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14 Best Natural Nootropics
What exactly are nootropics? Nootropics are a class of substances used to improve brain function. Nootropics are often referred to as smart drugs. They can aid in memory enhancement, improve mood, increase energy and clarity. They can be natural supplements, prescribed drugs, and synthetic.
Chances are you have probably taken a few nootropics yourself. Your morning cup of brew. Yep coffee is considered a nootropic. And I don’t know about you but this mama needs her coffee.
Why Would Someone take Nootropics
Why would someone be interested in taking nootropics? Well, I would say unless you are someone who gets 8-10 hours of sleep a night and lives a totally stress-free life you most likely wouldn’t be interested in nootropics.
But if you’re like most adults you can use a little extra help with memory, increased energy and better moods, and being more productive. Sign me up!
Who doesn’t want to be more productive right? I certainly could use a little help.
14 Best Natural Nootropics to Give Your Brain a Boost
Coffee/Caffeine
Coffee is one of the top beverages consumed worldwide. It contains caffeine. Caffeine is a psychoactive substance. Consuming caffeine causes alertness by blocking adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) in the brain.
Adenosine is a natural chemical found in all cells in the body. One of its main jobs is inducing sleep and controlling the circadian rhythm, and it plays a role in balancing neurotransmitters levels. It also has many other jobs in the body.
Because caffeine blocks adenosine receptors this can stop people from feeling sleepy and groggy.
The particular neurons that caffeine acts upon to cause alertness have not been identified yet by researchers(1).
Bacopa
Bacopa monnieri is a flowering plant. I first learned about Bacopa around 12 years ago, when I learned its abilities when reading about an Ayurvedic coffee substitute that contained Bacopa monnieri along with roasted chicory root and roasted dandelion root I was intrigued. Unfortunately, I don’t do well with chicory root but I decided to buy just the bacopa herb alone. And I started taking it and I did notice a difference in alertness and positive mood. It took around 4 weeks for me to notice a shift.
In Ayurvedic medicine, Bacopa is called Brahmi. In studies, Bacopa was shown to improve memory recall. Also, it significantly improved the speed of visual information processing(2). Bacopa has also been shown to improve cognition in elderly patients as well as patients with neurodegenerative diseases(3).
Ginseng
Panax Ginseng is an ancient medicinal root used to give your brain a boost. It can enhance brain function, and improve fatigue. Ginseng has been used for centuries in China.
It also has been shown in studies to have anti-anxiety, and antidepressant abilities. As well as the protective effects on neurological disorders(4).
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is a tree with fan-shaped leaves. It is one of the oldest tree species. Ginkgo is said to help with memory recall, studies showed participants improved significantly in quantity of recall(5).
Ginkgo has also been studied and shown to help with anxiety(6).
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea is considered to be a nootropic as well as an adaptogenic herb. Rhodiola Rosea is actually a succulent plant and has so many medicinal properties.
Rhodiola has been shown to help with fatigue/burnout and helps with feelings of anxiousness, while also decreasing cortisol response(7).
In one study eighty mildly anxious participants were divied into 2 groups an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in anxiety, stress, anger, confusion, and depression at 2 weeks, and significant improvements in total mood(8).
Lions Mane Mushroom
Lions Mane Mushroom is an edible mushroom, it is also a supplement. It is usually found as a powdered supplement. Lions Mane has so many positive effects. It is good for the immune system, improves cognitive function, and improves mood. It promoted nerve regeneration in animal models, has anti-cancer properties, and lowers blood sugar.
In a trial of 50- to 80-year-old Japanese men and women diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment were given the mushroom supplement for 16 weeks. At the end of the trial, those receiving the supplement showed significantly increased scores on the cognitive function scale(9).
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid found mostly in green teas, some mushrooms, and black teas. It’s available to take as a supplement in capsule form.
Pairing L-theanine with caffeine can help increase alertness and focus. What L-Theanine is most known for is helping decrease anxiety and stress. One study showed L-Theanine can be beneficial in calming people in stressful situations(10).
Another study showed that L-theanine can help young males who have been diagnosed with ADHD and experience sleep issues. The study concluded that L-theanine does in fact improve sleep quality(11).
Nicotine
Nicotine is a chemical found naturally in tobacco leaves. It is also found in some vegetables in the nightshade family like tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes. Nicotine is toxic to small animals, plants have it to deter animals from eating them, it’s a mechanism mother nature puts in place for many different plants this way insects and animals won’t eat them. However humans can consume nicotine, in fact we have nicotine receptors.
Just the right amount of nicotine can give you many benefits like sharpening your mental skills, speeding up your reaction time, improving your attention span, and improving your short-term memory. Now I’m not talking about smoking cigarettes. Nowadays you can get nicotine gum, nicotine inhalers, nicotine lozenges, and patches.
Nicotine is known to be a cognitive enhancer in low doses, it improves longer-term memory in healthy people. It also improves memory in patients with probable Alzheimer’s Disease(12).
Choline
Choline is one of the most important nootropic supplements when it comes to brain health and optimization. Choline is an essential nutrient, and deficiency can cause issues with memory, focus, fatigue and even liver function.
Choline is a precursor for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that performs many functions related to muscle control, fatigue, memory, and other important bodily functions.
Studies show choline improves cognitive performance(13). Choline was also shown to improve attentive functioning, in patients with dementia(14).
Huperzine A
Huperzine A is a supplement made from Chinese Club Moss(Huperzia serrata). Huperzine A is an alternative treatment for Alzheimer’s disease(15). It also is used to increase energy, mood, has anti-depression activity, and increases alertness.
A study was done on the efficacy of Huperzine-A capsules (Hup) on memory and learning in adolescent students. The study included 34 middle school students who were dived into 2 groups, half took Huperzine-A(Hup.) capsules and the other half took a placebo capsule. The Hup group experienced enhanced memory and learning performance(16).
Creatine
Creatine is an amino acid that is mostly in your muscles, it’s also found in your brain. Creatine is a supplement used by a lot of bodybuilders because it promotes muscle growth but it is also a nootropic.
Creatine supplement was shown to improve short-term memory and reasoning(17,18).
Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola is a perennial plant. It has gained popularity as a nootropic. Gotu kola helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine. This helps with memory, cognition, learning, and mood, and is shown to relieve anxiety.
Gotu Kola helps stimulates the growth of brain cells. This is called neurogenesis.
It has been
Gotu Kola is memory-enhancing and has neuroprotective activity(19).
Rosemary
Rosemary is a perennial herb that is mostly known as a culinary herb. It has amazing scent but it is also know for its abilities as a nootropic.
It’s been shown in studies to increase memory recall(20).
A study of college students revealed Rosemary was effective at boosting prospective and retrospective memory, reducing anxiety and depression and also improving sleep(21).
Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm has a significant anti-anxiety effect. It helps raise the neurotransmitter GABA in your brain, GABA helps give you that calming feeling. It can help with more restful sleep but it does not make you drowsy.
Lemon Balm is neuroprotective. It contains the compounds eugenol and rosmarinic acid. Eugenol is a very strong antioxidant that can help eliminate free radicals that can cause damage to the brain. Rosmarinic acid has anti-depressant properties.
Lemon Balm has been shown to help with stress(22). It has can reduce stress, and improve mood and cognitive performance(23).
Where to Buy Nootropics
The ones below I have personally used or someone else in my family has. I have not linked all 14, but most are available on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
There are so many wonderful natural nootropics. These supplements can help enhance cognitive function, alertness, mood, memory, etc. But it shouldn’t replace eating a proper diet, getting plenty of rest and exercise, and practicing stress reduction.
I have tried a few of these myself. Rosemary did help my memory, and lemon balm did help me feel more relaxed and calm. L-Theanine helped give me a calm focus. I also noticed it reduced my anxiety.
What about you, have you ever used any of these nootropics? Let me know in the comments.
Much Love,
Melissa
This website is for educational purposes only. The information provided by Renaissance Path is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. Please consult a qualified health care professional for medical advice.
If you like reading about how they can enhance your health and well-being please check out this post about your gut microbiome and probiotics.
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