The word “nootropics” has suddenly started popping up all over the place. But what are they and why is everybody talking about them?
Nootropics are supplements that can help improve brain function
The first one I heard of was Lion’s Mane and now both my husband and son swear by it. It seems to help with focus and cognitive ability.
Below, Shabir Daya, pharmacist at Victoria Health, tells us all we need to know about nootropics.
Nootropics is the buzzword for a range of supplements that can dramatically improve functions carried out by the brain such as attention, focus, memory, ability to recall information and general brain health.
Nootropic supplements are becoming a popular way to provide your brain with an extra boost it may need and are therefore often referred to as smart drugs. The idea that a drug or herb may enhance your intelligence, improve your memory and help the ability to recall information may seem like science fiction, but scientists and drug manufacturers are increasingly working on new compounds that enhance various aspects of the functions carried out by our brain.
What are memory enhancing pills?
There are many traditional herbs and nutrients that are reported to improve memory, help cognitive function, focus and recall. Herbs such as Turmeric, Ginkgo Biloba and Bacopa Monieri are three herbs that have shown great promise for numerous years and may help memory and attention. Supplements such as Neubria’s Spark – For Memory contains all the herbs mentioned above, alongside Sage, CoQ10 and specific vitamins and minerals to help protect your brain. This supplement could be classified as a nootropic, but to benefit from these traditional herbal extracts you do need to take them on an ongoing basis.
What are Nootropic foods?
Many foods or food derived ingredients such as fish oils, dark chocolate and coffee are often referred to as nootropics. We know that omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish oils and caffeine in coffee appear to be good for the brain, but these foods, especially fish oils, would need to have been ingested for long periods of time in order to obtain benefits to the brain. And let’s not forget exercise. There is strong evidence that regular exercise improves memory and fends off age-related cognitive decline.
So, what is a true nootropic?
By definition, a true nootropic must be able to:
- Enhance one’s memory and the ability to assimilate and process information.
- Protect the brain tissues from chemicals and toxins.
- Help brain function, even at times of extreme stress such as exams and work deadlines.
- Display no side effects.
It is easier to categorise nootropics in terms of synthetic versions and natural ones. There are over 80 synthetic and natural nootropic substances on the market. For the sake of clarity, smart drugs are not nootropics. Smart drugs are prescription only medicines that are used to treat ADHD, sleep disorders and other concerns. In a healthy individual they will provide intense short term focus without conferring any other benefits to the brain. Invariably they are not without severe long-term side effects and so I do not recommend them.
Are nootropics safe?
Synthetic nootropics are synthesised in a laboratory and lack long-term studies and their safety may be questionable such as the racetam group of nootropics including piracetam. Natural nootropics on the other hand consist of compounds and herbs which have been proven to be safe and effective. Most of them support memory, brain function, focus and mental alertness.
Nootropics often boost neurotransmitters in the brain
Limitless Plus is a nootropic supplement for focus combining two of the safest herbal extracts, Numatoes™ and Neumentix™.
Numatoes™ is an extract derived from the non-GMO tomato plant. The tomato fruit is loaded with a broad range of vitamins for brain function including vitamins C and A as well as potent antioxidants including the extensively studied antioxidant called lycopene. In studies, Numatoes™ has been found to promote the function of the synapses – these are complex junctions between nerve cells used to transmit signals of information to process, store and recall information. Numatoes™, with its high antioxidant properties, works to quench inflammation which disturbs the way in which we process information.
Inflammation may cause the degradation of the nerve cells
Neumentix™ is a unique extract derived from non-GMO spearmint which contains over 50 different types of polyphenols including rosmarinic acid which helps improve brain function by:
- Protecting the nerve cells from damaging free radicals.
- Enhancing the amount of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is involved in learning and memory.
- Promoting new nerve cells.
Limitless Plus fits the definition of a true nootropic and it provides both short and long-term benefits for the brain; its effects are cumulative, so the longer you take this supplement, the more effective the benefits. Limitless pill is an innovative botanical supplement, naturally rich in vitamins for brain, is aimed at students and seniors most interested in a safe, non-pharmaceutical solution to keep their mind clear and focused. It is also equally suitable for gamers and those with brain-fog that often accompanies pressure of work.
Check out Lion’s Mane HERE
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