{"id":2269,"date":"2019-06-10T12:48:58","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T12:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthypleasures.de\/?p=2269"},"modified":"2020-02-16T12:38:10","modified_gmt":"2020-02-16T12:38:10","slug":"nootropics-smart-drugs-the-differences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthypleasures.de\/en\/news\/nootropics-smart-drugs-the-differences\/","title":{"rendered":"Nootropics & smart drugs. The differences."},"content":{"rendered":"

Just think for a moment how much visual, auditory, and sensory information you\u2019re exposed to and required to process every single day. From the TV or radio as constant background noise, to the phone ringing, to artificial lighting, to chemical-laden air fresheners circulating smells of fresh linen, to electromagnetic fields piercing through your brain, to the new procedure you have to learn at work, the human brain has to organize and deal with this information all while keeping you upright and going.<\/p>\n

Although the human brain has incredible skills and unimaginable capabilities, modern living creates unprecedented stress and sensory overload from all of the information it\u2019s required to process every single day. Sensory overload has even been shown to cause irritability, anxiety, mood swings, depression, ADHD, fibromyalgia, PTSD, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The ability of your brain to continue learning, processing, and forming new neuronal connections is key to maintaining optimal brain health and longevity.<\/p>\n

Before you go lock yourself in a dark, quiet room in order to prevent this overburden on your brain, you should know that there are actually scientifically researched nutrients designed to amplify cognitive function and help your brain deal with this sensory stress load. In fact, when combined together and in the right dosage, these nutrients can completely change how your brain performs. The fact that brain-boosting supplements even exist goes unnoticed by the average person just doing their best to accomplish their work, manage a home, eat properly, workout, maintain relationships, explore hobbies, and somehow sleep each night. Well, it\u2019s time to wake up your brain. Welcome to the world of smart drugs and nootropics.<\/p>\n

Smart drugs and nootropics are substances that boost cognitive function and enhance brain efficiency. They have the ability to improve brain performance so you can focus better, become more creative, increase your memory, boost productivity, and think more clearly. These substances are becoming well known and very popular in use, and one of the biggest myths surrounding smart drugs and nootropics is that they are the same thing.<\/p>\n

Although they produce similar cognitive benefits, they do not have the same cognitive effect, safety, or side effects. A smart drug is a prescribed medication or generic label drug that is used to treat a mental or cognitive disorder. A few examples of smart drugs are Adderall, Ritalin, and Modafinil. Smart drugs may relieve a mental or cognitive disorder, but the treatment comes with a cost. \u00a0These drugs are stimulants that produce spikes in dopamine and norepinephrine. The hormonal spikes these drugs produce can lead to tolerance<\/a>, poor habit formation, mood instability, depression, anxiety, stroke<\/a>, and adverse effects on appetite<\/a>, cardiac function<\/a>, stress levels, and sleep.<\/p>\n

Since drugs like Adderall and Modafinil are considered amphetamines, they compete with other neurotransmitters for uptake. This competition can deplete nutrients very quickly elsewhere, like in dopamine and norepinephrine levels. For this reason, you must be careful you know what you\u2019re doing when you step into the world of smart drugs and nootropics.<\/p>\n

Want similar cognitive benefits without all of those nasty side effects? Nootropics boost the brain without the side effects of a stimulant or chemical-laden drug. \u00a0Nootropics are non-prescribed compounds including vitamins, herbs, and other natural and synthetic compounds that provide a daily cognitive boost, protect your brain, and support peak cognitive function. Nootropics provide these benefits without neurotransmitter depletions, adverse body side effects, or building a tolerance or reliance. The mechanisms for nootropics are quite different than smart drugs in the way they act within the structural connectivity of the brain, the improvement of blood flow and oxygenation, and the long-term strengthening of various brain regions. Think of nootropics like a super supplement for cognitive function and protecting your brain.<\/p>\n

Unlike smart drugs, the majority of people can take nootropics without suffering side effects, however, there are both natural, and synthetic, lab-created nootropics. Listed below is a roundup of both natural and synthetic nootropics that will equip you with the knowledge you need in order to decide which nootropics to take to accomplish your goals, ranging from faster reaction time to mood enhancement to reduced anxiety to better focus and more.<\/p>\n

Natural Nootropics:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Huperzine-A <\/strong>naturally comes from the Chinese club moss plant. Although there is a small amount of laboratory manipulation, the effects are outweighed by the finalized highly pure substance. \u00a0Huperzine-A has no toxicity and minimal to no side effects. Research shows that huperzine-A can improve memory<\/a>, elevate mood<\/a>, improve neurological and cognitive functions, reduce inflammation<\/a>, and act as an anticonvulsant<\/a>. It protects<\/a> the brain and strengthens memory, improves brain neuroplasticity (helps the brain form and reorganize connections), improves neurogenesis<\/a> (grows and develops neurons), and supports learning. Huperzine-A can be found in high amounts in the adaptogenic herb complex TianChi<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  2. Bacopa Monnieri <\/strong>is\u00a0an extract that comes from the Brahmi plant. Bacopa has a variety of uses such as reducing anxiety and insomnia, improving cognitive functions<\/a>, memory<\/a>, concentration, thinking ability, and hand-eye coordination as well as has antistroke<\/a> and anticonvulsant potentials. In one study, 300 mg was given daily to participants for 12 weeks and there were reported improvements in thinking ability and memory.<\/li>\n
  3. Lion\u2019s Mane, <\/strong>a natural, edible mushroom that is most commonly found in health food stores is also available as a supplement.\u00a0 Lion\u2019s mane has the ability to regenerate the brain<\/a>, protect the brain, reduce inflammation<\/a>, has anticancer<\/a> properties, and improves anxiety<\/a>, cognitive function, and mood.<\/li>\n
  4. Ginkgo Biloba, <\/strong>made from the leaves of the ginkgo biloba tree, has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Ginkgo biloba improves memory<\/a>, attention, and blood flow to the brain. It has also been shown to reduce anxiety<\/a>, inflammation<\/a>, and oxidative stress<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  5. Artichoke Extract, <\/strong>also made from leaves, has potent antioxidant<\/a> effects and enhances learning<\/a> and memory.<\/li>\n
  6. Tryptophan, <\/strong>a naturally occurring amino acid that is commonly known to make people sleepy, also has strong nootropic effects. Tryptophan has been shown to decrease memory deficits<\/a>, help with mood<\/a>and anxiety<\/a>, as well as improve\u00a0 To ensure you\u2019re consuming balanced ratios of amino acids, it\u2019s best to take an essential amino acids blend like Kion Aminos<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  7. L-Theanine,<\/strong> also a naturally occurring amino acid, is found in high amounts in green tea and has been shown to reduce anxiety<\/a> and neuroregeneration<\/a>, improve mood<\/a> and cognitive<\/a> performance, and also induce relaxation<\/a>. It combines well with caffeine<\/a> (see below).<\/li>\n
  8. CBD <\/strong>naturally comes from the cannabis plant and is considered a very powerful nootropic. It has been shown to enhance focus, creativity, and mood<\/a>, as well as reduce general anxiety<\/a>, social anxiety<\/a>, chronic pain<\/a>, stress<\/a>, ADHD<\/a>, insomnia<\/a>, headaches<\/a>, and inflammation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Although these are not the only natural nootropics, this list provides you with the main ingredients in most nootropic and smart drug blends. \u00a0After determining which nootropics address your specific cognitive enhancement goals, you can take it a step further and enhance the effects of the compounds by mixing and matching to create your own \u201cnootropic stack.\u201d A nootropic stack mixes different nootropics to obtain the best synergistic combination of each compound\u2019s benefits.<\/p>\n

    Nootropic Stacks<\/strong><\/p>\n

    While you may prefer the natural nootropics, the majority of synthetic nootropics have been generally regarded as safe and can be used in combination with natural ingredients. An example of this is Piracetam used in combination with choline and DHA. Piracetam is not found in nature; however, it is originally derived from and has similarities to the neurotransmitter GABA. Since Piracetam has been shown to improve cell membrane function and have neuroprotective effects, when combined with other cell membrane oriented supplements like choline and DHA, the brain cells can better signal and relay messages to each other, which improves cognition and brain activity.<\/p>\n

    When creating your own stack, you must carefully think about what your exact needs and goals are. For example, if you want to reduce anxiety and improve mood, but don\u2019t necessarily care to enhance your cognitive performance, you would want to stick to just one nootropic that improves dopamine levels such as tryptophan. Or if you wanted to reduce anxiety and support mood while improving your memory, you could add Bacopa Monnieri with the tryptophan. Let\u2019s say you do want a long-term cognitive performance that lasts an entire day, try adding Piracetam to the mix. \u00a0Whatever you decide to do, use a strategy. Make sure the dose is safe, and understand exactly why you are putting the ingredient in, and how it may interact with the other compounds. For those of you who do not want to experiment, listed below are a few of the most common nootropic stacks.<\/p>\n