You’ve done your share of soul-searching, and you decided to see if nootropics can help you deal with your attention issues, your memory problems or your constant lack of motivation. So how do you get started?
There’s a lot of conflicting information out there, and you can easily end up feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. And feeling overwhelmed might be one of the problems you want to solve with nootropics. This is why a lot of people consider trying them out, but then give up before the start line.
Here are the three basic steps you need to take before you start using nootropics.
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Get Informed – and Learn the Terminology!
Some nootropics are FDA-approved, and many are considered harmless. But you might encounter illegal mental performance enhancers, so you definitely want to do your research before you commit to anything. Your most important job is to make sure you avoid addiction or any harmful side effects.
You can achieve great results by stacking [1] – this means that you combine different nootropics to increase their effect. But you should learn all you can about your chosen types of nootropics before you try this. The regimen of nootropics you are taking is frequently called your stack.
Cycling is another thing you may hear about. This means switching between different types of nootropics to avoid developing a tolerance to their effectiveness. Not every nootropic needs to get cycled.
Remember, your job is to read up on the long-term effects of any nootropic you may want to try. This includes learning about the risk of building up tolerance. But even more importantly, find out all you can about the possibility of becoming addicted, and the dangers of overdosing.
It’s also super important to check whether it’s safe to take nootropics with any meds you use regularly.
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Make Sure Your Goals and Options Are Clear
Do you have trouble paying attention? Do your thoughts feel sluggish? Do you need a boost in creativity?
Nootropics can do a lot to help you solve your problems. You’ll be quicker and more efficient in everyday situations, and you’ll also start performing better at work. They can help you if you’re stuck in a rut, and they can help you reach your true potential.
But unfortunately, nootropics don’t have magic powers.
Their efficiency can vary from person to person, and different types of issues require different nootropics.
If you approach them with unrealistic expectations, you’ll just find yourself disappointed. You might even start taking them the wrong way. You may risk an overdose that way, or at the very least achieve the opposite of their intended effect.
So here’s what you need to think about: in what way do you want to improve your mental performance? What risks are you willing to take? How often will your brain need a boost?
Once you know the answers to these questions... you still need to do research and some careful experimentation. But after that, finally, you will get to the best kind of nootropics for you!
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Start with Nootropics You’re Familiar With
How Caffeine Revs Up Your Metabolism
Are you a fan of coffee? Enjoy a nice cup of green tea in the mornings? Do you love to eat clams? Congratulations! You’ve used natural nootropics before. Many efficient brain boosters are based on a combination of these natural substances.
When you’re considering artificial nootropics, you should look for products that don’t contain harmful additives such as artificial sweeteners. And if you read the labels, you may find that your artificial brain booster is nothing but a clever combination of natural nootropics.
So what can natural nootropics do for you exactly?
Trying out multivitamins can be a good first step toward improving your mental functions.
Vitamin B6 is also called pyridoxine, and you can find it in poultry, eggs, milk. The best natural sources [2] for B6 include tuna, beef liver and chickpeas.
It’s a great mood booster, since it can improve your serotonin levels. But it also has a direct beneficial effect on your brain. Vitamin B6 increases your neurotransmitter levels. This means it speeds up the exchange of information that happens between your brain cells.
To make it more effective, you should combine vitamin B6 with vitamin B12.
Liver is particularly rich in vitamin B12, and clams are the best source for it [3]. Come cereals are fortified with this vitamin too.
So what is it good for? Vitamin B12 can protect your cardiovascular health, and improve your glucose levels. You can get a noticeable energy spike from using it, which makes it a popular choice among athletes.
Even more importantly, vitamin B12 protects your nerves and brain from damage. People with low vitamin B12 levels are likelier to develop dementia as they age.
Caffeine is probably the most popular natural nootropic. You already know that it can improve your energy levels. If your thoughts feel slow or hazy, a cup of coffee can get them back on track.
Natural caffeine sources include [4] cocoa and coffee beans, kola nuts and tea leaves. Guarana is another caffeine-rich plant.
How does caffeine help? It stimulates your central nervous system. It also speeds your heart up and affects your muscle functions. There are beneficial long-term effects too - for example, it could decrease your risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Moderate caffeine intake doesn’t normally have negative effects on a healthy adult. Nonetheless, you should keep in mind that it is a powerful diuretic, and it can be addictive a well.
What's the Real Deal With Energy Drinks?
L-theanine is one of the most important components of green tea. It’s a type of animo acid, and its structure nearly matches one of the natural animo acids in your brain [5]. Because of this, L-theanine can increase your neurotransmitter levels, which makes you sharper and more alert.
Apart from improving your concentration short-term, L-theanine has important long-term effects. It can help prevent Alzheimer’s. After all, it’s a powerful antioxidant – and so it can protect your brain cells from age-related damage.
If you’re under a lot of stress, L-theanine can be a great solution. It decreases anxiety and helps you unwind. This calming effect, plus the way that it boosts your cognitive functions, is what makes L-theanine one of the most well-loved natural nootropics.
A Final Word
Improving your mental performance isn’t a level-up – it’s a quest.
You should take your time and patience to safely explore every option. Listen to your instincts and keep away from questionable products.
But don’t be afraid to start somewhere! When you discover the right nootropics for you, you will find it much easier to conquer daily challenges.
Top Productivity Hacks
Hi! We’re Team Neuro, aficionados of all things brain-related, from creativity to working out. With backgrounds in art, science, and athletics, we love delving into all the potentials of the human body.
We also created the world's first sugar-free nootropic caffeine gum that utilizes the effects of caffeine and L-theanine, made to help you optimize your mind — anywhere, anytime. Find out more here.
[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/nootropics-what-is-it-and-list-of-supplements#how-to-use-nootropics
[2] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
[3] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
[4] https://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Factsheets/Food-Sources-of-Caffeine.aspx
[5]https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1053-theanine.aspx?activeingredientid=1053
