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Whether studying for an exam, working overtime at your job, or battling insomnia, people are always looking for solutions to enhance their mental capacity and brain function using supplements. Although nootropics have been around since the 1960s, these cognitive enhancers have gained popularity in the last couple of years as more and more people have begun searching for alternatives to caffeine. Therefore, today we will be looking into nootropics to provide you with a better sense of this new fad that has taken the supplement industry by storm.
What Are Nootropics?
Nootropics, more commonly recognized as "smart drugs," are a class of substances that are intended to boost your brain's performance and provide you with memory enhancements. Nootropics such as Adderall or Axura are widely used for medical conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer's disease, and require a prescription to obtain. However, you can also purchase non-prescription nootropics at your local pharmacy, including Alpha GPC, Citicoline, GABA, and L-Theanine. Let's take a look at each of these over-the-counter supplements a little bit more in-depth.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is a type of amino acid primarily found in green or black teas; however, it is also available for tablet form consumption. Studies indicate that it can help reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety and provide you with an increase in focus. Research also suggests that L-Theanine may also help improve your immune system and help manage blood pressure. In addition, taking L-Theanine in combination with caffeine has shown to decrease unwanted side effects of caffeine and induce calmness in very small doses.
Alpha GPC
Alpha GPC is a chemical compound found naturally in the human body and is also created in labs for medicinal purposes. While some countries throughout Europe offer Alpha GCP as a prescription medication, it is only offered as a dietary supplement throughout North America. Alpha GPC is used to help treat medical conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and dementia, by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain that is an essential component in learning and memory. This is why some people prefer to take dietary supplement forms to improve their brain functioning.
Citicoline
Like Alpha GPC, Citicoline is a chemical formed naturally in the body and a laboratory for medicinal uses. Generally, Citicoline is a form of a prescription drug that is legal throughout Europe and Japan to help people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, patients recovering from strokes, and bipolar disease. However, Citicoline is only available as a dietary supplement in the United States and is administered through injections or as dietary supplements.
Citicoline helps increase the production of phosphatidylcholine in the brain that is responsible for healthy function. Some studies suggest that it may also help improve other brain chemicals that assist with brain functioning. However, there is yet to be substantial research that proves otherwise. At the same time, Citicoline has been deemed possibly safe to ingest as an energy enhancer.
GABA
Lastly, on our list of nootropics, we have GABA, which is also a chemical created in our brains. It is typically taken as a dietary supplement to assist with ADHD, premenstrual syndrome, burning fat, improving mood, enhancing lean muscle growth, and relieving pain. It has also been tested in improving mental development, vocabulary, and function in children who have cerebral palsy, to help treat bronchitis, stress and anxiety, and many other health conditions. However, there is very little research thus far to prove its effectiveness in treatment.
Furthermore, GABA works by blocking specific neurotransmitters in the brain. There are no side effects with supplementing GABA when it is properly administered and can yield results almost instantly.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are various uses for nootropics as a form of prescription drug and dietary supplement. Research is limited and continuing to monitor and explore the health benefits and hazards for each. The above-listed nootropics seem to improve your brain functioning and alertness almost immediately, but proper dosing will have to established by a professional. Nootropics are leading the way for new product developments in the dietary supplement industry and have gained popularity because of their immediate effects and increased demand by customers to improve their anxiety, concentration, and/or energy levels. Reach out to us today to find out more about Nootropics and how you can make them part of your next product launch.