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N-Acetyl-L-tyrosine: Smart Energy​

You can feel jacked-up and frazzled or you can feel motivated and focused. Here's a top choice for feel-good energy.​

The word "energy" is used a lot in the stimulant world, but it means different things. In the category of pre-workouts, there's everything from lightly caffeinated drinks to gray-area powders containing banned substances. I've played around with a lot of them, but I quickly learned that only certain types of energy are productive.

Broadly, there are two types:

• Dirty Energy. Your central nervous system is definitely jacked up but also frazzled. There's no euphoric feeling; it's more of an ugly, coarse energy. In a work setting, this energy type is stressy: unfocused, and unproductive. At the gym, dirty energy can lead to unwise PR attempts. And the crash isn't pleasant.
• Clean Energy. This type of energy is smooth and focused. You don't just feel energized, you feel good: euphoric, positive, and happy. Mood is up, stress is down. It's a feeling of upbeat clarity. In a workout, concentration is through the roof and the feeling of fatigue is delayed. In a work setting, ideas flow.

I prefer "happy flow" to powder-induced ADHD myself. But what supplement does science say provides that effect? Easy: N-Acetyl-L-tyrosine or NALT.

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What's NALT?​

N-Acetyl-L-tyrosine is a more bioavailable form of the amino acid L-tyrosine, which is used by the brain to make dopamine. NALT is a precursor to L-tyrosine, which is a precursor to several neurotransmitters. L-tyrosine is hydroxylated to L-DOPA, then L-DOPA is then decarboxylated to produce dopamine. Dopamine is further converted to norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline).

It gets even more complex, so let's just look at what matters to us: what it does to your brain and body.


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What Does NALT Do?​

NALT is unique: it's used in both workout and cognitive enhancement or nootropic supplements. Coders, gamers, and CEOs like it, and so do athletes, bodybuilders, and military operators.

Here's what it does on the mental side:

• Boosts cognitive function: focus, memory, mental clarity.
• Boosts motivation (via enhanced neurotransmitter production).
• Improves mood and reduces stress or the negative effects of stress on mental acuity.
• Enhances cognitive flexibility and reduces subjective fatigue levels during prolonged "thinky" tasks.
• Improves the ability to multitask.

Here's what it does on the physical performance side:

• Reduces the perception of fatigue during training.
• Improves the stress response during intense physical exercise.
• Boosts endurance (by 15% in some studies) and overall performance in high-intensity workouts.
• Improves focus during exercise, important for technique and establishing a mind-muscle connection.
• Noticeably improves time to exhaustion during high-intensity exercise.

How Much NALT Does the Trick?​

Studies typically use between 300 and 2000 milligrams. For most performance benefits, 300 is too low, and with 2000 you're more at risk of side effects (typically mild GI upset and headaches.) A solid, noticeable effect is achieved with 1500 mg.

Where Do I Get NALT?​

You can buy NALT as a stand-alone supplement, but these products are typically underdosed, so prepare to triple or quadruple the dose before you feel anything.