Quote: (03-03-2012 10:36 AM)RichieP Wrote:
Yes dude there are BIG things you can do that are very healthy to nail this:
-Coconut oil by the tablespoon - 2+ per day really gives me mental clarity and energy. It's full of MCFAs which are quickly absorbed and broken down to ketones which the brain readily uses for energy. Many other benefits too. Try it and see...
-Short sharp cardio - goal is blood flow to the frontal lobes. Morning is good. I like either the Graded Exercise protocol 3x a week (5 min warmup, then 5 min cardio with 2-3 min at 85% heart rate - seems to be a "minimum effective dose" for steadily improving VO2 max and fitness), or sprints twice per week. Weight lifting is important for other reasons, but I dont find it gives that clarity or mental energy, probably due to brain blood flow.
-Paleo diet, getting your carbohydrate load way down. Carbs = brain fog, lethargy, sleepiness. Replace with meat, good fats, dark green veggies, broccoli, coconut oil... you'll be able to think/work/study for hours more.
-N-back brain training. The only brain training so far that has actually been associated with IQ increases in the literature. Increases your "working memory" which many cognitive neuroscientists believe to be the common bottleneck in many cognitive tasks, and is strongly correlated with IQ. See: http://www.bulletproofexec.com/how-to-ad...-training/
-Omega 3 supplements. The brain IS fat and you've gotta feed it the right kind.
-Sorting out your sleep. This is huge. Very dark room, consistent bedtimes (although can be at odds with a pickup lifestyle). Power naps of half an hour (for re-energising) or 1.5 hours for more restorative rest and creativity are awesome, see: http://artofmanliness.com/2011/02/07/unl...f-the-nap/
If you want to take it further and have some $$ to spare, you can use an EEG biofeedback setup to directly train your frontal lobes. Google "peak alpha frequency training". Basic idea = you EEG stick sensors on your head that give you audio or visual feedback when your brain is "working hard" i.e. in a high-alpha state in the frontal lobes. It's basically like lifting weights for your brain - you adapt to the demand by growing new neurons and increasing your cognitive efficiency. They use it successfully to treat elderly people with cognitive decline and delay alzheimers.
You want to see a licensed biofeedback practitioner who will get you set up. You can buy "brainwave entrainment" glasses that supposedly do the same thing, but Im skeptical. I'd rather do all the proven stuff above stuff first, then see a pro if you want to take it further.
BTW this is all healthy, natural stuff before even touching nootropics, and smart drugs. I'd consider messing with them if I HAD to learn something intensively and quickly, like programming or a new language. But I'd approach it like a steroid cycle, i.e. something to get on and get off within a predetermined period, while monitoring side effects (which nootropics do have). IMO it's can't be sensible to be on them year-round like some people are, and especially if you dont have all the natural basic stuff above sorted.
Quote: (03-03-2012 10:36 AM)RichieP Wrote:
Yes dude there are BIG things you can do that are very healthy to nail this:
-Coconut oil by the tablespoon - 2+ per day really gives me mental clarity and energy. It's full of MCFAs which are quickly absorbed and broken down to ketones which the brain readily uses for energy. Many other benefits too. Try it and see...
-Short sharp cardio - goal is blood flow to the frontal lobes. Morning is good. I like either the Graded Exercise protocol 3x a week (5 min warmup, then 5 min cardio with 2-3 min at 85% heart rate - seems to be a "minimum effective dose" for steadily improving VO2 max and fitness), or sprints twice per week. Weight lifting is important for other reasons, but I dont find it gives that clarity or mental energy, probably due to brain blood flow.
-Paleo diet, getting your carbohydrate load way down. Carbs = brain fog, lethargy, sleepiness. Replace with meat, good fats, dark green veggies, broccoli, coconut oil... you'll be able to think/work/study for hours more.
-N-back brain training. The only brain training so far that has actually been associated with IQ increases in the literature. Increases your "working memory" which many cognitive neuroscientists believe to be the common bottleneck in many cognitive tasks, and is strongly correlated with IQ. See:
-Omega 3 supplements. The brain IS fat and you've gotta feed it the right kind.
-Sorting out your sleep. This is huge. Very dark room, consistent bedtimes (although can be at odds with a pickup lifestyle). Power naps of half an hour (for re-energising) or 1.5 hours for more restorative rest and creativity are awesome, see:
If you want to take it further and have some $$ to spare, you can use an EEG biofeedback setup to directly train your frontal lobes. Google "peak alpha frequency training". Basic idea = you EEG stick sensors on your head that give you audio or visual feedback when your brain is "working hard" i.e. in a high-alpha state in the frontal lobes. It's basically like lifting weights for your brain - you adapt to the demand by growing new neurons and increasing your cognitive efficiency. They use it successfully to treat elderly people with cognitive decline and delay alzheimers.
You want to see a licensed biofeedback practitioner who will get you set up. You can buy "brainwave entrainment" glasses that supposedly do the same thing, but Im skeptical. I'd rather do all the proven stuff above stuff first, then see a pro if you want to take it further.
BTW this is all healthy, natural stuff before even touching nootropics, and smart drugs. I'd consider messing with them if I HAD to learn something intensively and quickly, like programming or a new language. But I'd approach it like a steroid cycle, i.e. something to get on and get off within a predetermined period, while monitoring side effects (which nootropics do have). IMO it's can't be sensible to be on them year-round like some people are, and especially if you dont have all the natural basic stuff above sorted.
Quote: (03-11-2012 01:40 PM)pitt Wrote:
Anybody knows where i can download the N-back brain training for free?
Quote: (03-11-2012 02:25 PM)mofo Wrote:
Anybody has any hardcore advice for emergency situations like for when an exam is coming in 3 days and you need to study 2 500 page long books or any similar emergencies?
I am looking for natural substances. I take gingko and panax ginseng, drink green tea and take a few basic supplemets, what else? Rhodiola Rosea?
Quote: (03-11-2012 02:34 PM)Dolmance Wrote:
Quote: (03-11-2012 01:40 PM)pitt Wrote:
Anybody knows where i can download the N-back brain training for free?
http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/download.html
There you go.
D.
Quote: (03-03-2012 10:15 AM)Highrise Wrote:
I've been experiencing a lot of "brain fog" lately. It's almost like it's taking my brain longer to process things than it should and I've found it harder to focus/concentrate than it used to. Even getting laid doesn't help.
Do you guys have any tips on how you keep your mental clarity/focus? Morning exercise? Ginkgo Biloba? I'd be interested in any ideas.
