Athletes lead demanding lifestyles, so gaining mental boosts where possible can be invaluable. Nootropics - natural or synthetic substances which can improve focus, memory and energy levels - can be used with considerable effect.
But with a host of options available all claiming to give different blends of nootropic content to elicit varying desired effects, it can be difficult to gauge what makes a good product.
To help, Built for Athletes has compiled four of the most effective ingredients in nootropic supplements.
Caffeine
Found in almost all nootropic blends, the benefits of caffeine are well publicised.
A useful pre-workout supplement, it boosts mental focus, short-term memory speed and guards against fatigue.
It’s considered to be safe for healthy adults to take as much as 400mg of caffeine a day.
Panax Ginseng
The plant Panax ginseng has been used in Asia to improve brain function for centuries.
Numerous studies have found that it does reduce mental fatigue and improve performance on challenging mathematical tasks, as well as being a strong anti-inflammatory.
However, the human body has been shown to adapt to regular use of Panax ginseng, making less effective over long periods of time. Therefore it is best used sparingly.
Resveratrol
While most nootropics tend to focus on the mind they can have benefits elsewhere too, and resveratrol is a substance commonly used by those looking to reduce feelings of pain or high blood pressure.
Resveratrol is a natural phenol produced by plants when they are under attack from bacteria.
It’s commonly found in red wine and grape skin, but can be bought in powder form.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginko Biloba decreases levels of cortisol and soothes the stress response to troubling situations. It can also be taken daily to aid with mental functioning and memory, which could be due to an enhancement of blood flow to the brain.
It’s taken from the leaves of an extremely ancient and rare plant, which can be traced back to fossils from around 200 million years ago.
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