Are you looking for a way to improve your cognitive function and mental clarity? Dietary brain-boosting supplements, also known as nootropics, may be the answer. They can prove helpful whenever you experience any:
- Mood swings or a short fuse
- Chronic fatigue or lack of motivation
- Short-term and long-term memory loss
- Stress and anxiety-related physical symptoms, like headaches
- Confusion, or the inability to focus on one task at a time
- Slowness in learning and retaining new material
- Sleeplessness or difficulty falling asleep
But before you start taking these supplements, it’s essential to understand how they work and their potential risks.
The Effects of Brain Supplements on 4 Cognitive Processes
1. Brain Energy
The brain is a highly energy-intensive organ, using up about 20% of a person’s daily supply. Brain fog and mental fatigue can appear if the body cannot supply enough energy or the brain’s metabolic efficiency declines. Low brain energy levels are also linked to several forms of cognitive decline and brain degeneration.
To boost mental energy, nootropics may help with the following:
- Boosting the function of brain cells’ energy factories, the mitochondria (and other cells).
- Promoting the entry of fatty acids into brain cells, where they can fuel mitochondria.
- Increasing the brain’s intake of oxygen and nutrients.
2. Brain Chemicals
Synaptic transmission is when one neuron releases chemicals (neurotransmitters) into the brain, and another takes them up.
You can look at Neurotransmitters as “information carriers.” The receiving neuron’s response to the information depends on its type. Still, all neurons eventually pass on the message to their neighbors in the brain until the desired cognitive effect happens, like remembering or problem-solving.
A neurotransmitter system functioning at peak efficiency has a sufficient supply of all relevant neurotransmitters, functional neurotransmitter receptors, and other supporting factors.
Emotional and mental processing disruptions can result from a lack of neurotransmitter synthesis, release, or uptake.
Some nootropics may improve neurotransmitters by:
- Giving the brain its necessary building blocks
- Facilitating neurotransmitter synthesis
- Increasing sensitivity of receptors
- Keeping neurotransmitters from decomposing
3. Cerebral Blood Flow
It’s not enough to just get more nutrients to the brain; healthy circulation also involves getting rid of the poisons that are doing it harm. Since poor circulation is a significant risk factor for age-related cognitive decline, maintaining this equilibrium is crucial for a long and healthy life.
Maintaining a healthy, balanced blood flow in the brain becomes more of a neuronal priority as we age. Brain deterioration and memory loss related to aging are both associated with malfunctioning cerebrovascular function.
In theory, nootropics help blood flow to the brain by:
- Helping in the release of nitric oxide and the consequent widening of blood vessels
- Reducing blood vessel damage caused by homocysteine and oxidative stress
- reducing the “stickiness” of blood cells and their subsequent clumping
4. Brain Waves
Brain waves, also known as neural oscillations, are the total of your brain’s electrical activity and can be detected with an electroencephalogram (EEG).
Higher frequencies are associated with quick and alert cognition, while lower frequencies are associated with tired and dreamy mental states.
Nootropics can amplify some brain waves. Targeting alpha brain waves has been shown to induce heightened alertness and relaxation, which can positively affect tasks ranging from problem-solving to idea generation to simply winding down.
Safety and Concerns
While there may be some upsides to taking such supplements, you should also be aware of the potential downsides. These supplements’ long-term effects are still being researched.
If you’re currently on medication, brain-boosting supplements might not interact well with them. So before taking any dietary supplements intended to improve cognitive function, you should consult a medical professional.
The supplements’ quality and authenticity should always be a concern too. Purchasing supplements from trustworthy retailers is crucial, as unscrupulous manufacturers may sell counterfeit or low-quality ones.
Conclusion
Dietary brain-boosting supplements may improve cognitive function and mental clarity. However, it is essential to be aware of the risks and to consult a doctor before taking these supplements. Additionally, it is crucial to couple the supplement with a healthy lifestyle for the best results.
Be cautious when buying dietary brain-boosting supplements, and only get your supplements from reputable sources such as Trust Supplement.
Opti Brain, one of our most powerful nutritional supplements, can help you feel more mentally alert and focused, increase productivity, and lift your mood and energy levels.But don’t just take our word for it, try it out today and see for yourself!