The Top 5 Natural Brain Supplements

Natural brain supplements offer profound benefits for increasing intellectual capabilities while minimizing the risk of side effects.

Many herbal cognitive enhancement supplements have been around for years but it is only now that these brain boosters are truly being recognized.

Research into herbal compounds and brain vitamins has been especially promising in the area of preventing cognitive decline and treating or preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

But many of these brain supplements can also cause improvements in mental performance, memory, logical reasoning and learning. Some supplements also work to increase concentration, focus, energy level, motivation and improve your mood.

So what are some of the best natural brain supplements that you can buy today?

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Synthetic vs. Natural Brain Supplements

We should first say a quick word about the often-controversial debate between using natural and synthetic supplements.

Ultimately, which one you choose is a matter best left to personal preference but there are some misconceptions that we would like to address.

Namely, natural supplements are not always safer than synthetic ones and synthetic supplements are not always more powerful than herbal ones.

Some naturally derived compounds do have the potential to be toxic to the human body when used in excess of the recommended dosage. Conversely, certain lab-derived nootropics like Piracetam and Aniracetam are considered virtually non-toxic to humankind.

There are also some incredibly powerful herbal brain supplements available today that may even compare to the stronger synthetic compounds like Noopept and Pramiracetam. In general, natural supplements are less effective than synthetic compounds at increasing brain powder due to something called the Blood Brain Barrier.

This is the natural mechanism which separates nutrients circulating in the blood from brain tissue and your neurons. The Blood Brain Barrier is part of the body’s inherent defense system keeping unwanted chemicals from reaching this all-important area of the body. But it also has the effect of keep out some of the potentially beneficial nutrients as well.

For example, GABA is actually one of the natural neurotransmitters produced by the brain that is known to be effective at reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.

But when you take GABA supplements this compound cannot itself penetrate the Blood Brain Barrier so you end up urinating it out. You might find this surprising especially if you are one of the people who continues to use GABA supplements to improve their mood to this day!

Instead, neuroscientists have developed several synthetic GABA derivatives (such as Piracetam) which can penetrate the Blood Brain Barrier and promote positive changes in your neural activity. Piracetam is known for improving learning, memory, mood, concentration and alertness.

Another example is choline which is a precursor to the acetylcholine neurotransmitter responsible for much of the communication between your neurons.

Choline is found in many of the foods that we eat but in such low levels than an estimated 90% of Americans are currently choline-deficient. Some choline supplements like Choline Bitartrate are derived from natural sources like Soy Lecithin.

However, Choline Bitartrate is a very poor supplier of choline to the brain with only 13% bioavailability. That is why many people prefer the more potent synthetic supplements Alpha GPC and Citicoline as their choline courses. These synthetic supplements are specifically designed to work with the natural processes of the body and may have a more focused mechanism of action.

Best Natural Brain Boosters

If you insist on using all-natural brain supplements, you are not alone, and fortunately there are still many very good herbal products with brain enhancing effects.

There is no single best brain supplement because each of these address a different area of cognition. Which one you decide to use will depend a lot on what you are hoping to achieve with your natural brain supplements.

In many cases, people will combine several of these compounds together in a Nootropic Stack for better results. You can purchase most of these ingredients on their own at specialty supplement and vitamin stores or you can buy a pre-made nootropic stack like Alpha Brain, Doxiderol, or Brain Stack that incorporates many of the ingredients listed below.

Here are five of the best natural cognitive enhancement supplements available today:

Bacopa Monnieri

This herb has a long history of being used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat dimentia, anxiety, epilepsy asthma and even indigestion. Studies have found Bacopa effective at increasing retention of new information, memory consolidation, and reaction time in visual sensory perception.

One study also found Bacopa to reverse memory loss that was induced by taking drugs. Other trials have observed Bacopa Monnieri to reduce symptoms of anxiety, mental fatigue and even increase working short-term memory.

Bacopa is further recognized as a potent anti-oxidant, a blood pressure regulator and this herbal supplement may even prevent the formation of cancerous tumours.

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine comes from Vincamine which is found naturally occurring in the ancient periwinkle plant. It is actually sold as a prescription drug in several European countries as well as in Japan, but it is available as a supplement in Canada and the US.

This herbal derivative increases blood flow to the brain, resulting in increased alertness and better overall cognitive function. It may also be effective for Alzheimer’s patients by increasing oxygen supply to your neurons and preventing nerve cell damage. As a nootropic, it is used to improve concentration and increase memory retention.

Rhodiola Rosea

This plant has often been called “Nature’s Antidepressant,” known to improve your mood and balance energy levels. It is found in cold climates such as in the Arctic or in mountainous areas of central Asia.

Rhodiola Rosea is particularly favored as a brain supplement because it seems to reduce fatigue in individuals who do not get enough sleep. It also has anti-anxiety and anti-stress benefits and is known to be cardio-protective (protecting the heart muscle).

It is not considered to be a pure cognitive enhancer as it does not seem to directly affect learning or memory, but taking it as an energy support will improve mental performance.

Ashwagandha

Also known as Indian Ginseng, this medicinal herb has been used for thousands of years to treat conditions as diverse as insomnia, liver disease, back pain, insomnia and arthritis. One of the best brain-boosting effects of Ashwagandha is its ability to reduce Cortisol levels.

Cortisol is one of the main stress hormones in the body which can be damaging to several cognitive processes. By curbing the release of Cortisol, this natural brain supplement may be able to promote better growth and maintenance of neurons, thereby offering neuroprotective benefits.

Ashwagandha is also considered to be a mild mood enhancer, though not as powerful as some of the others mentioned on this list.

Huperzine A

Huperzine comes from the Huperzia Serrata plant that is native to China and Southeast Asia. It is a powerful memory booster that has even been used as a therapy for Alzheimer’s patients. This natural compound works by inhibiting an enzyme which breaks down one of the key neurotransmitters in the brain called Acetylcholine.

When Acetylcholine is released by your neurons, another chemical called cholinesterase breaks this neurochemical down and converts it into other compounds. However, most people do not get enough choline in their diets which means they do not have enough acetylcholine stored in their neurons for optimal cognitive function.

By inhibiting the breakdown of this important neurotransmitter, Huperzine can actually increase the synaptic plasticity of the brain leading to better learning and memory. This brain supplement allows your neurons to make more connections and prevents the pruning of unused connections. It works best when taken with other acetylcholine supplements.

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