Need a brain booster? Nootropics 101.

Does your brain feel all fuzzy?

Ever wished you could take a smart drug like Bradley Cooper’s character in the movie Limitless took to become an instant genius? We all do…

Unfortunately, there is no drug that powerful. However, nootropics can provide promising benefits to users, such as boosting:

  • Focus
  • Memory
  • Motivation

These days, we have so much stress and so many responsibilities that we often need a brain booster to keep up with everything.


As humans, we’re always striving to be, in the words of Daft Punk, bigger, better, faster & stronger. Therefore, it’s no mystery why people are turning to nootropics to boost their brain power.

No matter what chapter of your life you’re busy with, you can do with more brain power. Students, 9 to 5 business professionals, entrepreneurs, moms, dads, entertainers, school teachers, photographers, au pairs - no matter what you do, having more mental energy and clarity can benefit your life positively.

What are nootropics?

Nootropics is an umbrella term for a class of chemicals that provide cognitive benefits. Romanian psychologist and chemist, Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, coined the term “nootropic”. According to him, for a substance to be a nootropic, it must meet the following criteria:

  • Enhance memory & ability to learn
  • Aid brain function, even under disruptive conditions, such as lack of oxygen and electroconvulsive shock
  • Protect the brain from chemical and physical toxins, like anticholinergic drugs and barbiturates
  • Improve natural cognitive processes
  • Must be non-toxic to humans
  • Must not stimulate or depress the brain

Nootropics help your brain work better. Basically, your brain needs the right levels of neurotransmitters to be in the right place at the right time to work properly.

Which supplements can you take to boost your brain power?

There are loads of brain boosters out on the market in many shapes and forms. However, not all of them are effective. Here are a few powerful substances:

Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine (PS) belongs to a special category of fat-soluble substances called phospholipids. It is essential for proper and healthy brain function. Healthy PS levels are associated with efficient signal transduction processes, efficient glucose metabolism and other biological pathways in the brain. These are crucial to the maintenance of normal and healthy cognitive and mental functions.

US National Library of Medicine .National Institutes of Health states that PS is required for healthy nerve cell membranes and myelin. This is because our brains age due to biochemical alterations and structural deterioration. PS supports cognitive functions, including:

  • Short-term memory
  • Long-term memory
  • Creating new memories
  • Retrieving memories
  • Learning and recalling information
  • Focus attention and concentration
  • Reasoning and solving problems
  • Language skills
  • Communication
  • Locomotor functions

Bacopa

Bacopa is a medicinal Ayurvedic herb. It is also commonly used for: Alzheimer's disease, improving memory, anxiety, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other uses.


According to several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, evidence suggests that Bacopa improves cognitive functions. You can read a detailed research paper on US National Library of Medicine .National Institutes of Health.

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane mushroom is developing a powerful following in the world of modern smart drugs. The white, globe-shaped fungi with shaggy spines are edible and have amazing benefits for your mind and body. The mushroom has been used for hundreds of years as a general tonic as well as health treatment. The mushroom has the power to boost all round cognitive function.

Dig deeper into the benefits of Lion’s Mane on our blog: 6 health benefits of Lion’s Mane.

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