A Guide to Biochemical Personal Upgrades: Introduction and General Stacks

In previous posts I have covered my personal experiences with nootropics and other cognitive enhancement drugs.  You may find them here:

http://hardcoredynamic.com/blog/2008/04/29/nootropics-and-cognition-retrospective-and-commentary/

While my experiences can serve as a valuable resource, what I hope to create is a comprehensive guide to personal upgrades.  Technological upgrades to the human body are limited at this time, therefore this guide will exclusively focus on biochemical means.  Remember, I am not a doctor and you should consult with a physician and/or psychiatrist before trying some of these stacks. Also please note that this guide is primarily targeted at men. That doesn’t mean that women can not make use of this guide, but please note that certain vitamins and supplements that may affect testosterone, sexual performance, and/or body mass will not be desirable. I will try my best to point this out, where necessary.

General Stacks: While there are some supplements that target specific types of human improvement, for example mood or cognition, some supplements create general improvements in human health and capabilities. These are supplements that will help increase general health, energy, and mood – with little or no side effects. I would recommend that anyone looking to improve their health, regardless of specific enhancement or improvement goals, should take the following:

• Daily Multi-Vitamin

  A daily vitamin supplement is not necessary, but is often helpful, especially when your diet is not perfect (and whose really is?). Still, you want to be sure you are getting bang for the buck – and if you find you are pissing yellow, it may be time to switch brands or stop and adjust your diet.

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids

  Apparently these fatty acids promote good cholesterol, reduce abdominal fats, and may even help with depression and mood disorders. The science definitely backs the cholesterol arguments and that alone is reason enough to take this supplement.

• Whey Protein

  Whey protein is a great source of high quality protein that will supplement your diet (which should be full of legumes and white meat if you are serious about upgrading). Often these supplements have plenty of extra amino acids and vitamins that they may eliminate the need for a multi-vitamin.

  I avoid soy products because they diminish testosterone, but ladies should keep in mind that compared to soy protein, Whey protein does not increase testosterone, is healthier, and is more absorable – therefore I recommend Whey protein for everyone.

• Creatine

  Often meats and protein supplements contain creatine, but if you really want the effects you should supplement. This is not just for bodybuilders – creatine treats and prevents a number of neurological and muscular disorders. For the healthy, creatine will improve energy levels and performance in short burst activities. Because of the increased overall energy levels, creatine also increases mental acuity. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3145223.stm

  A side effect will be increased water retention in the muscles, – leading to larger, fuller musculature, and therefore Creatine may not be desired for most women and some men.

  Note that this supplement must by cycled. Most cycles consist of a 1 week loading of 20 grams a day, followed by maintenance at 10g for 2-3 weeks, and then a creatine free period for 2-3 weeks. Rinse and repeat.

Future installments will cover mood, energy, anxiety, sexual performance, and several other exciting avenues to upgrade your potential.