What Are Nootropics? Uses & Benefits

Imagine a week full of deadlines – one after another. You’ve got submissions to make, projects to wrap up, reports to write, and so much more. Everyone is given the same week, seven days of 24 hours each, but some of us have to do a lot more in that time than others. Of course, this comes with an inevitable strain on your brainpower and mental stamina. We’re forced to push ourselves to our limits in order to max out our performance, but it’s not easy.

This is where nootropics come in. Nootropics are chemicals that enhance cognitive performance and improve mental functioning. These chemical substances are natural or synthetic derivatives that have a positive impact on our cognitive faculties, and are used by people whose work is mentally intensive. College students studying for exams, an analyst creating an extensive financial model, and even older adults who are at risk of developing dementia can benefit from nootropics.

Are these even good for me?

Nootropics can be categorized into three main categories:

1. Dietary supplements
2. Synthetic compounds
3. Prescription drugs

In a world as competitive and fast paced as ours, it’s no surprise that people are actively seeking methods to boost memory, attention, creativity, motivation, and intelligence. Now, we understand that these performance boosting chemicals might elicit images of drug addicts quivering to find their next fix. But, this isn’t the case at all. Not even close.

If you’re a regular coffee drinker, then you use nootropics. Yes, caffeine is the most popular performance enhancing chemical whose consumption is a vital component of so many cultures across the world. Even athletes consume caffeinated pre-workout drinks before hitting the gym. Why? Because nootropics work!

Give your brain more love

Your brain is arguably the most important organ of your body. Everything from your identity to the experiences you enjoy is a function of your neural activity. Which is why nourishing the brain and looking after its health is absolutely crucial.

Nootropics- the right kind – do so much more for your brain apart from merely providing a momentary boost. Their unique benefits can enhance every aspect of your mental performance and their use can be modified to meet your specific needs.

Benefits of nootropic use

1. Improvements in memory

Historically, nootropic use was primarily associated with memory enhancement. Brain boosting chemicals were used by older adults who experienced age-related memory problems. Today, however, memory enhancing nootropics have a wide range of benefits. They optimize performance-oriented memory functions while also addressing concerns associated with age-related memory impairment.

Nootropic supplements enhance long-term memory, short-term memory, and free recall. Research has shown certain nootropics to benefit memory, including:

• Phosphatidylserine (PS) that benefits short-term memory, long-term memory, and recall.
• Citicoline that enhances memory performance in the elderly.
• Bacopa Monnieri that slows down the rate at which the brain forgets newly acquired ideas.
• Vitamin B6 that improves information storage in older adults.
• L-Tyrosine that benefits mental performance for sleep deprives people.

2. Improvements in mood

Nootropic use also enhances general mood and helps with specific aspects including anxiety, depression, and stress. Fluctuations and downturns in moods are correlated with brain functioning, which is why nootropics can improve mood by regulating circulation, brain chemical, and stress resistance. These nootropics include:

• L-Theanine promotes a relaxed and anxiety-free state as it calms the heart rate and reduces stress markers.
• Bacopa Monnieri eases anxiety without sedative effects and bolsters mental performance.
• Lion's Mane Mushroom helps with the nerve growth factor (NGF) and thus balances mood. It has also been linked to potential alleviation of depression. 

3. Sharpening of focus and attention

People suffering from ADHD can experience great benefits from nootropic use. Even those of us who can’t concentrate on a given task due to environmental stimuli can benefit from use of nootropics.

People seek the use of nootropics for their attention enhancing benefits when they have a specific task that needs tending to, such as final exams or an important project. Nootropics provide benefits for focused attention, selective attention, alternating attention, and divided attention. Some examples of these nootropics are

• L-Tyrosine that activates cognition and improves attention markers.
• Citicoline that has been shown to bolster attentional performance in both, men and women.
• L-Theanine that boosts alpha brain wave state of relaxed alertness and enhances attention.
• Rhodiola Rosea that improves multiple facets of attentional performance.

Nootropics offer a range of benefits for cognitive functioning. Other such benefits include improvements in sleep patterns, strengthening of the body’s resistance to stress, enhancement in learning abilities and information retention, and even amplification of creative brain states. Get in touch with us for more information.