Have you ever found yourself completely exhausted by mid-day, virtually incapable of finishing that lengthy to-do list you wrote up in the morning or simply feel too lethargic, unmotivated and uninspired to get started? As it turns out, there has been an answer to this common problem, circulating mostly around the 1% and Silicon Valley techies for years, and that secret is called nootropics. Nootropics are cognitive enhancing supplements that optimize your brain’s performance and help you become more focused, motivated, energetic, inspired and overall satisfied with your daily activities. Though there are tons of cognitive supplements with unique, specific purposes circulating around, these nootropics are said to help you reach your max potential.
Aniracetam: Release Your Inner Creative Genius
Aniracetam is considered one of the best nootropics for treating stress and anxiety and improving overall brainpower. Aniracetam stimulates the AMPA receptors that control glutamate, a neurotransmitter that gets easily worn down by stress and fatigue. By increasing glutamate productivity, you improve communication between the two hemispheres in your brain, making you more creative, resourceful and innovative. Aniracetam can be taken by powder or capsule.
Sulbutiamine: Channel Your Inner Warrior
A derivative of vitamin B1, sulbutiamine boosts your willpower by boosting serotonin, dopamine and ach – the hormones that regulate your emotions and conditioned responses. This means that instead of daydreaming about the past or future, your brain is more in tune with the present, making you feel more in control of your thoughts and choices. It also helps combat mental and physical fatigue, making you more aware, energetic, optimistic and focused on your goals. Sulbutiamine can be taken by powder or capsule.
Choline: Harness Your Inner Zen
Choline is one of those neurotransmitters that your body makes on its own, but we need more than what our body can produce. Choline plays a crucial role in your sleep cycle, particularly the ability to enter into REM. This means you’ll wake up in the morning refreshed, instead of groggy and tired. You can get choline in meat products, especially liver and eggs, but the amount needed to see a difference in your mental capacity cannot be ingested by food alone. Alpha GPC is the most potent supplement for getting the necessary amount of choline.
Pramiracetam: Be the Go-Getter You Are
Pramiracetam is one of the strongest nootropics and enhances the cognitive activity between your neurotransmitters, which improves communication within the brain, optimizes your neural pathways and keeps you on point throughout the day. Taking pramiracetam has a similar affect as the pharmaceutical drug Adderall, but doesn’t make you crash when it’s worn off. Pramiracetam can be taken by powder or capsule.
Pyritinol: Obtain Energy at all Hours
The primary benefit of Pyritinol is in aiding in glucose uptake after your brain is already tired. It’s most beneficial for that late-afternoon “crash” when your body and brain are exhausted from working all day. Pyritinol refuels your brain with glucose, which improves concentration and keeps your energy up when you need it most. Pyritinol can be taken by powder or capsule.
Remember: Age, activity level, diet and health conditions should always be considered when taking any supplement. Take a nootropic assessment before trying anything out, and track your results so you know what nootropics work best for you.