Nootropic supplements also go by the bodybuilding supplement category name “brain boosters.” These supplements enhance cognitive health and performance to enhance your unfair advantage. Even though nootropic supplements can give you an edge in most cognitive tasks, some ingredients remain controversial because of their side effects. Let’s find out about nootropic supplements’ pros and cons in this review.
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Nootropic Supplements Pros
PRO: Nootropics enhance cognitive performance
People don’t call nootropics “smart drugs” for nothing. Natural nootropics support your cognitive health and performance. With this, it means they improve not only memory, but also learning. There are different nootropics for different cognitive activities. That is why you should choose the right one for optimum cognitive performance based on your daily cognitive abilities.
PRO: Most nootropic supplements use natural ingredients
Manufacturers derive nootropic supplements mostly from natural ingredients. That is why they have fewer risks and side effects than synthetic drugs. In addition, natural nootropics are easy to absorb because the body recognizes it as food. Nootropics may come from different sources. However, natural nootropics might work best for you because most of them also provide other health benefits to improve not only your cognition, but also your overall health.
There are plenty of nootropic supplements which enhance your cognitive performance and overall cognitive health. The Best 5 Nootropic Herbs review presents some of the best natural nootropics that you should look for in nootropic supplements. You may also find advanced forms of these herbs in the Best Nootropic Supplements of 2018.
PRO: Most nootropics are safe and well-tolerated
As natural dietary supplements, nootropics don’t force your brain to perform beyond its natural capacity. No matter what you do, your brain still needs to rest at some point to maintain your cognitive performance even while taking nootropics. So nootropics remain safe and well-tolerated as long as one uses them correctly and you give your mind enough rest. Most nootropic ingredients won’t cause gastric discomfort even with high doses. But, you should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation in taking nootropic supplements.
PRO: Nootropics are legal
Natural nootropic supplements are safe and legal. You can use nootropics even during competitions. Natural nootropics ingredients aren’t banned substances. You can use nootropics to improve your cognition for work, school, or any other other activity which requires cognitive performance enhancement.
There are even nootropics which boost your memory and learning (an ideal alternative for younger adults). On the other hand, older adults need nootropics which are mostly for neuroprotection which help keep cognitive decline at bay. Nootropics are ideal for adults of all ages and they are completely legal as long as you opt for natural formulas.
PRO: Nootropics may stimulate neurogenesis
Contrary to popular belief, your brain is also capable of regeneration. Back then, the prevailing notion was brain cells no longer regenerate upon reaching adulthood. However, recent researches suggest that he brain is also capable of regeneration. This happens when the right nootropic ingredients trigger the process (which leads into our next testosterone booster “pro”).
See the The BIG List of Nootropics
PRO: Nootropics may prevent cognitive decline
Nootropics may offer neuroprotection. This means that nootropics may ward off cognitive decline since they protect your brain cells from damage. Many factors such as age, lifestyle, and cognitive health cause cognitive decline. Nootropic supplements may help keep this at bay by protecting your brain on a cellular level.
PRO: Nootropics improve focus
Nootropic supplements can improve focus. In addition, some nootropics give you focused relaxation. You don’t have to get all tense as your mind focuses. On a daily basis, you are vulnerable to plenty of distractions which may cause you to lose focus. That is why you need nootropics for focus – they help you achieve your goal or make you more productive throughout the day.
PRO: Nootropics provide neurotransmitter support
Some nootropics are actually neurotransmitter precursors or amino acid neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals which support or trigger mood and cognition. Nootropics either inhibit or enhance the function of neurotransmitters. You need neurotransmitters for your mood and cognition. So, it makes sense that nootropics are beneficial for your mind because they offer neurotransmitter support.
PRO: Nootropics may improve mood
Your mood greatly affects your brain function. It may even alter your judgment in certain situations. That is why you should take nootropics to improve your mood. In addition, mood-altering nootropics may help ward off or ameliorate anxiety, depression, and dementia.
PRO: Nootropics may help fight stress
Some nootropic ingredients have adaptogenic properties which enable your body to combat stress more effectively. When your body and mind adapt to stress effectively, you perform better in different physical and cognitive tasks. That is why you should opt for nootropic stacks which contain adaptogens. In addition, natural nootropics act as antioxidants to further protect your brain cells from oxidative stress.
You won’t get enough sleep when you’re too stressed out about your daily activities during the day. There are also nootropic ingredients which double as sleep aids, such as ashwagandha.
PRO: Nootropics may ameliorate some cognitive disorders
Nootropics are beneficial for your cognition .Some of their ingredients ameliorate some cognitive disorders. Even though nootropic supplements have no approved therapeutic claims, research on their ability to keep cognitive disorders at bay seems promising. Here are some of the conditions that nootropics can ward off:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Schizophrenia
- Stroke
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Cognitive decline due to aging
- Depression
PRO: Some nootropics increase brain energy
Your brain uses up about 20 percent of your body’s energy. That is why there are nootropic ingredients which are primarily for brain energy to promote overall brain function. These nootropic ingredients for brain energy increase brain-cell energy production which enables your mind to do more.
Astrocytes and neurons use up the most energy in the brain. These cells both need glycogen as a source of energy to function effectively. Brain energy nootropics promote glycogen metabolism in the brain to increase energy depending on your brain’s demand. In addition, most brain energy nootropics provide neuroprotection.
Nootropic Supplements Cons
CON: Nootropic supplements can break the bank
Nootropics give you a cognitive edge. However, they can really be quite expensive. You have to take these supplements for quite some time and you need to take it regularly to sustain their effects. Some nootropics require cycles or breaks and this might also be the chance for you to save money for your repeat purchase. On the other hand, some nootropics are safe for long-term use. So, if you think they are pretty expensive, opt for a nootropic supplement that you can afford so you can sustain your intake.
CON: Some nootropics may interact with other drugs or dietary supplements
You have to consult your doctor before taking nootropic supplements with drugs and other dietary supplements which may interact with them. Some nootropic ingredients may interfere with the absorption and effectiveness of prescription drugs. In addition, some nootropic ingredients interact with receptors. This may change the way how the body absorbs drugs and other nutrients.
CON: Some nootropic supplements are also stimulants
Nootropic supplements may have side effects. Some nootropic supplements contain caffeine (such as Performix TCP) which may cause jitters in high doses. However, different people have different tolerance levels for caffeine. On this note, it is hard to tell the amount of caffeine that your body can tolerate on a daily basis.
In addition, you might have high caffeine intake in your diet, so taking nootropic supplements which contain caffeine might be too much for your body. This is when people start to experience its side effects (jitters, spike-crash effect, nervousness, sleeplessness, etc.).
CON: Some nootropic supplements may interact with enzymes
Enzymes catalyze all aspects of cell metabolism. Some nootropic alter receptors in your body. Enzymes in your body also interact with these receptors. The former plays several important roles in the different biochemical processes in the body. If nootropics are to interact with these enzymes, they may affect some of these same biochemical processes.
CON: Some nootropic supplements may cause allergies to certain individuals
Manufacturers derive nootropic supplements mostly from natural sources. However, some people might have allergic reactions to some of their ingredients. If you experience any allergic reactions upon taking nootropic supplements, stop taking them immediately.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t take nootropic supplements anymore. There are other nootropic ingredients out there which may work for you. Just opt for other formulas which don’t contain potential allergens. You should always check the label of dietary supplements for allergen warnings so you can ward off allergic reactions to these products.
Conclusion on Nootropic Supplements Pros and Cons
The aim of this Nootropic Supplements Pros and Cons guide is to help you decide whether they are right for you or not. If you’re the person who always wants to excel in his or her daily activities and you have a few dollars to spend on nootropics, then there is no reason to pass on this great opportunity. Nootropics enhance your cognitive health and performance while protecting your brain on a cellular level – they can help you enjoy life more.
- The benefits of nootropics greatly outweigh their potential risks as long as you opt for natural formulas from respectable supplement manufacturers.
Just be cautious when choosing a nootropic supplement. Opt for supplements from reputable manufacturers so you can steer clear of any unlisted ingredients which might either be illicit or strictly regulated (check out our How to Buy a Good Supplement guide for more information). Choose high-quality natural nootropics to lessen the risk of side effects. Remember that nootropics work best when coupled with a healthy lifestyle (regular exercise, sound nutrition, enough sleep, etc.).
If you need help in choosing the right nootropic formula, Best Nootropic Supplements 2018 Edition should help you decide which supplement to purchase. The ladies can also check out our Best Nootropics for Women guide which can help them select top-notch nootropics which fit their lifestyles the best.
References
- Kaustubh S. Chaudhari et al. Neurocognitive Effect of Nootropic Drug Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) in Alzheimer’s Disease Ann Neurosci. 2017 May; 24(2): 111–122.
- Froestl W et al. Cognitive enhancers (Nootropics). Part 1: drugs interacting with receptors. Update 2014, Cognitive enhancers (nootropics). Part 2: drugs interacting with enzymes, Cognitive enhancers (nootropics). Part 3: drugs interacting with targets other than receptors or enzymes. disease-modifying drugs. .J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;41(4):961-1019. doi: 10.3233/JAD-140228.
- Lanni C et al. Cognition enhancers between treating and doping the mind. Pharmacol Res. 2008 Mar;57(3):196-213. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2008.02.004. Epub 2008 Feb 15.
- Noor Azuin Suliman et al. Establishing Natural Nootropics: Recent Molecular Enhancement Influenced by Natural Nootropic Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016; 2016: 4391375.
- Luisa Colucci et al. Effectiveness of nootropic drugs with cholinergic activity in treatment of cognitive deficit: a review J Exp Pharmacol. 2012; 4: 163–172.
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