Care2 Healthy Living/Jordyn Cormier: 7 Natural Nootropics to Sharpen Your Mind

Care2 Healthy Living | 7 Natural Nootropics to Sharpen Your Mind
7 Natural Nootropics to Sharpen Your Mind
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    By: Jordyn Cormier
    December 22, 2017

    About Jordyn

Is it possible to biohack your brain function to make you smarter, quicker, more focused and more productive? You bet! It’s all about these crazy compounds called nootropics (pronounced new-tropics).
What are nootropics?

Nootropics are essentially a form of “smart drugs.” They are substance, natural or manmade, that enhance learning and memory, increase neural communication, and boast cognitively protective properties. Think of them as a more realistic version of Limitless. Some people feel an immediate boost upon taking one (or a ‘stack’ of multiple) nootropics. For others, it can take a couple of weeks of supplementation in order to notice the effects. When taking nootropics, you may find yourself better able to focus, having a better and quicker access to memories, and experiencing better success at learning and remembering new things.

While nootropics don’t necessarily make you more intelligent, they enhance your brain function so that your brain can more readily reach its highest potential. And they are incredibly powerful.
What are some natural nootropics?

While common drugs like nicotine and Adderall are technically nootropics, pharmaceutical nootropics can have unfortunate and potentially harmful side effects. Rather than looking towards manmade drugs for a brain boost, the plant kingdom is full of incredible nootropic substances that can be safely incorporated into your lifestyle. Supplementing with these 7 natural nootropics can help your brain function at higher and more powerful levels than ever before.

Left right human brain concept. Creative part and logic part with social and business doodle
Royal jelly

An indispensable component of the beehive, royal jelly is a rich substance secreted by worker bees and fed solely to the queen bee. Loaded with a powerful blend of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, royal jelly is an antioxidant, memory-boosting, energizing, anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting and supportive of hormonal balance. It contains 3 nootropic compounds: the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, 10-HDA and AMP N1-oxide. Acetylcholine has been shown to improve attention span, spatial awareness and memory. In fact, patients with Alzheimer’s typically exhibit low acetylcholine levels. The other two compounds, 10-HDA and AMP N1-oxide, stimulate the growth of neurons in the brain, which supports both the learning of new information and the storage of memories. An amazing source for a royal jelly brain boost (which also contains nootropics ginko and bacopa) is B.LXR from Beekeepers Naturals.
Ginkgo biloba

Native to China, the extract of Ginkgo leaves is dense in flavonoids and terpenoids. The flavonoids interact with your brain’s neurons to improve cognition, memory and learning. The terpenoids work to stop the production of free radicals in your brain during times of stress and increase blood flow to nourish the brain cells. Ginkgo mediates your stress response and assists your brain in functioning at its highest level.
Lion’s mane mushroom

Many studies have shown that consuming lion’s mane can improve cognitive function and concentration while reducing anxiety and depression. It may also reduce beta-amyloid plaques, the formation of which are a hallmark sign of Alzheimer’s. Four Sigmatic creates a terrific dual-extracted lion’s mane elixir to make biohacking your brain a whole lot easier.
Artichoke extract

Supplementing with artichoke extract can provide the user with neural antioxidant properties, meaning your brain is better protected from harmful free radical damage. Many people have also experienced an improvement in memory when supplementing with this extract.
Cannabinoids (CBDs)

CBDs have been all over the wellness world lately, but for those who aren’t familiar, CBDs are the non-psychoactive, powerfully anti-inflammatory compound in marijuana. A powerful protector of nerve cells, CBDs have been shown to play a role in preventing and slowing damage to the brain in those with Alzheimer’s and neurodegeneration. They can also counteract memory loss, unlike their cousin THC.

Related: 9 Remarkable Healing Properties of CBD
Green tea

We all know that green tea is packed with healthy antioxidants, but did you know that it can give a super boost to your brain? The nootropic compound in green tea is an amino acid known as L-theanine. It can help to manage and balance anxiety in those with personality disorders and reduces disease-caused neurodegeneration. For the average person, it has been shown to enhance attention span and cognition.
Bacopa monnieri

Also known as Brahmi, bacopa is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine that has been used to protect the brain, relieve stress and anxiety, and enhance cognition. And yes, modern research backs these claims up. When taken as a supplement, bacopa generally improves memory formation and speeds memory recall, which makes learning easier and allows the brain to function with greater clarity.

The foods you eat and the supplements you choose to take can make a huge difference in how your brain performs and ages. Using safe and natural nootropics is an easy biohack to help your function at your highest cognitive level.

What is your experience with nootropics? Would you try them? Share your thoughts below!
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22 comments
Tara W
Tara W15 minutes ago

Learn something "noo" every day!
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Monica C
Monica C22 minutes ago

thanks
SEND
Dennis H
Dennis Habout an hour ago

Thank you
SEND
Janis K
Janis Kabout an hour ago

Thanks for sharing.
SEND
Marigold A
Marigold A1 hours ago

I refuse to take "supplements" ~ natural or not. Just USING your brain enhances it's functions.
SEND
Jonathan Harper
Jonathan H2 hours ago

Noted
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Marija M
Marija M2 hours ago

thank you
SEND
Angela K
Angela K2 hours ago

thanks for sharing
SEND
Steve F
Steve F4 hours ago

No thank you. I will stick with crossword puzzles.

SEND
Tania N
Tania N4 hours ago

Thanks for the article.
SEND
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