Brain Power: An Intro to Nootropics
Where the mind goes, the body will follow.
College was a challenging time for me.
Working full time while getting educated was a stressful challenge all on its own. Yet I had a weapon in my arsenal: nootropics.
I wanted to take the time to create this brief post on Nootropics: brain supplements that should be implemented in both physical & mental health.
Remember that movie Limitless? That’s the easiest way to describe nootropics… although it’s safer and not as intense.
A nootropic is a supplement that changes or improves cognitive function: it allows people to focus, to process information more effectively, provides energy and overall brain health.
Now think of scenarios on the performance of everything we do: work, fitness, education, etc. The mind controls all of this. It’s a powerful thing.
While Alcohol, Adderall, and Nicotine are technically considered nootropics, we are going to talk about nootropics that enhance our cognitive function without any negative/addictive effects.
Let’s get into it!
What Are Nootropics?
Simply put, nootropics enhance cognitive function. This means that nootropics can be found in a variety of things: food that we consume naturally, or they can be artificial/modified. For example, blueberries contain anthocyanin, which is a nootropic that protects our brain health. Another example would be Fish Oil (which contains EPA and DHA). Fish Oil has some benefits for memory enhancement and a positive mood.
Some nootropics are also made in our body in small amounts; introducing more to your body can add increased benefits (similarly to adding Creatine to our diet: we naturally make it, but supplementing with it increases strength and power output in the gym).
Benefits of Nootropics
While nootropics have been studied for YEARS, they have become more “trendy” to study recently. This has led to more studies and research into them.
Nootropics have been shown to benefit the general population. Currently, scientists are studying nootropics on the elderly with degenerative diseases (like Alzheimer’s). What makes nootropics powerful is that majority of them do not have diminishing returns or adaptation effects like we have with caffeine.
In the short-term, nootropics boost performance in the mind for a period of time: memorization, recollection, energy, and focus are enhanced.
Now think about this being utilized in the long-term (if combined with physical & mental exercise, proper sleep, etc): your brain is stronger, smarter, and healthier. This would lead to performance boosts in all aspects of our life.
With that being said, we can typically categorize nootropics into four areas: Memory Enhancers, Focus Boosters, Mood Enhancers, and Energy Boosters.
- Memory and Focus. When it comes to memory enhancement and focus, some products contain nootropics in small dosages. For example, Vitamin B6 and Citicoline are some nootropics that benefit memory and focus!
- Mood. Enhancing mood by eliminating anxiety, stress, or depression are powerful opportunities for many of us today. Much research is going into this category of nootropics and its been showing promise: Nootropics like L-Theanine and Bacopa Monnieri have calming and stress reduction abilities, making them pretty desirable to supplement with!
- Energy. Caffeine isn’t the only energy booster that we have! Some nootropics provide brain-boosting energy without the stimulant effects that caffeine brings us. Although the brain resides in a small section of our body, it controls everything. This means we should treat it with some respect. Nootropics like L-Tyrosine and Rhodiola Rosea have been shown to enhance energy levels, especially under stress or in some cases, sleep deprivation.
Conclusion: The World of Nootropics
As a society, we rely on caffeine a lot… especially when we are stressed. Here’s the thing: an overconsumption of caffeine can lead to anxiety and a detriment to physical and mental performance. We wanted you to know that nootropics are another option that you can use synergistically with just the right amount of caffeine!
Since our goal is to introduce supplementation for both the mind and body, we have been doing research and testing with nootropic formulations. At this moment in time, we have a few supplement formulations being tested!
Impulse is just the start: as we continue to grow, more will be forged to aid you to your greatest potential.
Mind and Body; physical and mental. Complete health. Let’s strive for that.
Thanks for reading!
Other Works:
Seven Strategies to Improve Sleep Quality
Building a Brand: Managing Myself
Social Media: @ibtonyg
