Nootropics are becoming more and more popular, but what do they do exactly? What are nootropics, really?
In this article, we’ll explain what nootropics are, and why they’re good for you. We’ll also tell you some of the ingredients you should look for in your next nootropic supplement.
What are Nootropics?
A nootropic is defined as a medication, substance, supplement, or ingredient that improves cognitive function. Basically, anything that you’d take to increase your “brain power” can be considered a nootropic. In layman’s terms, nootropics are any natural or synthetic substance that is taken to improve mental health.
A nootropic can be anything from an everyday substance like caffeine to a drug like Adderall. You can also find a blend of nootropic ingredients in nutritional supplements like MasterBrain for a more synergistic effect. Nootropics are also commonly found in pre-workouts supplements as well to give the user a boost of focused energy before training!
A few characteristics of natural nootropics include:
- Enhance memory and cognition
- Improve brain functioning under taxing conditions
- Protect the brain from chemical or physical assault or imbalance
- Increase the efficiency of the neuronal firing mechanism in the brain
- Almost void of side effects and essentially non-toxic
Benefits Of Nootropics
People take nootropics for many reasons. Here are just some of them.
Enhance memory and ability to learn
Many nootropics help deliver greater amounts of oxygen to your brain. This helps your brain work more clearly. That means you’re able to remember things better than before and absorb information better as well. Whether you’re studying for a test or learning a new mentally demanding protocol at work, nootropics can help improve your ability to focus, memorize, and retain the information you need.
Protect the brain
Vitamins are meant to help keep your body healthy. The healthier your body is, the more protected it will be. The same goes for nootropics and the brain. The more you do to keep your brain healthy and happy, the more likely it will be protected should anything bad happen to it. For example, there’s some evidence that nootropics can help with conditions like hypoxia (low oxygen in the brain.) This is because nootropics can increase brain oxygen as we mentioned before.
Few or no negative side effects
Not all nootropics are created equal. For example, if you’re using a prescription-strength nootropic, it’s important that you know all of the possible side effects. But when it comes to all natural supplements, there’s little to no side effects. You will certainly still want to take the nootropic as instructed to receive the brain-enhancing benefits.
Help the brain work in stressful situations
Whether you’re working out or stressed out while at work, it’s easy to either underthink or overthink everything. Nootropics help make things clearer. This allows you to focus on the task at hand and get stuff done. If you’re looking for help thinking things through, then a quality nootropics supplement might be just the thing for you.
Even though we know a lot about the positive effects that nootropics can have, we’re still learning more and more about nootropics every day.
The one thing we know for sure though is that nootropics are excellent for optimizing and improving brain health. So if you’re looking for a boost in focus and mental clarity, you should definitely look into your different nootropic options.
Are Nootropics Safe?
Yes. As we already explained, most nootropic supplements have little to no side effects when taken as directed and all warnings are adhered to. That’s generally true with the stand-alone ingredients as well. That being said you should following the dosing instructions no matter which nootropic you ultimately choose. Supplements are formulated to have a specific effect when you take a certain dose. Take too much or too little and the nootropic might not work how you would hope it would.
If you’re going to get prescription medicine from your doctor, make sure to talk to him or her about any possible side effects you may experience while on that prescription drug.
The Best Ingredients To Look For In Nootropics
Some nootropics are better than others. This could be said of any supplement, but it’s especially important to get the very best when you’re looking to enhance your brain’s health. If you’re looking for quality nootropics, these are just some of the ingredients you’ll want to look for.
B Vitamins
B vitamins help regulate metabolism, energy, and red blood cell production. If you’re looking for a boost in energy, then you’re going to need to make sure your nootropic is packed with a variety of B vitamins.
Caffeine
Everybody knows about caffeine. It’s a chemical compound that gives people all over the world the energy they need to jump-start their day. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain which are what’s primarily responsible for making you feel tired. This sluggishness can make it hard for you to focus on whatever you have to do.
L-theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid that’s primarily responsible for calming your body without making you feel sleepy. Although caffeine can give you energy, it also makes you feel jittery. L-theanine cancels the negative effects of caffeine without getting rid of the positive effects too. L-Theanine tends to be more effective when taken in conjunction with caffeine, and can often be found together in performance-enhancing supplements. The duo can also be found in various teas.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Mmonnieri helps combats oxidative stress brought on by free radicals. It works to speed up information processing in the brain, reducing reactive times. In addition, Bacopa Monnierit helps improve overall brain health and improves memory.
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea helps improve mood and has been shown to reduce mental fatigue. That means you can focus on certain tasks longer than you usually can.
1st Phorm Has The Nootropics You Need
So, what are nootropics? They’re supplements or substances that improve memory and brain functionality.
If you’re looking for a great line of nootropics products, 1st Phorm’s MasterBrain supplements are for you. There’s a morning and evening supplement so you’re covered all day and all night. They’re packed with everything you would want in a nootropic and nothing that you wouldn’t. 1st Phorm also has a line of Pre-workouts that will contain precise blends of nootropics to help you stay focused and alert while training!
If you have any questions about nootropics, please give us a call at 1 800 409 9732 Monday thru Friday 6 am to 10 pm CST.
*This post was written by Will Grumke. He is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, NASM Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist, NASM Certified Weight Loss Specialist, NASM Certified Behavioral Change Specialist, and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer.
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