Most people attempt to find ways to enhance their thought processes–sometimes through doing mental puzzles that can supposedly increase your neurons. But while it’s still likely true that if you don’t use your brain actively you’ll end up being unable to retain memories or be able to have sharp cognitive functions, a lot of natural drugs are available that seemingly do keep your brain working at a stronger level. So many things are available, though, that a lot of people assume that it’s expensive…or that you might even need a prescription from a doctor. Well, I’d stay away from the prescriptions. Considering that many natural products in alternative health stores state that a particular product can work effectively for you–they actually may not. From my own experience, the most effective ones aren’t all that expensive, usually contain enough so it lasts a long time, and can be consumed easily in your diet.
Of course, you should know that some of the best brain enhancers are in natural foods, too. But before we get to that, everybody should be aware of the different types of Nootropics (translated by the Greeks as “turning or bending your mind”) that are quite wide and do different things. In the category of Cholinergics (named after the powerful Choline) that help the neurotransmitters in the brain, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, considering some drugs under that title are only available under prescription and might have a lot of Ginny Pig-like side effects for you that nobody wants. The best natural drug under this category that I’ve found and used is Lecithin. This is easily purchasable in your local health food store in granule form. Sometimes it’s sold in a can or in a bag–but it’s generally reasonably-priced enough where you can buy a large amount and have it on hand for months.
For me, sprinkling one tablespoon of granules of Lecithin on food (or even stirring it into some vegetable drinks) works great. That one tablespoon is all that’s recommended to gain the benefits. Perhaps it’s only placebo effect, but I’ve noticed marked improvement in my mental faculties since taking it over the last several years. You might think it strange that someone as young as I am with no prior mental cognitive function problems would want to take it. Well, when you’re a person who does creative work for part of your life–you’re willing to give it a try to prevent any brain function from deteriorating over time. A lot of people who do creative work seek out these things.
One thing about taking Lecithin: If I had to offer my supply to someone with Alzheimer’s Disease…I would. Based on some inconclusive medical tests around the world in recent years, Lecithin and other Cholinergics have shown to help Alzheimer’s patients gain back some of their mental functions for a while. So far, though, it seems to be squelched in becoming a mainstream treatment–perhaps because it’s a natural product. A lot of prescription drugs that also help Alzheimer’s to some degree are mostly being pushed…when they seem to cause other problems as well as not being as effective.
The other types of Nootropics that help the nervous system and how we feel…
–Dopaminergics contain a whole different group of drugs that affect a person’s nervous system so they stay more calm as the “Dopa” suggests. These aren’t classic tranquilizers–though may be safer for obvious reasons. One of the few under this category that requires a prescription is the well-known L-dopa that also works as a dietary supplement and anti-depressant. Most products listed as a Dopaminergic are natural, however, and can be found lining all the shelves at your health food store. One popular one is Tyrosine, which is an amino acid and can supposedly help you feel more relaxed for sleeping.
Strange that so many people end up getting harder prescription drugs to help them get to sleep rather than trying these natural nootropics. One particular natural supplement that falls directly under this category is something you’ve been taking for years: Vitamin C. We all know, though, that you can’t rely on that alone. Some of these are just part of a wider picture. As in Theanine (which is in all tea)–you can find them in natural foods.
–Serotonergics are self-explanatory, too, in that these drugs help your serotonin levels to help in the aid of depression. Tryptophan is one of the best known words in the English language lately (at least around Thanksgiving)–because you obviously know it’s in turkey…as well as bananas. It helps in giving you a relaxed feeling and making you feel better. You can buy Tryptophan, however, in certain forms at the health food store if you don’t want to eat turkey and bananas regularly.
As far as employing this in prescriptive anti-depressant forms, SSRI’s are the most common drugs prescribed and treat everything from anxiety to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
–Adaptogenics help people…well, adapt better–when suffering from severe depression. If we haven’t heard about Ginseng once under this category, it may be a million times. Although, it’s been controversial in how effective it is and whether it really does anything at all. It’s still a top seller, however, and you won’t have trouble finding it on the health food store shelf based on its sales. Keep looking, though, because so many other natural drugs exist under this category…including the still-horribly-titled St. John’s Wort.
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For more brain enhancements–Creatine still gets its share of proponents and adversaries. While I don’t necessarily agree, some say you need to have a deficit of neurotransmitters in your brain before any of these things can help you. Otherwise, some say it can do harm. I’ve seen no harm at all myself from taking at least Lecithin.
And let’s end this article with something that might work the best for your brain of all and what people don’t eat enough of in their diets: Walnuts and oily fish.
These two foods contain omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to any diet if you want to be a healthy person. Unfortunately, people stay away from walnuts and oily fish because they think they’re both too high calorie or just don’t like to eat them out of personal taste. For me, I sometimes buy cans of sardines that fall under the oily fish category and have them on sandwiches. This provides the omega-3’s aplenty that aids in keeping your brain a little sharper. I’ve eaten sardines before going to do important things that require brain function–and usually feel a little more alert and able to think better.
Of course, I leave the door open to placebo effect. It seems too much of a coincidence, though, that I’d notice at least some slight improved cognitive function after consuming these things when I’m not even thinking about what the benefits will be.
So far, doctors and scientists are up in the air about many of these nootropics–but really won’t chastise or shame you for at least trying them all if it seems to help you.
