What Are Herbal Nootropics? 27+ Proven Benefits Revealed!

November 1, 2021 8:30 pm , , Featured

neuron firing from herbal nootropicsHave you ever wondered exactly what classifies a substance as a Nootropic? Or pondered the difference between plant based Nootropic supplements and synthetically created “smart pills”?

If so, you’ve come to the right place because in today’s post we’re going to be answering the question “What are herbal Nootropics?”, taking a look at what Nootropics are all about, and the many ways that they can potentially benefit our cognitive abilities, memory, focus, energy, mood and overall brain health!

One thing that surprised me when I started delving into the world of Nootropics was that they’ve actually been around for quite a while.

What Makes A Dietary Supplement Qualify As A Nootropic?

According to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary a Nootropic is “a substance that enhances cognition and memory and facilitates learning”… Which seems pretty straight forward. 
The term Nootropic was coined by Corneliu Giurgea who is known as the “Father of the Nootropic Concept”. Giurgea was a Romanian psychologist and chemist, who first synthesized a Nootropic called “Piracetam” in 1964. This drug is perhaps the best known in the racetams group, and has been used for various purposes in addition to being considered a cognitive enhancer…
A cognitive enhancer is something believed to enhance cognitive functions including executive functions, memory, creativity and so forth. Racetams like Piracetam are examples of synthetic Nootropics – not natural dietary/herbal supplements.
When Giurgea developed the concept of Nootropics he defined them as having the following key characteristics:

What Are The Characteristics Of A Nootropic?

  • Nootropics Enhance Learning & Memory
  • Nootropics Support Interhemispheric Transfer & Synchronization
  • Nootropics Are Non-Stimulant & Non-Sedative
  • Nootropics Strengthen The Subcortical Processes
  • Nootropics Enhance Cerebral Resistance
  • Nootropics Are Non-Toxic Virtually Free of Side-Effects & Are Non-Toxic Even At High Dosages

… And that pretty much sums up what you should expect out of a Nootropic…

What’s Different About Herbal Nootropics?

Dietary supplements, also known as “herbal supplements” are natural occurring plant compounds, or blends of these compounds that intend to provide supplementation – giving the body and mind nutrients that they can use to support optimal functioning.

These plant extracts and such are able to deliver these powerful nutrients at dosages that are very hard to come by via diet alone, so you can use them to supplement your diet. (Of course eating these proven brain health foods is another great way to get nutrients that your brain is craving!)

Other types of dietary supplement include things like multivitamins that deliver a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals, or things like fish oil capsules that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Nootropic supplements intend to boost your brain health and functioning by providing nutrients that support and enhance it’s normal healthy functioning.

27 Potential Benefits Of Herbal Nootropics

There are numerous ways by which these supplements can increase brain activity. Some of these include:

* Enables the brain to respond to external stimuli such as tones, sounds and smells.

* Helps prevent or alleviate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

* Promotes healthy blood flow to all parts of the body including brain cells.

* Boosts the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenalin.

* Enhances the function of acetylcholine receptors on neurons.

* Reduces symptoms of depression and dementia.

* Regulates blood pressure and glucose levels

* Supplements the immune system and enhances overall immune system functioning

* Helps reduce stress and anxiety levels

* Supplements brain activity and improves concentration ability

* Supplements the production of gamma amino butyric acid ( GABA)

* Suppresses multiple sclerosis and other psychological disorders

* Improves mood swings and promotes happiness and joy

* Boosts concentration, focus, memory and mental agility

* Supplements the production of serotonin, the body’s neurotransmitter

* Supplements the production of norepinephrine and histamine

* Boosts oxygen intake to the brain

* Provides essential vitamins and minerals that are normally derived from food sources and the soil

* Provides vitamin and mineral supplementation to the body

* Improves skin and hair appearance

* Improves eye function and visual acuity and clarity

* Boosts the levels of energy and stamina

* Supplements muscle mass and functions

* Supplements muscle growth and development

* Supplements protein synthesis to enable protein synthesis and repair of cell and tissue damage caused by microorganisms and chemicals and enzymes and

* Helps prevent and reduce seizures and angina and

* Reduces the severity and duration of arthritis.

A Few Of Our Fave Nootropic Supplement Ingredients:

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is a truly incredible plant capable of providing numerous potential brain health benefits.  The extract used in supplements comes from the leaves of the maidenhair tree which is native to China and which has been used for centuries for its numerous health benefits. Among these benefits the most important ones are anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant. Gingko also has neuro-protective effects, which makes it a powerful option for helping to reduce the symptoms of depression and schizophrenia.

One of Ginkgo’s most impressive features is its ability to alter brain chemistry by increasing levels of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and circadian rhythms.  Additionally it helps support brain health by increasing the efficiency of brain cells by depleting levels of glycine and encourages the growth and development of healthy brain cells by preventing the cholesterol from becoming rancid.

Ginkgo extract increases blood flow, enhances the oxygenation capacity of brain cells, and prevents the accumulation of acetylcholine (the neurotransmitter responsible for causing neurological activity) in the myelin sheath of the nervous system. Ginkgo biloba extract also contains flavonoids, terpenoids, and trophic influences.

Bilberry

Bilberry increases brain plasticity and is an anti-inflammatory that prevents the degeneration of brain cells. It’s also an antioxidant that protects the body from harmful free radicals and is even capable of  healing tissue damage caused by free radicals. Additionally Bilberry is a natural antihistamine which keeps blood glucose levels under control and reduces allergic reactions.  that prevents the degeneration of brain cells.

Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa monnieri  is a small tree with aromatic flowers. The bark of this tree contains noxiousants that act on neurons and other nerve tissues to improve concentration and mood. When taken as an herbal supplement, it helps enhance memory and cognitive function, and improve attention and concentration. In addition, it inhibits excitatory synaptic activity in the brain, thereby improving GABAergic function.

Bacopa monnieri contains bacosides that prevent lipid peridoxation of acetylcholine. This is essential as acetylcholine is believed to be involved in transmitter dysfunction and memory loss. The extract protects against lipid peridoxation by preventing its entrance into the nerve cells, preventing or reducing the release of acetylcholine. This is important because acetylcholine is thought to be a neurotransmitter in the brain and may thus be involved in mood disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The antioxidant content of bacopa monnieri prevents oxidative stress from damaging cellular DNA and thus preserves cellular DNA.

Flowering vine of bacopa monnieri also contains phytonutrients that protect and preserve the nervous tissue. Among these are flavonoids and terpenoids that have antioxidant activities. The two chemicals combine to improve the intracellular antioxidant effect of flavonoids. Terpenoids help prevent lipid peridoxation of acetylcholine in the presence of other lipids such as cholesterol. The combination of these two chemicals results in a powerful antioxidant effect.

Studies also show that bacopa monnieri protects against the development of nitric oxide in the presence of L-theanine. This chemical is believed to function through enhancing the levels of neurotransmitter glutamate that helps maintain the plasticity of brain cells. Other research found that the herb increases multiple kinds of brain activity including sensory processing, attention, memory, and linguistic functions.

More Top Herbal Ingredients Found In Nootropics:

But that’s not all, there are a ton of different botanical extracts that researchers believe can work as Nootropics, including:

  • Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha GPC)
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cat’s claw
  • Citicoline
  • DHA complex
  • Huperzine A
  • N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
  • L-Theanine
  • Lion’s Mane mushroom
  • Maritime pine bark
  • Oat straw
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Passionflower
  • Rhodiola Rosea

These ingredients are often paired with critically important B Vitamins such as:

  • Vitamin B5
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B9
  • Vitamin B12

How To Pick The Best Nootropic Supplement For You?

As you can see there are many amazing natural Nootropic options available to help you optimize your brain health and cognitive function.

That said, finding the best Nootropic to fit your individual needs can prove challenging due to the sheer number of supplements on the market today.

We’ve been studying this market for years and have experimented with a wide range of popular ingredient and Nootropic stacks…

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7 Tasty Everyday Foods For Brain Health & Function

October 22, 2021 9:17 pm , Leave a Comment ,
blueberries and chocolate for brain health

https://unsplash.com/@dessy_dmch

If you are interested in Nootropic Supplements you may always want to familiarize yourself with the power of everyday foods for brain health and brain cell protection.

No worries about needing to track down anything too exotic either – in fact simple staples like blueberries, dark chocolate and low-fat dairy products are great places to start! In fact many everyday fruits and vegetables contain a wealth of antioxidants, which are essential for protecting brain cells from cell damage.

And protecting the brain (neuroprotection) is a huge part of improving brain health – because when brain cells are damaged, you can suffer from memory loss, poor concentration, and poor decision making. In fact damaged brain cells may even cause a person to experience anxiety, depression and irritability (and even worse things, but I don’t want to freak you out!)

Let’s take a look at a few of the best brain health foods around:

#1 – Dark Chocolate

In recent research shows that eating dark chocolate containing more antioxidants is beneficial in preventing age related cognitive decline. The flavonoid polyphenols in dark chocolate help protect nerve cells from oxidative damage. Oxidative damage is one of the primary causes of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Studies have also shown that daily consumption of a small amount of dark chocolate reduces your risk of developing depression and dementia. Dark chocolate is also beneficial in reducing heart disease and controlling diabetes.

#2 – Coffee

Another brain benefit of dark chocolate is its natural caffeine extract. Caffeine has been shown in numerous studies to reduce stress, reduce fatigue and increase alertness. Coffee is another natural source of antioxidants, with compounds called flavonoids and other polyphenols, as well as caffeine, being beneficial to cardiovascular health. The most recent research shows that drinking coffee is beneficial in reducing the risk of developing depression.

#3 – Fatty Fish

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish are an important ingredient in many brain health supplements. They reduce the risk of developing depression and dementia and improve cognitive function. Similarly, a diet that is low in sodium can help lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of stroke. Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be influenced by toxins that attack brain cells. New studies have found that high amounts of inflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream may contribute to the development of the disease.

#4 – Green Tea

Some of the brain health foods that you eat can also protect against cognitive decline. Green tea, for example, has demonstrated benefits in both memory and cognitive ability. However, drinking just one cup of green tea daily is not enough to reap the benefits. In fact, to reap its full benefits, you should drink four cups daily. Researchers believe that the antioxidants in green tea help prevent cells from being damaged by free radicals, which are created when your body breaks down chemical compounds. Green tea also contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that prevent the formation of new brain cells that could die in the brain.

#5 – Fruits And Veggies

Of course, vegetables and fruits are some of the most important ingredients in keeping a healthy brain. Vegetables and fruits are full of essential nutrients that help keep your brain functioning properly. When you eat these foods, your body will not only get the nutrients it needs but also get important minerals like iron, which helps keep anemia down. In addition, the fruits and vegetables will make your body more alkaline, which can help keep the brain healthy. However, too much of any food or drink can actually be harmful to your brain, so you need to pay attention to portions. Even though you should consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables each day, it’s still important to monitor your portion sizes to ensure that you do not eat an entire serving at once.

#6 – AVOID: Too Much Saturated Fat

One of the main causes of poor brain health is eating too much saturated fat, which comes from fatty meats such as pork and beef. While these meats may be high in protein, they are also packed with saturated fat. Eating too much saturated fat has been shown to reduce memory function, lower IQ, cause weight gain and even increase the risk of stroke in women. The problem is that there are so many different types of foods out there, and everyone needs to learn how to read nutrition labels to determine what they are getting.

#7 – More Brain Health Staples

Low-fat dairy products such as yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese and whole grains provide some of the nutrients your brain needs. Additionally, many people don’t get enough calcium from their diets, which is essential to building strong bones and teeth. Vitamins C and E are important components of many fruits, vegetables whole grains, as well as B vitamins, which are important to maintain proper brain health.

To sum things up, to maximize brain health it’s a good idea to eat a well rounded diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats and healthy fats. Furthermore try to consume antioxidant rich foods like berries, chocolate and coffee on a daily basis. Moderation is key, and of course get your hands on an elite level nootropic supplement to really take your brain function to the next level!

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