🌿 My Afternoon Battery Came Back

At 2pm I used to stare at my screen and feel like someone turned the dimmer switch on my brain. One week I tried a simple “cell-energy” experiment and the fog started to lift.

That mid-afternoon crash can feel like you are doing something wrong. Many times it is simply your body running low on its own “spark plugs” for turning food into usable energy.

Inside every cell is a molecule called NAD+. Think of it as a helper that lets your body turn food into energy your cells can use. As NAD+ drops with time, some people feel more drag in the afternoon.

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Why NR keeps showing up in biohacking chats

NR stands for nicotinamide riboside. It is part of the vitamin B3 family, and your body can use it to support NAD+ levels. Human studies have measured higher NAD-related markers after NR, with safety studied in several settings. Start with this: The safety trial that calmed my nerves.

My simple 14-day routine

I kept it boring on purpose. NR with my morning meal, every day, for two weeks. No late-day dosing, because I did not want a wired feeling at night. I added one extra habit: a short walk after lunch. Ten minutes is enough.

What to track so you do not fool yourself

Do not track ten things. Track one. Each afternoon, write: “2–4pm: clear / so-so / foggy.” If you want, add a second note: “nap urge: yes / no.” After two weeks, you will see if it is worth continuing.

Make the test cleaner in two moves

First, keep lunch steady for a week. When lunch swings from light to heavy, your afternoon energy swings too, and the supplement takes the blame. Second, keep a water bottle near your workspace and take a few sips each hour. Mild dehydration can feel like brain fog, and it looks a lot like “I need something stronger.”

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What you might notice first

It is usually small: fewer heavy eyelids, less mind-wandering, and a smoother slide from lunch into the next task. Some people also snack less because they feel steadier.

When to pause the experiment

If you feel headaches, stomach upset that does not settle, a racing pulse, or sleep changes that bother you, pause the supplement and talk with a clinician.

Dosing and common-sense safety

Follow the label and begin modest. More is not always better with supplements. NR is not a substitute for sleep, food, or movement. If you take medications for blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rhythm, or you have a serious medical condition, talk with a clinician before adding NR. A quick refresher on the B3 family helps: Vitamin B3 in plain language.
When you want a simple “do this first” safety list for any supplement, this FDA page is clear: FDA’s supplement safety checklist.

A small reality check

Some people feel a clear difference. Some feel nothing. That does not mean you failed. It just means your slump may have a different cause, like poor sleep timing, dehydration, too much caffeine too late, or a lunch that hits your blood sugar hard. Run the two-week test, track the 2–4pm note, then decide without guessing.
Takeaway: Run a 14-day NR trial and judge it by your 2–4pm energy.

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