid caffeine jitters.

These blends offer a way to boost mental energy and alertness without relying on caffeine. This makes them ideal for individuals sensitive to caffeine or those seeking to reduce caffeine intake while maintaining high cognitive function.

User Testimonials And Reviews

You can’t access the review database on the Thesis website, so I did some digging to find user reviews. Here’s a couple of positive reviews:

“I must admit that during the weeks that I consistently take them, I perform better & I generally feel better just knowing I’ve ingested something intended to positively alter my natural brain state. Minor tasks/chores no longer seem as daunting and I get this underlying kick to complete my work well.” – ParsnipExtreme2502 (Reddit)

“I didn’t find Weeks 1 and 4 to do anything for me, but Weeks 2 and 3 really helped avoid the post-lunch, post-work slumps I tend to get now that I’ve been working from home; Energy is especially useful for days when I haven’t gotten enough sleep the night before.” – leftylucy88 (Reddit)

I can’t find many negative reviews other than potential side effects like migraines, which can be caused by many different factors.

Thesis Side Effects

Side effects are rare from the ingredients in these blends. I personally didn’t have any adverse reactions to the four blends I tried. However, like any supplement, they may have potential side effects.

Consult with a healthcare provider before starting any nootropic regimen, especially if they have pre-existing health conditions, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking other medications.

Thesis Alternatives

If Thesis Nootropics isn’t quite the right match for you or you’re just curious about other products, here are some alternatives I’ve tried and can provide an insider’s look into.

SAP Nutra nootropic Nooceptin improves memory, concentration, and cognitive performance without stimulants. It offers gradual brain health gains.

It improves memory and focus and provides a prolonged boost without a caffeine crash. Students, gamers, professionals, and seniors should use Nooceptin to boost cognition.

This brain supplement contains Lion’s Mane Extract, Citicoline, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, L-Theanine, Bacopa Monnieri, Ginkgo Biloba, and Panax Ginseng.

Some of these compounds have been shown to be useful, but others are experimental. Nooceptin, a non-stimulant method for long-term cognitive enhancement, usually works after 7-14 days.

Despite the risk of underdosed components and increased cost, Nooceptin may provide a stimulant-free cognitive boost.

Mind Lab Pro

Mind Lab Pro is a popular nootropic that has gained appeal as a result of its alleged cognitive benefits.

Pure substances are used in its formulation, which is intended to improve mental clarity and attention. It is stimulant-free, making it an excellent choice for anyone seeking a well-rounded routine.

Its unique combination of 11 research-backed components distinguishes it from competitors in the brain health supplement sector.

These compounds were carefully chosen to help cognitive processes like memory, focus, mental clarity, mood, and cognitive processing speed.

Despite some criticism about the quantity of specific substances and the need for more scientific data, Mind Lab Pro has earned worldwide recognition for its ability to improve cognitive performance in professionals, students, the elderly, and athletes.

Our Mind Lab Pro review goes into great detail.

Braini distinguishes itself by being stimulant-free, providing long-term results, and having a short ingredient list focusing on long-term cognitive gains. It does not, however, deliver the immediate euphoric boost that some users may expect from a brain supplement.

Peptylin, a silk protein peptide with neuroprotective effects and potential benefits for executive function; NeurXcel, which is rich in omega fatty acids; and Wild Canadian Blueberry extract, which is known for its antioxidant characteristics and cognitive support, are all key ingredients in Braini.

Braini is backed by clinical trials, a 60-day money-back guarantee, and a 30-day challenge to scientifically quantify changes in brain function.

Our Braini review contains an in-depth breakdown.

Vyvamind is a nootropic supplement containing caffeine and L-theanine to help focus and improve cognitive performance. Users claim increased focus, vitality, and cognitive abilities without big crashes.

Vyvamind’s formulation, which contains less L-tyrosine and citicoline than some studies suggest, is intended to supplement the major nootropic duo of caffeine and L-theanine.

This combination is well-known for boosting concentration and cognitive function. The supplement is touted as a non-stimulant alternative, appealing to clients seeking a more natural and less intensive approach to cognitive growth.

Vyvamind is suitable for coffee-averse people, busy professionals who require a focus boost, and students during study sessions.

Our Vyvamind review goes into great detail.

Because of its purported fast cognitive effects, NooCube is a popular brain-boosting product. NooCube contains ingredients such as Bacopa Monnieri, L-Tyrosine, and L-Theanine.

These are well-known for their mental health advantages. Several compounds, such as Huperzine-A and Alpha GPC, remain speculative without additional investigation.

NooCube is intended to improve cognition and alertness without using stimulants, and the amounts of each ingredient are clearly labeled.

Because it gives different cognitive benefits without the jittery side effects associated with caffeine, NooCube is especially good for working professionals, students, elders, gamers, and combat athletes.

Our detailed analysis can be found in our NooCube review .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is thesis nootropic and what does it do.

Thesis Nootropic is a personalized supplement formulated to enhance cognitive functions. Users can expect improvements in focus, reduction in procrastination, stress management, and memory recall, depending on which blend you choose.

Does Thesis Work Like Adderall?

Thesis Nootropics and Adderall are used to enhance cognitive functions, but they are fundamentally different. Adderall is primarily prescribed for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

Adderall is an amphetamine, classified as a controlled substance due to its strong stimulating effects and potential for abuse and dependency.

Thesis Nootropics are dietary supplements designed to enhance healthy individuals’ cognitive functions, such as memory, focus, and mental clarity. They are not intended to treat medical conditions like ADHD.

How Long Does It Take Thesis Nootropics To Work?

If you have the caffeine version, within 30 minutes. You may feel the non-stimulant blends kicking in just as quickly, but they won’t be as pronounced. Sometimes, they can take multiple weeks to feel them working.

I’ve taken a deep dive into the world of nootropics and shared my firsthand experience with Thesis Nootropic’s various blends. While the personalization is nothing more than a marketing tactic, the different blends are a nice touch for those who want to experiment with different ingredients.

Haskell, C. F., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2008). The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological psychology, 77(2), 113-122.
Owen, G. N., Parnell, H., De Bruin, E. A., & Rycroft, J. A. (2008). The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutritional neuroscience, 11(4), 193-198.
Traini, E., Bramanti, V., & Amenta, F. (2013). Choline alphoscerate (alpha-glyceryl-phosphoryl-choline) an old choline-containing phospholipid with a still interesting profile as cognition enhancing agent. Current Alzheimer Research, 10(10), 1070-1079.
Sagaro, G. G., Traini, E., & Amenta, F. (2023). Activity of Choline Alphoscerate on Adult-Onset Cognitive Dysfunctions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, (Preprint), 1-12.
Kansakar, U., Trimarco, V., Mone, P., Varzideh, F., Lombardi, A., & Santulli, G. (2023). Choline supplements: An update. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, 1148166.
Moreno, M. D. J. M. (2003). Cognitive improvement in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s dementia after treatment with the acetylcholine precursor choline alfoscerate: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Clinical therapeutics, 25(1), 178-193.
Lai, P. L., Naidu, M., Sabaratnam, V., Wong, K. H., David, R. P., Kuppusamy, U. R., … & Malek, S. N. A. (2013). Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 15(6).
La Monica, M. B., Raub, B., Ziegenfuss, E. J., Hartshorn, S., Grdic, J., Gustat, A., … & Ziegenfuss, T. N. (2023). Acute Effects of Naturally Occurring Guayusa Tea and Nordic Lion’s Mane Extracts on Cognitive Performance. Nutrients, 15(24), 5018.
Chong, P. S., Fung, M. L., Wong, K. H., & Lim, L. W. (2020). Therapeutic potential of Hericium erinaceus for depressive disorder. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(1), 163.
Docherty, S., Doughty, F. L., & Smith, E. F. (2023). The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study. Nutrients, 15(22), 4842.
Phan, C. W., Lee, G. S., Hong, S. L., Wong, Y. T., Brklja?a, R., Urban, S., … & Sabaratnam, V. (2014). Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr) Pers. cultivated under tropical conditions: isolation of hericenones and demonstration of NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells via MEK/ERK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Food & Function, 5(12), 3160-3169.
Rubab, S., Rizwani, G. H., Bahadur, S., Shah, M., Alsamadany, H., Alzahrani, Y., … & Zaman, W. (2020). Neuropharmacological potential of various morphological parts of Camellia sinensis L. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 27(1), 567-573.
Bollen, E., Vanmierlo, T., Akkerman, S., Wouters, C., Steinbusch, H. M. W., & Prickaerts, J. (2013). 7, 8-Dihydroxyflavone improves memory consolidation processes in rats and mice. Behavioural brain research, 257, 8-12.
Zeng, Y., Lv, F., Li, L., Yu, H., Dong, M., & Fu, Q. (2012). 7, 8?dihydroxyflavone rescues spatial memory and synaptic plasticity in cognitively impaired aged rats. Journal of neurochemistry, 122(4), 800-811.
Han, M., Zhang, J. C., Huang, X. F., & Hashimoto, K. (2017). Intake of 7, 8-dihydroxyflavone from pregnancy to weaning prevents cognitive deficits in adult offspring after maternal immune activation. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 267, 479-483.
Nakazaki, E., Mah, E., Sanoshy, K., Citrolo, D., & Watanabe, F. (2021). Citicoline and memory function in healthy older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The Journal of Nutrition, 151(8), 2153-2160.
Jasielski, P., Pi?del, F., Piwek, M., Rocka, A., Petit, V., & Rejdak, K. (2020). Application of citicoline in neurological disorders: a systematic review. Nutrients, 12(10), 3113.
Infante?Garcia, C., Jose Ramos?Rodriguez, J., Marin?Zambrana, Y., Teresa Fernandez?Ponce, M., Casas, L., Mantell, C., & Garcia?Alloza, M. (2017). Mango leaf extract improves central pathology and cognitive impairment in a type 2 diabetes mouse model. Brain Pathology, 27(4), 499-507.
Garcia-Partida, J. A., Torres-Sanchez, S., MacDowell, K., Fernández-Ponce, M. T., Casas, L., Mantell, C., … & Berrocoso, E. (2022). The effects of mango leaf extract during adolescence and adulthood in a rat model of schizophrenia. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 886514.
Wightman, E. L., Jackson, P. A., Forster, J., Khan, J., Wiebe, J. C., Gericke, N., & Kennedy, D. O. (2020). Acute effects of a polyphenol-rich leaf extract of mangifera indica l.(zynamite) on cognitive function in healthy adults: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Nutrients, 12(8), 2194.
Kuhman, D. J., Joyner, K. J., & Bloomer, R. J. (2015). Cognitive performance and mood following ingestion of a theacrine-containing dietary supplement, caffeine, or placebo by young men and women. Nutrients, 7(11), 9618-9632.
Dillon, H., & Steven, M. (2021). Theacrine as a Potential Caffeine Alternative for Enhanced Ergogenic and Cognitive Performance in Athletes: A Call to Action and Brief Review. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 4(3).
Bello, M. L., Walker, A. J., McFadden, B. A., Sanders, D. J., & Arent, S. M. (2019). The effects of TeaCrine® and caffeine on endurance and cognitive performance during a simulated match in high-level soccer players. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 16(1), 1-10.
Rapado-Castro, M., Dodd, S., Bush, A. I., Malhi, G. S., Skvarc, D. R., On, Z. X., … & Dean, O. M. (2017). Cognitive effects of adjunctive N-acetyl cysteine in psychosis. Psychological medicine, 47(5), 866-876.
Dean, O. M., Bush, A. I., Copolov, D. L., Kohlmann, K., Jeavons, S., Schapkaitz, I., … & Berk, M. (2012). Effects of N?acetyl cysteine on cognitive function in bipolar disorder. Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 66(6), 514-517.
Skvarc, D. R., Dean, O. M., Byrne, L. K., Gray, L., Lane, S., Lewis, M., … & Marriott, A. (2017). The effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on human cognition–A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 78, 44-56.
Lopresti, A. L., Smith, S. J., Majeed, M., & Drummond, P. D. (2021). Effects of an Oroxylum indicum Extract (Sabroxy®) on cognitive function in adults with self-reported mild cognitive impairment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 13, 728360.
Steenbergen, L., Sellaro, R., Hommel, B., & Colzato, L. S. (2015). Tyrosine promotes cognitive flexibility: evidence from proactive vs. reactive control during task switching performance. Neuropsychologia, 69, 50-55.
Jongkees, B. J., Hommel, B., Kühn, S., & Colzato, L. S. (2015). Effect of tyrosine supplementation on clinical and healthy populations under stress or cognitive demands—A review. Journal of psychiatric research, 70, 50-57.
Gawali, N. B., Bulani, V. D., Gursahani, M. S., Deshpande, P. S., Kothavade, P. S., & Juvekar, A. R. (2017). Agmatine attenuates chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced anxiety, depression-like behaviours and cognitive impairment by modulating nitrergic signalling pathway. Brain research, 1663, 66-77.
Bergin, D. H., Jing, Y., Williams, G., Mockett, B. G., Zhang, H., Abraham, W. C., & Liu, P. (2019). Safety and neurochemical profiles of acute and sub-chronic oral treatment with agmatine sulfate. Scientific reports, 9(1), 12669.
Yu, J., Eto, M., Akishita, M., Kaneko, A., Ouchi, Y., & Okabe, T. (2007). Signaling pathway of nitric oxide production induced by ginsenoside Rb1 in human aortic endothelial cells: a possible involvement of androgen receptor. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 353(3), 764-769.
Fu, Y., & Ji, L. L. (2003). Chronic ginseng consumption attenuates age-associated oxidative stress in rats. The Journal of nutrition, 133(11), 3603-3609.
Nocerino, E., Amato, M., & Izzo, A. A. (2000). The aphrodisiac and adaptogenic properties of ginseng. Fitoterapia, 71, S1-S5.
Ziauddin, M., Phansalkar, N., Patki, P., Diwanay, S., & Patwardhan, B. (1996). Studies on the immunomodulatory effects of Ashwagandha. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 50(2), 69-76.
Naidu, P. S., Singh, A., & Kulkarni, S. K. (2006). Effect of Withania somnifera root extract on reserpine?induced orofacial dyskinesia and cognitive dysfunction. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives, 20(2), 140-146.
Bhattacharya, S. K., Kumar, A., & Ghosal, S. (1995). Effects of glycowithanolides from Withania somnifera on an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease and perturbed central cholinergic markers of cognition in rats. Phytotherapy research, 9(2), 110-113.
Raut, A. A., Rege, N. N., Tadvi, F. M., Solanki, P. V., Kene, K. R., Shirolkar, S. G., … & Vaidya, A. B. (2012). Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine, 3(3), 111.
Bonilla, D. A., Moreno, Y., Gho, C., Petro, J. L., Odriozola-Martínez, A., & Kreider, R. B. (2021). Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on physical performance: Systematic review and bayesian meta-analysis. Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology, 6(1), 20.
Chiu, S., Gericke, N., Farina-Woodbury, M., Badmaev, V., Raheb, H., Terpstra, K., … & Goble, L. (2014). Proof-of-concept randomized controlled study of cognition effects of the proprietary extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) targeting phosphodiesterase-4 in cognitively healthy subjects: implications for Alzheimer’s dementia. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2014.
Luo, Y., Shan, L., Xu, L., Patnala, S., Kanfer, I., Li, J., … & Jun, X. (2022). A network pharmacology-based approach to explore the therapeutic potential of Sceletium tortuosum in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Plos one, 17(8), e0273583.
Manganyi, M. C., Bezuidenhout, C. C., Regnier, T., & Ateba, C. N. (2021). A chewable cure “kanna”: biological and pharmaceutical properties of Sceletium tortuosum. Molecules, 26(9), 2557.
Wood, D. R., Reimherr, F. W., & Wender, P. H. (1985). Treatment of attention deficit disorder with DL-phenylalanine. Psychiatry Research, 16(1), 21-26.
Beckmann, H., Strauss, M. A., & Ludolph, E. (1977). Dl-phenylalanine in depressed patients: an open study. Journal of Neural Transmission, 41(2-3), 123-134.
Akram, M., Daniyal, M., Ali, A., Zainab, R., Shah, S. M. A., Munir, N., & Tahir, I. M. (2020). Role of phenylalanine and its metabolites in health and neurological disorders. In Synucleins-Biochemistry and Role in Diseases. IntechOpen.
La Monica, M. B., Raub, B., Malone, K., Hartshorn, S., Grdic, J., Gustat, A., & Sandrock, J. (2023). Methylliberine Ingestion Improves Various Indices of Affect but Not Cognitive Function in Healthy Men and Women. Nutrients, 15(21), 4509.
La Monica, M. B., Listman, J. B., Donovan, I., Johnson, T. E., Heeger, D. J., & Mackey, W. E. (2021). Effects of TeaCrine®(theacrine), Dynamine™(methylliberine), and caffeine on gamer psychomotor performance in a first-person shooter video game scenario. BioRxiv, 2021-04.
Cintineo, H. P., Bello, M. L., Chandler, A. J., Cardaci, T. D., McFadden, B. A., & Arent, S. M. (2022). Effects of caffeine, methylliberine, and theacrine on vigilance, marksmanship, and hemodynamic responses in tactical personnel: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 19(1), 543-564.
Moore, E., Mander, A., Ames, D., Carne, R., Sanders, K., & Watters, D. (2012). Cognitive impairment and vitamin B12: a review. International psychogeriatrics, 24(4), 541-556.
Malouf, R., Areosa Sastre, A., & Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group. (1996). Vitamin B12 for cognition. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2010(1).
Tangney, C. C., Aggarwal, N. T., Li, H., Wilson, R. S., Decarli, C., Evans, D. A., & Morris, M. C. (2011). Vitamin B12, cognition, and brain MRI measures: a cross-sectional examination. Neurology, 77(13), 1276-1282.
Owona, B. A., Zug, C., Schluesener, H. J., & Zhang, Z. Y. (2016). Protective effects of forskolin on behavioral deficits and neuropathological changes in a mouse model of cerebral amyloidosis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 75(7), 618-627.
Tian, Q., Zhang, J. X., Zhang, Y., Wu, F., Tang, Q., Wang, C., … & Wang, J. Z. (2009). Biphasic effects of forskolin on tau phosphorylation and spatial memory in rats. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 17(3), 631-642.
Mehan, S., Parveen, S., & Kalra, S. (2017). Adenyl cyclase activator forskolin protects against Huntington’s disease-like neurodegenerative disorders. Neural regeneration research, 12(2), 290.
Szewczyk, A., Andres-Mach, M., Zagaja, M., Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba, A., Maj, M., & Szala-Rycaj, J. (2023). The Effect of a Diet Enriched with Jerusalem artichoke, Inulin, and Fluoxetine on Cognitive Functions, Neurogenesis, and the Composition of the Intestinal Microbiota in Mice. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 45(3), 2561-2579.
Ghahramani, M., Zare, Y., & Kohanpour, M. A. (2021). The Effect of Consuming Artichoke Extract with Aerobic Training on Blood Glucose and Insulin Resistance and Its Relationship with the Cognitive Status in Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Journal of Sport Biosciences, 13(4), 439-450.
Iglesias-Carres, L., Bruno, A., D’Antuono, I., Linsalata, V., Cardinali, A., & Neilson, A. P. (2023). In vitro evidences of the globe artichoke antioxidant, cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects. Journal of Functional Foods, 107, 105674.
Avgerinos, K. I., Vrysis, C., Chaitidis, N., Kolotsiou, K., Myserlis, P. G., & Kapogiannis, D. (2020). Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on cognitive function. A systematic review of RCTs. Neurological Sciences, 41, 2747-2754.
Ayati, Z., Yang, G., Ayati, M. H., Emami, S. A., & Chang, D. (2020). Saffron for mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20, 1-10.
Zhang, C., Hu, Q., Li, S., Dai, F., Qian, W., Hewlings, S., … & Wang, Y. (2022). A Magtein®, Magnesium L-Threonate,-Based Formula Improves Brain Cognitive Functions in Healthy Chinese Adults. Nutrients, 14(24), 5235.
Boyle, N. B., Lawton, C., & Dye, L. (2017). The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress—a systematic review. Nutrients, 9(5), 429.
Botturi, A., Ciappolino, V., Delvecchio, G., Boscutti, A., Viscardi, B., & Brambilla, P. (2020). The role and the effect of magnesium in mental disorders: a systematic review. Nutrients, 12(6), 1661.
Phelan, D., Molero, P., Martinez-Gonzalez, M. A., & Molendijk, M. (2018). Magnesium and mood disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis. BJPsych open, 4(4), 167-179.
Tildesley, N. T., Kennedy, D. O., Perry, E. K., Ballard, C. G., Savelev, S. A. W. K., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2003). Salvia lavandulaefolia (Spanish sage) enhances memory in healthy young volunteers. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 75(3), 669-674.
Lee, H. K., & Lee, U. J. (2015). Effects of Ethanol Extract from Magnolia Officinalis on Anxiety and Cognitive Function. The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine, 36(4), 507-517.
Borgonetti, V., Governa, P., Manetti, F., Miraldi, E., Biagi, M., & Galeotti, N. (2021). A honokiol-enriched Magnolia officinalis Rehder & EH Wilson. bark extract possesses anxiolytic-like activity with neuroprotective effect through the modulation of CB1 receptor. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 73(9), 1161-1168.
Kim, M. S., Bang, J. H., Lee, J., Han, J. S., Baik, T. G., & Jeon, W. K. (2016). Ginkgo biloba L. extract protects against chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by modulating neuroinflammation and the cholinergic system. Phytomedicine, 23(12), 1356-1364.
Stough, C., Clarke, J., Lloyd, J., & Nathan, P. J. (2001). Neuropsychological changes after 30-day Ginkgo biloba administration in healthy participants. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 4(2), 131-134.
Canter, P. H., & Ernst, E. (2007). Ginkgo biloba is not a smart drug: an updated systematic review of randomised clinical trials testing the nootropic effects of G. biloba extracts in healthy people. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 22(5), 265-278.
Cova, I., Leta, V., Mariani, C., Pantoni, L., & Pomati, S. (2019). Exploring cocoa properties: is theobromine a cognitive modulator?. Psychopharmacology, 236, 561-572.
Judelson, D. A., Preston, A. G., Miller, D. L., Muñoz, C. X., Kellogg, M. D., & Lieberman, H. R. (2013). Effects of theobromine and caffeine on mood and vigilance. Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 33(4), 499-506.
Mitchell, E. S., Slettenaar, M., Vd Meer, N., Transler, C., Jans, L., Quadt, F., & Berry, M. (2011). Differential contributions of theobromine and caffeine on mood, psychomotor performance and blood pressure. Physiology & behavior, 104(5), 816-822.
Glade, M. J., & Smith, K. (2015). Phosphatidylserine and the human brain. Nutrition, 31(6), 781-786.
Cenacchi, T., Bertoldin, T., Farina, C., Fiori, M. G., Crepaldi, G., Azzini, C. F., … & Allegro, L. (1993). Cognitive decline in the elderly: a double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study on efficacy of phosphatidylserine administration. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 5, 123-133.
Kang, E. Y., Cui, F., Kim, H. K., Nawaz, H., Kang, S., Kim, H., … & Go, G. W. (2022). Effect of phosphatidylserine on cognitive function in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ????????, 54(1), 52-58.
Ma, X., Li, X., Wang, W., Zhang, M., Yang, B., & Miao, Z. (2022). Phosphatidylserine, inflammation, and central nervous system diseases. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 14, 975176.
Yurko-Mauro, K., Alexander, D. D., & Van Elswyk, M. E. (2015). Docosahexaenoic acid and adult memory: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one, 10(3), e0120391.
Jensen, J. E., Daniels, M., Haws, C., Bolo, N. R., Lyoo, I. K., Yoon, S. J., … & Renshaw, P. F. (2008). Triacetyluridine (TAU) decreases depressive symptoms and increases brain pH in bipolar patients. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 16(3), 199.
Singh, H. K., & Dhawan, B. N. (1997). NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE AYURVEDIC NOOTROPlC BACOPA MONNlERA LINN.(BRAHMI). Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 29(5), 359-365.
Calabrese, C., Gregory, W. L., Leo, M., Kraemer, D., Bone, K., & Oken, B. (2008). Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 14(6), 707-713.
Kongkeaw, C., Dilokthornsakul, P., Thanarangsarit, P., Limpeanchob, N., & Scholfield, C. N. (2014). Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 151(1), 528-535.
Pase, M. P., Kean, J., Sarris, J., Neale, C., Scholey, A. B., & Stough, C. (2012). The cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa monnieri: a systematic review of randomized, controlled human clinical trials. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(7), 647-652.

Affiliate Disclosure:

The links provided may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you if you choose to purchase the recommended product. This support allows our research and editorial team to continue providing high-quality recommendations. As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising initiative, we are able to earn advertising fees through providing links to products on Amazon.com. Please rest assured that we only recommend high-quality products.

No related posts.

Submit Video

Report this.

Error: Contact form not found.

Share this video

r/HubermanLab • u/panther_prey • Mar 25 '24

Anyone read this write up about Huberman? Discussion Spoiler

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/andrew-huberman-podcast-stanford-joe-rogan.html?utm_campaign=nym&utm_medium=s1&utm_source=insta

You are about to leave Redlib

Do you want to continue?

https://www.reddit.com/r/HubermanLab/comments/1bnc08m/anyone_read_this_write_up_about_huberman/

93% Upvoted

679 comments sorted by

That’s my nightmare all my exes have a group chat now and become best friends 🤣🤣🤣🤣

15 u/NoProfessor5985 Mar 25 '24 This is like the grown version of surviving John Tucker 12 u/turbulent_toast_ Mar 25 '24 Welcome to being a lesbian. Except usually some formation of them have also dated, are about to date, or are currently dating, and you are also still in touch with all of them. → More replies (2) 5 u/[deleted] Mar 25 '24 [deleted] 3 u/hgk6393 Mar 27 '24 There is such a movie in India. It is called Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl. Ricky is a charismatic conman who befriends vulnerable but rich women, and then defrauds them of their wealth. The ladies get together to form a plot to punish him. → More replies (4) 66 u/GG11390 Mar 25 '24 Thanks … anyone know where they mentioned reddit and ‘stable full of hoes’ ? 39 u/Das6MTS4 Mar 25 '24 here you go https://www.reddit.com/r/HubermanLab/comments/zgp4cd/comment/jekntzh/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button 34 u/lofiplaysguitar Mar 25 '24 I'm shook both at Hubberman and how thorough Reddit/Twitter detectives are. If you have time, I'd really love to learned what happened to JFK, hopefully I didn't reach my limit of mysteries for the day 26 u/Das6MTS4 Mar 25 '24 I used a basic search engine operator to find this. Go to Google search and enter this. You can use this for most internet sleuthing. site:reddit.com "stable full of hoes" "huberman" This is a way of telling Google to only find results on reddit.com that mention the exact phrase "stable full of hoes" and "huberman". You can add in other dimensions for things like time. 7 u/[deleted] Mar 26 '24 Not relevant but because people don’t seem to know about this stuff you can also search for certain types of files with the filetype: function, really useful for finding textbooks → More replies (1) → More replies (1) → More replies (1) 2 u/Das6MTS4 Mar 25 '24 Should be easy to find on Google, one sec. 227 u/Ok_Ingenuity_3501 Mar 25 '24 I’m looking forward to the episodes on “how to balance multiple lovers in a non-monogamous relationship” and “protocols for STD transmission and treatment” 58 u/hipholi Mar 25 '24 "Following the Poly protocol can extend your lifespan, provided you are able to successfully grift at least 2 million dollars annually from your followers." - Andrew Huberman 48 u/[deleted] Mar 25 '24 His statement that he has never tested positive for HPV made me cackle 26 u/cmattis Mar 25 '24 can't test positive if you never test, modern problems modern solutions 27 u/DarwinZDF42 Mar 25 '24 This was, of all the things, one of if not THE most revealing, because here's a guy who know, KNOWS, that's bs. → More replies (5) 8 u/Right-in-the-garbage Mar 25 '24 That’s professional level gas lighting. (You could have gotten it anywhere! While technically true if your partner is banging lots of girls it’s a much higher chance it came from him) 9 u/MinderBinderCapital Mar 25 '24 Yeah he’s a brilliant scientist 😒 3 u/No-Buffalo873 Mar 27 '24 Obviously, he's not as healthy as he thinks he is. 😂 → More replies (6) 10 u/Horror-Tank-4082 Mar 25 '24 Best comment in here LOL 10 u/jpc27699 Mar 25 '24 "Protocol for bobbing for apples in feces" → More replies (2) 8 u/MinderBinderCapital Mar 25 '24 HPV protocol 3 u/Aqua_azul Mar 27 '24 What I find most shocking and disappointing about Hubs having unprotected sex with multiple women while telling them all he was monogamous with them, is the harmful risk he exposed them to. It’s manipulative in that if they knew he was sleeping around unprotected, they’d be better informed about the risks of sleeping with him. Since his primary partner tested positive for HPV, there is a big likelihood he infected them all with it. Does he not know that HPV if untreated can be very serious, and even deadly? I can’t imagine him not knowing or at least researching the effects of unprotected sex and HPV on women’s health! This is a virus that can cause cervical cancer, with many of the ‘treatments’ available to women involving cutting away part of their cervix which can lead to them not being able to carry a baby to full term due to the weight of the growing baby and amniotic fluid, leading to premature birth. Women need to be literally stitched up to keep their cervix closed during pregnancy which can lead to many complications during birth. Not to mention other STD’s like chlamydia that can make women infertile which also (like HPV) has no symptoms in men. I’m so stunned to realize that he prioritizes his own selfish pleasure above the health and wellbeing of his intimate partners and their ability to have safe and healthy pregnancies in the future. What a narcissistic hypocrite. Definitely not a good role model for young men. Glad the truth is coming out now so these women’s experiences can be shared to wake us up to the unspoken realities of STDs and their effects. → More replies (3) → More replies (5) 377 u/Hmm_would_bang Mar 25 '24 edited Mar 25 '24 Huberman being excessively controlling and judgmental in his personal life is unfortunately not surprising at all to me. The podcast has been very helpful to me but as many have pointed out in the past this desire to exert complete control over minuscule processes and optimize the human experience is not actually that healthy. Optimization is actually pretty much the exact opposite of how you need to treat a healthy relationship with others - accepting that things aren’t going to be perfect and that you cannot control another person. Sometimes making sacrifices to your protocols and routines for the sake of another person. 54 u/Dragonfruit-Still Mar 25 '24 edited Apr 04 '24 cough plant fertile ancient offend nail grandfather squeal chop crush This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact 16 u/Joe_Sons_Celly Mar 25 '24 Wait, you think the people on here attacking the various women in his harem in some misguided attempt to defend him idolize him too much?! → More replies (2) → More replies (3) 62 u/ATD67 Mar 25 '24 Andrew has always come off as an OCD type. The biggest teller in his podcast is his obsession with not being misunderstood. He’s always thinking of ways that listeners will misconstrue what he says and addresses them preemptively. That can be considered a feature, but he does it to the point where it’s annoying sometimes. 36 u/DrSpacecasePhD Mar 25 '24 Imho, that's partly from working in academia for so long, and from working with students. It's also a result of the post-pandemic reality, where statements by doctors early in the pandemic were dissected under metaphorical microscopes. → More replies (2) 9 u/Imaginary_Willow Mar 25 '24 i read that as a byproduct of being too online & caring too much about his twitter replies → More replies (4) 24 u/brooklyncanuck Mar 25 '24 When you also realize he’s single likely due to an ultra uncompromising lifestyle tells you a lot 16 u/gonzoes Mar 25 '24 I think him and lex are low key getting it on 3 u/Final_One_2300 Mar 25 '24 Mr Money vibes → More replies (1) → More replies (2) 17 u/panther_prey Mar 25 '24 Very well said. Thank you. → More replies (4) 23 u/PleasurePaulie Mar 25 '24 edited Mar 25 '24 Well written. Being an extremely brilliant scientist does not make him a great person, nor a great partner. It’s important to not be binary with all this; he can still be both. 36 u/papapema Mar 25 '24 The article reveals what seemed to become so obvious in his podcasts about his science career....HE HAS NO ACTUAL LAB. Pure ego to name something after himself which doesn't exist. 17 u/MinderBinderCapital Mar 25 '24 His entire career seems like he’s monkey branching to the next big thing for clout → More replies (4) 11 u/real_cool_club Mar 25 '24 extremely brilliant

don't just go throwing that around

→ More replies (1) 34 u/element420 Mar 25 '24 Or neither 12 u/bigjonxmas Mar 25 '24 boom 22 u/LamboForWork Mar 25 '24 Is he really a brilliant scientist ? He basically does the same thing Jeff Nippard does for fitness. Looks at scientific papers and regurgitates it in a podcast. He isn't reporting breakthroughs he ia having nor did he ever. → More replies (20) → More replies (6) 8 u/BeeAdministrative110 Mar 25 '24 100% agree. You cannot self optimize and build warm hearted relationships at the same. That is why all the boys in these subs are single. 5 u/Away_Mud_4180 Mar 26 '24 If self-optimizing does not include building good relationships, then it's just an extension of narcissism. → More replies (3) → More replies (2) 2 u/radiostar1899 Morning Exerciser 🏅 Mar 25 '24 this right here. 2 u/New-Strategy9156 Mar 25 '24 The fact that the average redditor believes everything they read on the internet is unfortunately not surprising at all to me. → More replies (10) 34 u/allenthird Mar 25 '24 Everybody thought Huberman was so calm and collected because of his sleep, breathing exercises, and weightlifting regime, but he's actually just having sex with multiple women each day. → More replies (1) 183 u/[deleted] Mar 25 '24 This happened because he started drinking coffee ten minutes after waking and stopped sunning his anus 3 u/_her_highness Mar 26 '24 This is hilarious. Commenting so I can come back for a good laugh in the future 😂 → More replies (1) 11 u/HoplaCrepe Mar 25 '24 edited Mar 25 '24 Or maybe because he soaked his X-hole in coffee for 10 minutes too long on sunny days. P.S: - sunny < 5min - cloudy < 10min - sunny through kitchen windows < 25min - cloudy through kitchen windows < 35min - missing other data points (tinted car windows..) P.S: blinking more often would help not overshooting 2 u/Low-Comment-6979 Mar 27 '24 Brilliant 😂 → More replies (6) 38 u/afs1807 Mar 25 '24 Huberman may be physically fit, but his emotional fitness has been outed as a trainwreck. Given Huberman’s longtime penchant for talk therapy, he might try to find a new one who could actually call him on his bs and truly help him. 12 u/ResponsibleTarget991 Mar 25 '24 Yeah needing that much attention from people is crazy. People who flake all the time and breadcrumb are attention whores too. He’s insecure af → More replies (1) → More replies (10) 65 u/Jaded-Assignment-798 Mar 25 '24 If you didn’t think that Huberman was somewhat of a weirdo then idk what to tell you. Also, I remember seeing his girls IG at one point and she is also pretty far out there 6 u/gekogekogeko Mar 25 '24 which one? 29 u/Jaded-Assignment-798 Mar 25 '24 Anya fernald is her name, I believe she ran a company that got caught scamming people selling cheap meats marked up as if they were sustainably grown 17 u/cmattis Mar 25 '24 I worked for a company that distributed Belcampo and while you are correct, by the time they got in trouble for that she was no longer CEO. The scammy shit with those kinds of companies tends to really happen when the money starts to run dry. → More replies (3) → More replies (1) → More replies (2) 17 u/Stevemcrosky75 Mar 25 '24 He speaks on great stuff to live by. I’m sure he’s impossible to live with lol 58 u/Gorthaur111 Mar 25 '24 I've been listening to Huberman for over a year because of his ability to communicate the science around brain health, and this article doesn't really change my opinion of Huberman as a science communicator. The article does change my opinion of him as a person, though. When I first found out about Huberman, I wondered how he could possibly be a Stanford professor, a scientific researcher, a podcaster, and a fitness enthusiast all at the same time. Now we find out that he's been living in Malibu, 6 hours' drive from Stanford, for at least two years now, and he doesn't actually teach any classes or do any research. The lab itself isn't even operational for 4 years. I wonder how long he can claim to be a Stanford professor, and if Stanford will continue to view him as a net positive. About his relationships, it would seem that Huberman has been optimizing his short-term personal enjoyment rather than long-term life satisfaction. I've wondered for a long time why he was always so quiet about his relationships, and this article gives a good indication why. He couldn't publicly discuss his girlfriend without tipping off all his other girlfriends. Now that this is publicly known, it's probably going to be a lot harder for him to pull off this type of womanizing behavior. I think this is going to be quite a mess for Huberman. It could easily affect his sponsorships. I look forward to seeing how he addresses it. 23 u/notyur_momma_197 Mar 25 '24 Lots of universities have associate professors tenured, who literally don't even teach classes there, and live far away. It's kinda where all the money goes. Huberman's brand now obviously makes him a good catch for Stanford, it's good publicity to have the most well-known scientist as a tenured professor. He also does have a few graduate courses under his name, at least during this academic term, although some have said they're online/long distance. The truth is, neuroscience isn't a high paying field. Academia in itself isn't either. He's making way more money doing podcasts several times a week, which doesn't leave him a lot of time for running a lab, doing research, writing grant applications, which is the only way labs can be run. I know he's had some academic papers published recently as a co-author. Perhaps someday he'll want to be more in the forefront of neuroscience research again, but right now it's more smart to work on his podcasts, and read the research instead. → More replies (2) 6 u/primitives403 Mar 25 '24 he doesn't actually teach any classes or do any research. The lab itself isn't even operational for 4 years.

The Stanford Magazine feature from last summer seems to disagree with this. So does the representative from Stanford who was cited in the hit piece article.

"Lab work still commands much of Huberman’s time. This year his lab published the paper on stress mitigation in collaboration with Spiegel, as well as a study on visual system regeneration. He also guest-lectures to undergraduates in human biology and is part of the team that teaches The Nervous System, mostly to medical students. He splits his time between the Bay Area and Los Angeles and has someone drive him back and forth so he can work en route. "

"Shortly before publication, a spokesperson for Stanford said, “Dr. Huberman’s lab at Stanford is operational and is in the process of moving from the Department of Neurobiology to the Department of Ophthalmology,”"

https://stanfordmag.org/contents/the-huberman-effect

→ More replies (22) 5 u/Thellamaking21 Mar 25 '24 I don’t think this will ever matter. A lot of famous are able to date multiple women. Maybe not the type of woman he talks about but idk. I just kind of expect every famous person to be a slime ball. That stuff with him seemed pretty wild though. 6 u/robotdevilhands Mar 26 '24 edited 13d ago sugar cobweb ripe thought plucky absurd exultant racial deranged rain This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact → More replies (13) 12 u/[deleted] Mar 25 '24 The bizarre treatment of “friends” was surprising. I’ve gained a lot from his podcasts(alcohol, ptsd) but i have not consumed a lot recently with the interviews. I’ll probably stick to his deep dives and avoid any psychology specific stuff. → More replies (2) 40 u/Low-Medical Mar 25 '24 Well, that solves the whole “65 percent of young men vs. 34 percent of women are single” disparity - all the women are “dating” Huberman! 6 u/notyur_momma_197 Mar 25 '24 Daddy huberman is working hard → More replies (1) 38 u/No-Giraffe-5568 Mar 25 '24 This is a dark read. Having your type be high-achievers and then working your way into their psyche to tear them down reveals such poor character and lack of self-control. And the lying and the cheating. It cannot but bleed into other aspects of his life, including his podcast and research. I await further reports emerging now that the lights have been turned on. → More replies (1) 72 u/sheela-yaga Mar 25 '24 What is really ironic is that how someone who is so interested in personal growth continue to engage with behaviors that clearly are related to poor self-control and lack of character. 21 u/No-Comfortable-1550 Mar 25 '24 He’s a narcissist and the perfect lifestyle stuff is all a mask. → More replies (6) 40 u/Consistent-Roof-5039 Mar 25 '24 Exactly. He's fake. 10 u/Yuhyuhhhhhh Mar 25 '24 This is the takeaway. Dudes not a genuine guy. No integrity → More replies (6) 16 u/Traditional_Figure_1 Mar 25 '24 it's manic behavior. surprising he has such a massive blindspot to it. → More replies (2) 15 u/MinderBinderCapital Mar 25 '24 Yeah cuz he’s a narcissist and this is his path to fame. Being a scientist at Stanford wasn’t enough. → More replies (1) 43 u/[deleted] Mar 25 '24 😂 gonna start referring to him as the Stanford Joe Rogan. 29 u/okkeyok Mar 25 '24 edited 10d ago plough homeless snatch groovy quicksand entertain cheerful literate mountainous resolute This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact 7 u/DrSpacecasePhD Mar 25 '24 Tonight on the intellectual dark-web podcast we'll hear from Dr. Schlotkin on his incredible research in his basement: Zinc and red-light therapy cured his herpes. Can it cure yours too? → More replies (3) → More replies (2) 31 u/Chev1977 Mar 25 '24 I read it, honestly I don't find this super surprising. I suspect he is well aware of his lack of control over his behaviour and to some extent his drive to exert influence over his own interior world, physical and psychological is an effort to fix that. At the same time his idea of what 'fixed' looks like is still an open question. Also in my totally non scientific experience, high achievers OFTEN have some sort of major social deficiency, the focus and time required for most people to rise to the level of a PHD, or athlete, or any other such thing comes at a developmental cost somewhere, never mind the fact that they oven develop in environments that not only lack the normal social cues for someone to develop 'normally', the replace them with perverse ones that reward disagreeable, hyper competitive or otherwise extreme behaviours. Regardless my feelings are roughly in line with the author of the article, the podcast is VERY valuable but it's not perfect. 13 u/veryluckygirl123 Mar 25 '24 I know this is true because im like this im a high achiever and my personal life is a mess I can’t maintain connections and my relationships suffer because all my energy is directed into taking over the world and establishing my legacy 4 u/Emotional-Net-1978 Mar 25 '24 Very interesting perspective → More replies (5) 18 u/RiverGodRed Mar 25 '24 This was actually a good read and I learned a lot about Huberman. Everything there fits. Dudes addicted to love which makes him hurt all these high caliber women he has led to believe he’s exclusive with. 4 u/robotdevilhands Mar 26 '24 edited 13d ago secretive sharp soft worthless serious shelter tease license concerned frightening This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact → More replies (4) 18 u/Electronic-Buy4015 Mar 25 '24 He talks about optimizing life down to the molecular level yet he’s out here giving chicks HPV. Comeon now → More replies (4) 18 u/Mayor_of_Funkytown Mar 25 '24 Definitely portrays dark triad traits if the article is indeed accurate. Love his commitment to the sciences regardless of his personal affairs. Just hate that he's attached to sponsors like A1g which is akin to very expensive piss. 19 u/Thick-Finding-960 Mar 25 '24 I can forgive the cheating and lying, but I draw the line at AG1 sponsorship → More replies (1) 10 u/alec101 Mar 25 '24 Classic case of Solomon's Paradox - giving sound and wise advice to others and being mess in your private life. 9 u/radiostar1899 Morning Exerciser 🏅 Mar 25 '24 Yup, love the shit out of this article. Something was up with that dude. Still brings interesting ideas to the podcast but not someone I look up to for how to be a good human being advice. 17 u/Arisia118 Mar 25 '24 edited Mar 25 '24 A long time ago on this forum I said that Huberman always struck me as the hero you never want to meet. Guess I was more right than I even realized. The reality is that people are rarely the living embodiments of what they preach. History is full of people who did great things who were major, major assholes to their friends and families. I'm not excusing his behavior. Yes, this piece is a hit job but I'm sure there's a fair amount of truth to it. I just don't let it affect how I feel about his podcast. I love it. It's helped me so much. If he's a dick in his personal life, if his lab space is now a pile of dust...honestly, I don't care. I'm not planning on sleeping with him or scuba diving with him. I don't even care if he practices what he preaches, as long as what he preaches helps me . If you dig into the personal life of everyone whose books or videos or whatever have benefited you, you will often find a lot of similar situations to this one. So does that mean if something helps you you negate it because of that person's personal behavior? I guess everyone has to make that decision for themselves. Me, I take whatever help I can get from wherever it comes from. 3 u/nessadaahling Mar 26 '24 Completely agree. Listen to him all you want, ladies. Just don’t date him! → More replies (5) 27 u/neub1736 Mar 25 '24 Jesus, what a piece of shit. How can you have 5 different girlfriends/lives at the same time. 11 u/Either-Eye Mar 26 '24 Be a product of a self-proclaimed troubled/neglected childhood, spend your life over compensating for that emotional neglect by enacting controlling methods and perpetually seeking external validation. Remain insecure. Utilize years of talk therapy to manipulate your lovers who feed an empty ego while simultaneously keeping them at a distance so as to protect the Self from experiencing the neglect/abandonment experienced as a youth. Repeat ad Infinitum. → More replies (3) → More replies (3) 27 u/Strange-Calendar669 Mar 25 '24 The article will likely increase his popularity and influence over a certain type of guy. It won’t make the world a better place. He should go back to the lab and find ways to help people with optic nerve damage. 3 u/robotdevilhands Mar 26 '24 edited 13d ago roof afterthought mindless paint heavy drunk enter slap whistle saw This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact → More replies (2) 5 u/SoulsticeCleaner Mar 25 '24 My exact same thought too, the average struggling dude is going to think 5-6 women is aspirational → More replies (3) → More replies (1) 78 u/palmeffect Mar 25 '24 Yes, just finished it. Basically a dossier on alleged cheating/womanizing. Salacious but mostly dirty laundry. 51 u/Horror-Tank-4082 Mar 25 '24 It’s quite the page-turner and makes sense to me tbh. Most of his effort is directed toward his podcast and personal brand. This maps onto the great success of both those things. What he’s built doesn’t just happen. we see he juggles up to several women at once while keeping them secret from each other, which also takes a great deal of effort and attention this means he expends less effort - possibly minimal - on running his lab. this also means he expends less effort on other things like friendships and meetings, which maps onto the flakiness. the commentary about being controlling and obsessive and etc all map onto his obsession with optimization and control. It all works well together. The other parts about pumping uncertain supplements and etc are just known. 9 u/StaticNocturne Mar 25 '24 Never read a dossier on your heroes eh? I hope he wasn't anyone's hero but I did admire him in 2021/22 The womanizing thing takes me by surprise though. I wouldn't have picked it given how OCD / prudish he seems → More replies (3) → More replies (3) 55 u/xkjkls Mar 25 '24 never trust a 48 year old man who never married 7 u/Spiritual-Dirt2538 Mar 25 '24 bingo → More replies (6) 52 u/[deleted] Mar 25 '24 [removed] — view removed comment 24 u/GG11390 Mar 25 '24 Yes please, we also need to find ‘eve’ the model actress 13 u/viviq1762 Mar 25 '24 saving this to come back to lol 9 u/MrBrigi Mar 25 '24 Probably the painter Milana Blackman. Fits the description and does artsy things, just not acting. 3 u/AliKazerani Mar 26 '24 Interesting portfolio. 😕 3 u/TheTruckWashChannel Mar 26 '24 Wow, she's like Da Vinci for the Intellectual Dark Web. Never seen so many gorgeous drawings of such sketchy people. 3 u/AliKazerani Mar 26 '24 Aye, but would da Vinci pose so very naturally and not at all ridiculously with his finished works? 😛 → More replies (2) 3 u/Next-Fill-1312 Mar 27 '24 Not her she clarifies in comments → More replies (1) → More replies (2) → More replies (1) 2 u/Takeuracorns Mar 25 '24 The TMZ guy from this sub had mentioned he was dating an IT girl that was in her 20s. What happened with her? → More replies (2) → More replies (32) 6 u/NumaPompilius2 Mar 25 '24 edited Mar 26 '24 Too long didn’t read Just kidding it was exhausting though. Big point I take from it is the old “Hell have no fury like the wrath of a woman scorned” — but also is undoubtedly a slam piece with truth ingrained inbetween. These woman who were taken advantage of want to make sure no one else will suffer like they did, and that his options are limited of course. With the meet ups, it seems like they particularly are having fun with it being a hobby (as much as validating and maybe helping heal through eachothers trauma). Speaking of which it’s clear to me that a lot of the behaviors that described in the article by Huberman are a cycle of trauma that he clearly experiences a result of his parents going through a divorce(and something like his father the physics professor not being around for him) having some nasty relationships in college which provoked a worldview of abandonment or people being generally self interested etc. and that confers to things like the alleged flakiness or drive toward being a a big player in science(and other domains) as much as wanting to have that sort of (read: obsessive) control over things like knowledge over health. This is sad in a way that while he chose to live a life and flew toward fame and where obviously these women were wronged, theres obviously more that the story which the writer doesn’t capture — the women are guaranteed to be aware what kind of airing of grievances publicly would do (the Stanford brand is in a critical place as a result of research scandals). This said the anecdotal stories lost a lot of steam for me when I began to read the part where he was posed as disparaging or controlling about his fucking dogs blanket made me roll my eyes completely. Yknow I had a father who developed OCD in trying to become a doctor and wouldn’t let me touch the fridge because of germs (and at the same time alphabetized his soup cans) which I didn’t really understand until I got older; you’d think of course a neuroscientist would have some weird superstitions(I.e. soup cans) but that dogs clearly his “son” and I’ve heard of dogs like Shepard’s developing joint issues from laying with a folded paw — my point being we don’t know his perspective, the context, his level of care, it really seems as if the majority of the story is skewed. Having “Sarah” write down her bad decisions in reality seems like him offering some sort of protocol for trauma(like a Rogers analysis) relevant to something they talked about previously and was taken out of context rather than a punishment…Often when a man is neurotic or sensitive to negative emotions(check his tattoos for evidence of this) a partner who is also neurotic can escalate frustration with eachother(especially when forced to be around eachother and estranged from work due to COVID) to the point of toxicity(an aside, I love when toxic people go around looking to rid “toxic” people from their life and it is such a California thing like many other tropes in the article I couldn’t help but laugh) The things which we all honestly knew to be true (just like Lex with bEiNg An MiT rEsEaRcHeR) is that his research or specialty isn't exactly prestigious or super interesting(relevant to public health or performance) but guess what — neuroscience is actually boring as fuck unless you’re a complete nerd and getting into the weeds off of shit like rhodopsin is literally how I would confer torture at abu ghraib for prisoners of war. While his affiliation with Stanford may have been to “nepotism” the shit reality is connections are unfortunately everything in academia, and he is still remarkably well spoken and worked hard to be a researcher as much as gain that skill for acquiring scientific knowledge or “total recall” as they put it. His PhD also is at UCSD? I mean, top 2-3 or at least 10 places to study neuroscience in the world not a big deal. Do I think he is an infallible source for neurobiology? No lmao absolutely not but like Brian Scalabrine he’s closer to Lebron than many are to him, or rather Karl Deisseroth than that of a quack. As many have spoken up on here he CLEARY needs to get a producer and several true academics to peer review his information(which then becomes asking for a piece of the pie & their own notoriety — no one works for free). At the same time futther he head out of the topanga sand and get his lab together if rumors are correct and he wants to be taken seriously as scientist rather than a podcaster… but it’s hard to blame him as academia and dealing with the bureaucracy sucks and it’s the life of a monk. Anyways that’s my 2 cents probably have more opinions on everything and I’m wrong & need to edit more but I just hope this galvanizes him to focus on his work(and be better as a human) without further excuses — if Huberman is reading this for whatever reason bottom line is you probably need to finish working out your shit before you find real love and get lost again in your research, instead of focusing on pinnochio ideals of false celebrity & temptations… also stop flaking your emails and meetings — that lady was pissed at you for cancelling and not providing a contingency plan for example; and stop being a bitch about taking on grad students (& hmu if you need a grad researcher) P.s. Huberman having these flaws and a pathology (OCD, avoidant attachment, neuroticism, anger issues, etc.) despite having all the tools in the world & practicing meditating as well as seeing a therapist for almost 3 decades which haven’t worked should have been the tactical strike the author was looking for, but instead went for the TMZ expose due to the slant and overabundant influence from his ex in preparing it which is hilarious. Instead of cutting through things succinctly and critiquing the artist like say when viewing the downfall of Jim Morrison when he went off the rails & made shit music, we have a movie representation of Val Kilmer being a general psychopath (or let’s say Andre 3000 as Hendrix beating his wife) for no reason other than dramatic license. He could have talked about how he really wasn’t about the life he’s preaching but we have a drawn out last third of the article describing his ex’s tea parties together. End rant 3 u/Ikickpuppies1 Mar 26 '24 Damm, thank you for writing that. I don’t spend a lot of time on stories like these, but I was getting kind of sucked into these comments. I was kind of feeling crazy by the lack of nuanced and informed responses. There were some, to be fair, but this was thoughtful and well formulated. This is obviously a complicated thing of life and my thoughts were kind of scattered and I can’t really explain it, but your comment kinda infused some serenity in my brain. I appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts. Have a third upvote, my treat. 18 u/StaticNocturne Mar 25 '24 He's a pathetic fastidious hypocrite, money grubbing shill, we all knew that. But the womanizing and abuse are revelations. I learned a lot from his early podcasts and still implement a lot of that (actually not that much come to think of it, just the major points) but I don't think I'll ever listen to him again. He doesn't say anything valuable these days anyway → More replies (1) 22 u/RideamusSimul Mar 25 '24 He sure meets criteria for the “dark triad” discussed in the article. If his personal life is that off kilter and he lives 350 miles from his lab, the pieces of the puzzle of confusion begin to fit better. Thanks for courageous journalists. → More replies (1) 22 u/Valuable_Muscle_658 Mar 25 '24 grateful for how his core protocols have helped my life, but pretty much out on this new version of him. like to hear him even talk casually on shows like Rogan or Segura, but had this consistently growing suspicion he is just a salesman anymore. then he started talking about "prayer" and god, i felt it was up. this article was a final cherry on top. still gonna get my sun, sleep, exercise, and feel bad when i drink. but the worship should be over. 5 u/anomnib Mar 25 '24 To be fair, the worship should have never started. I listen to him for his conversations with other academics, that’s it. I assume everything else is to pay to bills or hype himself up. I guess I know enough really high achievers to know they can have a really crazy and unsettling aspect to them. 7 u/Iannelli Mar 25 '24 still gonna get my sun, sleep, exercise, and feel bad when i drink

The real irony is that Huberman didn't invent any of these things. We've known for many, many years that it's good to get sunlight, good to sleep well, good to exercise, and bad to drink alcohol.

Huberman gets credit for only a few things: His research on the visual system, for one. The whole "morning sunlight into the eyes" thing is cool.

Everything else though?

He doesn't get credit for.

Huberman is a celebrity. That's it.

7 u/Valuable_Muscle_658 Mar 25 '24 I know he didn't invent them (nor does he claim to), but he gets credit for being a really good communicator of these things. → More replies (2) → More replies (2) 24 u/_Maxolotl Mar 25 '24 The allegations are super damning and the women have a lot of irrefutable evidence. There’s kinda only one right thing for him to do: an arduous process of making amends to everyone he lied to and doing serious personal work including admitting to the whole world that he’s been a huge bastard. If he can’t do that, he’s going to lose most of the respect he’s built for himself, and he’ll either need to retreat into obscurity or join the Andrew Tate/Jordan Peterson grifter wing of the manosphere in order to make a living. Incredibly disappointing, incredibly pathetic. I always got the feeling something was a little off about him, but this is pretty nuts, much more shocking than something relatively minor like when I found out Knees Over Toes Guy was a scientologist. 6 u/Jaded-Assignment-798 Mar 25 '24 Wait the knees over toes guy is a Scientologist?! Holy shit, what’s next for me to find out? David goggins never went through a hell week? → More replies (1) → More replies (10) 15 u/Chirere Mar 25 '24 The article is devastating. Huberman is an equal mix of narcissist, controller of women, snake oil salesman, propagator of pseudoscience, and manipulator. All the necessary ingredients to be successful on social networks. → More replies (1) 10 u/AdhesivenessSea3838 Mar 25 '24 Not surprised at all that the dude is a scumbag. Peddling the scam supplements, claiming to be apolitical but espousing conservative views at every opportunity, dude is a toxic charlatan 9 u/Loose-Quarter405 Mar 25 '24 I’m sure Sarah is Anya Fernald. Everything matches up, the two kids, entrepreneur, cooking etc. I hear Huberman is with a 28 year old AI computer scientist, Harper Caroll. I’m guessing she was the one on the couch with him when Sarah caught them. The article feels very gossipy but I think the point of it is to show how someone who seems respectable and ethical, mostly because of creating a perfect image, can actually be flawed and deceiving. He’s not perfect but definitely portrays himself to be. I guess following all his protocols won’t prevent you from being a morally corrupt human being. This is just another example for me of seeing someone be so perfect and “together” on the outside but totally corrupt and empty on the inside. I see this a lot in the Bay Area with successful high achieving men. 5 u/M_Love-2158 Mar 25 '24 Who is Eve? 5 u/Loose-Quarter405 Mar 25 '24 I’d like to know as well! I think she’s actually a newscaster who is very pretty and I used to see her comment on huberman a few years ago. Now she comment on Anya’s IG. I’ll grab a screenshot lol 5 u/Admirable-Nobody1043 Mar 25 '24 Damn you are like the FBI good job on that lol → More replies (1) 5 u/M_Love-2158 Mar 25 '24 Doing the Lord’s work 4 u/Loose-Quarter405 Mar 25 '24 → More replies (6) 3 u/lawnguylandlolita Mar 26 '24 I’m gonna guess Harper isn’t the only one he’s with → More replies (1) 3 u/Subject-Drama-1903 Mar 27 '24 Wow good job. I knew he was with Anya Fernald but didn’t realize she was Sarah in the story. How awful. I don’t particularly care for her as she has her own issues but she must be reeling for finally being able to expose him. The truth is finally coming out. 5 u/thoughtsinmyheaddd Mar 25 '24 I'm shocked. I thought he was alot more wholesome than this.. → More replies (1) 14 u/ubercrazycatlady Mar 25 '24 Someone figure out who Eve is please? 12 u/rheajanerob Mar 25 '24 I get the sentiment because I’m curious too. But it would be best to protect her privacy. She doesn’t need to be raked over the coals for her association to him → More replies (9) 31 u/f_itdude79 Mar 25 '24 Yikes. He’s an emotional manipulator. Those women are impressive though. What sleuth work! 6 u/usernamen_77 Mar 25 '24 All she had to do was endure years of emotional abuse & slander about her children 14 u/notyur_momma_197 Mar 25 '24 Her real name is Anya Fernald, her two children's names are Viola and Theo, and she likes to cook. She even released a cookbook. She is not impressive whatsoever, she was the owner of a meat company that claimed to be selling fresh, free range beef. Her company, Belcampo Meats was shut down due to fraud, and is being investigated by the dept of agriculture. You see, her meat was labeled, fresh, from the farm, healthy, organic. It was lauded by California, enjoyed by celebrities. But it wasn't fresh. It was from other companies, standard meat from non organic, non free range, livestock, old, covered in ants, seeped in mold, filth everywhere in the building, according to the USDA investigation. Her company was built on a lie, so big, her company was shut down once it was found out, in 2021. Did Huberman know the truth about her company when he began dating her, most likely not. She probably lied to him too. Anya is no victim, she is a fraud, a liar, an evil woman who capitalized on other ppls desire to eat healthy. She's probably pissed she can no longer live off his money, since her career is over, hence for her desire to take him down. Read this for more info https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/belcampo-meat-federal-investigation-1234783148/ 31 u/gekogekogeko Mar 25 '24 Do the problems with meat labeling at Bel Campo give Huberman a free pass to humiliate, lead on and cheat on Fernald? Does it give him permission to give her an STD and put her through several rounds of IVF under the assumption that he was monogamous? Feels like a whaddaboutism rather than a real argument. 3 u/Traditional-Noise710 Apr 02 '24 What are the odds that he only gave 1 women a std out of 6? That doesn’t make any sense → More replies (17) 8 u/anomnib Mar 25 '24 Why can’t she be both a victim of emotional abuse and a grifting entrepreneur? → More replies (1) → More replies (5) → More replies (1) 30 u/berniecratbrocialist Mar 25 '24 This is an outstanding article. Anyone calling it a "hit piece" or a "smear job" needs to actually read the damn thing, especially this towards the end: "There is an argument to be made that it does not matter how a helpful podcaster conducts himself outside of the studio. A man unable to constrain his urges may still preach dopaminergic control to others. Morning sun remains salutary. The physiological sigh, employed by this writer many times in the writing of this essay, continues to effect calm. The large and growing distance between Andrew Huberman and the man he continues to be may not even matter to those who buy questionable products he has recommended and from which he will materially benefit, or listeners who imagined a man in a white coat at work in Palo Alto. The people who definitively find the space between fantasy and reality to be a problem are women who fell for a podcaster who professed deep, sustained concern for their personal growth, and who, in his skyrocketing influence, continued to project an image of earnest self-discovery. It is here, in the false belief of two minds in synchronicity and exploration, that deception leads to harm. They fear it will lead to more." If the stuff he says works for you, then go ahead on. It may be that the only people he's harmed are the ones he knows in real life. But it's always interesting (if unsurprising) when the life of a wellness guru involves so much deceit and manipulation. → More replies (8) 68 u/[deleted] Mar 25 '24 [deleted] 84 u/sugaraddict89 Mar 25 '24 More like, he had convinced AT LEAST 5 or 6 women at the same time they were in a monogamous relationship. Through emotional abuse and a pathological relationship with the truth, he deceived them for his own benefit. It's a typical expose on a powerful person's dirty side. It'll be interesting to see Andrew's response. His brand may take a little bit of a hit, but I think it's unlikely to damage his reputation as a podcaster/scientist. → More replies (18) 17 u/Valuable_Muscle_658 Mar 25 '24 i am generally sympathetic to someone's lying/cheating being private, except he basically calls the rest of us that act on our vices losers with gross shit like this about addiction (to Anna Lembke, the best episode): “I like to think I have the compassion,” he said, “but I don’t have that empathy for taking a really good situation and what from the outside looks to be throwing it in the trash.” 7 u/wellbutrinactually Mar 25 '24 Yeah, this was extremely telling for me as well. I would expect a neuroscientist to understand the reality of addiction better than suggesting it’s a choice. → More replies (3) 74 u/stormfield Mar 25 '24 There’s a lot more to this that does apply to his life as Famous Podcast Guy. He cheated on so many different women at the same time that they all eventually found each other and became friends. The logistics alone of this are surely impressive, but this is not a “one time thing” or hit piece from a disgruntled ex. Appears to be notoriously flakey in professional and personal life. Pattern of controlling, abusive behavior towards romantic partners (which he denies). Of course people can be brilliant in some areas and flawed in others, but given how he positions himself as a health and wellness guru, this is really important context for the kind of “personal growth” that he’s promoting. 7 u/GG11390 Mar 25 '24 Also important that we have created a whole image of a person where even the environment does not really exist. Article mentions this lab he mentions itself was in operation a long time ago but is apparently not even set up anymore since covid 44 u/an_angry_Moose Mar 25 '24 People who are brushing it off as “he just likes sex” aren’t really seeing the bigger picture. He was mentally abusive, in all likelihood transmitted HPV, gaslit his partner constantly and really the kicker for me is that he is the biggest control freak I’ve ever heard of anyone being. 15 u/ZenGolfer311 Mar 25 '24 My biggest takeaway is that it’s living proof he’s someone who very much would sell snake oil to people → More replies (1) 18 u/Low-Medical Mar 25 '24 Frankly, I'd be shocked if anyone positioning themselves as a health and wellness guru didn't have a fucked up and disordered personal life. Just like life coaches → More replies (2) 7 u/papapema Mar 25 '24 He has NO actual lab...it's called the Huberman Lab. That doesn't ring alarm bells? → More replies (5) 6 u/No-Comfortable-1550 Mar 25 '24 Why should anyone know they’re getting life advice from a narcissist whose life is a mess? 40 u/panther_prey Mar 25 '24 Why should it stay private? The article is describing narcissistic abuse. 17 u/haux_haux Mar 25 '24 Also, what looks like a lot of dark triad stuff. I certainly am interested in the incongruence of someone we are primed to believe is highly truthful. 13 u/Horror-Tank-4082 Mar 25 '24 Definitely dark triad stuff. You can’t pull off that level of deception without it. Also explains the enjoyment of the spotlight and management of personal brand. 3 u/MinderBinderCapital Mar 25 '24 Really psychotic stuff → More replies (6) 8 u/reallyneedhelp1212 Mar 25 '24 Tbh most of the stuff in this article should stay private.

Curious why you think that? I think people - especially those who continue to idolize and follow everything this guy says - should understand this man's character (or lack thereof). Especially when he pumps out podcasts on well being, relationships, etc.

He only deceives dumb women not cool doods like me 😎.

Most of it should but maybe not the fact he cheated and gaslit multiple women.

Stuff like what he texts in response to pictures of significant others is just salacious garbage

So you think the women should just shut up about being lied to and cheated on? TBH, if he needed so many women at once, he could have just told them he isn’t interested in monogamy at the moment. He could have found poly women to date too.

This just in: famous guru is an asshole what a shock

It’s hilarious to me that this subreddit is filled with people who hate this guy. Why even waste your time commenting then?

It is similar to the Joe Rogan podcast. People who started listening early on and witnessed the audience capture + slide outside of their core competencies.

Huberman hasn’t made nearly as large of a change as Joe, but there are a lot of us who got into Hubes for his valuable initial content and have become upset by his push outside of his core area of study, further embracing supplement sponsorship, and turn towards guru-ness

I just look at it his podcast as one if many interview podcasts I listen too. It’s way more about the guest than the interviewer. People act like the podcasts they listen to are a sports team or something similar, like you have to take a side and you’re all in. It’s stupid hero worship.

People love jerking off to hate.

While staring at the sun

Go to the Joe Rogan subreddit. You get downvoted unless you hate him

Yeah same with r/billsimmons (popular sports podcast for those who don’t follow). I think call her daddy sub is pretty ruthless towards the host too.

People rip on Bill but it’s usually just good-natured ribbing. Most still like him, imo.

It's the same for pretty much all SubReddits about people... r/LetsTalkBam , r/KurtCaz , etc.

Welcome to Reddit. Negativity is everything and everywhere. It has been like this since it’s beginning.

On Two Bears Pod he told Tom Segura he basically moved down to UC Santa Barbara to stalk his ex when he was like 20.

So this is just who he is

https://www.tiktok.com/@seguratom/video/7189266134242266411

Yes, he sounds like a sociopath at best

What the fuck Andrew, you didn't tell us to include a harem of unsuspecting women into our dopamine protocols!

His personal life seems chaotic. It takes a lot of time and energy to cheat. It’s a cycle often repeated. Seems he is addicted to drama, seduction, secrecy etc. but gives the appearance of being in total control. Was actually a fascinating read, even if only 25% is true. I guess the poster who wrote he’s in Malibu was correct.

He’s got all the makings of a narcissist.

Crazy to think a "brilliant" mind may lack social skills

it describes a person who is clearly not well. rage is almost never healthy to exhibit... i can think of very few scenarios where it is appropriate. all of these things he does and promotes and the guy is actually unhinged in private.

while the information he presents can be legitimate and correct, the celebrity he has created for himself is just a string of lies. the article is spot on - his mechanism's of control have obviously played out with severe consequences to the humans he interacts with.

Yeah, reads like a jezebel article, he's a philanderer & uhh, shocker, he promotes supplements on his podcast

This is going to simply make him more popular with the wrong sort of people

Now I feel bad for Anya. Dating 6 women (that we know of) is WILD. He definitely is vastly aware of his image and has curated it so well. He comes across as someone who is self aware, respectful and ethical. But creating a false image of hyper perfection is usually a red flag.

Isn't Costello an English bulldog? Article says it's a bull mastiff

I used to listen to his podcast, but I got bored with it. He'd pontificate for 2 hours on something like "better sleep" when all I needed were 5-10 minutes of what to do. I just want to drive the car, not learn to take the engine apart.

What does "a spokesperson for Huberman" mean? Huberman himself? There is no way someone can know such private details.

this seems like none of my business

The man takes T, works out a lot, doesn't watch porn. He's probably like a dog in heat most days that couldn't follow a protocol if he wanted to from his sheer primateness

i don't care at all, i listen to his podcast for interesting science shit, not a role model

Wowww I didn’t make him out as a cheater. But it makes sense.. controlling tendencies, always on search for growth, of course one partner would never be enough for him.

The way he presents information and how he communicates science is unmatched and excellent. He is obviously very conscientious about his work, you could even call him obsessive about it. That being said, I would never want to date someone with that type of personality and can’t imagine it would be very fun.

I don’t want to say I told you so, but..

Interesting read. Thank you for sharing it.

Claiming that he and Sarah weren’t trying to have kids and instead just creating IVF embryos is world champion level of manipulating the truth and gaslighting

He’s a born again christian who criticized David Lynch. He’s an uptight judgmental asshole

Podcast shill get busted for being kind of a price of shit. No big surprises, it's all a front.

He'll become a maga influencer in no time

I can't read the article (behind a paywall) or find it open access but not surprised at the shared content. Something isn't right about this guy. I've listened to a few youtube videos and never took away anything I thought I really needed. He also self references alot. I get tons of recommendations for his videos by algorithm to the point of 'wha'.

I always got weird vibes from the guy. Something just felt off to me. I'm more of a Doctor Mike guy. Great sense of humor. Huberman is an egomaniac and boring as fucking fuck.

So many times now I've seen these straight-edge "never drinkers" who end up being sex addicts.

I was a HUGE Huberman fan until I flew to Chicago 6 months ago to hear him talk. I remember walking out of the Chicago Theater thinking to myself “there is something seriously OFF with this guy”. Then this article came out and it was confirmed. By the way, the Crisis Mgmt Firm he hired is doing an awesome job at mitigating his fall out. I know he was getting unfollowed en masse and his numbers remained unchanged. They’re buying him followers to save face and this is so brilliant on their part. I can only imagine what he’s paying them!

The Best Nootropics Supplements Personalized to Your Brain?

Updated: 01/25/2024

Outliyr is is editorially independent. We may get a small commission if you buy through our links (at no cost to you). Thanks for your support!

TakeThesis Nootropics Honest Review (FindMyFormula 2.0)

Your brain is a primary difference between winning a Nobel prize and living a life of mediocrity.

How well it functions isn’t solely a matter of genetics.

Neuroscience research, and overwhelming anecdotal experience, show that we can dramatically upgrade our:

Mental clarity
Productivity
Access to the flow state
Information processing speed

Welcome to the world of “neurohacking”. Using special ingredients and lifestyle practices to optimize the brains and increase our overall quality of life.

But there’s one glaring issue…

Companies making the best brain-boosting supplements recognize this and customize their formulas to your unique lifestyle.

One such nootropic experience is a “newcomer” (you’ll learn why this isn’t exactly true) called Thesis. You take a short brain assessment, they send you a starter kit, and their complimentary coach helps you hone the perfect brain supplements — customized to you!

This post will thoroughly review of TakeThesis, how it compares to other nootropics companies, and whether this is the last brain supplement you’ll need.

In a hurry?

Use the exclusive Thesis code URBAN to save 10%

Quick & Dirty Intro to Nootropics

These are different from the off-label use of prescription pharmaceuticals like Adderall.

Essentially, nootropics are a special class of ingredients that satisfy ALL the following criteria:

Safe and non-toxic
Enhance learning and memory
Protect against injury
Boost natural cognitive ability (memory, logic, creativity, focus, etc)

There’s something that makes them even better…

Nootropics upgrade your baseline performance even after you stop taking them . They cause long-term changes to brain structure and function. Almost like training you how to operate at a higher level and forming positive habits.

At the same time, the good ones provide a quick and noticeable pick-me-up. You don’t wonder if they’re working.

The right formulas help you reach your full potential faster and more effectively.

What is Take Thesis Nootropics?

Thesis is the masterpiece of expert brain supplement formulators Dan Freed and Adam Greenfield. This duo began researching nootropics out of personal need. Both struggled with poor cognitive performance. They learned how to balance brain chemistry to maximize performance.

Now they’re sharing their discoveries with the world.

After great success with their original product, Find My Formula (which I reviewed here), they revamped their formulations and process.

While each of us has unique neurochemistries, after working with enough people, they began to spot patterns in which ingredients, the forms of those ingredients, and doses work best. Over the span of years, they’ve amassed a huge dataset:

30,000+ users
550,000 recommendations made
127 ingredients tested

Resulting in 86% of users reporting higher energy levels, better mood, more reliable memory, and greater motivation.

Unsurprisingly, Thesis has garnered a stellar 96% customer satisfaction.

The company also has soul. By donating a portion of each sale to both the Covenant House and The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), they’re evolving the future of brain enhancement and also making it more accessible to the world.

Thesis Nootropics Ingredients

When evaluating any nootropic, you must consider how they source and test ingredients.

The sad truth is that most of the products on the market are WORSE than useless. Contaminated with heavy metals, mycotoxins, pathogens, even adulterated with banned (dangerous) substances.

Thesis puts each ingredient through a rigorous, multi-step ethical, medical, and legal evaluation. Before acquiring and testing the ingredients for safety and purity, every ingredient must be supported as safe and effective by clinical trials.

This team keeps up with the ever-changing regulations.

Since the days of Find My Formula, a lot has changed. Each of their blends has undergone a major overhaul.

One of the common gripes with naturals is that you don’t feel anything.

How Thesis Works

Thesis isn’t your run-of-the-mill supplement company.

They’ve streamlined a process resulting in 86 percent of users finding their neurochemically tuned formulations in less than one month.

This is how to best use Thesis:

Assess your unique brain
Establish your baseline
Begin your Starter Kit
Notice what works for you and what doesn’t
Tweak and optimize with complimentary coaching

Your Thesis journey begins with a short survey to understand your basic lifestyle, how your brain functions, and your goals for using nootropics. The entire “quiz” takes just a few minutes. When you finish, their AI finds your “digital twin” to determine which formulations are most likely to work for you.

A few days later, you’ll receive the Thesis Starter Kit in the mail, with the four separate blends best matched to your brain.

I suggest jotting down the way you feel, your challenges, and goals. That way you’ll have something to reference after several weeks of testing. Bonus points for including audio/video in your log.

You’ll follow the directions, testing each product for six days in a row. Then take a break over the weekend, allowing your body to reset. Though you don’t need two days off, I notice better effects when I give my body the extra rest day.

If you’re sensitive, I suggest taking these capsules first thing in the morning.

At any point, you can schedule a call with one of the resident Thesis Nootropics Experts. They’ll help coach you to ensuring the best possible experience and tweak your kit as necessary. Definitely take advantage of the experts, as they’re a key bonus of Thesis !

By the end of the month, you’ll have discovered your favorite blends and the ones that you don’t like. It’s perfectly normal to not like some of them, and your future orders will only include the products you love most.

The Thesis Nootropic Blends for Every Goal

TakeThesis Nootropics Blends Full Unbiased Review

Note that I’ve written about five blends below, but your Starter Kit will only contain four. Once you’ve gone through the Starter Kit, you’ve demoed the blends.

Hopefully, you’ve discovered the ones that work great for you.

For every subsequent order, you get four slots to customize however you prefer. My favorite combo is:

(2) Clarity

But if I really loved a particular blend, for example, I could just do:

(4) Creativity

You can request any of the formulations in either of two versions: caffeinated or caffeine-free.

Don’t pay much attention to the names of each. They’re merely general suggestions of the most often reported benefits. It’s entirely possible that you’ll get more clarity from Creativity, or better logical reasoning from Energy.

Let’s examine each of the different blends.

Thesis Energy

Thesis Nootropics Review: Energy Formula

I reach for Energy when I get less than 7 hours of sleep, or when I need extra energy to crush a workout and power through a long Monday. It’s also useful for travel days, or when I know I’ll wind up in energy-depleting situations. Others use it to reinforce new healthy habits.

Thesis Energy blend ingredients include:

Zynamite® – 300mg
TeaCrine® – 100mg
Sabroxy® – 100mg
CDP Choline – 300mg
N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine – 300mg
N-Acetyl Cysteine – 500mg
Optional: Caffeine – 100mg
Optional: L-Theanine – 200mg

Sabroxy is an ancient Ayurvedic extract that comes from the bark of the Indian trumpet tree. Research suggests it enhances memory, focus, immunomodulation, mood, and even skin health.

From previous experience, I know that I respond well to Zynamite and TeaCrine. The former is an extract of mango leaf, and the latter is a molecular cousin of caffeine that comes from a tea plant, is non-habit forming, and with fewer side effects. Both noticeably increase energy, as expected. As a bonus, I find that these two also lift my mood.

Compared to the previous Energy formula, this iteration is smoother and more refined. Each sachet contains three capsules, and I start feeling effects 15 minutes after swallowing them.

I’ve been a big fan of all the Energy blends I’ve tested so far. It’s constantly ranked in my top 2 favorites due to the pronounced effects. It feels like a more full-body caffeine without the jitters or crash.

Thesis Clarity

Thesis Nootropics Review: Clarity Formula

As the package insert describes, Clarity supports a calm, focused flow and is great for optimal performance during high-stakes days. Good for presentations, content creation, and non-stimulating concentration.

I’ve found this description to be spot on. The formula has undergone a complete overhaul, featuring two ingredients I haven’t found in other nootropics.

Thesis Clarity blend ingredients include:

7,8 Dihydroxyflavone – 30mg
Camellia Sinesis Extract – 250mg
Alpha GPC – 250mg
Epicatechin – 250mg
Lion’s Mane 8:1 Extract – 500mg

7, 8 Dihydroxyflavone is a man-made flavonoid that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and mimic the effects of BDNF (dubbed “MiracleGro for the brain”). Camellia Sinesis is the ingredient that earned tea’s reputation as a health drink. It’s a potent source of the relaxing compound l-Theanine. Epicatechin also comes from tea, and it promotes optimal blood flow, mood, and neuroprotection.

A dose of Clarity takes three capsules, and I couldn’t pinpoint the exact time I started feeling it. The effects became more pronounced after approximately one hour.

Don’t expect a huge boost in energy or racing thoughts from this one. Once I released that expectation, I noticed that I felt clear, calm yet alert, steady, and mentally sharp . All without overstimulation. I flowed through my work, easily focusing on each task through completion.

To my surprise, Clarity went from among my least favorite Find My Formula blends, to my Thesis top pick.

I’m confident that this is one of the only nootropics that I can take in the afternoon (or even evening) and still sleep great.

Thesis Creativity

Thesis Nootropics Review: Creativity Formula

Creativity helps you generate new ideas, think abstractly, and finally bring your dream projects to fruition. It works by quieting overthinking and helping integrate both hemispheres of the brain.

The stack of powerful adaptogenic herbs also makes it an excellent choice for stressful situations, or to relax in social events.

You can rest assured that it contains some of the most researched and scientifically proven herbs on the planet. Ashwagandha and Panax Ginseng are staples in Ayurvedic (Indian) and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Thousands of studies back their use.

Thesis Creativity blend ingredients include:

KSM-66 Ashwagandha – 300mg
GS15-4 Panax Ginseng – 200mg
Zembrin® – 25mg
Agmatine Sulfate – 250mg
Alpha GPC – 150mg

The Thesis formulators did a great job here, handpicking the strongest, cleanest, and most bioavailable forms of each ingredient.

Zembrin is one I hadn’t heard of, but am impressed by what I’ve learned. It’s a plant extract known to boost mood, improve workout focus, alleviate nervousness, and enhance complex problem-solving.

Approximately 45 minutes after my three-capsule dose, I noticed myself feeling slightly less reactive to urgent emails and other daily stressors. I could also more easily discern wisdom from my intuition. Each time I followed my instinct, I made the right choice.

I do already regularly take Ashwagandha and Ginseng in my own supplement regimen (which I stopped for this experiment), so it’s likely that my reaction is milder than most.

Thesis Logic

The name summarizes it well. Logic supports rational thinking. Making a popular choice among lawyers, bankers, programmers, scientists, academics, and those looking to boost their analytical abilities.

Though I didn’t get it selected for my Starter Kit, I reached out to their customer service to have it swapped in. As a Data Scientist, I knew that this would fit me well.

I was right. My first experience with the original Find My Formula Logic blend quickly took silver (only behind their original Energy). It hit the sweet spot between energetic stimulation and effortless focus. I went from spec sheet to finished product 35 percent faster than normal.

Thesis Logic blend ingredients include:

Triacetyluridine – 30mg
Vegan Omega-3 Lysine complex (EPA + DHA) – 200mg
Phosphatidylserine – 200mg
Theobromine – 100mg
Gingko Biloba – 160mg
Synapsa® (Bacopa monnieri extract) – 320mg

As its name suggests, Triacetyluridine is a more potent version of the nootropic uridine. It’s known to improve learning, memory, energy, mood, and reduce neuroinflammation.

Theobromine is a mild stimulant related to caffeine naturally occurring in cacao. It increases blood flow, and improves focus.

Those interested in memory enhancement may know Bacopa — one of the greatest ancient memory-enhancing herbs. Gingko is another notable natural herb, known to improve alertness, concentration, focus, and memory.

Phosphatidylserine comes from sunflowers. It gently alleviates stress without drowsiness, improves memory, and increases alertness.

Indeed, the Logic formulation improves working memory, offsets stress, and accelerates learning. On days I reluctantly approached tedious work, the two capsule dose of Logic took the edge off within about 20 minutes.

I’m still experimenting with the latest Logic blend, but so far it stacks up with the original. The new Logic feels slightly weaker, but I greatly prefer the new ingredients.

Thesis Motivation

Thesis Nootropics Review: Motivation Formula

Motivation comes in a lime-green sachet. It’s Thesis’ take on the classic and original CILTEP nootropic stack.

Motivation bills itself as best for:

Crushing your TODO list
Building healthy habits
Increasing discipline and drive

It’s one of the blends that’s most polarizing. You either love it, or you hate it.

I’ve tested this exact formulation produced by several different companies (including NaturalStacks and Find My Formula), and I’ve had bad experiences every single time.

The predominant effect I notice is a headache (which I never get). I also feel slightly spacey. This time I came prepared and used Semax to pull me out of my CILTEP fog.

But just as many people rave about their Motivation.

Thesis Motivation blend ingredients include:

Forskolin – 250mg
Methylcobalamin – 1000mcg
Dynamine – 100mg
L-Phenylalanine – 500mg
Artichoke Extract – 450mg

It’s safe to say that after two days of use, you’ll know which Motivation camp you fall into.

Thesis Confidence

TakeThesis Nootropics Confidence Formula Review

Confidence is a newer Thesis blend that came out in mid-2022 after heavy internal research and development. I’ve been using it for the last few weeks and it’s certainly one of my favorites. Perhaps my top non-stimulating Thesis Formula.

Typical use cases for Confidence include:

Important situations
Doing uncomfortable or new things
Times of leadership
Stopping overwhelm

My experience with Thesis Confidence has been overwhelmingly positive. Within about 30 minutes, I felt a smooth and definite mood boost. The day seemed to flow easily. I didn’t feel jitters or nervousness before overwise stressful no-agenda meetings.

This one is great for social situations. I’m noticing that I feel more comfortable and bold as a newbie Bachata dancer.

Although it’s not very stimulating, I noticed a slight rush kind of like the effect of finishing a good workout. Increased blood flow and slight flushing paired with relaxation (but certainly not any sedation).

Thesis Confidence blend ingredients include:

Saffron extract (affron®) – 28mg
Ashwagandha extract (Shoden®) – 120mg
Sage extract – 333mg
Magnesium threonate – 50mg
Magnolia bark extract (DHH-B) – 10mg

This is an excellent formula. I love the synergy between the ingredients. Plus, many of these (like Saffron) are expensive and commonly faked in supplements. By using the patented versions, we’re assuredly getting the real thing.

How to Use Thesis

When the shipment finally arrives in the mail, you might feel overwhelmed.

Here’s what to expect…

Inside the large box, you’ll find four smaller boxes. Each box contains five sachets. Monday through Saturday mornings, you take one full sachet (2-3 capsules).

I suggest you take notes beforehand on what you wish to get out of the experience. Some popular examples include:

Spending less time distracted on social media
Output at your main job
Progress toward hobbies, projects, or other work
Starting a new skill, language, or health habit
Finish work faster

Then, at the end of each day, spend 15-seconds jotting down notes in the provided instruction manual. Trust me, this makes a huge difference. After completing week four, you’ll probably forget which blends you loved, the effects they had, and which ones didn’t work for you.

Some of the ingredients last slightly longer in your system, so I take the entire weekend off to allow my neurochemistry to reset. This also ensures you get the most bang for your buck.

After repeating this process for all four boxes, you’ll have discovered your favorite blends. A Thesis coach can help you customize future orders so you’ll only receive the ones you want!

Tips to Get the Most Out of Thesis Nootropics

Free Nootropics Mini Email Course New e1722472217121

Nootropics aren’t cheap.

You can skip this entire section, but these tips will help ensure that you get the most out of your experience.

Caffeine-free . If you’re new to nootropics, start with the non-caffeinated versions. I drink coffee most days. Sometimes two cups. But I always get my nootropics caffeine-free. For several reasons. First, nootropics potentiate caffeine. One coffee can feel like 3. If you’re not used to the combo, going caff-free gives you more control. Caff-free also means that I can take nootropics later in the day. Also, the health benefits of coffee don’t come from caffeine but from the polyphenols, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals. Plus, I just like the taste of coffee.

If you like this kind of thing, join my FREE nootropics mini-course where you’ll learn:

How professionals choose products
Tips to feel stronger effects and get more out of your supplements
Money-saving hacks
Natural cognitive enhancement technologies
Latest neuroscience-backed strategies to upgrade your brain

Fill out the info below to get started…

Request received. Your invitation should arrive in your inbox within about 5 minutes.

Thesis Nootropics Questions & Answers

Should i take thesis with caffeine.

I recommend taking Thesis without caffeine to start. Caffeine greatly increases the effects of certain nootropics. For some, this can be too much and lead to panic, headaches, and unease. You can always add coffee and more easily control your caffeine dosage later.

What’s the difference between Thesis and Find My Formula nootropics?

Thesis is the latest generation of Find My Formula nootropics. They’ve refined, upgraded, and revamped every single one of their formulas according to the latest neuroscience research. Find My Formula products are no longer available.

Which Thesis blend is best?

Your ideal Thesis stack depends on your neurochemistry, lifestyle, and goals. People either love or hate their Motivation blend. My favorites (in order) are Clarity, Energy, and then Logic.

How much do Thesis nootropics cost?

Thesis offers two different buying options: one-time, and subscription. One-time purchases cost $119.00 and subscriptions cost $79.00 per month. Use code URBAN and save an extra 15 percent! Thesis backs all purchases with a full 30-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.

Thesis Nootropics Review: Boosting Your Brain With Precision Formulas

Ignore those that say you’re stuck with a less-than-optimal brain.

According to the latest neuroscience (and countless personal examples), that’s demonstrably false.

That is if you use the right products.

The most popular nootropics today are:

I’m constantly trying the latest nootropic formulas.

I take most of them for a month and see little benefit.

Thesis is one exception, featuring an impressive array of the highest-quality forms of well-researched ingredients. Drawing from their millions of data points, they’ve come up with unique formulas that give you both a quick boost and long-term benefits .

So that one day, should you choose, you can completely stop supplementing and continue enjoying all the fruits of an upgraded brain.

I personally prefer their Clarity, Energy, and Logic. Each serves a role specific to the type of day I have ahead.

Since the original Find My Formula blends, I’m impressed with their improvements. They’ve moved away from some of the man-made ingredients and embraced natural (but effective) bioharmonizing compounds.

As of January 2022, Thesis has amassed a 4.5+ star rating on 7,411 ratings.

Try it yourself with the exclusive Outliyr discount:

Thesis nootropics code URBAN saves you 10%

To the long-term Formula users — what do you think of the update? Have you enjoyed the new Thesis blends?

Let’s have a discussion in the comments below!

Post Tags: Brain & Cognition , Lifestyle , Nootropics , Review , Supplements

12 thoughts on “The Best Nootropics Supplements Personalized to Your Brain?”

Unfortunately, I can not use any of the samples sent by Thesis. Each packet contained the caffeine equal to a cup of coffee.

What a bummer!

I’m not sure how you do with caffeine, but it also includes l-theanine which is a natural amino acid that really smoothes out the negative effects of caffeine (I won’t use any form of caffeine without it). You might want to reach out to their team about this, but last I heard, one of the pills in each sachet is exclusively caffeine/theanine. I’ve received a few caffeinated boxes, and just threw away the smallest white caffeine/theanine pill.

Or you can reach out to them and they will likely make it right.

Hey, I had the same issue. Fortunately, the caffeine portion comes in its own separate capsule (the white capsule in each packet), so you can choose to leave it out!

Correct. It’s the smaller white one if there are multiple white capsules.

I’ll be honest. I think this is a scam, like snake oil.

Hi Andrew. Not sure what you mean. Have you ever used nootropics? Or botanicals/herbals? What makes you think this is a scam?

This is my first time visiting the website although I’m no stranger to nootropics. I don’t remember where or how I discovered acetyl choline—AGP?—but it was a game changer for me. I’d been taking phosphatidylserine for memory enhancement for at least 2 decades, L-Tyrosine to boost dopamine, PEA, for the same reason. All on my own initiative, as a result of my own independent research. What disturbs me about Thesis is: 1). I suffer from a congenital disease for which there is no cure—Lipedema—and this is allegedly at the root of the fatigue which has blighted my entire life and which I have been attempting to overcome for most of it. The disease afflicts about 10% of women and as one doctor blithely informed me, “you;d be better off with cancer. At least there’s a chance you might recover.” As a result of the quiz I took, Thesis informed me I was in the bottom 4% of applicants and never investigated further. Well, Hello. 2). Quiz had questions about exercise but nothing about diet or meditation, Since I follow functional and integrative Medicine, these gaps disappointed me. I still haven’t made up my mind about becoming a member, but I am grateful to Andrew Huberman for drawing my attention to this range of products.

Hi Jacqueline, sorry about the super slow response here! Glad you’ve found things that work for you. That’s strange. When I took the quiz, they didn’t show percentiles. I agree, diet and meditation are essential. Impossible to overlook really, especially when we’re discussing nutraceuticals. I’ll let them know when I talk to them next.

Update on “the ingredients are not evenly distributed throughout the pills.” I spoke to a Thesis rep this week, and after a detailed conversation regarding the caffeine pills (the small white pill in each caffeine line of products), she clarified that the other pills (not the 100mg of caffeine + 200 mg of L-Theanine small white pill) have the remaining blend evenly distributed between the pills.

Loved your article, how you spelt it out, and agree strongly with the feelings on Clarity being “clear, calm yet alert, steady, and mentally sharp. All without overstimulation.”

Good correction! The caffeine/theanine pill is easy enough to spot.

Thanks for the feedback. Which are your favorite(s)?

Nick, this is an awesome intro to nootropics and Thesis, thank you for breaking this down! I was a Formula customer for years and my favorite blends were Clarity and Creativity. With the new Thesis formulations Energy has been added into my routine! I feel like I have tools at my disposal for any occasion… Creativity is great for social situations or other experiences that would otherwise leave me mentally fatigued, Clarity is great when I have a ton I want to accomplish without interruption, Energy is great when I haven’t had great sleep or need to do more physical stuff. I don’t use it every day, but it’s there when I need a lift. Great read, thanks for the knowledge!

Thanks! How often do you use Thesis? Do you combine it with anything else?

Who is Nick Urban

Every year I spend over 1,000 hours reading, discovering, testing, and analyzing strategies

Nick Urban is the Founder of Outliyr, an expert Biohacker of 10+ years, Data Scientist, Certified CHEK Practitioner, Host of the Mind Body Peak Performance Podcast , and a High-Performance Coach. Click here to read how Nick went from struggling pre-diabetic, to collegiate rugby national champion. If you want to send Nick a quick message, then visit his Contact Page .

Zoom with Nick Urban

BiOptimizers Breakthroughs

An entire catalog of best-in-class formulas produced by the world's highest-rated supplement brand. As mentioned in my full BiOptimizers review , I use their products daily. Code URBAN saves 10%

Sens.ai Brain Training

Like building your ideal body in the gym, we can also train our minds to work better and more efficiently. I use this 5-in-1 system daily. Read my review and use code URBAN to save 5%

Nootopia Brain Breakthrough

Instantly unlock your brain's full potential with powerful elixirs customized to your unique neurochemistry. Read my review and use code URBAN to save 10%

Coaching Login

Biohacker's Shop

Mind Body Peak Podcast

Urban Supplement Stack

Biohacking Resources

1500 E Riverside Dr, Austin TX

530-426-2319

Illuminate Health
Certification Program
Editorial Guidelines
Return Policy
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy

Thesis Review: Are Personalized Nootropics Legit?

Calloway Cook Calloway Cook is the President of Illuminate Labs and has reviewed over 1,000 clinical trials. See full bio . , Author | Taylor Graber MD Taylor Graber is a Medical Doctor (MD) and a practicing anaesthesiologist. He's also an entrepreneur who runs a health and wellness startup. See full bio . , Medical Reviewer Last updated: Nov 05, 2023

Calloway Cook Calloway Cook is the President of Illuminate Labs and has reviewed over 1,000 clinical trials. See full bio . , Author

Taylor Graber MD Taylor Graber is a Medical Doctor (MD) and a practicing anaesthesiologist. He's also an entrepreneur who runs a health and wellness startup. See full bio . , Medical Reviewer Last updated: Nov 05, 2023

We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.

Illuminate Labs has a team of medical experts including doctors and Registered Dietitians who are assigned to review the accuracy of health claims and medical research summaries based on the relevancy of their expertise to the article topic.

The focus of our articles is to share our opinion on the potential efficacy and safety of health trends and products.

T hesis is a wellness brand that sells personalized nootropics. The brand sells supplements with unique names like “Creativity” and “Motivation,” and claims that their individualized products are “based on your unique brain chemistry.”

But is there legitimate research backing personalized nootropics or is this just a marketing spin? Why does the brand ask for so much personal data? Are their supplements well-formulated? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Thesis?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we share our concerns about the marketing practices and health claims of Thesis.

We’ll also analyze the ingredients in one of their formulations based on medical research to give our take on whether or not it's likely to be effective. We’ll share customer reviews of Thesis nootropics including some from individuals with ADHD.

Is the “Personalized” Approach Fake?

The branding around Thesis is of “personalized nootropic formulas,” however this may be entirely untrue.

We submitted test answers into the health intake form of their site, along with a fake email, and after submitting all of this information we were brought to their “Starter Kit” landing page which is accessible at this link .

If you access the above link in a new window, the products suggested are the exact same, which suggests that Thesis is really collecting sensitive customer health data based on the guise of “personalized” supplements, while providing no additional value, which is a highly questionable marketing approach in our opinion.

The concept of “personalized nootropics” doesn’t even make sense, because the manufacturer would have to literally formulate and package them when a customer placed an order, unique to each customer’s order which is highly unlikely. It would make no business sense for a company to formulate millions of unique products and would be logistically impossible.

It appears that Thesis simply recommends some of their supplements to consumers based on their needs, which is not a “personalized nootropic formula,” it’s a personalized recommendation which literally any brand could offer.

This leads us to our second concern about this brand.

Rather than simply selling supplements, they require users to complete a questionnaire which asks a number of sensitive health questions.

As shown above, the brand requires users to answer questions about their gender identity and their alcoholic intake in their health quiz. What does this have anything to do with nootropics, and why would any user share this data with a random supplement startup?

We would recommend avoiding this brand based on these marketing and data collection practices alone, but in the next section we’ll analyze the formulation of one of their products.

Ingredient Analysis

Thesis Motivation supplement ingredients

Thesis’ “Motivation Formula” contains five active ingredients: l-phenylalanine, Dynamine, vitamin B12, forskolin and artichoke extract.

L-phenylalanine is an amino acid that Thesis describes as supporting mood, attention and motivation, however these claims are uncited and we can’t find any medical evidence supporting them.

Most of the clinical research we found on this ingredient involves obesity, with this clinical trial finding that l-phenylalanine may increase the sense of fullness and decrease calories consumed in overweight individuals, but only at a dose 20x that in Thesis’ supplement.

Dynamine is a trademarked form of methylliberine, which is a chemical compound that can be isolated from coffee beans and tea. Thesis claims that this compound “supports alertness” but this claim is uncited and we can’t find any medical evidence supporting it.

The manufacturer of this ingredient is a company called Compound Solutions, and the company even states on their website that this ingredient is “typically used in combination with caffeine and TeaCrine,” because all three of the clinical trials that the manufacturer cites on their website use Dynamine in combination with either caffeine or TeaCrine.

However, there is no caffeine or TeaCrine in Thesis Motivation.

Vitamin B12 is often included in nootropic formulations, but we’re unsure why. As we referenced in our review of another nootropic supplement called Noocube which also contains this ingredient, we can’t identify any medical evidence that vitamin B12 improves cognitive function in healthy adults without a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Forskolin was shown in an animal study to reduce memory loss, but the lowest dose used was equivalent to over 200% of the human-equivalent dose in Thesis. We can’t identify any clinical trials with human trial participants proving this compound to be an effective nootropic.

Artichoke extract is the final active ingredient, and Thesis claims that this ingredient “supports blood flow and promotes stress management.” These claims are uncited and we’re unclear on why this ingredient would be included in a nootropic formula, as even the stated health claims do not reference an explicit improvement in cognitive function.

Thesis fails to publish inactive ingredients for Motivation, which is an important consumer safety concern.

Overall we do not consider Thesis Motivation likely to be effective for improving cognitive function or productivity as we are unable to identify a single active ingredient that we would consider effective at the given dose, based on a review of clinical studies.

We do not recommend this supplement or brand, and consider this product to be one of the worst nootropic formulations that we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health. Most nootropic supplements we review at least contain one effectively-dosed active ingredient.

We Tried Thesis Ourselves

One of our product testers named Matt Donnelly tested Thesis. Here's his experience:

I spent the month trying out the starter pack, which included CLARITY, MOTIVATION, LOGIC, and MOTIVATION.

Of the four, the only one that seemed to have any positive effect was LOGIC. It's good for “Research projects” and “Complex problem-solving” according to the packaging.

I was hoping for good results because I had been sidetracked from creative projects. It seemed like this one may have contributed to more focus overall and focused attention.

On some days I got very tired a few hours after taking the capsules, and needed to lie down in the afternoon.

There are three or four pills in each packet. It seemed to me like a lot to consume on a daily basis, and the pills are large so they could be challenging to swallow.

Overall, I would rate Thesis 3/10 and I wouldn't purchase this product again.

Thesis User Test

A YouTube creator named “LUKAS YAN” reviewed Thesis nootropics and shared his thoughts on whether or not the supplements improved his physical and mental energy:

Will Thesis Nootropics Cause Side Effects?

Thesis Nootropics do not appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, so it’s impossible to say for certain whether or not they’re likely to cause side effects. However, we can make an educated guess based on their formulations.

Most of the active ingredients in Thesis supplements appear to be safe and well-studied. We don’t have access to the full set of the brand’s supplements because instead of transparently posting all product pages they rely on the “individualized” marketing.

Our concern in regard to side effects is that the brand fails to clearly publish inactive ingredient information, and some inactive ingredients can cause side effects.

We hope that in the future Thesis publishes inactive ingredients in the same section where active ingredients are published for each supplement they sell. This is important for consumer safety.

Our Clean Nootropic Picks

Mind Lab Pro by Performance Lab is our top premium nootropic pick.

This is the first Illuminate Labs Certified supplement, and has been shown to be effective for short-term cognitive improvements in two clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals.

Performance Lab MCT Oil is our top food-based nootropic pick.

MCT oil is derived from coconut oil, and improved memory recall by 20% in adults in a 2022 meta-study .

Illuminate Labs Ginkgo Biloba Extract is our top herbal nootropic pick.

A medical review published in the Psychopharmacology journal found that ginkgo biloba supplementation improved attention and cognitive performance in healthy, young adults.

Is Thesis Effective for ADHD?

We don’t recommend using Thesis supplements to treat any specific health condition.

There are several TikTok reviews from individuals with ADHD who tried Thesis supplements.

A TikTok user named Syd shared her experience using Thesis while having ADHD:

@sydneydelucchi Lets try @takethesis ! #nootropics #nootropicsforadhd #adhd ♬ original sound - Syd 🦋

A TikTok creator named Mike Cribbs shared her experience:

@mikacribbs Replying to @adrienne here are my initial thoughts using @Thesis 💙🩵 #takethesis #nootropics #thesis ♬ Fukashigi no Carte Lofi Hiphop (Bunny Girl Senpai) - bvyunx

We disagree with the way Thesis markets their products, and we recommend that consumers avoid giving sensitive health data to dietary supplement startups unnecessarily.

The one Thesis supplement that we analyzed based on its active ingredients, called Motivation, was underwhelming. We were unable to identify any effectively-dosed ingredients based on a review of medical research, and the brand fails to clearly publish inactive ingredient information or cite the health claims made about their ingredients.

We do not recommend Thesis supplements although we don’t consider it likely that the supplements will cause side effects.

Some TikTok users with ADHD who tried Thesis supplements had relatively negative feedback.

Mind Lab Pro Review: The Most Well-Studied Nootropic?

• nootropics.

Noobru Review: Can it Boost Focus?

Fish Oil Supplements vs. Whole Fish: Which is Healthier?

• nutrition.

Pendulum Probiotics Review: Do Natural GLP-1s Work?

• probiotics.

Is Diet Dr. Pepper Bad for You? An Ingredient Analysis

• nutrition.

Are Quest Chips Unhealthy? An RD Answers

Stunning After 40 Review: Are Menopause Probiotics a Scam?

• menopause.

goPure Neck Cream Review: Healthiest Neck Cream?

• skincare.

Qsymia Review: 10% Weight Loss in Under a Year?

• weight loss.

Curie Deodorant Review: Is Shark Tank Deodorant Overhyped?

• deodorant.

Is Fairlife Milk Healthy? An Ingredient Analysis

Wakers Happy Coffee Review: Is TikTok Coffee Unhealthy?

• coffee.

Pure Protein Bars Review: Cheap for a Reason?

• protein.

Grüns Review: Are Super Gummies a Scam?

Are Goldfish Healthy? A Dietitian Answers

Silver Fern Brand Review: Good Products and Bad Marketing

• gut health.

Happy Viking Review: Is Venus Williams' Shake Healthy?

• meal replacement.

Nuun vs. Liquid IV: Which is Healthier?

• electrolytes.

HiPhenolic Review: Can Polyphenols Reduce BP?

• blood pressure reduction.

Are Yasso Bars Healthy? A Dietitian Answers

Black Girl Vitamins Review: Is Gummy D3 Unhealthy?

• vitamins & minerals.

Humby Organics Review: Why Are Ingredients Missing?

• shampoo.

Is Polyester Bad for You? Our Team Investigates

• public health.

What is the Best Injection for Weight Loss? A Research Review

Is Head & Shoulders Bad for Your Hair? An Ingredient Analysis

• hair.

Spartan Shampoo Review: Fake Customer Reviews?

• hair growth.

Dermelect Review: Does Overnight Anti-Aging Work?

Nature's Bounty Hair Growth Review: Overrated?

Is Shredded Wheat Good for You? A Dietitian Answers

Zoa Energy Drink Review: Is The Rock's Drink Unhealthy?

• energy drink.

Does Zicam Actually Work? An Ingredient Analysis

• cold & flu.

Juice Beauty Review: Is Organic Beauty Healthier?

Feals Gummies Review: Healthiest CBD Gummies?

• cbd.

Primal Greens Review: Best Value Green Powder?

• green powder.

RMS Beauty Review: Cleanest Cosmetic Brand?

• cosmetics.

Is Chex Mix Healthy? Why We Don't Think So

RoC Eye Cream Review: Clinically Proven Anti-Aging?

Herbal Face Food Review: Do Anti-Aging Plants Work?

• anti-aging.

Joint Food Review: Can Herbs Relieve Joint Pain?

• arthritis.

Is Suave Good For Your Hair? An Ingredient Analysis

Noor Hair Serum Review: Can Hair Regrow Stronger?

Cymbiotika Review: Are Liposomal Supplements Effective?

• supplements.

Is Core Water Good for You? Our Concern Explained

• hydration.

Simple Weight Loss Review: Does the App Work?

Zepbound Review: The New & Improved Ozempic?

Supergut Review: Is "Nature's Ozempic" Real?

Best Earl Grey Tea 2024: Which Brand is Healthiest?

• tea.

Best Creatine Gummies 2024: Which Brands Actually Work?

• exercise.

Is Tru Fru Healthy? An Ingredient Analysis

Is Oikos Triple Zero Unhealthy? An RD Answers

Olly Combat Cravings Review: Best Weight Loss Capsules?

Illuminate labs is a proud member of.

choosing a selection results in a full page refresh

THESIS Discount Code — 10% Off (Sitewide) in August 2024

Why search for Thesis coupons?

About Our Thesis Discount Codes

More thesis discounts & coupon codes.

Thesis Competitor Coupon Codes

Thesis Coupon FAQ

Does thesis offer financing or pay-over-time options, does thesis have black friday or cyber monday deals, where can i find thesis coupons, how do i use my thesis discount code, my thesis promo code didn't work. what can i do, what's today's best thesis coupon, how often does thesis offer online coupons, how many coupons is thesis offering today, how we curate our codes, rely on dealspotr for the best thesis coupon codes, verified thesis coupon codes, collective savings power, rewards for engagement, dealspotr savings scorecard.

Our thriving community and cutting-edge technology work together to deliver the most up-to-date and reliable promo codes:

Active Contributors (Last 30 days): 3,211
Codes Added (Last 30 days): 124,876
Codes Tested (Last 30 days): 590,962
Number of Working Codes: 993,419
Number of Merchants With Working Codes: 96,229
Total Savings Impact (Last 30 days): $16,059,729

These numbers showcase our commitment to providing the most comprehensive and dependable promo code platform, helping shoppers save money on their online purchases.

an image, when javascript is unavailable

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Andrew huberman explains how to live forever (or just look like it).

The podcaster answers 10 burning questions about the latest trends in health and longevity.

By James Hibberd

James Hibberd

Writer-at-Large

Share on Facebook
Share to Flipboard
Send an Email
Show additional share options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Share on Tumblr
Share on Whats App
Print the Article
Post a Comment

Health and fitness influencer Andrew Huberman made his debut on Hollywood Reporter ‘s list of the 40 Most Powerful People In Podcasting this week.

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

“dear remy”: hollywood career coach gives advice about on-set bromance and networking nightmares, the most indelible pics of classic hollywood stars all in one book, seventeen’s mingyu is decked out in denim for calvin klein fall 2024 campaign, 20 unexpected hello kitty collabs that celebrate the beloved character’s 50th anniversary, rihanna is the new queen that dior has been promising, harris-walz campaign taps hollywood-loved designers sergio hudson, aurora james, thom browne and more for stylish swag.

Live Healthier Longer

Personalized health analysis and recommendations based on your blood, dna, and fitness tracker data..

Exclusive InsideTracker x Huberman partnership.

Are you a health or fitness professional? Explore InsideTracker Pro.

Huberman exclusive:

Unlock 10% off insidetracker:, personal health analysis, + data-driven wellness guide.

“Normal” is not optimal. Go beyond generic bloodwork.

Receive 10% off your purchase!

Unlock your discount below:, how it works.

Step 1 Choose your health plan

Select the InsideTracker plan that best suits your long-term wellness goal, whether that’s healthy aging, improved fitness, improved sleep, or more!

Step 2 Complete your bloodwork

You’ll be prompted to schedule a blood draw at Quest Diagnostics. Or, add Mobile Blood Draw to bring a lab experience to your home or office!

Step 3 Receive your analysis

We'll analyze your biomarker data to generate a detailed report of where you’re optimized—and where you’re not

Step 4 Follow your Action Plan

Based on your data, you will receive personalized nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle recommendations for optimizing your health and reaching your goal.

Step 5 Retest and recalibrate

Restest with InsideTracker every 3-6 months to track your progress, update your biomarker analysis, and refresh your Action Plan with new, up-to-date recommendations.

Olympic Breakdancer Raygun Has PhD in Breakdancing?

Rachael gunn earned a zero in breakdancing at the paris 2024 olympic games., aleksandra wrona, published aug. 13, 2024.

About this rating

Gunn's Ph.D. thesis, titled "Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: a B-girl's Experience of B-boying," did cover the topic of breakdancing. However ...

... Gunn earned her Ph.D. in cultural studies. Moreover, a "PhD in breakdancing" does not exist as an academic discipline.

On Aug. 10, 2024, a rumor spread on social media that Rachael Gunn (also known as "Raygun"), an Australian breakdancer who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, had a Ph.D. in breakdancing. "This australian breakdancer has a PhD in breakdancing and dance culture and was a ballroom dancer before taking up breaking. I don't even know what to say," one X post on the topic read .

"Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn has a PhD in breakdancing and dance culture," one X user wrote , while another asked, "Who did we send? Raygun, a 36-year-old full-time lecturer at Sydney's Macquarie University, completed a PhD in breaking culture and is a lecturer in media, creative arts, literature and language," another X user wrote .

The claim also spread on other social media platforms, such as Reddit and Instagram .

"Is she the best break dancer? No. But I have so much respect for going on an international stage to do something you love even if you're not very skilled at it," one Instagram user commented , adding that, "And, I'm pretty sure she's using this as a research endeavor and will be writing about all our reactions to her performance. Can't wait to read it!"

In short, Gunn's Ph.D. thesis, titled "Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-girl's Experience of B-boying," indeed focused on the topic of breakdancing. However, Gunn earned her Ph.D. in cultural studies, not in breakdancing. Furthermore, it's important to note that a "PhD in breakdancing" does not exist as an academic discipline.

Since Gunn's research focused on the breakdancing community, but her degree is actually in the broader field of cultural studies, we have rated this claim as a "Mixture" of truths.

Gunn "secured Australia's first ever Olympic spot in the B-Girl competition at Paris 2024 by winning the QMS Oceania Championships in Sydney, NSW, Australia," the Olympics official website informed .

Gunn earned a zero in breakdancing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and clips of her routine went viral on social media, with numerous users creating memes or mocking dancer's moves. "As well as criticising her attire, social media users mocked the Australian's routine as she bounced around on stage like a kangaroo and stood on her head at times," BBC article on the topic read .

The website of the Macquarie University informed Gunn "is an interdisciplinary and practice-based researcher interested in the cultural politics of breaking" and holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies, as well as a bachelor of arts degree (Hons) in contemporary music:

Rachael Gunn is an interdisciplinary and practice-based researcher interested in the cultural politics of breaking. She holds a PhD in Cultural Studies (2017) and a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Music (2009) from Macquarie University. Her work draws on cultural theory, dance studies, popular music studies, media, and ethnography. Rachael is a practising breaker and goes by the name of 'Raygun'. She was the Australian Breaking Association top ranked bgirl in 2020 and 2021, and represented Australia at the World Breaking Championships in Paris in 2021, in Seoul in 2022, and in Leuven (Belgium) in 2023. She won the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.

Gunn's biography further revealed that she is a member of the Macquarie University Performance and Expertise Reasearch Centre, and has a range of teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels "across the areas of media, creative industries, music, dance, cultural studies, and work-integrated learning."

Moreover, it informed her research interests included, "Breaking, street dance, and hip-hop culture; youth cultures/scenes; constructions of the dancing body; politics of gender and gender performance; ethnography; the methodological dynamics between theory and practice."

Gunn earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Media, Music, Communications, and Cultural Studies within the Faculty of Arts at Macquarie University. Below, you can find the abstract of her paper, shared by the official website of Macquarie University:

This thesis critically interrogates how masculinist practices of breakdancing offers a site for the transgression of gendered norms. Drawing on my own experiences as a female within the male-dominated breakdancing scene in Sydney, first as a spectator, then as an active crew member, this thesis questions why so few female participants engage in this creative space, and how breakdancing might be the space to displace and deterritorialise gender. I use analytic autoetthnography and interviews with scene members in collaboration with theoretical frameworks offered by Deleuze and Guttari, Butler, Bourdieu and other feminist and post-structuralist philosophers, to critically examine how the capacities of bodies are constituted and shaped in Sydney's breakdancing scene, and to also locate the potentiality for moments of transgression. In other words, I conceptualize the breaking body as not a 'body' constituted through regulations and assumptions, but as an assemblage open to new rhizomatic connections. Breaking is a space that embraces difference, whereby the rituals of the dance not only augment its capacity to deterritorialize the body, but also facilitate new possibilities for performativities beyond the confines of dominant modes of thought and normative gender construction. Consequently, this thesis attempts to contribute to what I perceive as a significant gap in scholarship on hip-hop, breakdancing, and autoethnographic explorations of Deleuze-Guattarian theory.

In a response to online criticism of her Olympics performance, Gunn wrote on her Instagram profile: "Don't be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that's gonna take you":

We have recently investigated other 2024 Paris Olympics' -related rumors, such as:

Lifeguards Are Present at Olympic Swimming Competitions?
Hobby Lobby Pulled $50M in Ads from 2024 Paris Olympics?
2024 Paris Olympics Are 'Lowest-Rated' Games in Modern History?

Gunn, Rachael Louise. Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-Girl's Experience of B-Boying. 2022. Macquarie University, thesis. figshare.mq.edu.au, https://doi.org/10.25949/19433291.v1.

---. Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-Girl's Experience of B-Boying. 2022. Macquarie University, thesis. figshare.mq.edu.au, https://doi.org/10.25949/19433291.v1.

Ibrahim, Nur. "Lifeguards Are Present at Olympic Swimming Competitions?" Snopes, 8 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/lifeguards-paris-olympics-swimming/.

"Olympic Breaking: Criticism of Viral Breakdancer Rachael Gunn - Raygun - Condemned by Australia Team." BBC Sport, 10 Aug. 2024, https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c2dgxp5n3rlo.

ORCID. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1069-4021. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.

Paris 2024. https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/-raygun_1940107. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.

Saunders, Grant Leigh, and Rachael Gunn. "Australia." Global Hip Hop Studies, vol. 3, no. 1–2, Dec. 2023, pp. 23–32. Macquarie University, https://doi.org/10.1386/ghhs_00060_1.

Wazer, Caroline. "2024 Paris Olympics Are 'Lowest-Rated' Games in Modern History?" Snopes, 1 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/paris-olympics-lowest-rated-games/.

---. "Hobby Lobby Pulled $50M in Ads from 2024 Paris Olympics?" Snopes, 8 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/olympics-hobby-lobby-ads/.

By Aleksandra Wrona

Aleksandra Wrona is a reporting fellow for Snopes, based in the Warsaw, Poland, area.

Article Tags

Get the zero-cost Daily Blueprint: Andrew’s protocols to maximize your productivity, physical and mental health

Sign up to receive a copy of my Daily Blueprint, where I break down my daily routine and share the tools and protocols I rely on to stay focused, healthy and productive — so you can maximize your own physical and mental health.

Premium Dashboard Become a Member

Nutrients For Brain Health & Performance

Listen or watch on your favorite platforms.

In this episode, Dr. Huberman describes science-supported nutrients for brain and performance (cognition) and general nervous system health.

He describes ten tools for this purpose, including specific amounts and sources for Omega-3 fatty acids, which make up the “structural fat” of neurons (nerve cells) and allow them to function across our lifespan. He also reviews data on creatine, phosphatidylserine, anthocyanins, choline, glutamine and how they each impact brain function in healthy people seeking to reinforce and improve their cognition and in those combatting cognitive decline. Dr. Huberman describes both food-based and supplement-based sources for these compounds and their effective dose ranges based on peer-reviewed literature.

Then he reviews the three factors: gut-brain signaling, perceived taste, and learned associations that combine with the metabolic and blood-sugar-elevating effects of food to determine what foods we seek and prefer. Amazingly, it’s not just about what tastes good to us. Next, Dr. Huberman explores how we can leverage the neural circuits of learned food preference toward seeking and enjoying the right foods for brain health and performance. He also reviews new data on non-caloric sweeteners and why consuming them with glucose-elevating foods can be detrimental, in some cases rapidly leading to insulin dysregulation. This episode covers more than ten actionable tools for those seeking to improve and/or maintain brain function. It explains modern neuroscience underlying our sense of taste, our food-seeking preferences, and brain metabolism.

Review on anthocyanins and cognition
Review on creatine and brain health studies
Review on “Rethinking Food Reward”
00:00:00 Food & Brain Function Introduction
00:02:08 Summary: Critical Aspects of Time Restricted Feeding/Fasting
00:04:19 Sponsors: Roka, Athletic Greens, Headspace
00:08:24 Neuroplasticity Super Protocol (Zero-Cost Tools) Online
00:09:22 Eating to Enhance Brain Function & Foundational Aspects of Brain Health
00:13:00 Eating Fats for Brain Health, EFAs Phospholipids (Tool 1: 1-3g EPA Omega-3/day)
00:20:35 Phosphatidylserine (Tool 2: 300mg/day)
00:22:15 Choline, Egg Yolks (Tool 3: 1-2g/day Threshold)
00:28:26 Hydration & Electrolytes (Tool 4)
00:29:50 Liquid Fish Oil/Capsules (2-3g EPA per day; 300mg Alpha GPC 2-4X/week)
00:32:22 Creatine for Cognition (Tool 5: 5g/day)
00:36:28 Anthocyanins, Dark Skin Berries (Tool 6-10mg/day (Extract), 1-2 cups Berries)
00:41:19 L-Glutamine (Tool: 1-10g/day) & Offsetting Apnea & Inflammation
00:49:23 Neural Basis of Food Preference, Yum, Yuck, Meh; Taste, Guts, & Beliefs
00:55:25 Taste is 100% In your Head
00:59:50 Gut Neurons Controlling Food Preference: Neuropod Cells; (Tool 7: Fermented Foods)
01:06:14 Capsule Probiotics, Brain Fog
01:07:16 Learning to Like Specific Tastes: Sweetness & Brain Metabolism
01:12:11 Hard-Wiring & Soft-Wiring
01:13:25 Artificial & Non-Caloric Sweeteners: Safe or Harmful Depends on (Glucose) Context
01:18:15 Non-Caloric Sweetener & Insulin; (Tool 8: Don’t Have w/Glucose Elevating Foods)
01:22:17 Beliefs & Thoughts; The Insula; (Tool 9: Pairing-Based Reshaping Food Preferences)
01:30:42 Liking Neuro-Healthy Foods & Bettering Brain Metabolism (Tool 10); Food Wars
01:36:05 Food Reward & Diabetes, Obesity; Important Review Article (See Caption)
01:38:28 Synthesis, Zero-Cost Support, Future Topic Suggestions, Sponsors, Supplements

Become a Huberman Lab Premium member to access full episode transcripts & more

Members also get to submit questions for AMA episodes, plus access to exclusive bonus content. A significant portion of proceeds are donated to fund human scientific research.

or sign in to view this Transcript

Andrew Huberman:

Welcome to the Huberman Lab podcast, where we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life. I'm Andrew Huberman and I'm a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. Today we are talking all about food and the brain. We are going to talk about foods that are good for your brain in terms of focus, in terms of brain health generally, and the longevity of your brain, your ability to maintain cognition and clear thinking over time. We are also going to talk about why and how you prefer certain foods to others. I'm going to talk about the three major signals that combine to drive your food choices. I'll give you a little hint of what those are. One of those signals comes from your gut and is completely subconscious. This is not the gut microbiome per se. These are neurons in your gut that are sending signals to your brain that you are unaware of about the nutrient contents of the foods that you are eating.

The second signal is how metabolically accessible a given food is, meaning how readily that food can be converted into energy that your brain, not your body, but that your brain can use. The third signal is perhaps the most interesting one. It's the signal of belief. It's the signal of what you perceive and believe the food that you're eating to contain and what you think it can do for you healthwise and energywise. That might sound a little wishy-washy or vague, but we're going to provide mechanistic data to support the fact that you can change what you eat, so much so that you can drive your brain and your body to crave foods that are good for you, or at least better for you than the foods you might currently be eating. This is an incredibly powerful mechanism that we all have. It's one that I think is very underappreciated. Today I'm going to review the data from both animal models and fortunately, more recently, human studies that really do underscore the fact that you can control your desire for particular foods.

Before we dive into today's topic, I just want to briefly touch on some key takeaways from a previous episode, which is the episode on time-restricted feeding, also called intermittent fasting. The key elements of time-restricted feeding that will benefit your health the most in terms of weight loss or maintenance, fat loss, organ health, quality sleep and cognition are that the feeding window begin at least one hour after waking. You could push that feeding window out to begin later, but at least one hour after waking and that it end at least two, and ideally three, hours before going to sleep. Some people can end that feeding window much further away from the beginning of sleep, meaning they're finishing their last bite of food, for instance, at 6:00 p.m., and they're not going to sleep until midnight. But many people struggle to get quality sleep if that feeding window is set too early relative to when they go to sleep.

Begin the feeding window at least one hour after waking. End the feeding window at least two hours before going to sleep. A key feature based on the scientific research is that the feeding window itself fall more or less at the same period of each 24-hour day from day to day. Meaning if you are going to eat over an eight-hour period, that's your feeding window. You wouldn't want to start that feeding window at 10:00 a.m. one day and end it at 6:00 p.m., and then the next day start at noon and end it at 8:00 p.m., and the next day start it at 2:00 p.m. and end it at 10:00 p.m., and so forth.

As much as is reasonably possible, if you want to extract the maximum benefit from time-restricted feeding, the idea is to keep that feeding window at more or less the same phase, as it's called, of each 24-hour day. If it slides around a little bit for social reasons, or whatever reasons, doesn't seem to be a big deal, but you don't want it sliding around by many hours from day to day because of the way that that feeding window impacts other genes called clock genes that regulate a bunch of other processes in the body.

Before we begin, I'd like to emphasize that this podcast is separate from my teaching and research roles at Stanford. It is however part of my desire and effort to bring zero-cost-to-consumer information about science and science-related tools to the general public. In keeping with that theme, I'd like to thank the sponsors of today's podcast. Some of the most frequent questions I get are about food and the brain. Everybody seems to want to know what they should eat and what they shouldn't eat in order to have peak brain function, to be able to focus and memorize things, and so forth, and in order to maintain brain health over time, because nobody wants to lose their memory or have troubles with cognition. Fortunately, there are a lot of data now from really good, quality peer-reviewed studies that indicate certain things that we can do, including certain foods that we should eat and perhaps even some foods that we should avoid in order to enhance our brain function.

Of course, when I say brain, what I really mean is nervous system function because how we are able to move and remember things, et cetera, doesn't just depend on the neurons, the nerve cells that are in our head. It also depends on our spinal cord and the neurons that connect to all the organs of our body. In general, there are two categories of things that are going to improve brain health from the perspective of nutrition. The first category is the general category of things that we eat and avoid and things that we do and avoid doing that will modulate brain health and function. What do I mean by modulate? Getting quality sleep on a regular basis, making sure that you are socially connected, making sure that you're not depressed. All these things are vitally important to our overall health, and of course they will impact brain function, but they do it more or less indirectly.

Okay? There are a few things that happen in sleep which directly benefit brain function and repair, et cetera. Today I really want to concentrate not on the things that modulate our overall health but rather the things that mediate brain health directly and, in particular, how certain foods enhance brain function. We are going to talk about how we can change our relationship to food, literally how we can start to prefer certain foods that are better for us than others. Just briefly, I want to touch on the modulatory components because they are vital. First of all, getting quality sleep on a regular basis and ample sleep on a regular basis is the foundation of all mental health and physical health. There's no question about that. We have done several episodes including the "Master Your Sleep" episode, which is episode two of the Huberman Lab odcast, and we've done a lot of other episodes that are all about sleep and how to get better at sleeping.

I just want to make crystal clear that unless you're sleeping well on a regular basis, your brain will suffer. You won't be able to focus very well, learn very well. Indeed, there are data linking poor quality sleep to dementia, or at least exacerbating preexisting dementias and things of that sort. Get your sleep in order. The other of course is cardiovascular health and exercise. The general prescription that's out there in the literature, and I think is well supported, is to get somewhere between 150 and 180 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week. If you choose to also use resistance exercise, that's great, but the 150 to 180 minutes minimum per week of cardiovascular exercise is crucial for heart health. Heart health directly relates to brain health because the brain consumes a lot of oxygen, glucose and other factors that are delivered via the blood.

If your arteries are clogged up and you've got poor vascular supply to the brain in any region of the brain, your brain will suffer. Get cardiovascular health in order. Now with those two modulatory elements set forth so that we're all aware that they're there and they are vitally important, now I'd like to turn to the elements that have been shown to be vitally important for directly controlling, for mediating neuron function. Neurons, of course, are nerve cells in the brain, and there are other cell types too, of course, that will impact brain function. The most prominent of which are the so-called glia. Glia means glue. Even though for a long time people thought that these cells were just kind of holding things together passively, the glia play a very active role in the metabolism neurons, in brain function, and probably also in cognition, in thinking and so forth.

What are the things that directly impact brain health, and what are the foods that we can eat that will support brain health? Generally when we think about neuron function and brain function, we default to a discussion about fuel. The fact that neurons use glucose, which is blood sugar, and that they require a lot of it. In some cases they'll use ketones, which we will talk about a little bit later, especially in people that are following a low carbohydrate or ketogenic diet. Before we can even consider the fuels that neurons use in order to function, we have to talk about the elements that actually allow those neurons to be there and to stay healthy. What actually makes up those neurons? That brings us to what I would argue is the most important food element for brain function, and that is fat.

That might come as a surprise, but unless one considers the water content of the brain, which is very high, a lot of our brain and a lot of the integrity of the nerve cells, the so-called neurons in our brain, and the other types of cells comes from fat. That's because nerve cells and other cells in the brain have an external layer, sometimes called a double-layered membrane. It's essentially two thin layers that serve as a boundary between those cells. That boundary is very important because how things pass across that boundary actually regulates the electrical activity of neurons, which is the way that neurons fire and communicate and keep you thinking and acting and doing all the good things that those neurons allow us to do. Those membranes are made up of fats. They're not made up of the fats that are around our belly, around the other organs of our body.

They're not made up of storage fat. They are made up of structural fat. Maintaining the so-called integrity of that structural fat, meaning the health of those neurons, is going to come in large part from the foods that we eat. Now, this needs to be underscored. What I'm saying is that the foods that we eat actually provide the structural basis, the building blocks of the very neurons that allow us to think over time. As I mentioned earlier, the fat that makes up those neurons in other nerve cells is different than the other types of fat in the body. What type of fat is it, and what should we eat in order to support that fat and those neurons? The answer is the so-called essential fatty acids and phospholipids. Now, those are more or less the same thing, but I just want to make a very large literature very crystal clear.

Essential fatty acids can include the so-called EPA variety. or DHA variety. You hear about omega-3s and omega-6s. Most people are getting enough omega-6s from their diet. Not everybody, but most people are getting enough omega-6s. However, most people are not getting enough omega-3s in their diet to support healthy brain function in the short and long term. I've talked before about the benefits of elevating the levels of omega-3s in one's diet for sake of offsetting depression and for enhancing mood. Indeed, there's a wealth of literature now pointing to the fact that ingesting at least one or two, or even three grams per day of EPA form of essential fatty acid can have positive effects on mood and well-being that are at least on par with some of the major antidepressant treatments out there, but without similar side effects to those antidepressant treatments.

And that for people that are already taking antidepressants, that supplementing with one to two to three grams of EPA essential fatty acids can actually allow a lower dose of antidepressant treatment to be used and still be effective. That's depression, but just in terms of maintaining normal cognitive function in people that aren't depressed, the EPAs and omega-3s seem to play a very important role. Of course, you can supplement EPAs through various fish oils, and it could be liquid fish oil or capsule fish oil. Some people, if they're not interested in eating fish for whatever reason, they're allergic or for ethical reasons, they can take krill oil and if they don't want to use krill oil, they can use algae and other forms of EPA. However, I think it's clear that one can get a lot of EPA from the proper foods. It turns out that those foods, not surprisingly, don't just contain high levels of EPA, but they also contain other things that are beneficial for brain health.

What are foods that are high in omega-3s that we should all probably be consuming at least on a daily basis? The number one is fish. Things like mackerel and salmon and herring and oysters and sardines and anchovies, and perhaps the heavyweight champion of EPAs per unit volume is caviar. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not eating a lot of fish. I'm not eating a lot of caviar, I don't think. I can't remember the last time I had caviar unless it was sprinkled on a little bit of sushi. I'm not a big fish eater, personally. I will from time to time, but that's one reason why one might want to supplement with EPAs from another source. Also, EPAs are found in chia seeds and walnuts and soybeans and other plant-based foods. You can look these up online and you'll immediately see that there are a lot of sources of EPAs. Many of the foods that I listed off might be appetizing to you.

Some of them might be unappetizing to you or some of them you might be sort of neutral about. It's very clear that eating foods that are rich in omega-3s, and/or supplementing with omega-3s, to get above that 1.5 grams and ideally up to two or even three grams per day of EPA can be very beneficial for cognitive function in the short and long term. Later in the episode I'm going to talk about how to actually change your relationship to particular foods so that foods that you don't particularly like, you can actually start to like more. That might be important for those of you that are thinking mackerel, sardines. I'm making this face because frankly those are not foods that I naturally like. Again, I want to emphasize that you don't have to consume fish and animal products in order to get sufficient EPAs.

You can get them from plants, but I do believe, based on the quality peer-reviewed research, that everybody should be striving to get a minimum threshold of at least a gram and a half of EPAs per day, one way or the other. The great thing about omega-3s is that they are also thought to be beneficial for things like cardiovascular health. Although there's some controversy there as to whether or not two grams or three grams or six grams is ideal for cardiovascular health, I think the bulk of evidence points to the fact that getting sufficient omega-3s in the diet is going to support cardiovascular health. Certainly not the only thing people should be doing to support their cardiovascular health, aerobic exercise and so forth being important also, but it does seem to support cardiovascular health, and in doing so, supporting brain health.

However, what I'm emphasizing is ingestion of omega-3s to support the very cells within the brain that make up our cognition, that allow for cognition and for movement and memory and all the other marvelous things that the brain does. The other compound that has been shown to be directly supportive of neuronal function is phosphatidylserine, which is abundant in meats and in fish. Here we are again, back to fish being an important source of brain-supporting food. Phosphatidylserine is something that nowadays people are supplementing. It's a lipid-like compound that, at least in three studies, have been shown to improve cognition. These weren't huge effects, but they were statistically significant effects. As well, in more than three, at least, at least five studies, to reduce cognitive decline. This is interesting. In every case it was 300 milligrams supplemented phosphatidylserine, but one, again, doesn't need to supplement phosphatidylserine. Phosphatidylserine can be derived, as I mentioned, from meats and fish and to some extent from cabbage, of all things.

I don't know how much cabbage people are ingesting, but later when we talk about gut health and the relationship between gut health and brain health, I'll mention fermented foods. Of course one of the most readily available fermented foods out there that at least many people find appetizing is sauerkraut, which is of course made from cabbage. It's fermented cabbage. For those of you that do consume meat and fish, provided you're getting enough fish, you're probably getting enough phosphatidylserine. For those of you that are interested in supplementing phosphatidylserine to get these effects that were reported in these various manuscripts, which by the way, I've read, and looked solid. I mean, I don't think we've seen the landmark study showing that supplementing with phosphatidylserine at 300 milligrams per day is going to create a huge offsetting of a massive cognitive decline or a massive increase in brain function.

These seem to be modest effects, but the effects do appear to be real. For those of you that are interested in supplementing with phosphatidylserine, it's a relatively inexpensive supplement that, again, is lipid-like. It's mimicking some of the same things that you would get from food, but in higher concentration. Now after EPA, fatty acids and phosphatidylserine, I would say third on the list of things that come from food that can readily support brain function would be choline. That's because of the relationship to choline in the biosynthesis pathway for acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neuromodulator, not a neurotransmitter, but a neuromodulator in the brain. A neuromodulator is a chemical that modulates the function of many brain circuits and also circuits within the body. I'll mention what those are in a moment, but acetylcholine as a neuromodulator tends to enhance the activity, the electrical activity and chemical activity, of certain sets of neurons and downplay the activity of other neurons.

It's sort of a conductor of sorts leading to enhanced function and activity in certain brain areas and circuits and not in others. For instance, the brain areas that are involved in focus and alertness. We have multiple clusters of neurons in our brain that make acetylcholine. Two of the most prominent and well-known are the so-called nucleus basalis, which is a cluster of neurons deep in the basal forebrain that highlight particular areas of our brain. Highlight meaning when acetylcholine is released from those neurons at their nerve endings and particular areas of the brain, those particular areas of the brain can undergo enhanced levels of activity relative to surrounding areas. It's kind of an electrical highlighter pen, if you will, by analogy. That is the basis of much of what we call focus or our ability to concentrate on a particular batch of information that's coming in through our eyes, our ears, our nose, or even things that we're just thinking in our head.

Having ample choline for production of acetylcholine allows for focus through, of course, many intervening steps. There are also regions of the brain in the so-called back of the brain, the hindbrain, that release acetylcholine that are involved in general states of alertness. Not surprisingly then, many of the treatments for Alzheimer's disease, which is an inability or challenges with remembering things and focusing, are drugs that impact the acetylcholine pathway and are aimed at enhancing the amount of acetylcholine that's available to neurons. It can do that through a number of different mechanisms. You can do that by enhancing the amount of acetylcholine that's created, or you can do that by taking a drug that can reduce the amount of enzyme that gobbles up the acetylcholine, and in doing so leading to more net acetylcholine. Outside of the scenario where somebody has cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's, all of us are able to focus to some degree or not, or are able to be alert to some degree or not, based on the amount of acetylcholine that we have.

Now, other processes of course are involved, but what this means is that making sure that we have enough of the substrates to create acetylcholine is vital if we want to be able to focus. That's why dietary choline is so vital. The primary source for dietary choline would be eggs and in particular egg yolks. This, again, has a very interesting relationship to our evolution as well. We're always referred to as hunter gatherers, but when one hears "hunters," we often think about meat and animal sources. Indeed, as a species, we hunted many, many other species of animals to consume them and still do. We also fished — we talked about that earlier — and consumed a lot of fish, and we consumed a lot of eggs. Eggs are an incredibly rich source of nutrients for the brain. That's because the egg actually, if you think about it, contains all the nutrients that are required in order for an organism to grow.

A bird that's in an eggshell — it's got the yolk there, and it's using that yolk for a reason. It's using that yolk as a source of fuel. It's using that yolk as a source of literally building blocks in order to create its nervous system. Many years ago I worked on chick embryos, and as these amazing experiments, you could actually take an egg and you could create a little window in the top. These were fertilized eggs. You'd see over time, you could peer in there, literally look in with a microscope or even with the naked eye, and you would see this little chick embryo sitting on top of that yolk, growing and growing and growing and growing and the yolk getting smaller and smaller. It's really incredible. They're using that as a source for all the building blocks of the body, but in particular, the nervous system. Eggs are a rich source of choline.

Some people will supplement with choline. However, food sources seem to be the best source of choline. As with the EPAs and the omega-3s, there are plenty of foods that are nonanimal based that contain choline. If you're somebody who doesn't eat eggs or doesn't want to eat eggs, things like potatoes, nuts and seeds and grains and fruit, they don't have as much choline as eggs, but they do contain choline. You can look up the values of choline that are present in those various foods and make sure that you're reaching the threshold amount of choline for you. In general, most people should probably strive to get somewhere between 500 milligrams and a gram per day, so a thousand milligrams. Some people rely on supplementation in order to hit those levels because they're not eating a lot of egg yolks or they're not eating a lot of other foods.

Certain fish contained choline, for instance, and the other foods I listed off a few minutes ago from plant-based sources. Some people will supplement with 50 to 100 milligrams or whatever amount is necessary to get them up to that one gram, or even a two-gram dose per day. We have three things that we know can support nerve cells: EPA, in particular omega-3 fatty acids; phosphatidylserine and choline. Those three things I would list off as the top three things for enhancing neuron function and the integrity of neurons in the short and long term. This, again, is setting aside the vitally important factors of hydration and electrolytes. I've said it before on other podcasts, but if you're not ingesting enough water and you're not getting enough sodium and magnesium and potassium, then obviously your neurons can't run, because a lot of the brain is water. You need to maintain proper hydration, and sodium, potassium and magnesium are important in order for nerve cells to function. In fact, they are...

... are important in order for nerve cells to function. In fact, they are actually the components, the ions that pass across those lipid membranes, those little fatty membranes that we were talking about earlier, that allow the neurons to generate electrical activity and communicate with one another. So, definitely, you want to hydrate enough. We will do an entire other episode all about hydration and electrolytes.

But omega-3s, the EPAs, phosphatidylserine, and choline, it's obvious are going to improve brain function. How much they will improve brain function probably depends on how well your brain was working previously. In fact, many of the studies that have looked at the effectiveness of these compounds have looked in people that are suffering from mild, or even severe, cognitive decline. While the outcomes of those studies vary, given the interest in maintaining brain function, given the fact that we don't make new neurons throughout our entire life, and given that everybody has to eat, these are quality healthy foods that we should all be ingesting anyways, and it's clear that they can support brain function to some degree or another.

Many people ask what I do in light of this information. While I can only talk about what works for me, I choose to ingest fish oil, mainly in liquid form, because that turns out to be the easiest way and the most economically affordable way to do it for most people. There are various forms of liquid fish oil out there. Some of them include some lemon flavoring so it doesn't taste like fish oil, because frankly, fish oil to me is sort of noxious tasting, and I'll take a tablespoon of that or two per day. If I'm traveling, I'll use the capsule form in order to hit that threshold of, for me, about two, sometimes even three grams per day of EPA. So, not just two or three grams per day of fish oil, but two or three grams per day of EPA. Now, if I'm eating fish, which as I mentioned earlier is not often, then I might reduce the amount of fish oil that I take. But that's my major source of fish oil.

Currently, I do not supplement with phosphatidylserine. A number of people that I know and trust, and indeed several colleagues of mine, do take phosphatidylserine. I don't have any good explanation for why I don't take it yet, but I have not tried supplementing with it yet. Maybe if some of you have, you can place your experience in the comment section. That would be of interest.

And then in terms of choline, in order to get choline in my diet, I do pay attention to the various foods that contain choline and I try and get those foods on a semiregular basis. I do supplement with something called alpha-GPC, which is essentially in the acetylcholine pathway, or biosynthesis pathway. I don't take it very often, but I will take 300 milligrams of alpha-GPC from time to time. From time to time, I mean anywhere from two to three times per week. I'll generally do it early in the day because it, for me, can have a little bit of a stimulant effect, although it's not nearly as stimulating, say, as a double espresso or triple espresso. But that's one way in which I enhance my choline function. Some people choose to get it from supplementation because it's straightforward. There are a lot of supplements out there that contain alpha-GPC. Some people are taking dosages as high as 900 milligrams per day. That sounds very high to me. The studies of offsetting cognitive decline using alpha-GPC did use quite high dosages of 600 to 900 or even 1,200 milligrams per day. So, it has been used at those much higher concentrations. But because fortunately, at least not yet or not to my awareness, I'm not suffering from any cognitive decline, I will supplement with 300 milligrams every now and again.

Next on my list of compounds that have been shown in peer-reviewed research to improve neuronal and brain function is creatine. Creatine can be derived from meat sources. It can also be supplemented. Some of you are probably familiar with creatine or have heard about creatine from the context of the health and fitness world, where creatine is used to bring more water into muscles, which can enhance the strength of those muscles, as well as bring water into other tissues. So, it doesn't just draw more water into muscle, it can draw more water into the body generally.

Creatine has also been shown to have an important role in brain function. Once again, this is something that came up during the discussion about depression a few episodes back. Creatine can actually be used as a fuel source in the brain, and there's some evidence that it can enhance the function of certain frontal cortical circuits that feed down onto, or rather connect to, areas of the brain that are involved in mood regulation and motivation. That's where creatine plays a role in depression, or rather where creatine supplementation seems to be able to assist in some forms of mild depression. That's an emerging literature. It's still not well-established.

However, there is now ample evidence that creatine supplementation can enhance brain function in certain contexts. If you're interested in learning more about what those contexts are, there's an excellent review that just came out. The first author is Roschel, R-O-S-C-H-E-L. We will provide a link to this review in the caption. This was published just very recently in 2021.

One thing to make clear is that creatine supplementation has been shown to be especially useful for people that are not consuming any meat or other sources of foods that are rich in creatine. What is the threshold level of creatine to supplement in order to get the cognitive benefit appears to be at least five grams per day. Now, the most typical form of creatine is so-called creatine monohydrate. There are other forms of creatine as well, some of which are thought to not draw as much water into nonmuscle tissues. For some people, that's attractive to them. They don't want water sitting below their skin, et cetera. I should emphasize that the responses to creatine in that sense can differ. Some people get a little bit of water retention, some people experience more. There's some evidence that creatine can impact some of the hormonal pathways, that it might enhance levels of so-called dihydrotestosterone, DHT. And therefore, because DHT is involved in hair loss, there are these theories that creatine can cause hair loss. And indeed, for people that are very DHT-sensitive, it might. There's going to be a lot of variation person-to-person in terms of how much creatine impacts DHT and how many DHT receptors they have on their scalp, and therefore whether or not they experience hair loss.

I'm just giving you all this information so that you're aware of the various things that creatine can do. But nonetheless, I think it's interesting that creatine supplementation of five grams per day, that's creatine monohydrate, has been shown to improve cognition in people that aren't getting creatine from animal sources. There's some evidence detailed within the review that I just described that creatine supplementation can also enhance cognition in people that are also eating animal products.

I personally take creatine, five grams per day, and have for a very long time. I can't say that I've noticed a tremendous benefit because I've actually never really come off it. And so I've never done the control experiment. I take it more as kind of a baseline insurance policy. For me, I'm certainly losing some of my hair. Whether or not that's due to creatine or not, I've never done the analysis. But what I can say is that I generally consume these things like EPAs, creatine, alpha-GPC, to set a general context of support for my neurons for my brain. And of course, I also pay attention to the foods that contain these various compounds. So, I don't actively eat additional meat just to obtain creatine. I eat a fairly limited amount of meat; I don't restrict it, and I do eat meat, but I don't actively seek out creatine in my diet, rather I use supplementation in order to hit that five grams per day threshold.

Next on the list of foods that are beneficial for brain health is one that you've probably seen pictures of online, because there seems to be a practice of putting pictures of blueberries and other dark berries next to any title that says, "Foods that benefit your brain." There are a lot of foods out there that have been purported to improve brain function. The interesting thing about blueberries and other berries, blackberries, dark currants, any of these thin-skinned berries that are purplish in color, is that they contain what are called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins actually have some really nice data to support the fact that they improve brain function. Now, whether or not it is direct effects on neurons or whether or not it is by lowering inflammation or some other modulatory effect isn't quite clear. But by now, there's enough data to support the fact that eating a cup or two of blueberries pretty often, every day, or maybe you have blackberries or maybe it's blackcurrants, that these anthocyanins are good for us, that they are enhancing our overall well-being at a number of different levels.

Just to give you a couple examples of where there are actually peer-reviewed studies to support those statements: the anthocyanins, of which blueberries and other dark berries are rich in, have been shown to reduce the amount of DNA damage, [have] been shown to reduce significantly, although albeit slightly, cognitive decline. And that particular study was supplementation of a blueberry extract. I'll talk about the difference between extract and actual blueberries in a moment, but supplementation of blueberry extract in offsetting cognitive decline in elderly people. So, what constitutes elderly is always a little bit of a debate and a discussion, but in this case, what they did is they supplemented with somewhere between 428 — I don't know why they selected 428 — and 598 milligrams of anthocyanins daily for 12 weeks; was associated with improvements on verbal learning and memory. They had some other beneficial changes that were within the bodily organs and blood glucose regulation, and so forth, positive changes. But that's one study. In this case, elderly meant 65 or older.

That study and a number of studies like it, looking at things like mildly enhanced memory, reduced insulin levels, reduced oxidation of LDL, these sorts of things, have basically created a situation where any time you Google or look up foods that enhance brain function, you're going to see a picture of a blueberry or some other berry because of these anthocyanins. I personally don't supplement anthocyanins. I do like blueberries. I eat blueberries when they're in season. I love them. I'm what you would call a drive-by blueberry eater. If there are blueberries in a bowl on a table and I'm walking by, I just have to scoop them up, like some sort of bear or other animal, and pop them in my mouth. So, blueberries don't last long around me.

One of the issues with berries like blueberries and blackberries, and so forth, is that quality sources of them can be pretty expensive. And then of course, when they're not in season, they're hard to get. And so that's why some people will supplement with them. So, that range of about 400 to about 600 milligrams per day seems to be the minimum threshold for getting a cognitive effect in these elderly patients. In that case, they were patients.

A good review about the anthocyanins potentially contributing to offsetting cognitive decline in things like Alzheimer's, and also enhancing brain function in people that don't have Alzheimer's, is a review by Afzal, A-F-Z-A-L, that was published in 2019. We will also provide a link to that study in the caption.

When one looks across the total batch of studies that are out there on this, it appears that if one is going to supplement with blueberry extract to get the anthocyanin effect on cognition, dosages of somewhere between five and a half or about 11 grams seem optimal, with the higher end closer to 10 or 11 grams being more beneficial. The blueberry eaters out there, like me, who prefer to get their anthocyanins from the actual berries, it appears that somewhere between 60 to 120 grams of fresh blueberries each day is the way that you can get sufficient anthocyanins to [at] least shift your system, or bias your brain, towards these enhanced cognitive effects.

So, we've got EPA fatty acids, we've got phosphatidylserine, we've got choline, we've got creatine, and we have the anthocyanins. The last item that I'd like to place in this list of food-derived things that can enhance brain function is glutamine. Glutamine is a very interesting amino acid. I've talked about glutamine on here before. There's some evidence, although somewhat scant, there's some evidence that glutamine can enhance immune system function. So, people will supplement with glutamine or people can get glutamine from foods. Foods that contain a lot of glutamine are things like cottage cheese. There are also other sources of glutamine. Glutamine is rich in protein-rich foods, things like beef, chicken, fish, dairy products, eggs — but also for you nonanimal-food-consuming people out there — vegetables, including beans; cabbage, once again; spinach; parsley — things of that sort. So, those foods contain glutamine.

For people that supplement with glutamine, generally, they will take anywhere from a gram, as much as 10 grams per day. Why would they want to do that? Well, there's also some evidence starting to emerge that glutamine can help offset sugar cravings. I've talked about this on the podcast before. We're going to talk more about the basis for this a little bit later. But in brief, we all have neurons in our gut that sense the amino acid content, the fat content, and the sugar content of the foods that we eat and signal in a subconscious way to our brain whether or not the foods that we are eating contain certain levels of certain amino acids. And so we actually have glutamine-sensing neurons in our gut that actually have their little processes, their little axons and dendrites, as we call them, in the mucosal lining of the gut. They're not just sensing glutamine, but when they do sense glutamine, they respond and they send signals to the brain that are signals of satiation, of satisfaction. In doing so, can offset some of the sugar cravings that many people suffer from.

Now, here, we're talking about glutamine for sake of enhancing cognitive function. This is interesting because it's been shown that glutamine supplementation can offset some of the negative effects on cognition caused by altitude and oxygen deprivation of other sorts. Okay, well, that's kind of a strange and unique situation. If you're going up to altitude, should you supplement with glutamine in order to be able to think more clearly? Well, it appears that there's good rationale for doing that, but the reason I bring this up, assuming that most people, including me, are not going up to high altitudes very often, is that it's been well-established that apnea, failure to breathe properly during sleep, can contribute to age-related and even nonage-related cognitive decline.

There are a lot of reasons for apneas, ranging from obesity to obstruction of the airways for other reasons. There are tremendous number of underlying causes of apnea, and it's something to be taken seriously. I mean, heart attacks, all sorts of metabolic issues are caused by apnea. Apnea is a serious issue that disrupts the depth of sleep, and it's a serious health issue in general. In any event, apnea is associated with cognitive decline and cognitive dysfunction, even in young people. And it does appear that glutamine supplementation can offset some of the cognitive deficits that are associated with reduced oxygenation of the brain.

If you'd like to learn more about how apnea can negatively impact cognition, there's an excellent paper that was published on this in 2018. The first author is Sharma, S-H-A-R-M-A. It should be easy to find. The title of the paper is "Obstructive sleep apnea severity affects amyloid burden in cognitively normal elderly." This was a longitudinal study. Amyloid burden is a correlate of Alzheimer's and other forms of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline associated with memory deficits. So, obstructive sleep apnea, excuse me, is a very serious issue for which glutamine appears to be able to offset some of the negative symptomology.

So, how is it that glutamine, either from food or through supplementation, can offset some of these so-called hypoxic effects caused by sleep apnea? Hypoxic being a lack of oxygen for the brain, that relate to cognitive decline. It appears to have this positive impact by way of reducing inflammation. If you want to look more deeply into the various biological pathways and the supplementation regimes for this, the paper that I think is really spectacular is a paper, last author is Quaresma, Q-U-A-R-E-S-M-A, that's Q-U-A-R-E-S-M-A. It's a review: "The possible importance of glutamine supplementation to mood and cognition in hypoxia from high altitude." And even though the paper is about high-altitude-induced hypoxia, it does seem to have direct relevance to the sorts of apnea that are related to Alzheimer's and other forms of cognitive decline.

Now, I've been taking glutamine as a supplement, gosh, since I was in college, mostly because I felt, either by superstition or by reality, that it protected me from various flus and colds and things of that sort because of the purported immune-enhancing effects. Again, those immune-enhancing effects have some data to support them, not a ton. However, I got into the habit of taking glutamine, and now that I've learned that glutamine seems to also have some cognitive-enhancing effects, possibly, it's a supplement that I continue to take. I take very small amounts of it, but I do take it on a regular basis.

So, that more or less completes the list of things that, at least by my read of the literature, are things that are supported by at least three, and in some cases as many as hundreds of studies in various populations that have been explored, in mouse studies often but also in a number of human studies.

I want to emphasize again that all of the things I listed out, whether or not it's EPAs, whether or not it's phosphatidylserine, whether or not it's choline, whether or not it's the various compounds that are in berries, et cetera, all of those can be extracted from food. There is not any law that says that you have to get them from supplementation. Supplementation can help you get to the very high levels of those things if you want to work on the higher end, if that's right for you. Obviously, check with your doctor before taking anything, or removing anything, from your diet or supplement regime. But in general, you can get these things from foods. It just so happens that for some of these compounds, the foods that they're contained in, like fish, are not foods that I particularly enjoy. And so I rely on supplements in order to get sufficient levels for me. But again, you can get these levels from food.

The reason I made this list, the reason that I emphasize these things in this particular order, is that they support the structure of neurons. They support the structure of the other cells of the brain that make up our cognition and that are important for our focus and our ability to remember things, and so forth. And they are less so in the category of so-called modulatory effects. They will also have modulatory effects on sleep, on inflammation, or reducing inflammation throughout the body, on cardiovascular function, all of which I believe are positive effects. At least, what the literature tells us is that none of these compounds are harming other systems of the body, provided they are taken at reasonable levels. But everything in this list is directed towards answering the question, what can I eat? What can I ingest by way of food and/or food supplement that can support brain function in the short-term and in the long-term. So, I hope you find that list beneficial for you, if not for use, at least for consideration.

So, now, having talked about some of the foods and micronutrients that are beneficial to our immediate and long-term brain health, I'd like to shift gears somewhat and talk about why it is that we like the foods that we like. We've all heard before that we are hardwired to pursue sugar and to like fatty foods and that calorie-rich foods are attractive to us for all sorts of reasons, surviving famines and things of that sort. While that is true, the actual mechanisms that underlie food-seeking and food preference are far more interesting than that.

There are basically three channels in our body and nervous system by which we decide what foods to pursue, how much to eat, and whether or not we will find a particular food attractive, whether or not we will want to consume more of it, whether or not we want to avoid it or whether or not it's just so-so. What I refer to as the yum, yuck, or meh analysis. And indeed, that's what our nervous system is doing with respect to food. It's trying to figure out whether or not, yum, I want more of this. Yuck, I want to avoid this. Or meh, it's so-so. Now, while that may seem like an overly simplified version of food-seeking and food preference, it's actually not that far from the truth. It actually correctly captures much of the biology of food preference.

So, let's talk about what these three channels for food preference are. The first one is an obvious one. It's taste on the mouth. It is the sensation that we have of the foods that we eat while we're chewing them. Those sensations which are literally just somatosensory, touch, sensations, the palatability of food as it relates to the consistency of food. That's important.

And as you've all heard before, we have sensors on our tongue, and elsewhere in our mouth, that detect the various chemicals contained within food and lead to the senses of taste, which we call bitter, sweet, umami, salty, and sour. Now, most of us are familiar with the sense of bitterness that comes from something like a raw radish; sweet, which comes obviously from sugars of different kinds — fructose, glucose, et cetera; salty, salty; and sour, think lemon or lemon juice, for instance. And then I mentioned umami. The umami receptor is a receptor that responds to the savory taste of things. So, that's what you might find in a really wonderfully rich tomato sauce. For those of you that eat meat and like meat, a really well-cooked, not necessarily well-done, but properly cooked, I should say, steak, if that's your thing. And umami is present in both plant and animal foods and gives us that sensation of savoriness. It almost has a kind of a little bit of a briny taste to it, or braised taste to it. And indeed, braising of meats and braising of vegetables is done specifically to activate that umami receptor. So, we have those five basic tastes.

Those are chemical sensors on the tongue that, what we call, transduce those chemicals. Those chemicals, literally in food, bind to those receptors. And it is transduced, meaning the binding of those chemicals to the receptors is converted into an electrical signal that-

... those chemicals to the receptors is converted into an electrical signal that travels in from the tongue along what's called the gustatory nerve. The gustatory nerve. Then synapses, meaning it makes connections in our brain stem, in the so-called nucleus of the solitary tract. There are other nuclei back there. Nuclei are just aggregates of neurons. And then it sends information up to the so-called insular cortex, to the insula.

I want to highlight the insula this episode, because we are going to return to the insula again and again in this episode and later. The insular cortex is an incredible structure that we all have that mainly is concerned with so-called interoception, or our perception of what's going on inside our body. It could be the amount of pressure in our gut because of how much food we've eaten. It could be the acidity of our gut, if we're having a little bit of indigestion, for instance.

It can also be the case that neurons within the insula are paying attention to how stressed you are or how alert you are or how tired you are. So, it's really an inward-focusing structure. It focuses on how we feel internally. And not surprisingly, the taste system sends information up to the insular cortex to give us a sense, literally, of what we've ingested, whether or not what we're tasting tastes good or not.

We will return to insular cortex in a few moments. A very important thing to understand is that the neurons in the areas of the cortex, your cortex and mine, that respond to particular tastes are providing an internal representation of an external sense. What do I mean by that? I don't want to be at all abstract. We take these foods; we break them down in our mouth by chewing them or sucking on them, whatever it is the food happens to be. Those chemicals bind to those receptors, and electrical signals are sent into the brain. But they are just electrical signals, just like notes being played on the keys of a piano. There's no unique signature for salty or sweet. It is the relative activation of one set of neurons that was activated by sweet or another set of neurons that was activated by umami.

It's that relative activation traveling into the brain in essentially the same form, the same electrical signals. This is really incredible, right? Electrical signals are sent into the brain, and you say, "Aha. That's sweet, and I want more of it," or "That's bitter. I want less of it," or "That's umami-flavored, and I really, really like that. Really like savory foods," as I happen to. That should immediately strike you as incredible because it means that your representation of what you want more of or less of is electrical in nature.

And to really tamp this issue down, studies that were done by Charles Zuker, Z-U-K-E-R ... He's an absolutely phenomenal neuroscientist at Columbia University, in New York. Studies done by the Zuker Lab have shown that, first of all, they could identify the neurons in the cortex, deep in the brain, that respond to a sweet taste or to a bitter taste. It turns out they are nonoverlapping populations of neurons. And then, using some molecular tricks, they were able to either silence or activate the neurons that, for instance, respond to sweet.

When they do this, they see incredible consequences on perception that indeed occur in your brain, and my brain as well, all the time without these kind of manipulations. Here's the experiment. They have a subject drink water that contains sugar or drink water that contains a salty substance or drink water that contains a bitter substance, for instance. I'm paraphrasing a large amount of work. They identify the neurons that respond to sweet tastes. They see, as many researchers have seen, that subjects prefer a sweet taste to other tastes, and certainly sweet taste to bitter or sweet taste to nothing, so to plain water.

And then they go in, and they are able to selectively silence the neurons that represent sweet. And when they do that, they eliminate the preference for that sweet taste. Now, that might seem obvious. The neurons respond to sweet, you silence those neurons, they no longer seek out sweet. But that should strike you also as incredible because they're not actually changing what's happening on the tongue or in the deeper layers of the brain.

Conversely, they can have subjects drink bitter water or plain water while activating, selectively activating, the neurons that respond to sweet. And what they find is that then subjects will actively prefer bitter or plain water to actual preferences, such as sweet.

What this means is that your perception of what you like is a central, meaning deep within the brain, phenomenon. It's not about how things taste on your mouth. Now, of course, under normal conditions where there aren't these experimental manipulations being done, those things are positively correlated. Sweet tastes trigger the activation of sweet neurons, for instance. Neurons in the mouth that respond to umami trigger the activation of neurons in the brain that respond to umami, and so forth. So they're correlated in a way that makes you seek out the things that you like and avoid the things that you don't like.

But as we'll see in a few minutes, turns out that that is not a direct relationship that is hardwired. You can actually uncouple the preference for a particular taste with the reward systems in the brain, in a way that for instance, would allow you to eat ... or I should use myself as an example because I don't particularly like fish. I've had a few meals that included fish that were pretty good, but none of them were memorable in the positive way, like some other events in my life were memorable. But by way of these circuitries and the way they link up with one another, it's actually possible to rewire one sense of taste and preference for particular foods.

If this is seeming at all vague to you, just hang in with me a little bit longer because I will provide you with the information, tools, and resources with which to navigate this process. But the most important thing to understand is that, like with our hearing, like with vision, like with smell, taste is an internal representation that has particular goals for you. Your sense of what tastes good is related to particular things that are occurring in your brain and body and that are likely to give your brain and body the things that it needs.

It is not simply a matter of what you quote, unquote like or what tastes good or what doesn't taste good. Let me give you a relatively simple example of how your body and your brain are acting in a coordinated way to make you prefer certain foods and indeed to pursue certain foods more. I just mentioned you have neurons on your tongue that respond to different tastes. But of course your digestive tract isn't just your tongue; it's also your throat. It goes all the way down to your stomach and of course your intestines. It is a long tube of digestion.

All along that tube, there are neurons. Some of the neurons are responding to the mechanical size of whatever portion of the digestive tract it happens to be. So for instance, how distended or empty ... or full, rather. It doesn't have to be distended. Depends on how much you ate. But how full or empty your gut happens to be.

Whether or not something you just ate is temperature-hot, is hot in the sense of hot to the touch, or whether or not it's spicy hot, whether or not it's soothing, whether or not it's hard to swallow, this kind of thing. So you have neurons all along your gut that are responding to the mechanics related to food and digestion and that are related to the chemistry of food and digestion.

There's a population of neurons, nerve cells, in your gut that are exquisitely tuned to the chemistry of whatever it is in your gut. And these are neurons called neuropod cells. They were discovered many, many years ago, but really defined with and classified with modern tools by Diego Bohorquez. I hope I'm pronouncing your name correctly, Diego. We've spoken many times, but I can't ever seem to quite capture the proper pronunciation just right. But Diego Bohorquez at Duke University, who discovered that these cells reside within the gut and place little processes, their little axons and dendrites, within the mucosal lining of the gut.

And there they are paying attention to, meaning they respond to, amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids. So as your food is digested, as food lands within your gut, neurons there are sensing what types of foods are available and what types of things are making their way through the gut environment.

Now, those neurons aren't actually taking those foods and doing much with them. What they're doing is they're essentially surveying what qualities of food are there. And these particular neurons that Diego and his group discovered send electrical signals up into the brain through a little passage that we call the nodose ganglion. The nodose ganglia is a cluster of neurons that then go send up their own process into the brain and trigger the release of dopamine, which is a molecule that inspires motivation, reward, and more seeking for whatever it is led to their activation.

These are super interesting neurons, because what they're essentially doing is they are providing a subconscious signal about the quality of the food that you're eating, what it contains, and then triggering the release of a molecule within your brain, dopamine, that leads you to go seek more of those foods.

Now, this has profound impact on a number of things. First of all, there's the consideration of so-called hidden sugars. Dr. Robert Lustig, who's a pediatric endocrinologist at University of California, San Francisco, has been among the most prominent researchers to talk about the fact that there are these so-called hidden sugars in foods. Now, these are not just sugars that they sneak in just to be sneaky. These are sugars that are literally snuck in in a way that you can't taste them. That's why they're called hidden sugars. It's not that they just put them in there for fun.

These are sugars that are placed into processed foods that are designed to trigger activation of these mechanisms to lead you to want to eat more of these foods, but not because they necessarily taste sweet or delicious, but because they are activating these subconscious mechanisms that are driving you to pursue more of these foods. Sounds like a very diabolical strategy. And indeed it is somewhat of a diabolical strategy.

However, these neurons are also involved in signaling to your brain when, for instance, you are eating a food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, the fatty acids that we were talking about earlier. So, why is it that you don't crave salmon? Why is it that I don't sit around daydreaming about mackerel? Well, because there's also the influence of the actual taste on the mouth. Under normal conditions, it's a combination of the taste of the thing on the mouth plus the subconscious signaling from the gut.

And while this isn't a discussion about gut microbiome, I should just mention that it's very clear that having a healthy gut microbiome allows these neurons to function in a way that serves our seeking of healthy foods in positive ways. And without getting into a lot of detail about this, the best way to ensure a healthy gut microbiome, that I am aware of, is not necessarily to take supplemental prebiotics or probiotics, there are actually some reasons why you might not want to do that, but rather to ingest two to four servings of fermented foods that are low in sugar each day.

There is a recent study published in Cell showing that the ingestion of fermented foods, two to four servings each day, can enhance the quality of the mucosal lining of the gut that allows certain gut microbiota to flourish and the gut microbiota that are not good for us to not flourish, because that's the environment that they settle down into.

This is work that was carried out by my colleagues, Justin Sonenberg, which is in the laboratory upstairs from me, as well as Chris Gardner and others at Stanford. They're certainly not the only researchers exploring this, but it does appear that two to four servings of fermented foods each day, these would be things like natto, sauerkraut — low-sugar fermented foods — is great for the gut microbiome. And separate studies, not their study but separate studies, have shown that the correct gut microbiome conditions allow these neurons that signal to the brain to signal at the right times and in the right ways to promote healthy food-seeking.

Many people opt to supplement with capsule-form probiotics. There are some data that suggest that maybe those don't contain the correct prebiotics and probiotics for setting the correct gut microbiota conditions. That's a little bit of a controversial issue.

Nonetheless, getting probiotics from fermented foods is probably the simplest and most straightforward way. It's also the way that we evolved to do that over many, at least hundreds and probably thousands, or even tens or hundreds of thousands of years, people have been ingesting fermented foods, not just for their taste but for their health benefits as well.

Now I've mentioned two of the three mechanisms by which we prefer certain foods. One is from the actual tastes that we're familiar with, the taste on our tongue and in our mouth, and the sensations that make us go, "Mm" or "Ugh" or "Eh," the yum, yuck, meh responses, as I referred to them earlier. And then there's this subconscious signaling coming from the gut that's really based on the nutrient content of the foods. There's a third pathway, which is the learned association of a particular taste with the particular quality or value that a food has.

And this is where things get really interesting and where there's actually a leverage point for you to rewire what it is that you find tasty and that you want to seek more of. The work I'd like to talk about next has been carried out in mouse models and has been carried out in parallel experiments in humans.

This is largely, not exclusively, but largely the work of Ivan de Araujo and Dana Small. Ivan de Araujo is at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Dana Small is at Yale. And they and others in their field have done incredible experiments exploring how taste and food value, the nutritional value of food, and the impact of that food on metabolism in the brain drives our food choices and allows us to change our food choices for the better. Their groups have done some really amazing studies involving ingestion of a particular substance that either contains sugar and thereby can elevate glucose, blood sugar, or not, and varying, meaning changing the taste associated with that ingestion of sugar.

Let me just give you a simple example where they have subjects; these could be mice or these could be humans, because they've done both sets of studies, drink sweet water as an alternative or a choice to nonsweetened water or bitter water or some other flavor. And what they find is that mice and humans will prefer to consume the sweet beverage. Now, it's not always sweet water. Mice like sweet water, but humans will prefer, for instance, a milkshake, a fatty sweet drink. They'll consume more of that. And not surprisingly, dopamine levels in the brain increase in response to that.

So the taste and the nutrient content of what it is that they're ingesting are aligned. They are matched. They've also done experiments where they have no taste, but subjects are being infused with sugar directly into the gut. And not surprisingly, based on everything I've told you up until now, subjects will pursue more of that thing relative to some other taste, either neutral or negative taste, because that sugar in the gut is triggering the activation of the neurons I mentioned earlier, which is signaling to the brain to pursue more of that thing.

This tells us something important. It tells us that we are driven, meaning we have mechanisms in our brain that make us motivated to pursue more of what brings both a taste of sweetness but also that brings actual changes in blood glucose levels up. Okay? We are motivated to eat sweet things, not just because they taste good but because they change our blood sugar level; they increase our blood sugar level. Now, this is important because it needn't be the case. It could have been that we were just wired to pursue things that taste good. But what this tells us is that we are actually wired to pursue things that increase our blood glucose. So much so that when the small lab — it's not a small lab, it's actually a big lab — but when Dana Small's lab and/or Ivan de Araujo's lab have done experiments where they use a compound called 2-Deoxy-glucose ... This is a compound that can prevent glucose from being metabolized by neurons. So blood glucose is going up, but neurons can't use it.

What they find is that the reinforcing, or the rewarding, properties of a food or taste are eliminated. Put simply, it is not sufficient for a food to taste good consciously. It is not sufficient for a food to increase blood sugar. You need blood sugar to go up, and that blood sugar, glucose, has to be utilized by the neurons, even if it's not associated with a good taste.

And to make it even simpler, if this isn't sinking in, this should make it very clear: what your brain, meaning what you are seeking when you eat, is not taste, is not dopamine, is not even a rise in blood glucose. What you're seeking, even though you don't realize it, because it's subconscious, is you are seeking things that allow your neurons to be metabolically active. And this is fundamentally important for understanding why you eat, why you eat particular foods, and how you can change your relationship to those foods.

Now, earlier I referred to circuits that are wired for a particular outcome. And in biology and in particular neuroscience, we refer to things that are either hardwired, meaning immutable and unchangeable, or softwired. A good example of softwiring would be the areas of your brain that are responsible for speech and language are always more or less in the same place in your brain and everyone else's brain. However, they are not hardwired to speak French or to speak English or to speak Chinese or to speak German. Because depending on where you were born and the parents that you're born to, you need to be able to speak one or maybe even more languages.

The taste system and this general system of seeking particular foods similarly is hardwired to obtain certain types of nutrients. It tends to like sweet things. Most children naturally like sweet things, some more than others. But naturally, most people from childhood onward don't particularly crave very bitter substances.

Maybe mildly bitter, but not very bitter. So there's some hardwiring of preference, but there's also some softwiring in the system that allows it to change. The groups I mentioned earlier have done some really beautiful experiments looking at how artificial sweeteners interact with the actual sweet-sensing system. And this gets right down to a number of issues. First of all, it gets to the issue of how we can rewire our taste system in ways that serve us for better or for worse.

Second of all, it gets right down to the issue of whether or not artificial sweeteners are good for us or bad for us. And indeed, as of just this last year, we now have an answer to that question. And turns out, it depends. And I will tell you in a few minutes when it is okay to ingest artificial sweeteners and when it is very detrimental to ingest artificial sweeteners of any kind. Regardless, I'm not going to name off brand names, but there are different forms of these artificial sweeteners nowadays. And there are various forms of noncaloric, plant-based sweeteners for which the same information that I'm about to tell you applies.

Okay. The experiments that were done beautifully illustrate that you seek out particular foods because of the way they taste, because of their impact on blood glucose levels, but also on their impact on the dopamine system, even if your blood glucose levels don't change. Here's the experiment. One group of subjects is given a sweet taste of a substance that also raises blood glucose levels, blood sugar. And dopamine goes up, not surprisingly. Second condition: separate subjects consume an artificial sweetener, or a noncaloric sweetener. It is not preferred much over other substances. But it is sweet, so it's preferred somewhat. And it does not cause an increase in blood glucose levels.

And not surprisingly, dopamine levels don't go up. So initially, we don't tend to like artificial sweeteners that much. That's the simple way of putting it. However, if subjects continue to ingest artificial sweeteners, even though there's no increase in blood glucose level and therefore no increase in brain metabolism, dopamine levels eventually start to rise. And when those dopamine levels eventually start to rise, you've essentially conditioned or reinforced that artificial, or noncaloric, sweetener. And then subjects start to consume more of it, and they actually get a dopamine increase from it. So, that's interesting. It says that consuming more of these artificial sweeteners or consuming them for a longer period of time can start to tap into the dopamine system and lead us to seek out or consume more of these artificial sweeteners.

Many people are probably familiar with this because we tend to, or I should say, people report that when they ingest these artificial sweeteners, at first they don't taste very good, but then over time they seem tolerable and then maybe even pleasurable. And then some people feel quote, unquote "addicted" to various diet sodas and things of that sort. Now, there's another condition that's been explored, and that's the really interesting condition. And it's the condition where an artificial sweetener is paired with a substance that can increase blood sugar, but not because it tastes sugary like a normal sweet substance. So now there's an artificial sweetener that's coupled with an actual increase in blood glucose. The natural-world scenario where this would happen would be drinking a diet soda, which contains no calories and therefore would not increase-

Drinking a diet soda, which contains no calories and therefore would not increase blood glucose, but is sweet, with a food that increases blood glucose. And when that happens, what you're essentially doing is tapping into the dopamine system, this noncaloric sweet taste is paired with it, and there's an increase in neuron metabolism, so you have all of the components for reinforcement, and as a consequence, you get, in a sort of Pavlovian conditioning way, a situation where later when you ingest that artificial sweetener, you actually get not only the increase in dopamine, but you get alterations in blood sugar management.

Now, blood sugar cannot go up if you don't ingest something that makes blood sugar go up. It's not as if you ingest artificial sweetener with some food that contains calories or sugar and then later you remove the food, and you just drink the soda and your blood glucose goes up. Rather, it's a much worse situation. I'll make this in the natural world context. If you ingest an artificial sweetener, say drink diet soda while consuming foods that increase blood glucose, then later, even if you just drink the diet soda, it's been shown that you secrete much more insulin, the hormone that regulates blood glucose, in response to that diet soda.

Studies have been done in both adult humans and in human children — in general, when we say children, we mean human children, but just to be very clear what we're talking about — exploring consuming diet soda with or without food, then later consuming just the diet soda. And what they found was having previously consumed diet soda with food and then later only consuming the diet soda, of course there isn't an increase in blood glucose, because they're not bringing in any calories when they just drink the diet soda. But there is a significant increase in insulin release, and that is serious in a terrible way, because increased release of insulin and so-called insulin sensitivity is the basis for type 2 diabetes.

So much so that in the study with the children, consuming noncaloric beverages in this way, first with food and then on their own, led to increases in insulin that made them prediabetic and they actually had to halt the study. I want to zoom out from this and just really illustrate the major findings and then talk about how this can be applied in the positive sense. I also want to mention what this means in terms of your consumption of artificial sweeteners of any kind.

First of all, the direct takeaway about artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners are not bad for you. I'm not going to say that. What I am going to say is that whether or not you ingest them alone or you ingest them in combination with foods, or as part of foods, that raise blood glucose is vitally important for your insulin management. And the simple extractor tool from this is if you're going to consume artificial sweeteners, it's very likely best to consume those away from any food that raises blood glucose levels. If you're going to enjoy diet soda, be my guest, but do it not while consuming food, in particular foods that raise blood glucose. Because what these studies show, and I will provide references for these, is that they can vastly disrupt blood sugar management by way of the insulin glucose system.

And actually, I'll just give you the reference now. This is a paper from Dana Smalls lab. The first author is Dalenberg, D-A-L-E-N-B-E-R-G. And the title of the paper is "Short-term consumption of sucralose with, but not without, carbohydrate impairs neural and metabolic sensitivity to sugar in humans." This is a paper published in Cell Metabolism, in March 2020. I think it's a very important paper, and similar findings have been addressed in mice and in other studies, and now because of this paper, there's now a bunch of other groups working on this issue.

There's some evidence previously published in Nature, excellent top-tier journal, sort of among the Superbowl of top three journals, being Nature, Science and Cell. Paper published in Nature a few years back showing that particular artificial sweeteners can disrupt the gut microbiome and have deleterious health effects. That result, I think, stands, although there's some results that may not agree with that, depending on whether or not the artificial sweetener is saccharin or sucralose or aspartame or stevia, that's the gut microbiome.

But what we are talking about here is independent of the form of artificial or noncaloric sweetener, because it has everything to do with whether or not there is a match or a mismatch between the perceived taste and the effect of the thing that you are consuming on blood sugar and metabolism. The first takeaway from this is if you're going to consume artificial sweeteners, it's really important that you do that not in conjunction with foods that increase blood glucose. Second of all, it points to the fact that the foods that we prefer and the activation of the dopamine system, both through the gut and at the level of conscious taste ... in other words, what we like is very plastic, it's mutable and we can change it. How can we change it?

Well, earlier I mentioned a structure in the brain called the insula, this incredible structure that's involved in interoception, and interoception of all kinds. In fact, just as an aside, a year or so ago, my lab published a paper showing that activity within certain compartments of the insula of humans is responding to a heightened state of anxiety in the body. It can respond to changes in our respiration, changes in our heart rate. This is, again, it's a readout of our internal state, not just of taste, but of many, many different aspects of the mechanics and chemistry of our internal milieu within our body.

All of the work that I was describing previously has also been addressed at the neural level, and using a broad brush to explain these results, what we can say is when there is dopamine increase, one sees activation of the so-called nucleus accumbens, which is part of the so-called mesolimbic reward pathway. If you'd like to learn more about the mesolimbic reward pathway and dopamine, in general, in humans and in animal studies, and all the various incredible and challenging things that dopamine can do for us, there's an episode all about dopamine that you can look up. It's easy to find at hubermanlab.com.

The increases in dopamine associated with sweet taste and/or blood glucose-elevating foods and drinks, cause activation of the nucleus accumbens. That's not surprising. Also in the circuit is activation of the so-called arcuate nuclei within the hypothalamus. These are areas of the hypothalamus that respond to hormones from the body and respond to hormones and neuropeptides in the brain, as well as neurosignals in the brain, to drive us to eat more or to stop eating. It's hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens. These are sort of the hypothalamus and the arcuate being the motivating to eat or motivating to stop eating. Both sets of neurons are contained there. There are other areas like the lateral hypothalamus, as well, but hypothalamus is sort of the accelerator and the brake on eating.

And then the nucleus succubus and dopamine release can be thought of as kind of a nitro boost, if you will, to, like the kids say ... Do the kids say that anymore? Anyway, a nitro boost to increase what we call the gain or the volume of how much you want more of something. When dopamine is present, it's this kind of generic signal to go seek out more of whatever caused that release. And then there's the insula, this very thoughtful, rational — not really, it's not thinking; it's a brain area. You're thinking, but it's part of the areas of your brain that are interpreting what's going on in your body, whether or not you feel good or not good, whether or not you feel anxious, excited or fearful.

It's integrating all that information and fed into this entire circuit as well are the inputs from your prefrontal cortex, which is your thinking, rational neuronal structure, if you will, informing you, for instance, "Ah well, I don't really like salmon very much," or "I'm not so crazy about kale but it has omega-3s," or "It's rich in these polyphenols that are good for me." And if one decides that they are going to eat these things, not just because they are good for them, but believe it or not, if one takes the perception or adopts the perception that they are both good for you and that in being good for you, they are good for your brain metabolism and that you desire to be healthy, as crazy as it sounds, those subjective signals of what you tell yourself about the foods that you're eating can actually impact how those foods will taste. Maybe not immediately, but eventually, and can impact the way in which your body utilizes those foods.

Now, that might seem like an absolute pipe dream. If I just imagine that I like mackerel, mackerel will start to taste good. I'm not saying that. I didn't say that you could override yuck signals with this mechanism. I didn't say that you could take a food that would be absolutely noxious to you or make you want to vomit and override that. However, foods that are somewhat neutral to you can take on a different value based on the activation of the dopamine system. And now knowing what you know, there are a couple ways that you could imagine doing that. First of all, you could, in this so-called Gedankin, or thought experiment, you could for instance swap out sucralose, because sucralose is just a taste. It's an artificial sweet taste. You could swap that out and insert kale, but eat the kale with something that raises blood glucose to some degree or another.

Now, I'm not encouraging anyone to run out there and spike their blood glucose like crazy. And in fact, blood glucose isn't really the goal. If you recall, the goal is to get neurons to be metabolically active with that blood glucose. That's what's actually rewarded at a sub subconscious level, meaning at a deep subconscious level. But consuming these foods with other foods that increase blood glucose and thereby brain metabolism, or I suppose if you're ketogenic, you're in a ketosis; I don't know what the range of foods that are allowed on ketosis are so I don't want to misspeak here and say cracker, which would probably be a sin in the context of ketosis, and no knock against ketosis. I'm offering this in part because I think that there are a number of people that have and can positively benefit from a ketogenic diet.

But for instance, if there's a food that you want to consume more of but that you find somewhat meh, or mildly yuck even, pairing it with ketones, if indeed you are using ketones for your brain metabolism, because that's what happens on the ketogenic diet, over time that food will be reinforced by the dopamine pathway. We know this from these studies where sucralose was the substance paired with the glucose elevating, in other words, metabolically elevating food substance or liquid substance. So how does one go about doing this? Well, first of all, I want to emphasize that this experiment actually has been done in a slightly different context.

Studies by my colleague Alia Crum in the Psychology Department at Stanford have explored the bodily response in terms of insulin release and the release of other food and eating-related hormones, as well as overall feelings of satisfaction, et cetera, in groups of people that drink a milkshake and are either told that it's a low-calorie shake that contains various nutrients that are good for them, or a higher-calorie shake that has a lot of nutrients, et cetera. And what they found was that the different groups, and here again, I'm being very general with my description of these studies, but what they found is that the physiological response, the insulin response, the blood glucose response, and the subjective measures of whether or not people enjoyed something or not, were heavily influenced by what they were told were in these milkshakes.

Blood glucose would go up, insulin would go up when people were told it was a high-calorie shake with lots of nutrients, less so when people ingested a shake that they were told had less nutrients, and so forth, when in reality it was the identical shake. This is incredible. This is a belief effect. This is not placebo. A placebo effect is different. Placebo effect is in comparison. It's where the control condition actually influences outcomes to a same or to some degree just like the experimental condition. This is not a placebo effect. This is a belief effect, where the belief and the subjective thoughts about what a given food will do has a direct impact on a physiological measure like blood sugar and blood glucose.

Let's zoom out from this for a second and think about how we can incorporate this into adopting consumption of healthy foods that serve our brain health in the immediate and long term. And if you're wondering what those are, I listed them out at the beginning of the episode and their justification for being on that list. What this means is obviously you want to consume foods that you like, but because brain health is very important and many of the foods that promote brain health perhaps are not the most palatable to you or desirable to you. The key would be to ingest the foods that you want to ingest more of simply because they're good for you, and not because they taste good to you, alongside foods that increase whatever fuel system you happen to be relying on. I think that's the most nutritionally politically correct way to say it.

If you're keto, that would mean ketones. If you're not ketogenic, and I think most people probably are not in ketosis or trying to maintain ketosis, but for instance, people that are on a purely plant-based diet, that would be one set of foods. For people that are omnivores, a different set of foods, and for people that are carnivores yet another set of foods. If you want to eat more of a particular food because it's good for you, pair it with something in the same meal, you don't have to hide it physically or in the flavor sense, you don't have to hide it within that other food, but pair it with that other food that provides you a shift in brain metabolism, because that's really what your brain and you are seeking, even though you don't realize it.

How long will this take? Well, according to the data in humans on sucralose and the conditioning for sucralose to have these effects, which in many cases were detrimental because they were increasing insulin. But in this case, you're trying to hijack this conditioning of food preference for healthy purposes, not with sucralose but by ingesting things that are good for you. Then the data really pointed to the fact that even within a short period of time of about seven days, but certainly within 14 days, that food will take on a subjective experience of tasting at least better to you, if not good to you.

Now, I believe this has important implications for much of the controversy and food wars that we see out there. Food wars being, of course, these groups that ardently subscribe to the idea that their diet and the things that they are eating are the foods that are good for us and that are the most pleasurable and the things that everyone should be eating. We see this with every community within the nutrition realm. Now, of course there are studies that point to the fact that certain foods and food components are healthier probably for us and for the planet, but you really see it on both ends of the spectrum. You've got people who are on a pure carnivore diet who are arguing with a lot of biomedical evidence that that's what's best for us and beneficial. And then you've got people that are arguing the same general sets of arguments, but for a purely plant-based diet. And then I think most people fall into the omnivore category.

What's very clear, however, is that what we consume on a regular basis, and what leads to increases in brain metabolism, leads to increases in dopamine and thereby our motivation to eat them. What this really says is that what we tend to do regularly becomes reinforcing, in and of itself, and I think in large part can explain the fact that, yes indeed, for certain people, a given diet not only feels good, but they heavily subscribe to the nutrient and kind of health-beneficial effects of that diet. And they often will provide evidence for that whether or not you ask them for it or not. But that's true of every subcategory within the nutrition realm.

Again, this is not to take away from some of the beautiful data emphasizing that certain foods and micronutrients, et cetera, are better for us or worse for us and for the planet. That's not a debate I want to get into right now. What this emphasizes is that foods impact our brain and its health, but they also impact how our brain functions and response to food. And that is largely a learned response. We can't completely override, for instance, that certain foods evoke a strong ugh, yuck component. Certain foods are truly putrid to us. I should just say certain things are putrid to us, and we should not consume them. And that's at the far end of the spectrum. It's hardwired for us to avoid those because they can be dangerous for us. They can make us very, very sick.

But it's also true that if we continue to eat foods that are progressively sweeter and sweeter, and highly palatable, it shifts our dopamine system because it activates our dopamine system to make us believe that those foods are the only foods that can trigger this reward system and make us feel good, and that they taste good. But after consuming foods that perhaps are less sweet, or even less savory, that are not what we would call highly or, I would say nowadays, it's super palatable foods, we can adjust our sense literally of what we perceive as an attractive and rewarding food. And indeed the dopamine system will reward those foods accordingly.

I can't emphasize enough how much this learning of associated food reward is important for not just understanding why we like the foods that we eat and how to eat more of foods that are healthy for us and enjoy them. But it also speaks to the fact that our brain as a whole is a perceptual device trying to make guesses or estimations about what certain foods are going to do for us. Put simply, we don't just like sweet foods because they taste good. We like them because they predict a certain kind of metabolic response.

This is important also because Dana Small and Ivan de Araujo and others have been exploring whether or not people, for instance, that have type 2 diabetes or that suffer from any number of different metabolic disorders, whether or not somehow these food reward systems are permanently disrupted, and through a beautiful set of experiments that have been done by, mainly by Dana Small's group at Yale, but also by the de Araujo group and others, exploring how the reward pathways are altered in various metabolic disorders, et cetera, people suffering from type 2 diabetes.

We don't have time to go into all those data now, but the takeaway is that food preference and the ability to reshape these circuits is not disrupted in these people to the point where it can't be rewired. And that's very encouraging because what it means is that for people that are suffering from these syndromes, through some simple alterations in dietary choice, provided those are carried out over time and in the correct way by pairing with the foods that will appropriately shift metabolism of the brain, one can actually rewire what they consider not just palatable but attractive as foods.

If you want to learn more about food reward and food reinforcement, because it turns out those are slightly different things, there's a wonderful review written by Ivan de Araujo. They have a middle author, Mark Schatzker and Dana Small, it's called "Rethinking food reward," and it was published in the Annual Reviews of Psychology. You can find it very easily online. It was published in 2019, and it's a beautiful deep-dive, although quite accessible to most people, about how different foods and the way that we perceive them impacts our brain and body, and why we like the things we like and how to reshape what we like.

Once again, we've done a fairly extensive deep-dive into food and your brain, focusing first on how particular foods and compounds within foods, that are available also through supplementation, can impact immediate and long-term brain health. Came up with a relatively short list of what I would call superfoods, only because there are ample data to support their role in enhancing short- and long-term cognition and neuronal health, and so on. And we also talked about food preference and why particular tastes and particular events within the gut and particular events within the brain combine to lead us to pursue particular foods and to avoid other foods, and how you can leverage those pathways in order to pursue more of the foods that are going to be good for you and good not just for your brain, but for your overall body health, and to enjoy them along the way.

If you're learning from and or enjoying this podcast, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. That's a terrific zero-cost way to support us. In addition, please leave us suggestions for future topics and guests you would like us to host, in the comment section on YouTube. As well, please subscribe to the Huberman Lab podcast on Apple and/or Spotify, and on Apple you can leave us up to a five-star review. If you're not already following us on Instagram, we are Huberman Lab at Instagram. And there I do neuroscience tutorials that sometimes have overlap with the podcast, but often are original content altogether. We are also Huberman Lab on Twitter. Another terrific way to support us is by checking out our sponsors that we mentioned at the beginning of the episode. And last but not least, thank you for your interest in science.

Join 500,000+ subscribers to get regular emails on neuroscience, health, and science-related tools from Dr. Andrew Huberman.

You'll also get Andrew's exclusive Daily Blueprint. In it, Andrew shares his daily routine. He also shares practical tools and protocols that you can use to stay productive and maximize your health.

By submitting your email to subscribe, you agree to Scicomm Media's Privacy Policy

Search Huberman Lab

Improve your physical and mental health with Andrew’s Daily Blueprint

This comprehensive guide covers everything from morning routines and exercise to sleep optimization and stress management, helping you create a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Viral Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun responds to 'devastating' criticism

Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, known by her competition name Raygun , became a viral sensation during the Paris Olympics as her unusual performance raised eyebrows. While some praised her unique style, her performance attracted online criticism and ridicule, which Gunn described as "devastating."

"I really appreciate the positivity, and I'm glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That's what I hoped," Gunn said in a video posted to Instagram on Thursday. "I didn't realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has, frankly, been pretty devastating."

"I went out there, and I had fun. I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics, and I gave my all. Truly,” Gunn added.

Gunn is a 36-year-old college professor who wrote her PhD thesis on the intersection of gender and Sydney’s breaking culture. She lost all three of her group-stage breaking battles in Paris, failing to score a single point.

Gunn pleaded for privacy as she faces increased scrutiny for her participation at the Olympics and critics question how she could have been selected for the Australian team.

“I would really like to ask the press to please stop harassing my family, my friends, the Australian breaking community and the broader street dance community. Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this, so I ask you to please respect their privacy," Gunn said in the video.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rachael Gunn (@raygun_aus)

Gunn’s distinctive moves and low scores led to online speculation that she had manipulated the Olympic selection process. A petition published to change.org to “hold Raygun accountable” demanded an investigation into how she was selected for the Australian Olympic team. The petition, which had garnered over 55,000 signatures, has since been removed.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) released a statement Thursday in defense of Gunn, condemning the petition as “vexatious, misleading and bullying.”

The statement refuted every detail of the allegations against Gunn, saying she was selected through “a transparent and independent qualification event and nomination process.”

“It is disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an anonymous person can be published in this way. It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory,” AOC CEO Matt Carroll wrote in the statement .

“It’s important that the community understands the facts and that people do not form opinions based on malicious untruths and misinformation,” Carroll added.

Gunn addressed the allegations in her Instagram video, urging viewers to refer to the AOC’s statement on the “misinformation floating around.”

Breaking made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics , but it will not return at the 2028 Los Angeles Games .

IMAGES

Thesis Nootropics Review [2023]: Huberman's #1 Brain Supplement (& Get
Thesis Nootropics Review [2023]: Huberman's #1 Brain Supplement (& Get
Thesis Nootropics Review [2023]: Huberman's #1 Brain Supplement (& Get
Thesis Nootropics Review [2023]: Huberman's #1 Brain Supplement (& Get
Thesis Nootropics Review [2023]: Huberman's #1 Brain Supplement (& Get
Miles And Huberman 1994 Qualitative Data Analysis

COMMENTS

Any experience using Thesis? : r/HubermanLab
The place for fans of Dr. Andrew Huberman and the Huberman Lab. In this subreddit we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life. In keeping with that theme, be kind and understanding of other members. We're all here to learn and help. This community is here to support your health, wellness, and learning journey.
Reddit
We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us.
Anyone read this write up about Huberman? : r/HubermanLab
r/HubermanLab. r/HubermanLab. The place for fans of Dr. Andrew Huberman and the Huberman Lab. In this subreddit we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life. In keeping with that theme, be kind and understanding of other members. We're all here to learn and help.
Do you recommend any nootopics
Thesis offers a unique approach to nootropics by focusing on personalization. Here's a detailed overview based on what Andrew Huberman shared about Thesis: Concept of Personalization: Thesis creates custom nootropics tailored to individual cognitive and physical goals. The personalization addresses the user's unique brain chemistry and genetics ...
Thesis
Thesis is a nootropic company that offers personalized blends for your brain goals and lifestyle. Whether you want to boost your focus, creativity, mood, or energy, you can find the right formula for you. Try their starter kit and get free shipping, coaching, and a 30-day guarantee.
Has anyone had luck with Huberman's sleep cocktail?
Theanine has been a life changing supplement for me for daytime anxiety. As a result I try not to use it too often and haven't used it much for sleep. But there's a clear benefit to my sleep quality when I take 400mgs of theanine. Inositol seems to help sleep quality a little bit, I take it daily. Magnesium seems to help with overall ...
Thesis Nootropics Review
So, we sourced testimonials from the brand's website, Reddit, and ZenMasterWellness. And spoiler alert, the Thesis nootropics reviews we came across have nothing but good things to say. On takethesis.com, the brand earns 4.4/5 stars out of 7,956 reviews.
Andrew Huberman
Andrew David Huberman (born September 26, 1975) is an American neuroscientist and podcaster.He is an associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.Since 2021, he has hosted the popular health and science focused Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast has attracted criticism for promoting poorly supported health claims.
My 3 best Huberman protocols
After experimenting with a bunch here are my top protocols: 1. **Getting morning sunlight.** Every morning right when I wake up I immediately go...
Controlling Sugar Cravings & Metabolism with Science ...
00:03:13 Thesis, AG1 (Athletic Greens), InsideTracker; 00:07:40 Sugar & the Brain; 00:10:06 Appetite & Hormones: Ghrelin & Insulin; ... I'm Andrew Huberman and I'm a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. Today we are going to discuss sugar, in particular how our nervous system regulates our sugar intake and ...
I Tried 4 Thesis Nootropic Blends (My 2024 Review)
Thesis has gained popularity primarily through word-of-mouth and a strong focus on personalization. The company has raised over $13.5 million in funding and is reportedly profitable with a robust growth trajectory. Thesis has garnered support from health and wellness advocates like Dr. Andrew Huberman, Rich Roll, Kevin Love, and Kate Bock.
Science-Based Tools for Increasing Happiness
You'll also join 500,000+ others in receiving Huberman Lab's monthly Neural Network newsletter on neuroscience, health, and science-related tools from Dr. Andrew Huberman. ... 00:14:14 Thesis, InsideTracker, Helix Sleep; 00:17:51 Imprecise Language for Happiness; 00:20:26 Happiness: Neuromodulators & Neurotransmitters;
Huberman Lab
Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the Department of Neurobiology and by courtesy, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Huberman is also the host of the Huberman Lab podcast — the #1 Health & Fitness podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more about Andrew Huberman.
Starter Kit
Your Starter Kit includes 4 blends selected for you: Clarity: enter a flow state on stressful days *. Energy: get all-day energy without crashing *. Logic: enhances deep thinking + supports recall *. Creativity: improves idea flow + eases nerves *. Confidence: ease your nerves + calm your mind *.
Anyone read this write up about Huberman?
View on Redlib, an alternative private front-end to Reddit.
Take Thesis Nootropics Review (2023): Expert Insiders Thoughts
Thesis offers two different buying options: one-time, and subscription. One-time purchases cost $119.00 and subscriptions cost $79.00 per month. Use code URBAN and save an extra 15 percent! Thesis backs all purchases with a full 30-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.
FAQ
We'll do our best to make any updates to your order before it has left our fulfillment center. The fastest way to contact us is by calling 646-647-3599 between 10 am - 5 pm ET or sending us an email at [email protected], with your order number, original shipping address, and the new address you wish to change to.
Thesis Review
Thesis' "Motivation Formula" contains five active ingredients: l-phenylalanine, Dynamine, vitamin B12, forskolin and artichoke extract. L-phenylalanine is an amino acid that Thesis describes as supporting mood, attention and motivation, however these claims are uncited and we can't find any medical evidence supporting them.
THESIS Discount Code
1d ago. We have 2 Thesis coupon codes today, good for discounts at takethesis.com. Shoppers save an average of 10.0% on purchases with coupons at takethesis.com, with today's biggest discount being 10% off your purchase. Our most recent Thesis promo code was added on Aug 9, 2024. On average, we find a new Thesis coupon code every 150 days.
Andrew Huberman Explains How to Live Forever (Or Just Look Like it)
NSDR = non-sleep deep rest, a term coined by Huberman as a Westernized version of yoga nidra. It involves lying flat on the floor and using breathing or visualization techniques to enter a deeply ...
How to Stop Headaches Using Science-Based Approaches
I also explain the evidence and mechanisms supporting the use of omega-3 fatty acids, high dose creatine, peppermint oil, turmeric, acupuncture and more. Additionally, I touch on traumatic brain injury, the causes of photophobia, aura, and the link between spicy foods and thunderclap headaches. By the end of this episode, listeners and viewers ...
Huberman x InsideTracker
Huberman exclusive: Unlock 10% off InsideTracker: Personal health analysis + data-driven wellness guide. InsideTracker analyzes your body's biomarkers to generate a custom Action Plan with science-backed nutrition, supplement, exercise, and lifestyle changes to help you live healthier longer.
Olympic Breakdancer Raygun Has PhD in Breakdancing?
In short, Gunn's Ph.D. thesis, titled "Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-girl's Experience of B-boying," indeed focused on the topic of breakdancing.
Quiz
1 (646) 647-3599. [email protected]. 30 W 24th Street. Floor 11. New York, NY 10010. ^Product reviews are provided for informational purposes only and reflect solely the opinions expressed by the contributors and not those of Thesis. We do not verify or endorse any claims made in these reviews. Please note that not all customer reviews may ...
Raygun the viral Olympic breakdancer busts more moves; Adele is a fan
Gunn, who wrote her PhD thesis on the intersection of gender and Sydney's breaking culture, also repped Australia at the world championships in 2021 and 2022 before earning a spot at the ...
Nutrients For Brain Health & Performance
Timestamps. Transcript. In this episode, Dr. Huberman describes science-supported nutrients for brain and performance (cognition) and general nervous system health. He describes ten tools for this purpose, including specific amounts and sources for Omega-3 fatty acids, which make up the "structural fat" of neurons (nerve cells) and allow ...
Raygun, Australian Olympic breakdancer, responds to online hate
Gunn is a 36-year-old college professor who wrote her PhD thesis on the intersection of gender and Sydney's breaking culture. She lost all three of her group-stage breaking battles in Paris ...
Raygun: Australian breaker earns mixed reviews, praised for 'courage
Rachael Gunn arrived in Paris as a competitive breaker excited to make her Olympic debut. She leaves an internet sensation, her performances viewed by million across social media.