My Full Supplement Stack for 2026

I’ve spent most of my life operating at the intersection of high-performance engineering, entrepreneurship, and electronic music. My schedule swings between deep technical work, long creative sessions, international travel, and occasional late-night shows. That lifestyle demands a cognitive and physical baseline that doesn’t happen by accident. Besides regular exercise and an increasingly consistent sleep schedule, I’ve also built a supplement stack that keeps me sharp, stable, and resilient, and for 2026 I’ve refined it into something that feels complete.

This is my version of better living through chemistry at age 51.

What follows is a full breakdown of what I take, why I take it, and how the pieces fit together. For what it’s worth, this is also the first time I’m documenting this information in public. Thanks to @bryan_johnson and the popularity of peptides it seems like the Overton window for this kind of supplementation has shifted quite a bit in the last 12 months. I’m still a freak, but I’m in good company now.

Nothing in this post is medical advice. A lot of this involves prescription medication and experimental compounds; work with a real doctor if you decide to go anywhere near this territory. Also yes, this shit gets expensive fast and your mileage definitely will vary. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Core Cognitive Stack

The foundation of my productivity revolves around a simple principle: support focus without degrading long-term neurological health. I do that with a combination of modafinil, phenylpiracetam, and targeted precursors that has entirely cut my use of traditional amphetamine-based ADD medicines.

Modafinil This is my primary focus tool. It gives me reliable mental clarity and stamina during long engineering or creative sessions, and it smooths out jet lag when I’m bouncing between continents. I dose conservatively and take structured breaks to keep it effective.

Phenylpiracetam Every few days I rotate modafinil out and replace it with phenylpiracetam. The effect profile is different — more dopaminergic, more immersive — and it helps prevent tolerance buildup. It’s perfect for deep, locked-in work where I want both speed and enjoyment.

Choline + Dopamine Precursors

Modafinil can drain choline levels, which is why I pair the stack with daily CDP-Choline. It prevents headaches and keeps mental clarity crisp. I also use L-Tyrosine everyday to ensure sustained dopaminergic output, especially on heavy performance days.

Stress, Focus & Mood Modulation

Some days demand raw horsepower, but most days require controlled, quiet consistency. This part of my stack keeps my internal environment steady under the pressure of work, deadlines, and travel.

L-Theanine This is the unsung hero of my daily routine. It keeps cortisol smooth, helps me avoid stimulant edginess, and improves sleep quality later in the day. It’s subtle, reliable, and essential.

NAC Long-term stimulant use, travel fatigue, and intense schedules create oxidative stress. NAC keeps glutathione topped up and helps maintain clean neurotransmitter cycling. It also pairs well with dopamine-modulating compounds.

Peptide-Based Enhancement

Peptides are where modern neurochemistry gets genuinely interesting. They modulate plasticity and focus in ways traditional supplements can’t match.

Semax Provides clean, upward-tilting cognitive profile: slightly more plasticity, slightly more drive, noticeably better retention during reading or learning sessions. It pairs extremely well with coding.

Selank Where Semax nudges productivity upward, Selank smooths emotional load downward. Travel and deadlines are easier to navigate on Selank. It provides calm clarity without dullness.

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Longevity, Cellular Energy & Metabolic Control

Vitamin D3 + K2

A foundational combo for immunity, mood stability, hormone balance, and calcium regulation.

How it works (plain language):

• D3 boosts mood, immune function, and metabolic health.
• K2 ensures calcium goes to bones instead of arteries.
• Together they support long-term cardiovascular and cognitive health.

Magnesium (Glycinate & L-Threonate)

I use glycinate for muscle recovery and calm, and L-threonate for deep sleep and cognitive restoration.

How it works:

• Glycinate is highly bioavailable and relaxes the nervous system.
• L-threonate crosses the blood–brain barrier and improves synaptic density.

Probiotics (Lactobacillus Reuteri)

This specific strain has unique effects on mood, immune resilience, and even social behavior.

How it works:

• Increases oxytocin signaling.
• Improves skin, gut lining integrity, and overall immune modulation.
• Promotes a calmer, more connected mental state.

Triphala

My go‑to for gentle digestive resilience everyday, taken at night along with probiotics on empty stomach for maximum effectiveness. Along with a glass of high-quality psyllium husk fiber everyday, this makes sure that the GLP-1 doesn’t prevent me from pooping regularly.

How it works:

• A blend of three Ayurvedic fruits that improve gut motility and reduce inflammation.
• Supports nutrient absorption and reduces digestive stress.

Beetroot Extract

Taken before training for vascular support and stamina.

How it works:

• Provides nitrates that convert into nitric oxide.
• Improves blood flow, workout capacity, and cognitive oxygenation.
• Supports strong sexual performance!

Collagen Peptides

Part of my long-term joint, skin, and connective tissue maintenance. I know it works because people always assume I’m in my 30s, in no small part due to my healthy skin complexion.

How it works:

• Provides amino acids for collagen synthesis.
• Supports joint health and faster recovery.

Creatine Monohydrate

One of the most-researched performance supplements and part of my daily baseline.

How it works:

• Enhances ATP regeneration in both muscles and neurons.
• Improves strength, recovery, and cognitive clarity.

A glass of creatine in the morning also works really well to shake the mental fog when I get less than 7 hours sleep.

Pterostilbene

A more bioavailable analog of resveratrol derived from blueberries.

How it works:

• Supports mitochondrial function.
• Provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
• May improve lipid profiles and longevity markers.
• Noted for benefits to young and healthy looking skin.

NAC

Previously listed in the stress/mood section, but it also belongs here.

How it works:

• Replenishes glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant.
• Protects the liver and reduces oxidative stress from stimulants or travel.

Red Yeast Rice + CoQ10

My cholesterol levels are somewhat high due to genetic factors. So I take Red Yeast Rice every night for lipid management instead of prescription statins.

How it works:

• Red yeast rice contains monacolin K, which works like a mild statin.
• CoQ10 prevents the mitochondrial depletion that statins can cause.

Pygeum + Saw Palmetto

For hormonal balance and prostate support.

How it works:

• Both reduce DHT conversion.
• Smooth out urinary flow, reduce inflammation, and support long-term male endocrine health.

DIM (Diindolylmethane)

DIM has been a quiet but reliable part of my hormonal health toolkit, especially for estrogen metabolism.

How it works (plain language):

• Helps the body convert estrogen into its beneficial metabolites rather than the problematic ones.
• Supports hormonal balance, mood stability, and clearer skin.
• Useful during cycles of high stress, travel, or disrupted sleep when estrogen pathways tend to get messy.

It’s subtle, but over time it keeps things smooth in a way you definitely notice when you stop taking it.

Taurine

A multi-functional amino acid with wide-ranging benefits.

How it works:

• Supports GABAergic calming.
• Improves cardiovascular function.
• Enhances mitochondrial performance and electrolyte balance.

Lysine

One of the oldest staples in my supplement routine (going on 20 years) and still indispensable.

How it works (plain language):

• Lysine is essential for collagen formation, immune resilience, and tissue repair.
• Helps prevent HSV flare-ups — the original reason many people begin supplementing it.
• Supports calm and mood stability by influencing serotonin receptors.
• Useful during heavy travel, stress cycles, or when sleep is inconsistent.

It’s simple, inexpensive, and consistently effective — which is why it never left my stack.

Serrapeptase

An enzyme with systemic anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic effects.

How it works:

• Breaks down excess fibrin, scar tissue, and inflammatory byproducts.
• Supports cardiovascular health and reduces swelling.

Fish Oil (Omega-3 EPA/DHA)

Fish oil has been part of my baseline for years because it supports cardiovascular health, reduces inflammation, and improves cognitive performance.

How it works (plain language):

• EPA reduces systemic inflammation.
• DHA is a structural component of neuronal membranes and improves signaling efficiency.
• Together they support mood stability, brain health, and long-term heart protection.

Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa)

A broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory and metabolic support compound I’ve used intermittently.

How it works (plain language):

• Contains thymoquinone, which reduces inflammatory markers and oxidative stress.
• Supports metabolic health and may improve insulin sensitivity.
• Provides mild antihistamine and bronchodilation effects — helpful during travel or allergy cycles.

Saffron Extract

Saffron is one of the few natural mood-enhancing supplements with strong clinical backing.

How it works (plain language):

• Boosts serotonin through mild reuptake modulation.
• Reduces anxiety and improves mood without sedation.
• Has comparable effects to low-dose SSRIs in several trials, but with a cleaner side-effect profile.

Taking care of my dopamine levels

Agmatine

Plays a stabilizing role in my stack. By modulating NMDA receptors and supporting nitric oxide pathways, it helps smooth out the sharper edges of stimulants, improves training performance, and slows tolerance buildup across dopaminergic compounds.

How it works (plain language):

• It acts like a “volume knob” on excitatory neurotransmission, preventing overstimulation.
• It improves blood flow through nitric oxide pathways, which supports both cognition and physical training.
• It interacts with the same receptors involved in opioid tolerance, which is why it can help prevent tolerance creep from dopaminergic compounds too.

It’s one of the simplest additions with the broadest synergistic effects.

Mucuna Pruriens

My natural dopamine reset. Because it contains L-DOPA, it provides gentle dopaminergic replenishment on the days following heavier modafinil, phenylpiracetam, or peptide cycles. Used sparingly, it prevents the motivational dip that can follow high-output periods and supports a smooth return to baseline.

How it works (plain language):

• Mucuna contains L-DOPA, the direct precursor your brain uses to make dopamine.
• Instead of forcing a dopamine spike, it restores raw material so your brain can rebuild its supply naturally.
• This makes it ideal for days after hard mental output, when neurotransmitter stores may be temporarily depleted.

How it compares to synthetic dopamine agonists:

• Mucuna (L-DOPA): Provides dopamine building blocks. Your brain stays in control of how much is converted and released. The result is smoother, more physiologic support.
• Synthetic agonists (e.g., pramipexole, ropinirole): Directly stimulate dopamine receptors, bypassing normal regulation. This produces much stronger effects but also increases risks like receptor downregulation, compulsive behaviors, and harsh withdrawal.
• Why I prefer Mucuna: Natural replenishment avoids the “yo-yo” pattern that comes with synthetic agonists. It lifts motivation without hijacking dopamine pathways or creating dependency patterns.

Used correctly, it feels like sharpening the motivational edge without overstimulation.

Sustainable Performance & Energy

Performance only matters if it’s sustainable. This section of my stack focuses on metabolism, mitochondrial efficiency, cardiovascular health, and fat loss.

Methylene Blue A low dose supports mitochondrial electron transport and consistently sharpens my thinking. I use it deliberately, not daily, when I want maximum clarity.

Lactoferrin Initially I added this for immune support, but it has a meaningful fat-loss effect when used consistently. It’s also excellent during travel and high-stress cycles.

Nattokinase Cardiovascular resilience matters when traveling constantly and occasionally using stimulants. Nattokinase supports fibrin breakdown and blood flow.

Sleep Optimization & Recovery

Everything falls apart without sleep, especially in a lifestyle that often includes late-night shows and early-morning flights. I keep this part simple.

Magnesium L-Threonate This form crosses the blood-brain barrier and reliably deepens my sleep. It helps me wake up clear instead of groggy, especially after stressful days.

Theanine (Night Protocol) If I take theanine during the day, I use a second dose in the evening to ease the transition into sleep. It stacks well with magnesium for a non-drug, non-groggy wind-down.

I’ve drawn major inspiration from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint protocol in the last year, prioritizing consistency and environmental tweaks to combat the chaos of irregular schedules. I aim for a fixed bedtime every night, winding down with a physical book in hand about 10 minutes before lights out, and keep the room pitch-black and cool around 65–68°F during the night. Lately I’ve been trying to not drink any liquids before bedtime to avoid waking up to pee. Finishing my last meal four hours before bed prevents digestive interference, letting me recover deeply.

Lately I’ve also been making it a point to get bright morning light exposure right upon waking to reset my circadian rhythm. Since shifting my wake time to before sunrise, it’s not possible to get this naturally so I’m planning to buy one of those high LUX lamps.

Microdosing GLP-1s

This is one of the biggest structural changes I’m making to my 2025 stack: switching to very low-dose GLP-1 receptor agonists as a background metabolic governor instead of going full “Wegovy dosage” mode.

I’m using “microdosing” here in the biohacker sense: doses substantially lower than the standard obesity/diabetes protocols, tuned to blunt appetite and clean up food noise without the full GI side-effect package or drastic, rapid weight loss.

What GLP-1s Actually Do

GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and liraglutide work through a few big levers:

• Appetite and satiety centers in the brain
• Gastric emptying and gut signaling
• Reward and food motivation circuitry
• Glycemic and cardiometabolic effects

Large randomized trials (STEP, SELECT, SCALE) show significant weight loss and cardiovascular improvements at full therapeutic doses. I took advantage of that in 2025 to drop almost 20 pounds and increase my motivation at the gym, and am now feeling healthier than ever.

My use case in 2026 will be different: leveraging the same mechanisms at much lower intensities.

Why Microdosing Might Still Work

GLP-1 drugs are very expensive and dose-responsive. Lower exposures will not be felt as strongly, but should still:

• Reduce hunger and food chatter
• Flatten reward response to hyperpalatable foods
• Improve post-meal glycemic stability

Therefore I treat GLP-1s as a long-horizon metabolic nudge, not a crash diet.

Experimental & Research Compounds

I often test compounds that sit on the frontier of nootropics and have done so for nearly 30 years, since the first time I got my hands on some Piracetam. These aren’t daily tools but part of my ongoing exploration.

• Seltorexant
• Mirodenafil
• AMPAkine-adjacent or receptor-specific modulators

These remain in the R&D bucket — interesting, sometimes powerful, but not part of my baseline stack.

α-MSH (Melanotan-Related Compounds)

I’ve recently started experimenting with α-MSH analogs for their unique interactions with melanocortin receptors that influence appetite, inflammation, and mood. In low, infrequent doses they are supposed to provide a subtle but noticeable lift in drive, energy, and overall resilience.

How it works (plain language):

• Your body naturally produces α-MSH as part of the system that regulates appetite, energy expenditure, and inflammation.
• When stimulated, melanocortin receptors essentially send the signal: “Boost energy, reduce appetite, stay alert.”
• The effect feels like a mild rise in motivation and metabolic tone, not a stimulant high.

They aren’t part of my daily routine, but they sit in the category of highly targeted tools I deploy when the benefits align with the demands of my schedule.

Dopamine-Targeted Research Compounds

I’ve been experimenting with a rotating set of modern, targeted molecules that support motivation, mood, and cognitive drive without the crash profile of classic stimulants. The rabbit hole for these kinds of compounds is super deep. They include:

• Bromantane
• Usmarapride
• ACD-856
• TAK-653
• GB-115
• Pinealon

I don’t treat these as daily staples. They’re tools, not crutches — useful when I need to amplify creativity, stabilize mood during intense work cycles, or get past bottlenecks in motivation.

How the Stack Fits Together

The value of this stack isn’t in the individual items — it’s in the architecture.

Morning

• Light dopamine precursors
• Modafinil or phenylpiracetam
• Theanine for smoothing
• NAC and metabolic support
• Low-dose GLP-1 as a passive appetite/reward governor

Afternoon

• Peptides during learning or coding sessions
• Optional dopamine-targeted compounds
• Hydration + electrolytes

Evening

• Magnesium L-Threonate
• Theanine
• No stimulants after the cutoff
• Lactoferrin and nattokinase depending on travel and workload

Weekly Cadence

• Rotate stimulants
• Avoid tolerance buildup
• Maintain stable sleep
• Keep GLP-1 dosing modest and consistent
• Track energy, focus, appetite, and mood without chasing novelty

What’s New for 2026

A few shifts define this year’s stack:

• Greater focus on metabolic health and cardiovascular longevity
• Strategic use of micro-dosed GLP-1s
• More precision with dopamine modulation
• Peptides as an established productivity tool
• Targeted, mechanism-driven supplementation instead of broad-spectrum blends
• Smarter cycling and recovery

The result is a stack that supports both sides of my life: the engineer and the artist.

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