Supplements/Vitamins for a Higher Functioning Brain

[Goat Meal]

Hello, all. Long story short, I'm 28, have a baby on the way, and in school pursuing a BS in Computer Science. I find that 2 days out of the week, I'm firing on all cylinders (usually thanks to a quick pick-me-up from caffeine). The rest of the week I'm lucky if I can multiply two, 2-digit numbers in my head without fucking it up.

I've experimented with Piracetam. It was semi-expensive and I don't think the effects lasted very long. Plus for a short time it actually made me fuzzier-headed, I think.

16oz of coffee is a must. I usually have some twice a week but don't always have time.

I try to get in tons of vitamin D and C in the morning from milk and this citrus green tea that I buy regularly.

Lastly, I've stolen a few of my wife's folic acid pills. I think I took 4 or 800 mg. They didn't do anything.

Any help?

[jb41339]

Is your sleep schedule regular?

[Goat Meal]

Originally Posted by jb41339

Is your sleep schedule regular?

It's the best it has ever been. I routinely get 8-9 hours a night.

Also should have included my typical diet:

Breakfast - Sometimes 2-3 whole eggs, with large glass of milk. Most of the time it's cereal. Maybe once a week I'll be in such a hurry I have to get some pastries from the gas station.

Lunch - Typically lentil soup or bean with bacon. Lately, though, I've been eating a lot of Subway. Sandwiches vary, but I try to pile on as much tomato and spinach as I can.

Dinner - Fast food, I'm usually too busy to cook and my wife is dealing with the first trimester sickness, so she never wants to cook or shop.

So, all in all, my diet is pretty shitty, but I usually get way more than enough vitamin D and C.

[Seriously-Dead]

Try skipping breakfast in exchange for a large cup of black coffee. Could be a disaster, could be fantastic. I don't know why, but I always find that I'm most productive when it comes to research/studying if I'm running on only caffeine for the first 4-8 hours of the day. You might not be like that, but meh, worth a shot trying for 2-3 days before the baby has you up all night.

You'd have to eat a considerably larger dinner if you were to pull this off with any success though, so maybe it's not for you.

[swirldog]

Originally Posted by jb41339

Is your sleep schedule regular?

It won't be once the baby arrives.

That said, congrats, TS, on your journey to fatherhood.

[hell wall]

l-tyrosine helps alot try it out

[unearth187]

Originally Posted by Goat Meal

It's the best it has ever been. I routinely get 8-9 hours a night.

Also should have included my typical diet:

Breakfast - Sometimes 2-3 whole eggs, with large glass of milk. Most of the time it's cereal. Maybe once a week I'll be in such a hurry I have to get some pastries from the gas station.

Lunch - Typically lentil soup or bean with bacon. Lately, though, I've been eating a lot of Subway. Sandwiches vary, but I try to pile on as much tomato and spinach as I can.

Dinner - Fast food, I'm usually too busy to cook and my wife is dealing with the first trimester sickness, so she never wants to cook or shop.

So, all in all, my diet is pretty shitty, but I usually get way more than enough vitamin D and C.

I think you just answered your own question. Seriously though grow up and start eating like a man, fast food every night? You want your kid/kids to be fat slobs? Because that is what will happen if you feed them what you are eating now. You can make some basic dishes its not hard example: boneless skinless chicken thighs chop off some of the fat, hit it with salt, pepper, curry powder, sriracha, lime, put it in a bag and let it marinate. Cook it in the oven @ like 400 degrees or so til its done (20 mins) . Super easy, no clean up just throw out the bag and foil. You can make like 4-5 lbs at a time and have enough for 2-3 days. Side dish just bake a sweet potato or two at the same time and steam some broccolli. Cook one time and eat 3-4 times. And eat healthy stuff in between, walnuts, carrots, apples, bananas, oranges, avocado etc. Eat real food.

edit: also the most important thing for your brain is fats. healthy fats. fatty fish (salmon), avocados, olives, avocados, walnuts, i think grass fed meat is supposed to be high in it as well but its too expensive for my grad student budget

[gspieler]

Fish oil, more veggies in your diet, green tea, and cut out/minimize fast food intake. Also, exercise, daily if possible. If youre getting 8-9 hrs sleep/day, you certainly have time to fit it in. Congrats on the kid.

[CelebritySexist]

Not to sound (too much) like a single-issue voter, but I think high-quality magnesium supps will do the magic for you; relatively inexpensive, but I'll be damned if they don't do wonders for memory and focus. Between those and good fats, it's a hard combination to beat.

[Nozza]

You don't need to be taking substances to get through a degree. Eat reasonably and do exercise.

If you do find a substance that works then chances are it will have side effects you don't want.

But if you really do need super concentration and mental endurance then look into modafinil. I've played like 12 hours online poker non-stop on one of those and maintained excellent mental acuity throughout. I wouldn't recommend doing it regularly though - it's a pharmaceutical drug and as such is potentially dangerous. I understand that it's very popular with undergrads these days.