Are you a competitive person? Do you want to be better than others? Do you want to be on the top of the game? Well, there is a way to hack your brain and stretch the limits which would allow you to outperform your old self. Today we will discuss Natural Nootropics, different types of nootropics, and some of my favourite ones because I have been taking them for the last couple of years.

What are nootropics?

Nootropics are not drugs, I am not taking drugs, I wish I did tho… But I cannot afford the ones I want… Nevertheless, Nootropics is not a magic pill like in the movie Limitless (which I absolutely love and have watched it 5 times). Some synthetic drugs like Adderall or Ritalin can cause a similar effect which you could observe in the movie, but these drugs work short-term and in my opinion are not worth it if you need long-term, healthy quality performance.

What do nootropics do?

Nootropics refer to a wide range of synthetic and natural compounds that improve your brain functions such as memory, motivation, focus and even mental clarity. In order for something to be a nootropic, there should be no serious side effects, which means that they should offer a slight increase “high” and better recovery without making you trip your balls for days or weeks. As well, it is important to research the supplements to avoid side effects such as allergies. I am no doctor, but even I can tell you that an apple a day…omg….lame… I wanted to say, chose the ones you think fit you well and are checked long term to avoid different unpleasantries.

Types of Nootropics

So let us break those down into two major categories, synthetic nootropics and natural nootropics. First one is synthetic nootropics, and these are created in labs and are to be found cognitively enhancing with low or no side effect. One of the very popular ones which was found over 50 years ago and is called modafinil. This drug was tested for the last 20 years, and to this day, people are not completely sure if long-term consumption of it will not have any serious side effects, yet you can find a bunch of cases where people have pretty disturbing allergic reactions to this drug.

The story of a friend on Modafinil? (Mr Pickles Story)

My friend Pickles, during a period of his life, was ready to do anything in order to perform and work 18 hour days to achieve his goals. So he decided to take synthetic nootropics as they would affect faster and last longer. Mr Pickles researched the internet, surfed the web and dived into the deep web to gather as much information as he could on this amazing drug. Modafinil is mostly used to fight narcolepsy, but for a healthy person, it allows to work longer periods of time without feeling tired and also it kept Mr Pickles concentrated and focused. Unlike Adderall, modafinil does not have serious side effect and does not have a psychological addiction. At one point it was even called “The Smart Drug of Silicon Valley”.

Mr Pickles started taking the drug a few times a month when he needed to work an extreme number of hours. For the first months, it was going fine, he was super productive, motivated, and felt that he could run to the moon. But like anyone in this world, he got slapped by life.

After 3 months he started feeling itchy and noticed the bruises which were appearing on his arms and body. He thought that it was caused by something else because he was already taking modafinil for over 3 months. Next week he took one more dose, and that was when things got very bad. He noticed that these bruises were appearing everywhere on his body, arms, lips, back, chest and hands. All these bruises were itching to the point he wanted to burn them with hellfires, where is when he realized that they were filled with water sacks. Mr Pickles thought he is going to die…

Doctors said that he had a severe allergic reaction to modafinil and luckily it did not get worse (I thought that it could not get worse).The bubbles went away without popping, yet multiple bruises left scars all over his body which he will have for the rest of his life.

Lesson? Do not take synthetic nootropics a.k.a. Do not do drugs kids.

Natural Nootropics

These are substances which can be found in anything organic that grows on planet earth. Some of them we are taking every day, like tea and coffee. Those are indeed Nootropics, together with herbs you add to your soup, or ginger to boots you tea health levels. These natural Nootropics were around for thousands of years and their effects were observed and recorded.

This is important to understand the length of the research on a specific nootropic because only 50-60 years ago cigarettes were promoted and advertised as healthy. It was a belief that it is better than aspirin, releases stress, and it took not so long until the side effects became obvious and deadly. Absolutely not worth it in my opinion. But if you do not mind dying in 20 years, losing your teeth and getting cancer. Good luck!

Natural Nootropics I take

I do indeed myself take natural nootropics almost every day.

1.     Creatine

It is produced by our bodies naturally. “The main role is to facilitate recycling of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell, primarily in muscle and brain tissue” – Wikipedia. Creatine can also be found in animal products such as meat and fish. This is one of the safest Nootropics available today with millions of studies conducted which back up the health benefits. These benefits are helpful for people who are working out with heavy weights as it allows to recover and grow lean muscle faster.

Tons of studies prove that it results in cognitive improvements, such as memory, mental clarity and concentration. The idea is that your brain recycles ATP faster giving you the benefits. I recommend Creatine Monohydrate, easy to drink. Keep in mind that large water consumption is required, otherwise, you can feel a bit nauseous.

2.     Omega – 3

These are fatty acids which our bodies require to function properly and can be found in fish, plants and algae. These acids help with depression (my fav hobby), decrease anxiety and mental fog. Plus, it is very healthy for your body!

Omega 3 – Healthy

Depression – NOT Healthy

3.     Magnesium

This is an essential mineral that our body requires to function properly. You can find magnesium in products like nuts and vegetables.  If your body does not have enough magnesium, you might be struggling with fatigue and insomnia. From a nootropic side, magnesium supplements increase learning and memory. For simplicity, you can buy a box or packs of magnesium and consume with water every morning or before bed.

4.     Dopamine

This is an interesting one. Dopamine is the element of our lives which keeps us motivated, allows us to go outside and accomplish our goals. When a person has a low level of dopamine in his body, he tends to be lazy, unenergetic and lays in bed whole day watching Netflix. A few methods I use to keep the dopamine levels high is meditation, workouts and noFAP. This helps in building up your dopamine levels, together with foods like meat, dairy products, and nuts. Including vitamin B6 and C. Sadly, nowadays people do not have a healthy diet due to the growth of proVEGANS and Peta (much love).

5.     Caffeine

This is my favourite one because I not only love it. When caffeine reaches receptors in your brain, it releases dopamine, which activates different kinds of pleasures in your body and mind. I consume at least 2 cups of coffee a day, which boosts memory and alertness which allows staying concentrated while doing your tasks. This improvement in mental performance is what keeps me moving every day with a (sometimes) smile on my face.

Conclusion

I believe that there are many more natural nootropics which can help to hack the brain and go an extra mile during your day. Some people, of course, feel great without using any nootropics, but this is still a quite new development in brain hacking which I suppose is not science. One thing we cannot deny is that these nootropics are actually working and helping to boost performance. If you are living a hectic life where you cannot allow yourself to slack or procrastinate, I pretty much recommend looking into natural nootropics. Not cocaine tho…