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For too long, modern diet culture has been reducing the role of nutrition to waistline management.
But thanks to the steady rise of nootropicsโcompounds that protect/enhance brain functions in some wayโwe can strive for a more complete understanding of sound nutrition that incorporates brain health as well.
Nootropics come in many forms, and are often found naturally in herbs (and even fungi), but a nootropic supplement can ensure you get an effective concentration of any given nootropic, plus the benefits of synergistic ingredients.
The following nootropics, along with the supplements theyโre found in, are among the best nature has to offer for beating brain fog and improved focus, memory, mental clarity, and more.
Qualia Mind
Description
The stack to end all stacks, Qualia Mind has carefully balanced 28 research-supported nootropics in this highly acclaimed formulation.
Though youโve got a whopping 28โyes, 28 brain-boosting ingredients to consider in the case of Qualia, one of the best nootropics out there, we want to highlight phosphatidylserine for its several nootropic benefits.
Our bodies already produce phosphatidylserine, but supplementing has proved effective in research.
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipidโthe type of fat molecule that comprises the cell membrane, which is about as essential as it gets.
As affirmed by this study, phosphatidylserine โsafely slows, halts, or reverses biochemical alterations and structural deterioration in nerve cells,โ which are caused by aging, trauma, and/or disease.
Given the foundational nature of its benefits, phosphatidylserine can help with a huge range of cognitive functions, such as memory recall (both short-term and long-term), linguistic ability, focus, and problem solving, among many others.
You can learn more about the best nootropic around at our Qualia Mind Review.
Best Caffeine-Free Nootropic: Onnit Alpha Brain
Pros
Improved focus and attention span
Caffeine free
Competitively priced for the quality
Excellent consumer education and support from Onnit
Cons
Many ingredients require more long-term study data
May impair sleep patterns if taken later in the day
Best for: Work productivity, athletic performance, and studying.
Up there with Qualia Mind for a do-it-all nootropic that can stand up to the critiques (and oh, weโve critiqued) is Alpha Brain, a โbrainchildโ of Onnit.
Among other nootropics, Alpha Brain contains Bacopa monnieri, or water hyssop, and importantly no caffeine.
This herbโs medicinal use has roots in ayurveda, an ancient medical paradigm originating in India.
The key constituents of bacopa are compounds called bacosides, which exert protective effects on the brainโs neurons through the use of antioxidant enzymes, among other mechanisms.
If you wanted another big wordโhey, weโre all learning hereโBacopa monnieri belongs to a class of nootropics considered to have โcholinergicโ effects, meaning it can facilitate and even imitate the function of the brain chemical acetylcholine, which helps neurons communicate.
Cholinergic effects are even more important for caffeine-free nootropic stacks such as Alpha Brain, helping to fill the gap with this revitalizing effect on communication between neurons.
Best Nootropic for Stress: Source Naturals L-Theanine
Best for: Achieving a focused sense of calm for productivity and/or complicated tasks.
A zen little amino acid that most people know from green tea, L-theanine is among the โOG generationโ of well-researched nootropics.
When consumed appropriately, L-theanine is one of the best nootropics if youโre looking for calming, but not heavily sedative effects that can combat stress without killing productivity.
In other words, L-theanine takes that restless edge off the caffeine rush without negating the energy boost.
Though less immediately noticeable than the calming effect, the ability of L-theanine to facilitate nerve growth and survival by way of increasing BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is a serious win for, well, anyone with a brain. Sorry, Mr. Scarecrow.
If you donโt have the desire or time to sip your way through a few cups of green tea everyday, Source Naturals L-Theanine delivers 200 mg of L-theanine per capsule.
Best for Mood: Now Foods Brain Elevate
Pros
Strong formulation (choline, glutamine, and more).
Best for: All-around brain support for improved concentration, memory, mood, and problem solving.
Now Foods Brain Elevate contains 60mg of Ginkgo extract per capsule, along with rosemary leaf, phosphatidylserine, huperzine complex, and more.
Used in traditional Chinese medicine for millennia, Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest medicinal โplantsโ (itโs a tree) in history.
And by โoldest,โ we refer not only to the lengthy chronology of Ginkgo bilobaโs historical use, but the treeโs lifespan, which can exceed a staggering 1,000 years.
According to this Ginkgo biloba fact sheet authored by George Washington University experts, studies have suggested the use of Ginkgo biloba extract in the following cases:
Cognitive and social functioning of dementia patients
Depression symptom improvement
Vertigo
Some vision problems (macular degeneration is one)
More studies are needed to clearly define the benefits and mechanisms of Ginkgo biloba, but it is believed that the Ginkgo extract modifies the stress hormone corticosterone and prevents uptake of serotonin and dopamine.
Given the formulation of Now Foods Brain Elevate, consider it one of the best nootropics that emphasizes a mood-boosting component.
Best Preventive Nootropic: Solaray Acetyl L-Carnitine
Pros
Broad applications for both mental and physical health
Best for: Athletic performance, healthy aging, and general health.
Like L-theanine, L-carnitine is an amino acid, of which acetyl-L-carnitine is a slightly modified version (ester).
Findings like this Alternative Medicine Review article elucidate the various benefits of acetyl-L-carnitine, which include improving the absorption of fat across the mitochondrial membrane, boosting acetylcholine (a brain chemical vital for communication between neurons), and possibly mitigating the effects of Alzheimerโs dementia.
These properties contribute to a neuroprotective effect, meaning that acetyl-L-carnitine can actually prevent and/or minimize the damage caused by neurodegenerative diseases.
For pure acetyl-L-carnitine in a vegetarian capsule, we recommend Solaray Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500mg. Solaray produces their acetyl-L-carnitine naturally via organic synthesis, and we dig the post-consumer recycled packaging.
Best Variety: TruBrain Nootropic Drinks
Pros
Well-balanced formulations
Easy and fun to use
Cons
Synthetic adrafinil has been associated with side effects
Best for: Sleep, calm, and other nootropic benefits in a grab-and-go option.
Hereโs a mouthful for yaโcytidine diphosphocholine.
This nootropic compound, known as CDP-choline, breaks down into choline and cytidine as it works its way through the body, both of which confer several benefits in the area of brain protection and function.
For example, CDP-choline was shown by this finding from a medical research institution in Barcelona to increase dopamine levels in the central nervous system, protect the brain against low oxygen levels (hypoxia/ischemia), and enhance learning and memory in the aging brain.
The party line applies here as wellโโmore research is always niceโโbut in addition to these nootropic benefits, several toxicology studies have confirmed the safety and high tolerability of CDP-choline.
As we covered in our Best Nootropics for Studying, TruBrain Drinks offer a well-rounded โshotโ (literally, a 1 oz shot) of nootropics, amino acids, and minerals, including CDP-choline.
We prefer TruBrain in the case of CDP-choline for how well-rounded the formulation is, and heyโshots are fun!
Best Nootropics FAQ
What is the best nootropic for ADHD?
The best nootropic for ADHD will vary depending on the person, but studies such as this one report the effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba as a potentially effective supplement in the case of ADHD. As always, consult with your care provider to see if Ginkgo biloba, caffeine, or any other nootropics can help ADHD.
What is the best nootropic for learning?
Any nootropic that can provide stimulation, focus, and neuroprotective benefitsโmuch like Alpha Brain, Qualia Mind, and TruBrain productsโis optimal for learning.
Do nootropics increase dopamine?
Some nootropics, such as Ginkgo biloba in Now Foods Brain Elevate, โincreaseโ free dopamine in the brain by preventing dopamine uptake, which is essentially your brainโs way of sweeping leftover dopamine under the rug before it can be used again.
Do nootropics clear brain fog?
Many nootropic ingredients, like phosphatidylserine and acetyl L-carnitine, have been shown by research to help neurons function more reliably and efficiently, reducing the incidence of brain fog.
What nootropics does Joe Rogan use?
When heโs not making feral animal sounds and taking, shall we say, โextracurricular nootropics,โ Joe Rogan uses and recommends Onnit Alpha Brain.
What nootropics make you happy?
Though depression is more complex than it is often portrayedโa simple dopamine shortageโfor many people, Ginkgo biloba and/or citicoline are the most effective at increasing dopamine transmission and other key mechanisms related to mood.
Key Takeaways
Donโt stop your research at the term โnootropic,โ as there are hundreds of products that deliver different benefits. Determine your specific needs.
When in doubt, nootropic powerhouses like Qualia Mind and Alpha Brain will give you an excellent sampling of all that nootropics can do.
Energy drinks and sugary snacks may be louder, sweeter, and faster-acting than natural sources of sugar, but rarely are those benefits conferred without some form of reckoning down the road.
Sure, gravity wins in the end, but that doesnโt mean we canโt use everything at our disposal to keep our weight-bearing joints from breaking down prematurely.
We're health-conscious people who want to help others take control of their nutrition by offering spin-free, hype-free information that is medically accurate, confirmed by doctors.
Food is for physical wellness, and pharmaceutical products are for mental health conditionsโthatโs where most of us land when it comes to nutrition psychiatry.
Nutrition is understandably not priority one in the chaotic moments immediately following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), but as soon as the patient is stable, nutrition therapy shares center stage with other key tenets of TBI rehabilitation.
Normally, weโre content to bounce around new and/or controversial theories on nutritional concepts all day, but every so often, we have the luxury of seeing in black and white.
This may seem like a fun-killing exercise at first, but weโre not interested in coddling or pandering to our readers, so letโs get the harsh reality out of the way: most of us havenโt earned the right to binge on vacation.