17 Best Nootropic Supplements For Better Brain Function

Key points: 

• Natural and synthetic nootropics are meant to improve mental function, memory, and focus and elevate energy levels.
• B・SYNC ON is one of the best nootropics on the market. It is both well-researched and causes no side effects. It’s made from all-natural ingredients, and in addition to offering the typical nootropic effect, it also helps your body to wake up with ease.
• Adderall and Ritalin are prescription nootropics with a strong effect, but they also come with many unwanted side effects. Nootropics like Noopept need more research on their benefits in healthy adults. 
• Some of the natural substances that act like nootropics are caffeine, Rhodiola Rosea, Creatine, Bacopa Monnieri, and Ginkgo Biloba.

Many people struggle with memory, alertness, and focus, and that’s where nootropics come in handy. Nootropics are natural or synthetic substances that are meant to boost cognitive performance in healthy people. The term ‘nootropics’ refers to a very broad category of substances that includes not only drugs but also supplements, medications, and other compounds. They are especially popular nowadays, with many people wanting to boost their memory, energy, focus, creativity, intelligence, and motivation. That’s why the market is full of different nootropic supplements, and choosing the one that works for you can be a tiring process. In this article, we gathered the best nootropic supplements to help you make the right choice.

 

1. B・SYNC ON

B・SYNC ON is an innovative nootropic supplement made with a unique formula. It was created to help you align your body’s natural clock with your lifestyle and make it easier for you to wake up energised and ready to start your day every morning. 

B・SYNC ON pills are meant to be taken at night right before you go to sleep. They contain a mix of active ingredients that are released right before you wake up using the galenic delayed-release technology. 

What’s important is that this supplement doesn’t interrupt or affect your sleep at all, as it only targets the wake-up phase. B・SYNC ON contains four natural active ingredients - caffeine, vitamin B12, vitamin B5, and zinc, and additional coatings are added to each capsule to ensure that these ingredients are released only after you’ve had your sleep and rest. This supplement ensures that you get an energy boost in the morning, alleviating fatigue but also keeping your focus sharp and your nervous system healthy. B・SYNC ON is 100% gluten, sugar, lactose, and GMO-free, and it’s also vegan. Shop our store today!

 

2. Caffeine

Caffeine is the most popular psychoactive substance widely consumed all over the world. Caffeine can be consumed with coffee, tea, cocoa, and other drinks, but it’s also available in a supplement form. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which results in the boost of energy and alertness you feel after drinking a cup of coffee. Caffeine also naturally boosts metabolism and keeps you alert all day. However, you should be careful with consuming caffeine since too much of it can affect your sleep and make you feel even more tired.

 

  3. Noocube 

Noocube is a nootropic that promotes effective learning and memory. It contains a synergistic combination of natural substances that enhance your cognitive function and overall well-being. Noocube contains bacopa monnieri extract, L-tyrosine, cat's claw concentrate, oat straw concentrate, L-theanine, alpha GPC, marigold extract, resveratrol, pterostilbene, and biotin. All of these ingredients work together to guarantee sharp focus and enhanced memory, but also improve eye-brain connection, thus promoting eye health. Noocube is also promised to lower the levels of stress you experience, which are often the cause of many physical and mental health issues.  

 

4. L-Theanine

L-theanine is a natural nootropic that’s found in tea, and it’s especially abundant in green tea. Even small doses of L-theanine have been shown to increase alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with calmness and creativity. Beverages like tea contain both caffeine and L-theanine, which work together perfectly to improve cognitive function. L-theanine is often referred to as 'smart caffeine' since it has similar effects. It’s also often combined with caffeine in nootropic supplements since, when mixed, these ingredients have an even more potent effect.

 

5. Vyvamind 

Vyvamid is another nootropic supplement also considered to be an over-the-counter neurostimulator. It is primarily meant for people who need to boost their cognition and mental performance either for studies or work. Vyvamid is also known as a safe Adderall alternative. It contains ingredients like caffeine, L-theanine, L-tyrosine, citicoline, and B group vitamins (B6 & B12). These ingredients don’t cause any risk of side effects, but the supplement is not recommended for people with certain medical conditions, children, and pregnant women. Like other nootropics on this list, Vyvamind helps with focus and concentration, keeps you energised, and helps you to manage stress.

 

6. Rhodiola Rosea

This adaptogenic herb helps your body cope with stress and elevates your mood. Studies have found that supplementation with rhodiola has a positive impact on mood and lowers the risk of burnout even in people with severe stress. Taking rhodiola daily can help combat fatigue and can even enhance the mood of college students during exams. However, there’s not enough research on optimal dosing, and it’s not yet known why exactly this herb has these health effects.

 

7.  Mind Lab Pro 

This work performance booster is made from all-natural substances and comes in cruelty-free capsules. Mind Lab Pro promises to improve your focus and concentration as well as alleviate anxiety. It may also improve your memory and keep you in a good mood overall. The effect is typically felt after a few hours however, for some individuals, it may be immediate. Mind Lab Pro is made in New Jersey, USA. It contains no GMOs and is approved by the FDA. 

 

8. Creatine

Creatine is an amino acid used to make protein. You may have heard of it as a bodybuilding supplement that promotes muscle growth, but it also has some strong benefits for brain health. When you consume creatine, it binds with phosphate and creates a molecule that fuels brain cells. This results in better short-term memory and reasoning skills. Creatine has been shown to be most effective in vegetarians and highly stressed individuals. Studies have found that consuming 5 grams of creatine daily doesn’t have any negative effects. The long-term effect of consuming larger doses still needs to be researched.

 

9. Modafinil (Provigil)

Modafinil is a prescription medication commonly sold as Provigil. It is typically used to help with narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that causes uncontrollable drowsiness). It has similar stimulating effects to amphetamines or cocaine, but there’s a significantly lower risk of the user developing a dependence. Studies suggest that taking modafinil combats fatigue and enhances memory in sleep-deprived adults. Modafinil also improves executive functions such as time management. When prescribed, it’s important to use modafinil responsibly since cases of dependence and withdrawal have been reported at high dosages.

 

10. Hunter's Focus 

Hunter Focus is a nootropic pill that contains compounds that improve cognitive performance, mood, concentration, and memory. It’s been shown to be most effective at improving attention and concentration. This nootropic contains the following ingredients: 

• Acetyl-L-carnitine - converts fat into energy
• L-tyrosine - produces neurotransmitters like dopamine
• Lion's mane - protects against dementia, helps with anxiety and sadness
• Caffeine 
• Citicoline - helps to restore damaged brain cells
• Bacopa - improves the signal intensity between neurons

11. Panax Ginseng

Panax Ginseng is an ancient medicinal plant that has been shown to improve brain function. Studies have found that consuming even a single dose of this root alleviates fatigue and boosts cognitive performance. However, it’s still unclear how exactly ginseng improves brain function. Studies have also found that long-term consumption of ginseng is less effective as the body adapts to it. More research is needed on the long-term nootropic effects of this root.

 

12. Brain Pill 

This all-natural nootropic supplement promises to enhance mood and improve cognitive function and memory. It’s one of the best pills on the market for boosting brain cell circulation, and it also helps to keep you focused. Reduced concentration is one of the most common issues people experience as they age, and nootropics can be helpful in avoiding distractions. Brain Pill also clears away mental cloudiness and enhances your learning abilities. This nootropic may also be helpful for those who often find themselves daydreaming and need to feel more aware.

 

13. Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa Monnieri is an ancient herb known to improve brain function. Studies of this supplement have found that it promotes information processing in your brain and improves memory. It’s all due to bacosides - active compounds in Bacopa Monnieri that protect the brain from oxidative stress and enhance signalling in the hippocampus - the brain area responsible for processing memories. You won’t feel an immediate benefit after taking Bacopa Monnieri, and the supplement is most effective when taken for several months.

 

14. Ginkgo Biloba

This supplement is extracted from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree and is suggested to positively impact your brain. Ginkgo biloba supplements are linked to improved memory and mental processing in healthy older adults when taken daily for several months. Studies also suggest that taking Ginkgo biloba before taking on a highly stressful task helps to manage stress by decreasing cortisol levels, which is one of the stress hormones. However, more studies are needed on the impact and benefits of Ginkgo biloba on your brain.

 

15. Noopept

Noopept is a synthetic drug that provides an immediate effect, unlike many other nootropics. The effects typically last for several hours. Studies conducted in animals have found that Noopept improves the brain’s ability to form and retrieve memories. It does so by boosting the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a compound that’s responsible for the growth of brain cells. Research done in humans suggests that Noopept can speed up the recovery from brain injuries, but more studies are needed to understand how this nootropic can benefit healthy adults.

 

16. Amphetamines (Adderall)

Adderall is a prescription drug typically prescribed to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy. Its formula contains highly stimulating amphetamines, and today it is also often used by healthy adults to get better attention and focus. This medication works by promoting the availability of dopamine and noradrenaline within your prefrontal cortex - an area of your brain that’s responsible for working memory, focus, and behaviour. Adderall makes people more alert and enhances mood. It can also lower appetite. The effects typically last up to 12 hours, depending on the prescribed dose. It does come with several side effects, such as anxiety, low sex drive, and sweating. Using it in high doses can also result in a heart attack.

 

17. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Ritalin is also a prescription drug that helps to manage ADHD and narcolepsy. It works similarly to Adderall and increases dopamine and noradrenaline concentrations in the brain. While Ritalin is a stimulant, it does not contain amphetamines. Studies suggest that it can positively improve short-term memory and information-processing speed in healthy adults. Ritalin is typically well-tolerated unless large doses are taken. Some of the side effects of Ritalin are insomnia, stomach ache, headache, and loss of appetite. When abused, it can also cause seizures, hallucinations, psychosis, heart arrhythmia, and high blood pressure.

 

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