Christian Guzman’s Stim-Free Nootropic Returns for 2023

Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCl – 2000mg

Keep targeted with out the stims, similar to CG!

Often known as ALCAR, Acetyl L-Carnitine is the type of supplemental L-carnitine that may cross the blood-brain barrier, which is why we choose to see it in nootropic dietary supplements.^[1]

Rewinding a contact, we frequently see numerous types of carnitine in fats burners (Ghost Burn has two kinds, half of it being ALCAR), because it helps with fatty acid transport to the mitochondria,^[2] the cell’s “powerhouses”. Even with out desirous about weight reduction, that is nonetheless very constructive, since we have to transport lipids in our mind as nicely. We at all times emphasize that carnitine’s finest outcomes are available in those that are poor – vegans, vegetarians, aged, and exhausted athletes.^[3,4]

Getting again to our nootropic functions, analysis has proven that ALCAR supplementation displays neuroprotective, neurotrophic, and antidepressant results.^[5] Extra research have been revealed reporting a discount in cognitive decline and an enhancement in mind synaptic response and general studying capabilities.^[6,7]

ALCAR’s synergy with choline

When speaking about weight reduction, we frequently cite a number of research that present improved synergy with choline by way of elevated carnitine retention,^[8-11] and choline is a nutrient that’s dosed extraordinarily nicely (coated later). That analysis nonetheless stands, however there’s extra synergy price noting on a easy chemistry degree:

Extra synergy! For those who’re low on acetyl teams, your choline might not get to the acetylcholine that you really want. ALCAR (Acetyl L-Carnitine) listed above helps with that bottleneck.

Within the choline sections under, we’ll focus on acetylcholine, our “studying neurotransmitter” that’s launched by the nervous system for inter-cell communication. With a purpose to produce extra, we’d like each parts of it – the choline and the acetyl teams. ALCAR gives these acetyl teams, and does so in a means that crosses the blood-brain-barrier mentioned above.^[1]

With loads of choline alongside, we’re set to have far fewer bottlenecks in producing this neurotransmitter, which will likely be nice for anybody making an attempt to keep away from nasty mind fog.

So there are two the explanation why the choline + ALCAR mixture is a slam dunk in a powdered nootropic.

L-Tyrosine (Vegan Fermented) – 1500mg

Get it achieved

L-Tyrosine isn’t any stranger to nootropic formulation both. This non-essential amino acid is used for numerous functions, however the two we’re zeroing in on as we speak is neurotransmitter manufacturing and sleep deprivation assist.

Tyrosine is a chemical precursor to a number of necessary catecholamine neurotransmitters, together with dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine — all used to sign mobile communication and fireplace issues up. Dopamine will increase focus, cognition, motor perform, and motivation.^[12,13] Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) activate our flight-or-fight response, boosting lipolysis and coronary heart fee once we want them.^[14,15]

Sleep deprivation assist from tyrosine

Exhausted social media stars who run companies like Christian Guzman aren’t any stranger to lack of sleep. Whereas we by no means suggest poor sleep hygiene, it does occur, and is necessary to grasp the best way to finest carry out in its wake.

Over time, we’ve realized that there’s an unimaginable string of analysis exhibiting that L-Tyrosine considerably boosts efficiency in sleep disadvantaged people.^[16,17] This has been carried out over a half-dozen occasions, with analysis tyrosine’s results when uncovered to low-sleep, hectic conditions, and so they’ve all proven success!^[16]

Christian Guzman is again for the fifth installment of his GHOST collaboration with a model new pre-workout system.

There’s even sufficient knowledge to have a scientific evaluate on the matter, and one which was carried out on members of the navy states the next: “Nonetheless, we recommend that tyrosine or caffeine might be utilized in wholesome younger adults in a navy context to boost cognitive efficiency when personnel are sleep-deprived.”^[17]

Once more – flip off your telephone and get some sleep. However for those who’re having a tough day after a tough evening, think about some Ghost Focus with that L-Tyrosine included. The 1500mg dosage, by the way in which, is above common – we’re often completely happy to get one gram.

Taurine – 1000mg

One other ingredient with a number of makes use of, we frequently discuss taurine due to its unimaginable endurance enhancement, which has been proven by a number of research in a meta-analysis, confirming that it really works after simply one use.^[18] Nevertheless, its advantages span the complete physique, and that features neuroprotection.

However can it prime Chips Ahoy?!

Taurine is an natural acid that works as an osmolyte, modulating water switch and calcium concentrations all through the physique. It’s probably the most plentiful amino acids within the mind, muscle, retina, and numerous organs, serving a number of roles within the central nervous system.^[19,20]

Regardless of taurine being a “conditional amino acid”, since our our bodies can produce it however profit from extra, quite a lot of data will be realized from a printed evaluate titled “Taurine: A ‘very important’ amino acid”,^[19] which exhibits the writer’s insistence that it’s truly extraordinarily important to get sufficient of.

The problem is that inadequate ranges are linked to a number of well being penalties, together with neuron harm, improvement abnormalities, renal dysfunction, and cardiomyopathy.^[19] It’s additionally crucial for eye well being, because it’s essential for photoreceptor improvement.

Taurine’s Advantages (endurance-wise) will be seen after a single use!^[18]

Researchers are humble sufficient to confess that we don’t totally perceive all of its mechanisms of motion,^[19] however we’re studying that one among its many cognitive enhancements comes from the restoration of GABA receptors and taurine transporters.^[20] This results in decreased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation together with stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis and synaptic perform.^[20]

As well as, analysis has proven taurine to be an necessary element in neurotransmission, and insufficient quantities (or insufficient consumption) can result in very poor reminiscence and studying capabilities.^[21]

Generally, this “conditionally important amino acid” appears increasingly “important” with every passing yr, particularly given the poor high quality of our meals and agriculture nowadays.

Choline Mix (1100mg): Alpha-GPC (Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline 50%) – 600mg and Cognizin Citicoline – 500mg

Now it’s again to the choline components we referenced within the carnitine part – Ghost included two high-quality kinds in Focus, making a mix that we completely love.

The fundamentals behind choline supplementation

Need focus with only a bit of stim? Then take a look at Ghost Gamer!

Generally, choline is a crucial nutrient within the class of B-vitamins that helps keep cell membrane construction and integrity.^[22] And for our cognitive wants, it’s additionally the precursor to acetylcholine, which we at all times name “the educational neurotransmitter”, because it’s present in excessive concentrations in neuromuscular junctions, is of crucial significance to the mind’s synapses, and is very concerned in cell-to-cell communication.^[23]

With extra acetylcholine, we get improved reminiscence, studying, consideration, alertness, and even higher steadiness and coordination.^[24,25] When discussing pre exercise dietary supplements, we frequently discuss in regards to the “mind-muscle” connection it gives.

On the alternative aspect of the coin, there are critical well being points that may come up when there’s a choline deficiency, starting from normal mind fog all the way in which to fatty liver illness and harm to organs and muscle.^[26]

So there’s no query choline is insanely necessary. Query for complement formulators is, what kind do you embrace?

Christian Guzman’s reply? Each.

• Alpha-GPC: Extremely bioavailable, crossing the blood mind barrier

  

  Improved acetylcholine utilization gives for an ‘anti-blurring’ impact in order that new and previous reminiscences don’t get confused

  Alpha-GPC is the primary type, with a medical dose of 600 mg offered in two scoops of Ghost Focus. This super-bioavailable type of supplemental choline is also referred to as alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine and is rapidly absorbed. However extra importantly, Alpha-GPC is ready to cross the blood mind barrier,^[27] making it a improbable associate with the acetyl L-carnitine listed above, as it might probably assist your mind synthesize extra acetylcholine.

  Past this capability, we’ve additionally seen some extremely analysis by way of energy and efficiency at this dose,^[28-31] and have already touched on the load loss synergy with carnitine above.^[8-11]

  That is already extra choline than most dietary supplements use. However Ghost and Guzman aren’t practically achieved but:

• Cognizin Citicoline: increase dopamine and norepinephrine!

  

  Cognizin® Citicoline is dubbed the The Mind Choline not simply because it gives choline, however as a result of it additionally provides cytidine, which can be wanted for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine

  To prime off choline shops much more, now we have citicoline, scientifically often known as Cytidine 5′-Diphosphocholine and CDP-Choline. It is a phenomenal feel-good choline supply as a result of citicoline can increase norepinephrine and dopamine ranges, and has been proven to spice up dopamine receptor density too!^[32]

  We’ve gone on the document numerous occasions discussing how a lot we take pleasure in choline blends. There are a lot of methods to do it, and that is possible probably the most costly, but it surely’s additionally in all probability the hardest-hitting.

  Since we first wrote this text, we’ve gone a lot deeper down the citicoline rabbit gap. See our article titled Cognizin® Citicoline: The Mind Choline for extra data!

Aquamin (hint minerals derived from Purple Marine Algae) – 500mg

There will not be any direct proof for cognition assist right here, however there are nonetheless advantages price discussing. Aquamin is a naturally-sourced marine-based mineral complicated that’s derived from pink algae (Lithothamnion spp) – it’s an ideal supply of calcium.^[33]

Alternatively… stack it with Ghost Vitality!

Analysis has proven that Aquamin helps with bone and joint assist,^[33,34] in order that’s typically the first profit. We’re supporters of the hint minerals inside, as we’re making an attempt to alleviate any mineral deficiencies with out including an enormous quantity of added components.

Uncooked Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Water Powder – 500mg

On prime of supporting taste, coconut water powder might help improve hydration standing, which is crucial to all features of well being, not simply the mind’s.

A number of research have linked impaired cognition, psychological fatigue, and mind fog with easy dehydration!^[35,36] Together with Aquamin, coconut water powder might enable you maintain your hydration standing, together with necessary electrolytes together with the water.

One analysis examine discovered that coconut water was simply nearly as good as a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink by way of whole-body rehydration.^[37] That is why we see it in a number of dietary supplements, starting from Ghost Amino (taken throughout exercises) to Ghost Gamer.

AstraGin (Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng) Root Extracts – 50mg

The trade’s favourite absorption-enhancing ingredient, AstraGin is a novel mix of plant extracts made by NuLiv Science. In our article titled Astragalosides and Ginsenosides: Differentiating NuLiv Science’s Substances, we lately dug deep into the science behind the advantages of its constituents.

The lengthy story brief is that AstraGin is finest recognized for its capability to extend the absorption of different components by the activation of transporters in your small intestines.^[38] This has been examined on a number of totally different amino acids usually taken by athletes. As well as, AstraGin might enhance intestine well being by lowering irritation and selling integrity of the GI lining.^[38]

Added Nutritional vitamins

Ghost Focus Stim-Free has a mix of added nutritional vitamins that embrace Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12.

Of those, the 2 we need to level out are Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate (P5P) as vitamin B6 and methylcobalamin as Vitamin B12, which we like excess of the pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin (respectively) that’s utilized in cheaper formulation. Causes under:

• P5P over Pyridoxine

  

  What’s the cope with Pyridoxine inflicting all of that cell dying?! It’s in all probability finest not to complement it. On this chart, greater is WORSE!^[39]

  Pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP or P5P) is the physique’s most popular type of B6, and is well dephosphorylated and absorbed.^[40] Take into account pyridoxal to be the animal type, whereas pyridoxine is the plant-based type. As a rule, the shape nearer to what’s present in animal tissue is the shape that’s extra readily bioavailable, and that’s the case right here.

  Much more necessary is the truth that analysis has discovered too a lot supplemental B6 within the type of pyridoxine to doubtlessly trigger extreme sensory neuropathy!^[41] This has not been present in food-derived or animal-sourced B6 that’s greater in pyridoxal. What’s taking place is definitely fairly ironic: a 2017 examine discovered that supplemental vitamin B6 from pyridoxine inhibits B6-dependent enzymes within the physique, and competitively limits P5P absorption!^[39]

• Methylcobalamin vs. Cyanocobalamin

  

  In the meantime, Ghost has opted for methylcobalamin, the lively type of vitamin B12, versus the cheaper cyanocobalamin, which is inactive. That is our litmus check for whether or not a complement firm actually cares, as a result of it’s costlier and never a ton of individuals look this intently on the label. Purpose being, as a way to “activate” the cheaper cyanocobalamin type, the physique should take away cyanide from it as a way to convert it to methylcobalamin!^[42]

  As well as, to hold out the above course of with cyanocobalamin, the physique should present a precious methyl group,^[43] including one other tax to your physique! Generally, researchers have concluded that it’s much less efficient than methylcobalamin,^[44,45] which isn’t stunning.

  So why will we nonetheless see cyanocobalamin as a substitute of methylcobalamin? You may in all probability guess why – however Christian Guzman and Staff Ghost aren’t having it.