Are you a "STIM JUNKIE?" Upgrade your caffeine source.
Speaking from a place of relatable experience, all of us can use a boost from time to time. We live in a society of habitual caffeine consumers and “stimulant junkies”. However, it is not the caffeine or stimulants that is so much of that problem as it is the habitual part. Whether your thing is business, athletics, or gaming, if you’re trying to optimize your performance you likely surpass 1-2 cups of coffee or caffeinated tea daily. Many of us have made a lifestyle out of putting our central nervous system into overdrive for days and weeks on end. However, this lifestyle inevitably has us failing to optimize our sleeping patterns, can result in chronic brain inflammation and gives us less energy over time. Method Performance realizes that there is a need amongst these groups of people for supplements that provide lasting energy, promote enhanced cognitive ability and even have the potential to repair damage that we’ve sustained to our brain and body over time. That is why Hardwire was developed.
Vitamin Complex
Hardwire contains Vitamins C & E, along with B-vitamins and electrolytes. Vitamins C & E not only act as powerful antioxidants in the body, they are also a necessary nutrient for countless processes in the body to occur, of which include preventing the breakdown of an important brain chemical, acetylcholine (Lee et al. 2001).
Vitamin B6 is required for the synthesis of brain chemicals such as dopamine, Gaba, melatonin, and serotonin. Deficiencies in B6 can lead to less Gaba and serotonin in the brain, resulting in poor sleep, anxiety and even diminished cardiovascular health (Percudani & Peracchi. 2003).
The B12 found in Hardwire is necessary for not only the synthesis of brain chemicals, but also the maintenance of and protection of neurons in the brain. Deficiency in B12 can result in movement disorders, weakness, and even psychiatric disorders (I.e. depression, anxiety, dementia, etc.) (Morris, Selhub & Jacques. 2012).
Small amounts of Zinc are necessary for optimal brain health and cognitive function. In addition, Zinc is needed to maintain hormone balance in both men and women. When we are deficient in Zinc, we get easily fatigued, easily sick and lack the ability to concentrate (Ren et al. 2017).
Hardwired Energy and Focus Complex
Although some of the same ingredients found here are similar to those found in Method’s Mainframe product, the additions and nuances in dosing are what separate the two.
Specialty ingredient, InfinergyTM (Di-caffeine malate) is caffeine with an added malic acid. Although there is not much research to support superior benefits to normal caffeine, it still yields all the effects of the caffeine we know and love.
250mg of Teacrine (as Teacrine 40%) found in Hardwire yields the same efficacious dose of 100mg of the active constituent found in Method’s Mainframe product. The reason Teacrine 40% was used is quite simply because Teacrine 100% at that dose would be unbearable to drink in powder form! With all of the benefits of caffeine and none of the dependency issues or unwanted side effects (Habowski et al. 2014), Teacrine provides great synergy paired with caffeine to provide energy that lasts.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) is highly bioavailable and crosses the blood brain barrier (Kido et al. 2001). Once it reaches the brain, ALCAR binds with choline to form Acetylcholine. It works best when combined with choline supplements like Choline Bitartrate, which Hardwire also contains.
Huperzine A (1%) prevents the breakdown of Acetylcholine (see Choline Bitartrate) (Raves et al. 1997). It does so by slowing down the enzyme responsible for degrading choline in the brain. Hardwire contains 50mcg of Huperzine A (1%), which is enough to provide high energy without over stimulating your system.
L-Tyrosine is the precursor to Dopamine (Scally et al. 1997). Dopamine is not only essential for cognitive arousal, it is necessary for memory, motivation, concentration, feelings of happiness, and well-being. Hardwire contains an efficacious dose of 500mg of L-Tyrosine.
Cognitive Health and Function Complex
Choline Bitartrate (97%) may not cross the blood brain barrier as easily as the Alpha-GPC found in Method’s Mainframe. However, it may qualify as a good source for bodily choline levels, as our muscles use it to contract and it provides structural integrity for cells in the body (Penry & Manore. 2008).
BCAA 2:1:1
Hardwire provides 1000mg of L-leucine, 500mg of L-isoleucine, and 500mg of L-valine, making it useful as a pre-workout powder or a shot of energy that also feeds your muscles when going longer stretches between meals.
Anti-Stress & Antioxidant Complex
Green Tea Extract can be used for several purposes that include weight loss, mood balance, physical performance, antioxidant and anti-aging protection and even as a nootropic aid. Polyphenols found in Green Tea Extract can be used to treat cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and even enhance cognitive performance and mental alertness (Dietx & Dekker. 2017). The 500mg of Green Tea Extract found in Hardwire is the optimal dose for maximum benefit.
Goji Berry Extract boasts some potent antioxidant capabilities. For instance, Goji Berry (or “Wolfberry”) has been traditionally used to promote digestive health, improve immune function, protect eye health, stabilize blood sugar, increase energy levels and even boost fertility (Poterrat. 2010).
Elderberry Extract has a long history of medicinal use. It has traditionally been used to boost the immune system, alleviate allergy symptoms, and reduce general inflammation. Its most popular use has been to fight and prevent cold and flu symptoms (Zakay-Rones et al. 2004), making Hardwire a valuable aid when traveling.
Hardwire contains 100mg of Blueberry Fruit Powder. Blueberries are one of nature’s best sources of antioxidants. Of all the berry subtypes, blueberry is the primary powerhouse. One study found that participants supplementing with Blueberry Fruit Powder increased the level of antioxidants in their blood by 8.5% after only 1 hour! (Kay & Holub. 2002).
The Pomegranate Extract found in Hardwire serves several purposes. Mainly, it is used to lower blood pressure, improve heart health and improve memory. This likely occurs due to its ability to increase blood flow to the brain (Trexler et al. 2014).
Cranberry Fruit Powder is an all-around health promoter. It provides phytonutrients that decrease inflammation in the brain and body, improves immune function and promotes a health digestive tract (Sagdic, Aksoy & Ozkan. 2006).
- William Wallace PhD(c)
Co-Founder of CreoDigm
Reference
Dietz, C., & Dekker, M. (2017). Effect of green tea phytochemicals on mood and cognition. Current pharmaceutical design, 23(19), 2876-2905.
Habowski, S. M., Sandrock, J. E., Kedia, A. W., & Ziegenfuss, T. N. (2014). The effects of Teacrine TM, a nature-identical purine alkaloid, on subjective measures of cognitive function, psychometric and hemodynamic indices in healthy humans: a randomized, double-blinded crossover pilot trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 11(S1), P49.
Kay, C. D., & Holub, B. J. (2002). The effect of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) consumption on postprandial serum antioxidant status in human subjects. British Journal of Nutrition, 88(4), 389-397.
Kido, Y., Tamai, I., Ohnari, A., Sai, Y., Kagami, T., Nezu, J. I., ... & Tsuji, A. (2001). Functional relevance of carnitine transporter OCTN2 to brain distribution of l‐carnitine and acetyl‐l‐carnitine across the blood–brain barrier. Journal of neurochemistry, 79(5), 959-969.
Lee, L., Kang, S. A., Lee, H. O., Lee, B. H., Jung, I. K., Lee, J. E., & Heo, Y. S. (2001). Effect of supplementation of vitamin E and vitamin C on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and neurotransmitter levels in rats treated with scopolamine, an inducer of dementia. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 47(5), 323-328.
Morris M.S., Selhub J., Jacques P.F. (2012). “Vitamin B-12 and folate status in relation to decline in scores on the mini-mental state examination in the framingham heart study.” Journal of the American Geriatric Society. (8):1457-64
Penry, J. T., & Manore, M. M. (2008). Choline: an important micronutrient for maximal endurance-exercise performance? International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 18(2), 191-203.
Percudani R., Peracchi A. (2003). “A genomic overview of pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent enzymes” EMBP reports. (9): 850–854.
Potterat, O. (2010). Goji (Lycium barbarum and L. chinense): phytochemistry, pharmacology and safety in the perspective of traditional uses and recent popularity. Planta medica, 76(01), 7-19.
Raves, M. L., Harel, M., Pang, Y. P., Silman, I., Kozikowski, A. P., & Sussman, J. L. (1997). Structure of acetylcholinesterase complexed with the nootropic alkaloid,(–)-huperzine A. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 4(1), 57.
Ren, L., Pour, M. D., Majdi, S., Li, X., Malmberg, P., & Ewing, A. G. (2017). Zinc Regulates Chemical‐Transmitter Storage in Nanometer Vesicles and Exocytosis Dynamics as Measured by Amperometry. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56(18), 4970-4975.
Sagdic, O., Aksoy, A., & Ozkan, G. (2006). Evaluation of the antibacterial and antioxidant potentials of cranberry (gilaburu, Viburnum opulus L.) fruit extract. Acta Alimentaria, 35(4), 487-492.
Scally, M. C., Ulus, I., & Wurtman, R. J. (1977). Brain tyrosine level controls striatal dopamine synthesis in haloperidol-treated rats. Journal of neural transmission, 41(1), 1-6.
Trexler, E. T., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Melvin, M. N., Roelofs, E. J., & Wingfield, H. L. (2014). Effects of pomegranate extract on blood flow and running time to exhaustion. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 39(9), 1038-1042.
Zakay-Rones, Z., Thom, E., Wollan, T., & Wadstein, J. (2004). Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. Journal of International Medical Research, 32(2), 132-140.