truBrain’s innovative, portable shot makes it an easy addition to my travel or toiletry bag (it’s also under 3 ounces, so it’s carry-on friendly). I enjoy the taste, it can be taken without water, and it includes caffeine and oxiracetam in its powerful, research-backed blend of nootropic ingredients. It’s not the fastest-acting nootropic I’ve tried, but as I mentioned in our review, it tends to increase my focus gradually throughout the day. For back-to-back-to-back meetings, it’s proven a valuable tool.

Rhodiola is a BrainWiz favorite, and when traveling for work I’ll either take this with coffee (instead of truBrain, which I take by itself) or in the afternoons if a stressful presentation or meeting is about to hit. It keeps me calm and boosts my mental energy for long days at away offices!

Honorable mention goes to Unfair Advantage, the Bulletproof stack of PQQ and CoQ10. A few ampules per day, again, and easy, travel-friendly delivery system!, gives me a combination mental and physical boost. My energy feels cleaner and slightly longer-lasting, just the sort of edge I want on the road (or running between airport terminals, etc.). I’ll normally toss a handful of the Unfair Advantage ampules in my bag before heading out the door, though this is also a supplement I often take daily in my normal life.

The post My Go-To Travel Stack: truBrain, Rhodiola, and One Surprise appeared first on Brain Wiz.

UPDATE: Currently, GABAwave is unavailable from the Bulletproof/Upgraded Self. Recently, we’ve seen many phenibut-containing supplements taken off the market. If you’re looking for a supplement to boost brainpower and focus, check out our other supplement reviews here.

GABAwave Label

The Ingredients

GABAWave comes in 4 mL single-use ampules. There are 15 ampules/servings per container.

Active Ingredients:

Phenyl-GABA (phenibut) – 600 mg This is GABAwave’s only active ingredient, and Bulletproof makes a special form which makes the phenibut molecules smaller and more easily absorbable (this is accomplished through the phospholipid listed under “Other Ingredients”). Phenibut is a chemical that emulates the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It is a neuropsychotropic drug that functions as both a nootropic and as a tranquilizer by stimulating dopamine production. Dopamine plays a part in controlling flow of information in the brain while alleviating stress and anxiety.

Other Ingredients: Purified water, Oleic Acid (from olive oil), Glycerin, Phosphatidylcholine (Natural Phospholipid as an emulsifier), Inulin, Natural Flavors, Natural Caramel Color, Gum Acacia and Stevia.

Usage Guidelines

For Clear Focus all day and enhanced sleep all night: Take 1 serving in the first half of your day (can take before noon) on an empty stomach. Allow up to 36 hours between servings. Do not exceed 3 servings in a one week period. The way phenibut is processed by the body can result in no or opposite effects, so use caution when beginning use. GABAwave can increase the effects of tranquilizers, narcotics, and neuroleptics. We had several BrainWiz testers take 1 ampule every 48 hours for 6 days (not exceeding the 3/week recommendation of the manufacturer).

What Our Testers Say

“I’m generally a nervous flyer, so I decided to try GABAwave during my last transatlantic flight. It was one of the best travel days I’ve had in recent memory. Even when things were not going as expected, I was able to keep calm, and still sharp enough to make quick decisions working on the plane. It also helped me fall asleep quickly, mitigating jetlag. I will continue to take this, especially when I have to travel. The calm feeling was pretty great.”

“This helped me sleep well, something I don’t see with a lot of nootropics, as some give me jitters and keep me awake, and recover from a couple of back-to-back tough workouts. I also felt clear-headed and “ready” for anything when taking GABAwave.”

“I don’t mind the flavor of Bulletproof’s Unfair Advantage, but GABAwave took me by surprise. It is salty, bitter, and vicious; but it’s also so worth it. There was a simultaneous rush of calm and clarity, and it lasted two full days. I will be reaching for this supplement whenever I have a high-stress day or two coming on.”

“Despite tasting atrocious, GABAwave works! I felt calm even under a tremendous amount of stress, and I had some of the best nights’ sleep I can remember. I did have a[n alcoholic] drink while on GABAwave, and it hit me hard. I would suggest staying away from booze when on GABAwave.”

BrainWiz Tips

After comparing experiences and effectiveness, here are our best tips for getting the most out of GABAWave:

• GABAWave contains no caffeine, and it pairs well with your morning coffee (especially because it helps take the taste of GABAwave away).
• Our testers experienced no negative side effects from this supplement, though one did experience some dizziness when drinking alcohol the same day as taking GABAwave. But as with any supplement or nutritional regimen, you should talk to your doctor or medical professional before use. It is also important NOT to take more than three servings during a week.
• GABAWave should be taken before noon.
• We recommend trying it on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for sustained nootropic and sleep support through the week.
• If you’re using the supplement for the first time, start with less than a full ampule, and work your way up to a full ampule.
• Phenibut enhances the tranquilizing effects of alcohol and other drugs. We advise that you stay away from other tranquilizers when taking GABAWave.
• A good supplement to fight travel stress.

Supplement Summary 

GABAwave is a great caffeine-free nootropic and tranquilizer in a unique delivery system. In addition to improved cognitive function, users also feel a release in stress and anxiety, as well as improved sleep. It’s somewhat unique in this market, and while phenibut will impact everyone differently, it’s common to experience benefits for up to two days after ingesting. Phenibut is a potent nootropic, and it is important to cycle it as indicated. If you can stomach the taste and stick to cycling this supplement as recommended, there’s a lot to be gained from GABAwave.

The post Better Sleep, Calm Focus, And A Brain Boost? Reviewing GABAwave By Bulletproof appeared first on Brain Wiz.

These include Choline Force, Glutathione Force, and CILTEP® (which is actually a Natural Stacks product). Their best-known nootropic, however, is Unfair Advantage, a blend of two powerful brain and energy-promoting compounds. Today, we’re reviewing Unfair Advantage. Read below for our full Unfair Advantage review.

Get the best price on Unfair Advantage by buying directly from Upgraded Self (Bulletproof).

Unfair Advantage By Upgraded Self

The Ingredients

Unfair Advantage comes in 4 mL single-use ampules. There are 30 ampules/servings per container.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (ActivePQQ) – 10 mg

PQQ is a vitamin-like (or pseudo-vitamin) compound that is thought to have several benefits in the human body. Research suggests it can reduce oxidative stress, thereby acting as a potentially powerful antioxidant and protecting the body’s cells from damage. There’s also evidence (largely in animal trials, though with some limited success in human-based research) that PQQ boosts mitochondrial activity and reduces factors thought to inhibit mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the sites within cells that produce energy, and by increasing their efficiency, PQQ is thought to have benefits for overall energy production and metabolic systems.

The PQQ in Unfair Advantage is a proprietary form called ActivePQQ, which is comprised of small particles of the ingredient suspended in solution. The manufacturer claims this increases bioavailability of the product (your body’s ability to use and absorb it) while decreasing the likelihood of the PQQ breaking down in your digestive tract before absorption. While no other company is using this particular form of PQQ, the dosage (10 mg per serving) is in line with what you’ll see in PQQ supplements throughout the industry.

CoQ10 (as ubiquinol) – 20 mg

CoQ10 (also known as ubiquinol, technically a reduced form of CoQ10) is another compound that’s tied to mitochondrial production. It’s also been shown to increase blood flow in humans while potentially fighting the buildup and damage caused by low-density lipoproteins (LDL, or LDL cholesterol). The form of CoQ10 in Unfair Advantage isn’t proprietary, but Upgraded Self uses very small particles in order to increase bioavailability and absorption. When paired, ActivePQQand CoQ10 make for a potent combo of mitochondrial and blood flow-boosting compounds.

The amount of CoQ10 in each serving of Unfair Advantage is actually a bit low by industry standards (some supplements offer up to 100mg), but the company claims you don’t need as much when it’s so highly bioavailable. There are also a few other supplements that offer the combo of PQQ and CoQ10, but Unfair Advantage is definitely one of the most popular and the most well-known version suspended in a bioavailable solution. We’ll be reporting on some of those other brands and supplements in the coming weeks.

Other Ingredients: Purified water, xylitol, glycerin, vitamin E (D-alpha-tocopherol acid succinate), natural flavor, gum acacia and stevia.

Usage Guidelines

From the packaging: For mental performance: Take 1-2 ampules per day For sports performance: Take 2-4 ampules per day We had several BrainWiz testers take between 1 and 5 ampules per day. The ampules are easier to take as quick “shots” and have a strongly sweet (there’s a lot of stevia, it seems) taste.

What Our Testers Say

“Unfair Advantage gave me a clean ”˜wave’ of energy. That’s how I’d describe it, a wave. It’s not really a rush, because it sort of flows through you, it doesn’t hit you hard or make you feel like you have to get used to it. It’s very different than the feeling of caffeine, which often gives me jitters even in low dosage. There wasn’t a crash, though the more days in a row I took it, the less pronounced the wave was.”

“I liked this supplement. I actually felt it more physically and had a really great series of workouts. It didn’t hurt mental performance or make me feel cloudy, but what I really liked was how it made me feel heading into workouts. I really liked taking it an hour before I left for the gym. I took three servings before each workout.”

“Some people don’t like the taste of Unfair Advantage, but I didn’t mind it at all. I’ve been taking this first thing when I wake up, and I like that I can take it with another supplement that has caffeine or with coffee. It gave me a slight edge in mental clarity before lunch during the workday.”

“Felt great the first few times I took it, then I stopped feeling the effects. Stayed off it for a few days and tried again, and the boost returned.”

BrainWiz Tips

After comparing experiences and effectiveness, here are our best tips for getting the most out of Unfair Advantage:

• Unfair Advantage contains no caffeine, so it pairs well when you’re already taking in caffeine, like with your morning coffee. The quick energy “wave” our testers felt was also most desirable in the morning.
• Our testers experienced no negative side effects from this supplement. But as with any supplement or nutritional regimen, you should talk to your doctor or medical professional before use.
• Take just before eating to take advantage of an active digestive system and promote absorption.
• Our testers felt diminishing effects after roughly a week of taking Unfair Advantage. After a few days off from the supplement, taking one or more ampules of Unfair Advantage once again produced a good rush of energy. We recommend trying it in a “1 week on, 3 days off” pattern in order to keep feeling the quick, clean energy boost.
• If you’re using the supplement for a physical performance boost, start with one or two ampules per day and work your way up to four.

Unfair Advantage Summary

Unfair Advantage is a great caffeine-free nootropic stack featuring two powerful, popular ingredients in a unique delivery system. In addition to a mental boost, some users feel increased physical energy and stamina during our Unfair Advantage trial.

Though its perceived effects seem to diminish over time, taking a break from the supplement for a few days seems to be enough time for its effectiveness to return.

The post Unfair Advantage Review: Can Upgraded Self Supercharge Your Brainpower? appeared first on Brain Wiz.