5 Best and Effective Nootropics For Better Brain Functions 

brain waves matter
Nootropics are believed to improve cognitive functions such as memory, intelligence, and mental clarity. Today, many people in the world use nootropics in their daily lives. There are plenty of nootropics on the market today, and each one has different effects on the brain. Some of the most popular ones include Piracetam, Phenylpiracetam, and Adrafinil.

We all know how important it is to care for our minds and bodies. That’s why we are so careful about what we eat and drink. We avoid cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, and other substances that might be bad for us. But there’s one thing that we may have overlooked—our brain and cognitive functioning.

While the brain is immensely complex, the ways we can change the brain
aren’t nearly as complicated. Changing your brain is easy thanks for neuroplasticity.

However, the news research available, we discover and see different kinds of brain boosters, nutrition, and other things on the market, such as Rhodiola Rosea, Ginkgo, Ashwagandha, Choline Bitartrate, Creatine, Tyrosine, etc.

These substances optimize brain health and enhance mental, mood, and even mitochondrial health.

We’ll cover the five best nootropics herbs for brain health, especially mood and stress levels.

There has been a recent increase in the popularity of nootropics supplements. Nootropics are substances that enhance cognitive function, memory, and creativity. They work by upgrading neuronal connections and enhancing cognitive skills such as decision-making, short-term memory, learning capacity, and attention span.

Enhancing Supplements: Definition of Nootropic, and Brain Booster

The market is overwhelmed with a plethora of nootropics, herbs, and supplements, making it challenging to decide which one to choose. Furthermore, many of these products are either too expensive or don’t work.

We need to be considered a ‘true’ nootropic these:

  • Nootropics should Improve brain functions via supporting the brain.
  • It helps you enhance the brain’s ability to use nutrition such as oxygens under stressful conditions.
  • Protect the brain from chemicals exposes such as (Aluminum, Mercury, and Cadmium)
  • Effecting glutamate receptors and nerve cells and lower stress levels will also help further.

Are nootropics the same as adaptogens?

Some of the herbs act with adaptogenic properties and nootropics activities same time. More stress adaptation better cognitive function via increasing nootropics effects. 

Nootropics are drugs, supplements, or other substances that improve cognitive function, mainly executive functions such as attention and working memory.

1- Learning, Mood, and Memory: Rhodiola Rosea

adaptogens

Stress can wreak havoc on the human body, including brain health, resulting in many health complications. Fortunately, many ways to combat stress and live a healthier lifestyle exist.

The side effect of chronic stress is enormous—people with chronic stress have a lower quality of life, brain, and overall functions.

Do you know chronic stress affects the level production of BDNF protein?

BDNF is essential when it comes to memory and learning. Not at all; it also involves the process of mood regulation and more! (source)

Chronic stress has detrimental effects on creating BDNF protein. Yet, people have a high level of BDNF associated with stress resilience, better learning, and a high level of memory recall! (source)

Brain decline is a common concern of modern society. Fortunately, many nootropics can help combat this decline. Nootropics are substances with neurological benefits, and they come in the form of supplements, drugs, or plants.

Adaptogens

Stress and anxiety are the primary keys to lowering brain functions via the detrimental effect of Brain-derived-neurotrophic factors.

Adaptogens such as Rhodiola Rosea might help lower overall cortisol levels and increase the production of Brain Derive Neutropic Factor production. 

GABA
Stress causes the release of hormones that result in a cascade of chemical reactions that cause mental and physical health problems and can create a domino effect resulting in worsening anxiety or depression.

That leads to an increased brain function far better than you think. Also, low-level stress can increase the brain waves, such as alpha brain waves, that lead to increased creativity and calmness while not affecting alertness.

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Creativity is a different subject, but a mediative state is suitable for this regard. 

However, you can also implement some activities such as meditation and further benefits to Rhodiola Rosea in your daily life.

Research shows that Rhodiola Rosea increases brain functions, helps better memory formation, and increases visualization.

Rhodiola Rosea is a plant that grows in northern Asia’s high, cold mountains. Traditionally, it has been used in Russia and Scandinavia to prevent fatigue. It has gained popularity as a supplement to treat depression and help people cope with stress in recent years.

Combine With Tyrosine

adaptogen

Tyrosine alone isn’t as effective as other supplements such as Rhodiola Rosea. These are great combinations when it comes to improving cognitive functions, MOOD, and alertness better way. Nevertheless, you can add caffeine for further improvement.

Tyrosine does not have a strong nootropic effect, but amino acid is the main ingredient in dopamine production and adrenalin hormones. 

Caffeine is excellent cheap, and nootropic. However, some people can’t tolerate caffeine well, for preventing jittery feelings, only use it mindfully. Do not exceed caffeine intake too much, and combine with it L-tyrosine for better results.

Tyrosine is an amino acid, an essential component of dopamine synthesis. Tyrosine alone is not as effective as other supplements such as Rhodiola Rosea. These are great combinations to improve cognitive functions better way.

2- L-Theanine: Mentally Calm

L-theanine is an amino acid people often use for calming effects. 

Its main ingredients are black and green tea. It’s water-soluble amino acids, and mostly, there is promising research on it. The excellent news about L-Theanine is that it can cross the blood-brain barrier, quickly reaching the brain!

L-theanine helps alleviate lower stress levels and anxiety. Not just that, L-theanine is also great for increasing alpha brain waves, leading to calming effects.

L-Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea and some mushroom species. It can cross the blood-brain barrier, which means that it can easily reach the brain and provide calming effects. L-Theanine has been shown to increase alpha brain waves, leading to calming effects such as reducing stress levels and anxiety.

Alpha brain Waves Are Critical For Cognitive Abilities,, Calmness And Learning

delta brain waves
Alpha brain waves are the key to boosting your focus and productivity. This meditative state is what most people experience just before drifting off to sleep.

Alpha brain waves help your focus and improve productivity. It’s a meditative state, and you might feel focused and calm without sleepy.

However, like an L-tyrosine, you can combine it with L-theanine and caffeine for better effects.

This excellent amino acid:

  • Theanine helps serotonin, GABA, and dopamine levels in your brain. This will helps to energize and create a calming effect, helping you go into flowIt’s like a meditation state. 
  • Stimulates alpha waves (8-12Hz), promoting alert relaxation and mental focus.
  • It is an antagonist of NMDA receptors and can inhibit the synaptic release of glutamate. It protects your brain from over-stimulation caused by glutamate and possible glutamate toxicity.
  • As we talked about, L-theanine also increases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).

Also, you can use GABA and L-theanine to improve the quality of sleep. 

Do not underestimate the benefits of deep sleep for nootropics and cognitive functions. (source)

lpha brainwaves occur when we are in a relaxed and calm state. When we close our eyes and enter a meditative state, these waves are most active. One way to increase alpha waves is by using binaural beats, meditation and amino acids such as L-theanine.

How much gram should I take?

You do not need to take too much L-theanine for cognitive effects. It’s 50 to 200 grams is enough to see benefits. The Japanese study showed that 30 minutes after taking L-theanine, you could see the benefits of calming effects.

Combining caffeine and tyrosine is a far better approach for increasing nootropics. However, some people get calmer when they combine with L-theanine.

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3- Creatine

People think creatine is only for sports supplements, and muscle power-output

Actually, not at all. 

Our brain primarily depends on energy and even sensitivity to energy. Without a good amount of energy in our brain, we can experience cognitive problems such as brain fog, physiological and psychological, and memory problems.

The hippocampus in our brain mainly demands body energy, especially mitochondria. Without sufficient mitochondria, the hippocampus will get less level of energy. (source)

High mitochondria support our brain functions. Brain cells may use up to 25% of the body’s total energy. (source)

Creatine is a critical element when it comes to the production of mitochondria. 

Creatine has a nootropic effect in this regard. Research shows that using supplement help brain function and better cognition and memory.

You do not need to use more than 3 grams for brain health. Its average of 1 to 3grams is okay in this regard.

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells. They produce energy in the form of ATP, which can be used to fuel many different activities in the cell. Brain cells may use up to 25% of the body’s total energy. They are highly dependent on mitochondria for this task. Decreased mitochondria function is linked to cognitive impairment and epilepsy.

Creatine is a naturally occurring compound in the human body synthesized from three amino acids: glycine, arginine, and methionine. 

Creatine nootropics are supplements made with these three ingredients to boost mental function.

To improve mitochondria better, you can exercise, short-term cold shower exposure, breathing techniques, intermittent fasting, ketogenic diet, and take good quality supplements such as Creatine, Coenzyme Q10, Magnesium, Resveratrol, And Omega-3. 

4- Healthy Brain, And Brain Plasticity Support With Krill Oil

gaba asit
Omega-3 is a type of fatty acid that provides many health benefits. You can find it in various animal and plant sources, but some of the best sources include Krill oil, walnuts, flaxseed, and salmon.

It’s not easy to find the right omega-3 supplement that works. There are too many choices, and it can be hard to figure out what you need.

Krill oils are the best choice for the brain and overall health.

The brains are made with fatty acids, phospholipids, and cholesterol. 

Krill oils are an excellent choice for these components because it includes omega-three fatty acids, phospholipids, and cholesterol. 

The omega-three fatty acids help the brain work better by keeping the blood vessels open. 

Phospholipids are essential for the brain’s function and are found in all cell membranes. They are the main component of lipoproteins, which transport the fats in our blood. It has been shown that phospholipids are essential for memory, as they can help create new synapses in our brain. (source)

Yet, krill oils also contain choline, which improves memory and learning by increasing acetylcholine. 

Krill oils are a high-quality source of omega-3s. They contain both EPA and DHA, which have been shown to improve heart health, joint mobility, and mood. Krill oils also contain choline, which improves memory and learning by increasing acetylcholine.

What Does Choline Do? 

  • Choline, which stands out in vital functions of the body, plays an active role from the inside out.
  • A correct and regular brain development or the correct functioning of the body’s functions is possible with choline.
  • Improve attention and focused 

Yet, you can use a high dosage more than the recommended dosage for nootropic effects.

DHA too important

When it comes to improving memory, DHA is great in this regard.

DHA is one of the most important long-chain omega-3 fatty acids because it is a major structural component of the central nervous system. 

DHA is critical in improving memory and positively affects depression and other mood disorders. (source)

5- Mental Clarity and Focus With Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Are you tired of feeling like you’re living in a fog, had your memory wiped by the computer, or are you beginning to forget the people you care about? 

It might be time to consider an acetyl-L-carnitine supplement.

Why it’s such as important?

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a molecule that is naturally synthesized by the body. It works as an antioxidant and provides neuroprotection, and excitotoxicity. It’s also been shown to boost the Brain-Derived Nerve Growth Factor (BDNF), which promotes cerebral blood circulation and can help protect brain tissue from damage. (source)

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Chronic acetyl-L-carnitine improves your brain energy metabolism and increases noradrenaline and serotonin content in healthy mice. (source)

Yet, as we discuss, our brain is mainly created of fatty acids. We saw omega-3 fatty acids as critical when it comes to nootropics health.

Acetyl-L-carnitine is helpful via carrying the fatty acids to your brain! (source)

Yes, it’s possible to use a combination of more than one, even three. But if you are a beginner, it’s best to start one.

There has been a recent increase in the popularity of nootropics supplements. Nootropics are substances that enhance cognitive function, memory, and creativity. They work by upgrading neuronal connections and enhancing cognitive skills such as decision-making, short-term memory, learning capacity, and attention span.

How to Cycle Nootropics?

Some nootropics you do not need to cycle such as:

  • Omega-3 Fatty acids ( DHA )
  • Acetyl-L-carnitine 
  • B vitamins
  • Tyrosine
  • Theanine

However, the herbs such as Rhodiola, Bacopa Monnier, and other herbs, you might consider cycling because of positive adaptation.

Depending on your dosage, you can also cycle creatine supplements. Yet, if you do not exceed more than 1 gram a day, you don’t need to cycle it.

If you search for something you can take every day and healthily ways, You can eat “blueberries ” daily for better cognition.

Can you take more than one nootropic?

Yes, it’s possible to use a combination of more than one, even three. But if you are a beginner, it’s best to start one.

Other Aspects: Can Nootropics Help With Weight Loss?

Some of the nootropics have to relax and stress-relief properties, which lead to increased satiety, lower stress, and better decisions. For example, Rhodiola Rosea has a lower stress level which leads to increased metabolism. 

Some herbs are great for motivation and increase body energy which means you can end more calorie burn at the end of the day.

The best approach for losing weight is a diet such as intermittent fasting, low-carbs, and a ketogenic diet. 

We suggest deep-diving into the ketogenic diet for nootropic effects to improve brain functions because of BHB productions.

Other Things and Tips You Can Improve Your Cognition Such as:

  • MCT Oil: The fatty acids increase memory because of their structure. The brain uses that MCT oil for energy, which leads to better cognition thanks to beta-hydroxy-butyrate, a ketones product. Ketones also help with dementia as well as Alzheimer’s. Yet, MCT also increases mood slightly and suppresses hunger.
  • N-acetylcysteine:  Some people report they get benefits when they try NAC. NAC is a compound found naturally in the body that can help protect the brain cells. It can also support the reward system and balance glutamate, an amino acid. NAC also helps increase master antioxidant glutathione which is beneficial for brain health, mood, and overall immune system.
  • Fasting: This is not supplements or other things, yet like the ketogenic diet, it increases cognition, focus, and willpower. Yet, I believe fasting has spiritual power if you combine it with good habits such as meditation, good sleep, supplements, and low-stress levels. Fasting is better when increasing new brain cells via BDNF protein production.
  • Optimize Your Gut Health: The gut becomes our second brain, and most neurotransmitters such as GABA, Serotonin, and Dopamine are created there. Our neuron carries those neurotransmitters via vagus-nerve into the brain. Optimizing, healing, and strengthening our gut health helps with cognition and brain power and lowers the risk of cognitive decline, better mood, and overall health.

The research discovered that Lactobacillus rhamnosus significantly decreased sadness and anxiety symptoms in new mothers. (source)

Other studies show that Lactobacillus (L.) rhamnosus benefits GABA synthesis, which reduces anxiety. (source)

We found that sole or multi-strain probiotics were both beneficial for improving cognitive function, suggesting that Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains would be the most potential candidate

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7066922/#:~:text=We%20found%20that%20sole%20or,be%20the%20most%20potential%20candidates.

You can also use dietary supplements like high dosage krill oil for this purpose. For ADHD, it would be best to high omega-3 oils, either. The human brain is mainly made of fats, so omega-3s are the key factors.

Thank you for reading this article. I hope it helps your knowledge and you can take action in your life!

Optimize Your Life, Body, And Soul

Can nootropics affect anxiety and depression?

Yes, they affect depending on the dosage, usage, and other factors. For example, you have high-stress levels because of environmental factors, nootropics boost your brain functions, and the body helps to resist them. Also, certain herbal nootropics such as Rhodiola can help stimulate a reward center, increase mood, and lower anxiety. Creatine also shows that it helps depression in some people. 

Are nootropics addictive?

Some nootropics might be addictive, such as nicotine and other medical nootropics.

I teach people about the biohacks and science of optimizing their health and performance. I like to write about Philosophy, Biohacks, Supplements, and Spiritual information supported by science.