Nootropics: One of the Best Ways to Boost Your Brain
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Nicole Avena
Perhaps you’ve heard the term nootropics and have wondered what they are.
Originally, nootropics (pronounced: new-tropics) referred to chemicals that met specific criteria. Today, the term is used to describe any natural or synthetic compound that may have a positive effect on cognition and overall brain function.
Types of Nootropics
There are 3 major categories of nootropics: dietary supplements, prescription drugs, and synthetic substances.
Many people use a nootropic every day, even if they aren’t aware of it. As a “natural” stimulant, caffeine is a type of nootropic.
Although caffeine can help increase focus and energy, it also can lead to an energy crash (when infused with sugar) and sleep issues (especially if consumed later in the day). Depending on your body chemistry, you may end up feeling fatigued or moody when the caffeine wears off.
Cautions of Nootropics
Opinions vary concerning the efficacy and safety of nootropics. It’s easy to claim a product can boost energy, focus, or memory (ideal for students cramming for an exam or employees pulling an all-nighter putting together a work presentation), but is there a placebo effect to consuming such products? Or are noticeable increases in cognitive functions due to a product’s sugar or caffeine content, which may be masked by a natural ingredient like l-theanine?
As with any medication or holistic treatment, it’s recommended that you consult with a nutritionally informed physician before trying nootropics. Also, the FDA doesn’t closely regulate nootropic supplements like it does for prescription medications.
If you notice any side effects, stop using the product and immediately contact a trusted healthcare professional.
Benefits of Nootropics
Though there may be a gap between what a nootropic claims vs what it actually delivers, some of the purported benefits of nootropics include improved:
- Attention
- Concentration
- Energy
- Memory
- Motivation
So, what are some of the natural nootropic nutrients that can help improve your brain?
6 of the Best High-Quality Nootropic Nutrients
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine
An amino acid that’s naturally produced in the body (but not used to make proteins), acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is important for energy production. It assists in the proper functioning of genes, enzymes, and neurotransmitters.
Among ALC’s many benefits are its promotion of healthy memory, lessening of mental fatigue, balancing of mood, and as a chemical contributor to the production of acetylcholine which is a major memory neurotransmitter.
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
Alpha-lipoic acid is called a conditionally essential nutrient because the body can make it but at times needs additional amounts from the diet. It’s an essential cofactor for three major enzymes that all our cells use to generate energy.
ALA can help support blood sugar utilization and can enhance nerve cell energy and maintenance. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that protects our brain and other cells against oxygen free radicals.
- Ginkgo Biloba Extract
Ginkgo biloba has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Standardized extracts prepared from the leaf have existed for over 50 years and are used worldwide for a diverse range of health benefits.
This effective plant extract promotes healthy blood flow, which is crucial for optimal brain function. Ginkgo’s unique combination of antioxidants and blood vessel protectants helps shield the brain from toxins while supporting overall mental sharpness.
- Huperzine A
Huperzine A is extracted from the Huperzia serrata (club moss) plant, used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It can enhance the acetylcholine neurotransmitter system, which is tied to memory and behavior, and may help support memory and other cognitive functions.
- N-Acetylcysteine
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an amino acid (also not used to make proteins) that supports the fundamental functioning of our brain cells and regulates a broad array of cell functions. It provides powerful antioxidant defense against free radicals, which are formed as our cells’ mitochondria use oxygen to make the huge amounts of energy needed by the brain.
NAC is the ingredient source of l-cysteine, an antioxidant amino acid that cannot be directly used in supplements because it’s chemically unstable. L-cysteine is a building block for glutathione, an extremely important antioxidant, antitoxin, and overall protectant located inside our cells. Via glutathione, NAC contributes to numerous neurotransmitter activities in the healthy brain.
- PhosphatidylSerine
PhosphatidylSerine (PS) is a phospholipid nutrient that’s a universal, essential building block for cell membranes. PS is present in all our cells and is especially concentrated in the synapses and the brain’s nerve cells. Our brain cells need PS to generate and manage the high energy, complex electrical activity, and intense information processing that makes our brains work.
PS has been put through more than 30 years of gold standard clinical research involving randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials. PS helps to support attention, learning, memory, the ability to cope with stress, and overall mental sharpness.
PS may help improve attention in children and is the best documented nutrient for memory recall of words, numbers, names, faces, and events in people over 50.
All 6 of these proven nutrients are included in BrainMD’s top-selling nootropic supplement…
Brain & Memory Power Boost
Brain & Memory Power Boost promotes the brain’s energy generation and the overall functioning of its 200 billion cells. Its ingredient profile supports the connectivity functions of the trillions of synapses that these cells make with each other and defend against oxygen free radical and other toxic threats to the brain.
This advanced brain and memory support formula is developed from clinical research to help sustain circulation to your brain, which is crucial for you to maintain your mental edge.
Brain & Memory Power Boost promotes healthy aging and can benefit brains of all ages.
Designed with Your Brain in Mind
Though many scientists and medical practitioners are still skeptical about the purported health benefits of nootropics, many brain-boosting nutrients have been tested for purity and efficacy, like those in BrainMD supplements.
In fact, nootropics is just a trendy name for what BrainMD’s been doing for over 12 years. Our supplements are brain directed, which means they’re formulated for optimal brain and body performance.
Get the ultra-pure, nootropic nutrients in Brain & Memory Power Boost today!
At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about Brain & Memory Power Boost and our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.
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