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The best nootropic for energy might be something natural that you can find in food or something you can buy from the supermarket as a supplement. However, before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s start with the basics.
Nootropics improve your cognitive function in a variety of ways based on the substance you take. Any product that aims to boost brain abilities (e.g., concentration, critical thinking, memory) is referred to as a nootropic. Some people call these substances smart drugs.
For instance, resveratrol (a potent nootropic) uses its antioxidative properties to improve memory and concentration. In one study, researchers found that resveratrol sharpens all cognitive functions.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the huge benefits that these substances can offer, especially for individuals at risk of mental decline (e.g., the elderly).
In this article, we will cover the benefits of focus nootropics and then cover some of the best nootropics for energy.
Today, millions of people suffer from mood swings that negatively affect their personal and professional lives. While you may think it’s your fault, it is way more complex than this. The different structures of the brain (e.g., hippocampus) play a vital role in mood regulation. Therefore, nootropics can help.
Here are a few focus nootropics that help with optimizing mood:
L-Theanine – This nootropic modulates alpha brainwaves, which induces a state of relaxation. Researchers also found that this substance lowers resting heart rate, contributing to mood regulation.
Bacopa Monnieri – This nootropic sharpens mental performance and dampens stress. The best part? It doesn’t cause any sedating side effects.
Lion's Mane Mushroom – Researchers found that this mushroom increases the concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF). As a result, it gives you a sense of peace and mood balance. Additionally, there is some evidence that supports Lion’s Mane's positive effects on anxiety and depression.
Having a good memory is crucial for your daily life and work. Statistics found that people with a higher-than-average memory capacity are more likely to get promoted in their careers. The good news is that a good memory is not genetically bound. With a good choice of nootropics and enough practice, you can sharpen your memory to impressive levels.
The primary chemical that regulates brain activity is acetylcholine. Therefore, any nootropic that increases the concentration of this neurotransmitter or improves cellular sensitivity to its actions will inadvertently enhance your memory.
Some focus nootropics in this category include:
Phosphatidylserine (PS) – Researchers found that PS helps with short-term and long-term memory. It also improves information recall and other types of memory. This is one of the most effective nootropics in enhancing memory.
Citicoline – Studies found that citicoline (i.e., CDP choline) optimizes memory performance in elderly adults. The possible mechanisms include increasing brain energy and regenerating nerve cells. (insert a link to the future article)
Vitamin B6 – This vitamin leads to considerable improvement in energy, memory, and cognition. Make sure to opt for the active form of vitamin B6 (insert a link to the future article).
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine – NALT acts on the working memory to aid you in multitasking settings. It also helps with anxiety and stress. (insert a link to the future article)
Nootropics are a great way to boost your energy without relying on stimulants. This way, you won’t have to deal with the stim-related side effects.
Some of the mechanisms that explain the energizing properties of nootropics include:
Note that the brain is the biggest consumer of energy in the body. By itself, the brain consumes 20% of your daily caloric expenditure. Undergoing further cognitive strains will further increase this rate.
As you can deduce, supplying the brain with enough energy is indispensable for optimal performance.
Nootropics with evidence-based benefits for energy include:
Citicoline – There are hundreds of research papers that support CDP choline’s effects on energy. According to one study, CDP choline increases brain energy metabolism by up to 13.6%.
Rhodiola Rosea – This substance stimulates nerve cells to synthesize more ATP. It also lowers fatigue induced by stress.
Vitamin B12 – Vitamin B12 is the go-to substance for improving brain energy metabolism. However, you need to purchase the active form of this vitamin.
Not sure what that means? Check out this article (insert a link to the second article).
L-Tyrosine – Another great option for boosting brain energy; L-tyrosine helps with boosting cognition even when you’re sleep-deprived.
Attention refers to the ability to stay focused on a single task without getting distracted by surrounding stimuli. The duration of focus needs to be long; otherwise, we’ll be dealing with attention deficit.
Taking nootropics to improve attention probably aims to support performance in studying, working, or competing.
Nootropics can actually help with multiple aspects of attention, including:
Here are the best nootropics for energy:
L-Tyrosine – Tyrosine is a precursor of many brain chemicals that boost attention and memory.
Citicoline – Showing up another time on our list, CDP choline improves attention performance in older and younger people.
L-Theanine – By raising alpha brain waves, L-theanine can be an effective tool for improving attention.
Citicoline is one of the natural nootropics that is part of your cell membranes. This ingredient is very common in nootropics due to its brain-supporting properties.
For instance, Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by low levels of choline, which negatively impacts memory and recall. In order to produce acetylcholine, your body will break down cell membranes, further damaging your cognition.
Citicoline may prevent this breakdown without causing any serious side effects.
Vitamin D supplements can potentially improve your cognitive function through the optimization of neuroplasticity and neuronal connections. You will experience improved concentration, reflexes, and reasoning.
Moreover, this vitamin helps with depression and burnout, which are very common in people aged between 18 and 45.
While sunlight exposure is the primary way to intrinsically synthesize vitamin D, you will most likely need supplementation to reduce your risk of developing these disorders.
Caffeine is perhaps the most famous nootropic in the world. It is found in coffee and tea and serves as a central nervous system stimulant.
In fact, the vast majority of energy drinks contain caffeine, along with other stimulants.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises people to drink less than 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day. For reference, this is the amount found in 4–5 cups of coffee.
Another way to get caffeine into your system is by taking supplements. However, make sure to stick to the recommended dosage to avoid a caffeine overdose.
On the molecular level, caffeine blocks the action of adenosine. This amino acid increases gradually during the day, which makes you feel drowsy and sleepy.
Blocking the action of adenosine would produce the opposite effects. Caffeine’s second mechanism of action is to increase the concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
As a result of these physiological effects, caffeine makes you feel aroused, focused, alert, and sharp when it comes to cognitive functions. It’s without a doubt one of the cheapest nootropics out there.
In general, caffeine becomes effective after a very short time. Researchers estimate that 20 minutes after drinking your coffee is enough for caffeine to take action.
Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid found in your brain and muscle cells. With histidine, beta-alanine forms a compound known as carnosine. The function of this compound is to lower the concentration of acidic molecules during exercise.
You can find carnosine supplements under the following names:
At the start it binds to histidine, beta-alanine forms carnosine, which increases the levels of the latter in the muscles and brain. The action of carnosine is what gives beta-alanine its nootropic properties. The inhibition of taurine uptake by the cells reduces oxidative stress and makes you feel more alert and focused.
Researchers also found that beta-alanine competes with the receptors of the neurotransmitter GABA. As a result, it produces a feeling of arousal and elevated energy.
Magnesium is another cheap nootropic. According to research, low magnesium levels make you prone to:
Some experts believe that magnesium deficiency may be the main culprit behind the surge of depression cases in the modern world.
Scientists found that magnesium supplements improve your energy, mood, and memory.
Nootropics are substances with a unique chemical composition that allows them to interact with your brain cells and optimize their function. Taking nootropics in the recommended dosage can offer you a myriad of benefits.
We hope that this article will guide you to choose the best nootropics for energy and the evidence behind them.
