Nootropics are a new breed of supplements guaranteed to ramp up focus, motivation and alpha-male dominance.
Modern dudes are stressed.
The pressure to be successful, both in work and in life is ever-increasing. Late nights, long hours at work and heavy workouts in the gym can take their toll. Maintaining peak performance day-in, day-out is tough bro.
Are you the kind of guy that loses focus in the gym? Or can’t retain the information in articles like this one without reading it twice or more?
Find it tough to solve simple problems or remember important tasks? Or suffer a sh*tty mood with low energy?
Dude, you need some help… and we’ve got the answer.
In this article we break down the science of brain boosters – nootropics. It’s time to get involved – and protect your brain as much as you do your physique.
The brodown: Article preview
- Nootropics are natural supplements designed to improve overall brain function, cognition and stress relief.
- There are several types of nootropic supplement – ranging from peptides and ampakines to smart drugs and natural nutrients.
- Combining individual ingredients in one nootropic boost results.
- Nootropic supplements are completely safe when taken at recommended doses.
What are Nootropics?
Imagine the brain power of a genius with the motivation and brute determination of a world class athlete. That’s what a nootropic gives you.
Your brain is the most important organ in your body.
Right now, in that blob of pinky-grey mush in your head are over 100 billion neurons. They have the job of transmitting nerve impulses around your body, developing and storing skills and emotions, and refining movement. Without them you’d never be able to even look at a weight never mind lift it.
Your brain is a master computer. You might think it’s your swole AF frame that rules the iron house, but the gloop in your skull is just as important.
Everything you do or think about doing is initiated by a huge data bank of knowledge, ready to be accessed in milliseconds.
Now here’s the thing… your brain is highly plastic. It can be modified, developed and coached with the right intervention. Puzzles and complex thought tasks boost cognition – – just like smashing supersets lights up your sarcomeres.
There’s a new breed of ‘smart drug’ on the market. And it’s used by everyone from professors and thinkers, to athletes and bodybuilders.
They’re called nootropics.
‘Brain pills’ are designed to enhance the way your brain works
Nootropic supplements are for ANYONE wanting to improve the way they move, think and feel. Yup, even Judy Dench m*thas like us.
The word nootropic was born when Romanian chemist Cornelius Giurgea introduced a brain-enhancing drug in the 1970’s.
It means to ‘turn or bend’.
He introduced the term to define any drug or supplement that enhanced cognitive function but offered no side effects.
Although Nootropics were originally intended for those with brain function problems, research gradually began to show how effective they were for healthy men and women too.
Nootropics are now a popular mainstream supplement and a safe alternative to harsh prescription drugs. That’s right bro – they can boost brainpower without messing you up or upsetting the law.
As an exciting and effective branch of supplement, nootropics are designed to:
- Enhance memory, learning and decision making skills
- Improve energy and mood
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Increase creative skills
- Improve attention span and engagement
- Boost overall ‘mental strength’
- Smash fatigue and exhaustion in the face
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Bro Point: Nootropic supplements hijack your nervous system, enhancing the speed and efficiency at which your brain works.
[/infobox]How do Nootropics work?
When you want to enhance androgen levels you might use a testosterone booster. For a great gym session, you take a pre workout. And for focus and energy you need a nootropic.
There are a few categories by which nootropics can exert their effects on cognition:
- Acetylcholine production
- Improved cerebral blood flow
- Changes to brain chemical leading to improved mood and energy
- Positive change to brain waves and function
- Neuroprotective effect
- Regenerates neurons
Imagine some mad scientists was able to take the cognitive skills of Professor X and mix them with the strength, mass and raw power of The Hulk.
You’d be unstoppable – a force to be reckoned with.
That’s what these brain pills offer. Not just physical strength and power, but cerebral skills too. Ultimate power, bro.
Bro Point: The brain is a complex machine and nootropics can exert their effects in different ways.
[/infobox]Different Types/Classes of Nootropics
Broad classes of nootropics include:
- Peptides – protein-based compounds that stimulate the receptors responsible for controlling acetylcholine levels and therefore improve mood and cognition.
- Cholines – choline is an important precursor to mood and energy-regulating chemicals.
- Racetams – an old-school nootropic that protects neuronal health as well as slowing down brain cell deterioration.
- Ampakines – stimulate the release of glutamate in the blood – a compound used by the brain to improve learning and memory.
- Smart drugs – a generic term used to categorize any nootropic nutrient as well as some prescription drugs.
- Natural nootropics – these include any plant-based supplement and includes nutrients such as bacopa and huperzine-A. Because they are naturally-produced they are safer than some synthetic products.
Bro Point: There are different forms of nootropic, with each one covering cognition from a different angle. This results in better brain power and all-round improvements in cerebral function.
[/infobox]Natural Ingredients
The very best nootropic supplement nutrients use powerful and natural ingedients. They hijack your brain and take your cognition to a whole new level.
It goes without saying, the best results come from the best products.
Here are the best research-led nootropic supplements on offer…
#1. Ashwagandha
A natural nootropic proven to enhance strength and athletic performance while reducing anxiety. Sorry bro, we can’t hear your bullsh*t over the sound of our gorilla strength and zen-ness.
Ashwagandha has been a popular anti-anxiety supplement for hundreds of years. It’s like a bulletproof vest for your brain, helping you fend off physical and psychological stress.
It’s been shown to boost muscle strength and recovery in clinical trials using trained male athletes. If you hit the gym regularly or play any kind of sport count yourself as one of these bros.
As an adaptogen, ashwagandha has been used to pump up libido, increase energy and improve overall feelings of well-being.
It’s one of natures own pick-me-ups that doesn’t come with an almighty crash.
Your body can only handle so much stress before you start to crumble. Ashwagandha offers a natural buffer to daily anxiety, helping you stay positive when times are tough. It inhibits the build-up of an enzyme called acetlycholinesterase which reduces performance when elevated.
So, if you’re a stressed-out swoledier who needs some calm in his life, Ashwagandha is the way to go.
#2. Lion’s mane mushroom
An edible, medicinal mushroom that supercharges your energy, mood, memory and focus. Unfortunately, bro, it won’t turn you into an actual lion.
Much like Ashwagandha, Lion’s mane is a natural nootropic used as a traditional medicine for centuries.
Let’s forget for one minute that this mushroom looks like your grandma’s wig after a long walk home in the rain. It contains two cognition compounds that make it a clear nootropic of choice:
- Hericenone – stimulates the production of nerve growth factor – a protein that increases brain cell development.
- Erinacine – enhances blood flow with the brain and creates new neurons.
Studies show that lion’s mane mushroom decreases the risk of serious brain-based disorders such as depression and stroke. It’s also been reported that short-term use can improve cognitive ability.
Ever seen the movie Limitless? This is as near as you’ll get bro.
#3. L-theanine
A tea leaf compound that reduces energy leakage and helps build both channeled focus and wakefulness.
L-theanine is an amino acid. It’s often found in the best pre workout supplements as it reduces the jitters and loss of concentration associated with high amounts of caffeine.
It allows you to harness the performance-enhancing benefits of caffeine, without the soul-destroying crash or drop in focus.
L-theanine enhances alpha brain wave activity by stimulating the release of neurochemical gamma-aminobutyric acid. In higher amounts, ‘GABA’ helps to promote what we call calm concentration.
It elevates mood and helps you fix on a task for longer, without interruption.
Studies show clearly that L-theanine has a positive effect on mental state. We call this the ‘woo-saa’ effect at SpotMeBro.
With L-theanine you’ll achieve better attention, focus and productivity… even in times of high stress.
#4. Citicoline
As a solid all-round nootropic, citicoline boosts memory, improves neuron health and protects brain cells from daily damage.
Found naturally in foods such as eggs, spinach and beets, citicoline is known for its ability to improve higher level brain function.
Citicoline is an exciting choline-based nootropic, found to treat cognitive disorders such as memory loss and attention deficit disorders in a variety of clinical trials.
Its main action is the production of phosphatidylcholine – a chemical compound that protects the long thread-like part of neurons called axons. It also forms a protective barrier like a team of tiny bodyguards around grey matter, helping to preserve overall brain health.
Studies show that not only does citicoline aid mental superpowers such as memory and attention, it also improves muscle strength too.
Boom – it’ll get you swole in both body and mind.
#5. Bacopa
As a natural plant extract, bacopa’s ‘wonder herb’ properties reduce anxiety and act as a potent stress buster.
High in antioxidants that promote overall health, bacopa works in a similar way to ashwagandha and lion’s mane in that it reduces stress through adaptogen properties.
As you know stress is a sure-fire way to stop gym gains in their tracks.
The bioactive compounds found in the plant have a significant effect on mood, energy and memory. Bacopasaponins and alkaloids are the most powerful players here, so shouts out to those guys.
Studies show that bacopa enhances memory during high-stress situations.
As alpha-males striving to smash life one barbell bend at a time, we all need plenty of those.
One clinical test found that during challenging mental tasks, bacopa improved cognition and test results…. hmmm maybe that’s why it’s so popular with medical students. Just imagine how quick you could work out your % 1RM or where you left your shaker with this stuff.
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Key Point: There are a range of effective nootropic supplements, each with their own specific benefits. The key is combining the right ones to get the best results.
[/infobox]Are they safe/legal?
Completely, bro.
At SMB we want you to make the best gains possible but be safe while you do so. We’re completely honest when it comes to reviews – because we’re all in the game together.
Back when Giurgea patented the first nootropic drug, safety was a priority. Since then, nootropics have undergone rigorous testing procedures making sure they’re not only effective, but harmless too.
The best nootropics are all-natural nutrients
It’s well-known that prescription cognition drugs come with a whole boatload of side effects and warning.
However, all the nutrients we’ve ranked as our favorite nootropics derive from plants. They’re completely natural and when taken in the correct doses are safe and well-tolerated.
The side effects of Nootropics on our brain
Although safe and well-tolerated, you need to be aware of the potential for side effects with brain pills.
Theoretically, anything can cause side effects.
Too much water can lead to hyponatremia. Too much protein can give you bad stomach distention and meat sweats.
If you mega dose your nootropic you’ll end up with side effects such as headaches, stomach pain and nausea.
So, don’t.
Making sure you stick to what research scientists recommend means all the benefits with none of the side effects.
Avoiding side effects – What to consider
- There’s currently no research into the use of nootropics in adolescents, so if you’re a young dude looking for enhanced cognition boost, you might be best to stay clear.
- If you’re currently on prescription drugs for a brain-related disorder (for example attention deficit disorder) you shouldn’t take a nootropic without clearing it with your health professional first.
- It goes without saying, but if you want to stay safe and minimize side effects, stick with the recommended dosage.
Should I take them?
Yes, you should be taking a nootropic smart pill. Unless of course your name is Professor. X. – which it isn’t?
We strongly advise you take these ‘muscle builders for the brain’ – especially if you’re a guy that doesn’t just want to look good but perform well too.
With the relentless barrage of stress and anxiety you must deal with it’s only a matter of time before you buckle under the pressure. That’s why you need a nootropic – to boost your cognition and give your brain the firepower you need to make good things happen.
More confidence, more assertion, more cognition.
As a strong, alpha man you constantly need to make important choices. Nootropic supplements support the way you think and feel, act and process.
- If you can’t concentrate for longer than 10 seconds before you drift off into space, you need this supplement.
- Worried, anxious or suffering from non-existent energy? Yep, get yourself a nootropic
- Want to support your physique goals with a healthy brain that’s as smart as it is happy? Hell, do we even have to spell it out at this stage? Your brain deserves a nootropic.
Bro Point: Nootropics are safe, all-natural nutrients. They suit any dude wanting to get the best from his day and kick ass both in the gym and in life.
[/infobox]Conclusion
Nootropic supplements offer an escape plan from the stress, anxiety and volume of sh*t you have to deal with on the daily. With their brain-boosting power they provide everything you need to retain your alpha power – enhanced memory, mood, attention and physical strength.
Get them added to your stack bro.
You’ll be smashing mental reps like never before.
Enjoy.
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