Do you want to boost your brain power? Enhance your memory? Speed up your learning skills? The answer to all these desires lies in one branch of medical science: the nootropics.
The Basics: What are nootropics?
Nootropic is a classification of substances that help boost your brain power. These are both natural and synthetic compounds that you can take as dietary supplements. The main purpose of these nutritional supplements is to improve the cognitive function of the brain. These include:
- Memory
- Concentration
- Attention Span
- Learning
- Motor Skills
- Comprehension
- Logical Reasoning
- Creative Thinking
In the past, nootropics were just considered as supplements that helped enhance brain performance. In more recent years, the term has been expanded to include all substances that help keep the brain healthy and active. Nootropics also go by a variety of other names like smart drugs, memory pills, brain supplements and brain boosters.
The Function: How do they work?
The brain is the most vital organ of your body. It controls all the other organs, muscles, and tissues of the body. If something happens to the brain, the body will soon enter paralysis and stop operating. This is why it’s so important to keep your brain active and healthy.
How do you do that? To improve brain health, follow a healthy diet and engage in some mental exercises. Apart from this, you can seek the aid of the best nootropics available on the market. They help enhance your cognitive fitness by:
- Increasing the blood circulation in the body
- Keeping the energy levels high
- Helping the brain replace old cells and build new ones
- Protecting the brain by removing toxins
- Managing the frequencies of the brain waves so the mind stays alert
- Supplying the body with raw materials that create neurotransmitters
- Shielding the brain from nerve excitability that often induces stress
What are the best nootropics?
Nootropics were first introduced as memory supplements for seniors that helped reduce the symptoms of memory loss as well as to improve memory retention. Over the years, the purpose and functions of nootropics have changed, which is why there are now over seventy-plus known substances and compounds that fall under the category of best nootropics. Here is a more comprehensive list of the best nootropics that are widely available:
- Citicoline: The primary source of choline. It works as a brain energizer and also stimulates acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter) that helps operate the autonomic nervous system.
- L-Theanine: This compound helps with the jitters caused by caffeine, raises the frequency of alpha brainwaves, and helps you gain focus. It’s found in tea leaves.
· B Vitamins: The Vitamins B6 and B12 are common brain boosters. They help maintain the size of the brain, the amount of neurotransmitters and myelin inside the body. This is how they balance out the degeneration of brain cells.
· DMAE: This nootropic improves the function of neurotransmitters. It boosts the development of brain cells and is found in fish.
· L-Tyrosine: This magical substance helps you multitask during stressful situations by stimulating the formation of catecholamine.
Other common nootropics include the Racetam family, caffeine, DHA, and Lion’s Mane.
Medicine Cabinet: What are the best nootropic supplements?
The market for these medicinal smart pills is wide and extensive, and practitioners as well as researchers have spent a lot of time mixing and matching different types. This was done to create the ultimate brain-boosting potion. Five of the best nootropic supplements are:
1. The Super Nootropic: Mind Lab Pro by Opti-Nutra
Almost eleven nootropics are used to form this supplement (including Vitamin B6 and 12, citicoline and L-Theanine). The nootropics is known as a brain optimizer that improves many aspects of the brain like:
- Maintaining brain energy levels
- Increasing the cerebral circulation of blood
- Regenerating brain cells
- Tuning the brain frequencies for alertness
2. The Concentrator: FocusMode by EVL
This is one of the best nootropics that you can use out on the field or in the study halls. The ‘brainy and brawny’ folks are very keen on using this as it helps improve their focus and concentration during physical and mental activities. The benefits include:
- Enhance alertness and sharp focus
- Trigger secretion of brain chemicals that keep you motivated
- Reduces effects of stress on cognitive functions
3. Study Buddy: Study Juice
We think the name is enough to tell you the function of this smart drug. This is one of the best nootropic stacks for the academically-inclined users. The B-Vitamins keep your brain from failing due to overuse and degeneration, while the caffeine inside keeps the mind alert. It also helps to:
- Increase reaction time to help you answer quickly
- Shields you from stress
- Enlarges your learning capacity
- Help in memory retention and recall
4. Brain-Boosting Drink: Alpha Brain Instant
You’ll forget about energy drinks once you try this nootropic cocktail. The drink improves your memory and also enhances your focus skills while optimizing your cognitive performance as well. Benefits include:
- Improve your creativity level
- Calm your nerves so you may think clearly
- Induce brain energy and concentration via the Vitamin B ingredients
5. Piracetam Doppelganger: Lumono
This is a mild nootropic supplement that can be your starter drug. This supplement mimics the benefits of the highly effective Racetam family. It contains caffeine and a synthetic compound called Noopept.
- Support memory
- Increases energy levels via blood circulation
- Keeps the mind alert
Safety and Precautions: Are nootropics safe?
Yes, it is.
Many of the best nootropics are found naturally in plants and animal meat. In addition, the stacked up supplements we mentioned help counter the side-effects of a single nootropic substance. However, before starting to take any new substance, it’s always a good idea to consult your physician first.
The best nootropics do not just help improve your mental skills; they also help maintain them for years. This means that you don’t just get smart, you stay smart!