Poker Player's Supplement Stack

With every passing year, poker is becoming tougher and tougher. There's a large variety of different solutions that players come up with in order to counteract the rise in the skill level of an average player. From the use of advanced poker software, through different educational materials to mental game training. However, there's one other avenue that can have a tangible effect on one's mental performance that many poker players leave almost entirely unexplored.

Dietary supplements have long been a staple in sports, even among the athletes who rely on their brain power rather than the strength of their muscles in order to perform. In the world of ever decreasing edges, a proper supplement stack can be exactly what you need to gain some much-needed advantage over your opponents. In this article, we're going to talk about a few legal supplements that can increase your performance at the tables as well as your overall well-being.

Creatine

Creatine is a molecule produced in our body that facilitates the recycling of ATP - the energy currency of the cell which can aid muscle and brain function. Creatine can also be found in some animal products like meat, fish, and eggs though most of the synthetic forms of it - including the most popular and cost effective creatine monohydrate - are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Creatine is probably the most researched supplement on the planet offering the strongest anabolic properties among the legal substances, which makes it 'the' go to option for many gym enthusiasts. However, creatine can also have a profound effect on our brain function, improving the short-term memory and cognitive skills.

Ginseng

Ginseng is to nootropics (cognitive enhancers) what creatine is to anabolic supplements. Both American and Asian ginseng are among the most researched brain boosters and just like creatine, ginseng can have profound effects on your mental performance. It's also a great mood enhancer which can play a major role for poker players given the importance of proper tilt management.

Huperzine A 

Another heavy-hitter. The effect of legal supplements is often minuscule and most of them aren't really worth buying, but Huperzine A is another of those few exceptions that offer great benefits for the price. Huperzine or the Chinese club moss is a small plant used in traditional medicine for improving memory and reducing inflammation.

100 mg of Huperzine A taken daily can improve our learning abilities and help us regulate our sleep cycle which is another thing many poker players have trouble with, given how some poker formats require us to play very long and late sessions.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential mineral required in hundreds of metabolic functions. Magnesium deficiency is also the second most common deficiency in developed countries which makes supplementing it all the more important, especially for people with chronic mental fatigue, brain fog, and insomnia. Magnesium helps to alleviate stress and boost our focus.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a true super-food that should become a staple in your kitchen. It increases the blood flow to the brain, boosts the dopamine and serotonin levels and acts as a powerful natural antibiotic. It's also the safest supplement on this list with virtually no side-effects when consumed as a spice in food.

Caffeine and Lemon Balm

Lastly, let's talk about two different supplements that can act as a nice 'pick me up' if you need one or as a way to take some of the edge off. Depending on your personality and anxiety levels you might want to consider brewing a cup of coffee or lemon balm right before the session to either boost your focus or calm your nerves.

Lemon balm can also aid with digestive problems (sometimes caused by the other supplements on this list) and insomnia, while caffeine is the most popular stimulant that can also help you reduce headaches.