Get Easy Health Digest™ in your inbox and don’t miss a thing when you subscribe today. Plus, get the free bonus report, Mother Nature’s Tips, Tricks and Remedies for Cholesterol, Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar as my way of saying welcome to the community!
Nootropics: How to supplement smarter to age better
As we age, it can be a struggle to feel rested and energized… especially, all at the same time.
In fact, if most of us could manage to do both, and at that same time get a big cognition boost to the brain — well, that would be just about perfect, wouldn’t you agree?
Thanks to some mavericks who’ve taken supplementing to the next level, that may not be as hard to achieve as you might think…
The answer lies in nootropics. What is that, you ask?
It’s the new buzz word that most often refers to “smart pills” that are all the rage right now, being used by everybody and anybody who wants that extra edge to perform better and stay sharper.
Some nootropics are synthetic, but many are natural substances.
And guess what? There’s no reason you shouldn’t benefit from nootropics, too.
The lowdown on nootropics
Let me give you a quick introduction to nootropics…
When you boil it down, what they can really be called is brain boosters. They basically enhance all of your mental functions like your mood, memory, attention span, focus and even your motivation.
Powerful stuff, right? And although they’re thought of as the new kids on the block, the term nootropics was actually coined back in the early 1970s by a Romanian doctor.
So, what do nootropics do? Well that depends on the nootropic.
My two favorites are called ashwagandha root and rhodiola rosea, and here’s why…
The ashwagandha/rhodiola difference
Ashwagandha and rhodiola are in a class of their own when it comes to nootropics, and the scientific research backs them up.
First, let’s take a look at what the studies show when it comes to ashwagandha…
One study found that the herb significantly improved memory and executive function as well as helped with sustained attention and information-processing speed in adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Other studies have discovered that ashwagandha is a big help when it comes to reducing stress and anxiety.
And those aren’t the end of the benefits when it comes to ashwagandha…
The herb has also been found to improve sleep, prevent insomnia, help you sleep more deeply and feel more refreshed when you wake up in the morning.
Now, here’s what the research says about rhodiola…
A review of 11 scientific studies showed that rhodiola can be helpful in fighting mental fatigue and enhance performance.
And, even more impressive, animal studies have demonstrated the power of rhodiola to actually repair damaged neurons in the hippocampus region of the brain. This is the part of your brain responsible for your emotions and memory.
So, let’s sum it up…
By supplementing with ashwagandha and rhodiola you could possibly:
- Improve your memory
- Enhance your attention span
- Reduce your stress and anxiety
- Sleep better and wake up refreshed
- Reduce mental fatigue
- Enhance your performance
- Repair the brain cells responsible for your emotions and memory
That’s a lot of benefits packed into two little herbal powerhouses…
Another cool thing about using nootropics is “stacking” them. That means using a couple or more together so that their benefits complement each other — which results in a bigger benefit for you.
Are nootropics the future of supplementing? If so, you can count me in!
Editor’s note: While you’re doing all the right things to protect your brain as you age, make sure you don’t make the mistake 38 million Americans do every day — by taking a drug that robs them of an essential brain nutrient! Click here to discover the truth about the Cholesterol Super-Brain!
Sources:
- Cognition enhancers between treating and doping the mind — Pharmacological Research
- Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) Root Extract in Improving Memory and Cognitive Functions — Journal of Dietary Supplements
- A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Evaluation Of The Anxiolytic Efficacy Of An Ethanolic Extract Of Withania Somnifera — Indian Journal of Psychiatry
- A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults — Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
- REM vs. Non-REM Sleep: The Stages of Sleep — LiveScience.com
- Triethylene glycol, an active component of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) leaves, is responsible for sleep induction — PLoS One
- Rhodiola rosea for physical and mental fatigue: a systematic review — BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine