The Motivational Super Supp? Reviewing Dopamine Brain Food by Natural Stacks

Natural Stacks — makers of MagTech, BioCreatine, Smart Caffeine, and CILTEP — also manufacturer a line of proprietary nootropic stacks called Brain Food. Their Dopamine Brain Food formula is designed to support the production of dopamine by providing a supply of precursors and cofactors for its metabolization at an optimal rate. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with motivation, creativity, and athletic ability.

The manufacturer claims Dopamine Brain Food can improve motor function and balance, and potentially increase learning capacity, motivation, confidence, and focus. Unlike some nootropic makers, Natural Stacks includes quite a few references and research citations on their page — not an unbiased source, but it’s good to trace where they’re drawing their conclusions.

Read on to find if this stack has enough of an effect on dopamine production to increase mental alertness — and potentially physical performance.

The Ingredients

Active Ingredients:

Vitamin C (Quali®-C ascorbic acid) – 500 mg
Perhaps  the world’s most well-known nutrient, vitamin C plays numerous roles in bodily functions, including many in the brain. In the world of on-the-go nutrition, many Americans still fall short of their daily recommendation.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal-5-phosphate) – 5 mg
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble essential vitamin involved in the production of neurotransmitters. Studies show that when taken in conjunction with magnesium, B6 improved school attention in children diagnosed with ADHD.

Along with phenylalanine (below), vitamin B6 is included in this stack because increased cAMP levels also increase dopamine synthesis. B6 and phenylalanine give the body a greater supply of dopamine’s building blocks to help compensate for the compound’s increased synthesis.

Folate(Quatrefolic® (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, glucosamine salt) – 1 mg
Another B vitamin linked to brain health and function.

Vitamin B-12 (Methylcobalamin) – 5 mg
An essential nutrient, B12 plays an important role in numerous bodily functions, including neurological function and development. The particular form of B12 contained in Dopamine Brain Food is a form most often used to reduce brain fog and promote mental energy due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Selenium (L-Selenomethionine) – 55 mcg
Selenium is an element linked to thyroid function.

L-Phenylalanine – 500 mg
L-Phenylanine is an amino acid that promotes general brain function and reduces the effects of age-related memory decline. This is the highest concentration of the compound we’ve seen in a supplement to date. Some potential side effects of L-phenylalanine supplementation include headaches and jitters. Those with Parkinson’s and schizophrenia can develop other negative symptoms when taking phenylalanine.

L-Tyrosine – 500 mg
L-Tyrosine is linked to improving cognitive performance under conditions of stress — and the compound has been shown to actually reduce symptoms of stress itself, likely because it is involved in the production of dopamine.

Trimethylglycine (TMG) – 750 mg
Also known as betaine, this ingredient may act similarly to choline when ingested, though its most documented benefits are actually in the realm of physical performance (reduced fatigue, increased muscular endurance). This is a compound we don’t see often in the world of nootropics, mostly because so much of the research evidence surrounding it has to do with muscular endurance rather than brain enhancement.

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

Usage Guidelines

For Mental Alertness, take a serving of 2 or 3 capsules in the morning, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. Do not take more than 3 capsules per day.

Dopamine Brain Fuel works synergistically with CILTEP by ensuring that the increase in intracellular cAMP is supported for an extended period of time, leading to even more pronounced motivation and focus.

What Our Testers Say

“I started with 3 capsules on an empty stomach before I headed to the gym — a first test I like to try with some nootropics that claim a physical benefit — and I felt the effects as soon as the first day. I noticed it the most on my motivation throughout the day — felt a good drive to get things done. I will be keeping this supplement in my rotation for sure.” — Wesley

“This is by far one of my favorite supplements I’ve tried recently. None of the jitteriness I get with stimulant-based formulas, and I feel focused, alert, and pretty motivated.” — Chad

“I felt a definite increase in alertness, and I also felt like I was able to be fully engaged in the task at hand, rather than being easily distracted. The instructions suggest stacking it with CILTEP, which I tried, but I didn’t feel anything special when adding CILTEP (I’ve never felt much noticeable difference from that supplement. Instead, I’ve been stacking Dopamine Brain Food with BioCreatine for an extra ATP kick.” — Ming

“I’m a fan of this stuff, though I’m not sure I’d take it every day. Within the first few days of taking it, I felt an urge to attack all of the open items on my list, and I felt sharp and capable. I paired three pills with my coffee in the morning, and it was a solid feeling. But I generally like to cycle on and off anything that affects serotonin or dopamine production to allow my body time to return to a baseline.” – Alexandra

BrainWiz Tips

• Dopamine Brain Food contains no caffeine, and our testers had success pairing it with caffeinated drinks.
• Our testers reported no negative side effects from this supplement. But as with any supplement regime, it’s a good idea consult your doctor or medical professional beforehand.
• A few of testers felt diminishing effects after roughly a week of taking Dopamine Brain Food. After a few days off from the supplement, taking a serving of Dopamine Brain Food again produce a cognitive and physical boost. We found success cycling off on the weekends or cycling off for one week every three to four weeks in order to keep feeling the benefits when starting up again.

Supplement Summary  

Dopamine Brain Food is a caffeine-free stack designed to increase and support the production of dopamine. Our testers really liked this product, and most of them have said that they will keep the product in their supplement rotation. Though its observed effects can  diminish over time, taking a break from the supplement for a couple of days was enough time for its effectiveness to return.

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