Two of Natural Stack’s most famous supplements are CILTEP and Smart Caffeine, which the company encourages users to try both as a focus and memory-boosting stack. We put this stack to the test .

We’ve had positive experiences with MagTech (our favorite brain magnesium supplement), BioCreatine, and Smart Caffeine, though our testers had very mixed reviews on CILTEP. Developed by a popular biohacking forum contributor and subsequently produced by Natural Stacks, the theory behind CILTEP is that its ingredients, when taken in conjunction, boost Long Term Potentiation (LTP), basically a consistent strengthening of synapses in the brain. Read our CILTEP review here.

While one of our testers reported less brain fog while on CILTEP, the science behind the stack and whether or not the ingredients can make it past the digestive system is inconclusive. Overall, it’s a stack we don’t recommend for beginners, and the mechanisms and theory are definitely more suited toward the experienced biohacker who’s interested in learning about high-level synapse mechanisms. (And whether or not it truly works is still up in the air.)

When stacking CILTEP and Smart Caffeine, we only (reliably) experienced the effects of Smart Caffeine, which is basically a smoother, no-jitters caffeine boost complimented by the supplement’s l-theanine content. (Read our Smart Caffeine review here.)

We recommend anyone be careful when taking caffeine-containing supplements, starting off slow to assess personal tolerance. As far as stacking Smart Caffeine with CILTEP, we felt no difference when compared to taking Smart Caffeine on its own.

The post CILTEP and Smart Caffeine: Is This Natural Stacks Combo Worth It? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

We’ve reviewed our fair share of duds (research before you buy!), but one stack that’s stood up for us time and time again is the combo of Lumonol and MagTech. Currently, they’re among the best nootropics we’ve tried.

Lumonol is just about the fastest-acting nootropic formula we’ve ever tried. It’s got powerful brain boosters like CDP Choline and noopept (similar in effect but faster for us than piracetam), combined with an energy bend that includes guarana. It’s a pretty broad-spectrum stack, and we haven’t found a ton of benefit from stacking it with most other nootropic supplements.

Amplify Lumonol with Magnesium

However, one big exception to that is MagTech, a blend of highly-absorbable magnesium compounds that have done wonders for our brain function and sleep. This product isn’t what you might expect on a list of top supplements for brain health; it’s actually a pretty straightforward magnesium stack. Many Americans (and people in Western countries in general) are magnesium-deficient, which can have negative ramifications for brain health and sleep quality. MagTech combines Magnesium L-Threonate, Magnesium Taurate, and Magnesium Glycinate into one supplement that supplies around 50% of the daily recommended dose of magnesium per serving, these forms are specifically good for absorption and use by the brain.

Another supplement, Neuro-Mag, is also a BrainWiz favorite but only contains magnesium taurate. Both rated high on our testers’ lists of top brain supplements. But overall, we see the sleep-boosting benefits more in MagTech, which is a definite plus. Most of our testers also experienced improved mood while taking MagTech, which in turn benefited their productivity.

Nootropics for Productivity

All in all, the combination of Lumonol (click for best price) and MagTech (click for best price) is one of our favorites because it acts quickly, boosts focus in a long-lasting way, and improved our sleep quality after a long and stressful workday (note: we recommend taking Lumonol in the morning and not the evening). We also recommend staying within the manufacturer’s recommended dosages and timing; we did and were able to reap the benefits of both.

An Alternative, Caffeine-Free Stack for Productivity

Part of Lumonol’s potency comes from its caffeine/guarana content. If you’re sensitive to caffeine and are looking for something that boosted our testers’ productivity without stimulants, we’d recommend Nootrobox’s RISE. It’s a simple, straightforward combination of stress-fighting adaptogens bacopa and rhodiola, along with 300 mg of high-quality Alpha-GPC (our favorite choline source for nootropics).

We take RISE on a similar schedule to Lumonol, often in the morning, and because it’s caffeine-free, it pairs exceptionally well with coffee, whereas Lumonol + coffee can be too much for some people. And like Lumonol, RISE also go well with MagTech for a one-two punch that lasts most of us through the whole workday.

The post The Best Nootropic Combo for Nailing Productivity appeared first on Brain Wiz.

In addition to Magnesium Threonate, we were curious to see what Natural Stacks’ other two ingredients could add to our experience, and whether it stood above Life Extension’s very simple Neuro-Mag formula. Read on to see how our test of MagTech went.

MagTech by Natural Stacks Ingredients Label

The Ingredients

Magnesium, 200 mg

Magnesium is one of the minerals many Westerners (especially Americans, and ESPECIALLY active exercisers and athletes) are deficient in. It plays important roles in muscular health, sleep, and brain function. Magnesium comes in many different compounds and forms, of which MagTech contains three.

From 1000 mg Magtein Magnesium L-Threonate

Magnesium threonate is the form of dietary magnesium most closely associated with improved brain health in recent research, largely due to its somewhat unique ability to easily cross the blood-brain barrier; magnesium in most other forms has more difficulty reaching the brain. The form of Magnesium Threonate in the study summary linked above, Magtein, is the same found in Natural Stack’s MagTech.

From 630 mg Magnesium Taurate

Another highly absorbable form of magnesium. Some very initial (really speculative, at best) research suggests it might also have promise in the prevention of migraines.

From 525 mg Magnesium Glycinate

Yet another form of absorbable magnesium that has been linked to improved sleep and mood.

Other Ingredients: Vegetable capsule, cellulose, vegetable stearate, silica.

Usage Guidelines

Take 2 [3 capsule] servings per day, preferably 1 serving in the afternoon and 1 serving in the evening, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

What Our Testers Say

“Natural Stacks suggests taking twice the dosage (pill-wise) of MagTech compared to Life Extension’s Neuro-Mag, but after testing the supplement, I see why. Taking the recommended dose of MagTech gets you the same amount of Magtein as Neuro-Mag in addition to two other forms of magnesium. Neuro-Mag doesn’t actually have as much total magnesium as MagTech, and I felt the difference. With MagTech, I slept even better and focused even clearer. Of the brain-boosting magnesium supplements we’ve tried, MagTech is my clear favorite.”

“I’m a big fan of MagTech; combining these three forms of magnesium into one pill was a great move, and I rested and performed much better than when not supplementing this important element. Right now, I think Natural Stacks’ formula is the best nootropic magnesium supplement I’ve tried.”

BrainWiz Tips

• When starting magnesium supplementation, some people experience a laxative effect. This is less common with magnesium threonate, and neither of our testers experienced it.
• We recommend taking with food to avoid a potentially upset stomach.
• If you think you’re magnesium deficient, it’s worth consulting with your doctor.

Supplement Summary

Our testers loved MagTech (click for best price), and they especially appreciated the improved sleep quality and overall improvement in mood they experienced while taking it. The effects on focus and memory recall may take longer to feel than the nearly immediate improvement they felt in rest quality.

MagTech is a magnesium supplement we’re excited to try taking alongside other nootropic stacks like Alpha Brain and Lumonol.

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