The cortex arsenal
Cortex Cannibal Arsenal: The Loadout That Fuels My Forty Era
The Cortex Cannibal Arsenal is the real loadout behind this brand — the gear on my counter, beside my bed, in my gym corner and on my desk. These are the tools that keep my brain online, my nervous system regulated and my body strong enough to carry the life I’m building. If you want the full story of my over-40 rebuild, start with the Forty Era overview.
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Forty Era Core Tools
The Non-Negotiables
These are the core pieces of the Cortex Cannibal Arsenal I lean on to support hormones, sleep recovery and over-40 performance so I can show up like I actually slept and drank water in this lifetime.
Infrared Light Panel
Magnesium Glycinate
Adjustable Kettlebell
Brain Fuel Kitchen
From Mug to Ritual
Where most people make plain coffee, I’m building brain fuel. These tools turn one simple mug into a ritual that supports focus, mood and blood sugar — not just jitters. See how I stack them in the Brain Recipe blog.
Electric Frother
Organic Cacao Powder
Lion's Mane Powder
Cortisol Reset Ritual
Landing the Nervous System
When the system is fried, nothing else lands. These are the tools I reach for to come down gently instead of crashing hard after long days, heavy emotions or too much input. For the deeper protocol, see my Cortisol Reset guide.
Weighted Blanket
Night Adaptogen Tea
Red Night Ritual Light
Gut–Brain Support Stack
Microbial Intelligence
If my digestion is off, my mood and focus are usually right behind it. This is the basic stack I rotate while I work the bigger picture with food, sleep and stress. For the science deep dive, read my Gut–Brain Axis article.
Daily Probiotic
Prebiotic Fiber
Electrolytes (No Sugar)
Sleep & Night Detox
Protecting the Cleanup Window
Sleep is where the brain takes out the trash. Protecting this window makes everything else easier — content, training, relationships, all of it. For the science on nighttime brain cleanup, read my Sleep & Glymphatic Flow guide.
Silk Sleep Mask
White Noise Machine
Lights-Out Support
Gym & Mobility
Movement That Fits Real Life
I’m not chasing a stage; I’m chasing a body that can handle my real life. This is the simple setup that keeps me moving even when I don’t want to leave the house.
Adjustable Dumbbells
Grip Yoga Mat
Mini-Bands
Cold & Heat Exposure
On Purpose, Not By Accident
I’ll be talking more about cold, heat and nitric work inside the Forty Era section. For now, this is the gear that keeps me using temperature as a tool for resilience.
Foldable Cold Plunge Tub
Ice Molds / Trays
Infrared Sauna Blanket / Heating Pad
Nervous System Tools
Signals, Not Stories
These tools help my body process the stress my brain can’t talk its way out of. These are about signals — pressure, touch, sensation — not stories. I talk more about this nervous system repair in my Emotional Circuit work.
Vagus Nerve Roller / Massage Tool
Acupressure Mat & Pillow
Self-Massage Hook (Thera-Style Cane)
Breathwork & Meditation
Stillness Without The App
I don’t do perfect silent-monk meditation. I do practical stillness gear that helps my brain climb out of the noise for a minute.
Breath / Meditation Timer Cube
Meditation Cushion
Essential Oil Blend for Breathwork
Mental Performance Gear
Holding Focus In A Loud World
I use this kind of setup when I’m studying for CSNN, scripting podcasts or writing Brain Recipe content. The goal: protect focus without needing a cabin in the woods.
Noise-Reducing Earmuffs
Pomodoro / Focus Timer
Black Notebook & Gel Pens
Mind & Mood Tools
Processing The Heavy Stuff
This last year has been heavy. These are not “fix” tools — they give my brain and body more ways to process grief, anger and the weirdness of being human.
Adult Coloring Book (Geometric / Neural)
Guided Journal / Shadow Work Prompts
Acupressure Rings
The Reading Arsenal
Books That Rewired My Brain
Pair these with my gut–brain axis, cortisol and emotional circuit content for a fuller picture of how I’m rebuilding from the inside out. This is the library behind the Cortex Cannibal Arsenal.
Gut Check — Steven Gundry, MD
Dopamine Nation — Anna Lembke, MD
Secrets of Serotonin — Carol Hart
Breath — James Nestor
Protocols — Andrew D. Huberman, PhD
Trauma / Emotional Repair Pick
Build Your Ritual. Rewrite Your Baseline.
The Cortex Cannibal Arsenal isn’t about perfection — it’s about stacking small, consistent tools so your brain and body have a real chance to recover, adapt and evolve past forty.
Browse the Full Arsenal on AmazonThis page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical or treatment advice. Talk to your healthcare provider before changing supplements, medications or training. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
