In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, many professionals use brain boosters to enhance their mental capabilities and ultimately increase productivity.
While it’s no news that some of these products actually work, finding one to use can be a tad challenging because of the sheer number of options available.
In this article, we will explore the popular top brain boosters for productivity to help you make the best choice.
How Can You Improve Brain Function?
The brain is a complex organ that controls all bodily functions, including memory, decision-making, attention, creativity, and focus.
While it’s supposed to coordinate all these functions effectively, factors such as stress, unhealthy diet, and lack of sleep cause it to underperform, ultimately affecting productivity and overall well-being.
Fortunately, there are several ways to reverse these factors, revitalize the brain and help boost productivity.
Making simple lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, getting enough quality sleep, and exercising regularly is one way. Taking certain supplements, vitamins, and nootropics is another.
Many people combine adopting healthy lifestyle practices with taking brain boosters to speed the process up and become even more productive.
If you are planning to use brain boosters, you have to first understand what they are, how they work, and, most importantly, choose the right type. You will find out all about these in the following section. Read on.
What Are Brain Boosters?
Brain boosters, also known as “smart drugs,” cognitive enhancers, or nootropics, are natural or synthetic substances that have cognitive-enhancing effects in healthy people.
Most of them work by tweaking the levels of dopamine and some other neurotransmitters in the brain that influence mental function.
There are several brain boosters available, each with its unique benefits. Some are available over the counter, while others require a prescription. It is important to understand the potential benefits, as well as the associated risks, before using the drugs.
Some of the basic benefits brain boosters provide include [1][2]:
- enhanced memory;
- increased creativity;
- increased alertness;
- faster mental processing speed;
- increased motivation to work.
Some brain boosters may even reduce the risk of cognitive decline, which is common in aging individuals. However, it is worth noting that they can have mild side effects such as headache, nausea, upset stomach, and runny nose or severe side effects such as ringing in one or both ears, anxiety, etc., if used incorrectly. It is advisable to consult a doctor before taking a brain booster or any other medication.
Top Brain Supplements for Productivity
While there are several brain supplements available, not all of them are safe or effective. Some of them provide benefits on a basic level, others provide highly targeted benefits that can be used to achieve specific results. If you’re interested in getting the best results, here are the top 5 nootropics you should consider:
Ginkgo Biloba
This is one of the most popular herbal supplements, as it has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Today, many people use it to improve memory, sharpen their thinking, increase alertness, and boost overall brain health.
It has antioxidant properties that protect the brain from oxidative stress, which is known to affect cognitive function with age [3][4]. It also improves blood flow to the brain and increases oxygen supply, which is important for brain function.
Mind Lab Pro
This is a brain supplement formulated to improve mental acuity, boost memory, and increase alertness. Its active ingredients consist of a fine blend of 11 powerful nootropic ingredients that enhance cognition by working in 6 bio-pathways.
The ingredients include Rhodiola rosea, Bacopa monnieri, vitamin B6, vitamin B9, vitamin B12, maritime pine bark extract, phosphatidylserine, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, L-theanine, lion’s mane mushroom, and citicoline [5].
This supplement is safe and effective. Many people who use it have given it a thumbs up based on its effectiveness and ease of use.
Alpha Brain
Alpha Brain is a popular dietary supplement specifically formulated to help people with mentally demanding jobs enhance cognition and ultimately increase productivity.
It contains well-known cognitive-enhancing ingredients such as Bacopa monnieri, L-theanine, and alpha-GPC, among others known to work effectively.
Alpha Brain is a non-prescription product, which means that it can be purchased without a prescription. However, it remains important to consult a doctor before taking it or any other health and wellness product.
Caffeine
Most people take caffeine every day but are unaware that it is a brain booster that can increase attention span, boost memory, and increase alertness.
It reduces fatigue and promotes wakefulness by blocking adenosine receptors which, in turn, triggers the release of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
While excessive consumption can cause jitters, insomnia, and anxiety, taking 4 to 5 cups (about 400 mg) per day works perfectly [6][7].
Modafinil
Modafinil is a prescription medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
However, it has cognitive-enhancing benefits, and countless people across the world use it to improve focus, alertness, and overall cognitive function. It works by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters, such as histamine and dopamine, among others, in the brain.
It is one of the most preferred and widely used nootropics for productivity. Most people prefer it because it is available in a clinically recommended dose, it is well-tolerated and has few side effects.
You can find modafinil for sale in the US, UK, New Zealand, and other parts of the world. However, irrespective of which country you reside in, you can simply order the pills from an overseas vendor.
Remember to be cautious when choosing an online store, as there are many fake ones online. Seek advice from your doctor before taking any medication.
Can Nootropic Supplements Have Any Side Effects?
Yes, just like any other dietary supplement or prescription medication, they can have side effects. The potential negative after-effects may vary based on the type of supplement taken, the amount or dosage used, and the individual’s sensitivity to the substance.
Some of the adverse effects that are common among most nootropics include:
- headache;
- insomnia;
- upset stomach;
- runny nose;
- nausea.
It is worth noting that brain boosters can also cause more serious adverse effects, such as ringing in one or both ears, blurry vision, anxiety, hallucinations, and palpitations. However, they rarely occur (if the right nootropics are used) and are mostly caused by incorrect use.
It is advisable to talk to a doctor or healthcare provider before using any dietary supplement or drug to boost the brain, especially if you are taking other medications or have a medical condition.
In Closing
The brain boosters we’ve listed in this article are some of the best for productivity. However, it is worth noting that there is no single “best brain booster” that works for everyone. Different people respond to dietary supplements and medications differently, so one may need to try out different products to find out which one provides the best results.
However, modafinil is our favorite pick for some reason. For starters, it has been well tested, used by millions of people around the world, and found to be safe. It has a high success rate, meaning it is likely to work for most people who take it. And last but not the least, it is well-tolerated and has few side effects.
Remember that cognitive enhancers can cause serious side effects, especially if used incorrectly. Seek advice from your doctor before taking anyone.
References
- The 10 Best Nootropic Supplements to Boost Brain Power. By Helen West, RD. Retrieved: March 16, 2023. Healthline.com.
- The 14 Best Nootropics and Smart Drugs Reviewed. By Erica Julson, MS, RDN, CLT. Retrieved: March 16, 2023. Healthline.com.
- A Review of the Antioxidant Actions of Three Herbal Medicines (Crataegus monogyna, Ginkgo biloba, and Aesculus hippocastanum) on the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases. By L.M. McCune. Retrieved: March 16, 2023. Sciencedirect.com.
- Oxidative Stress in Cognitive and Epigenetic Aging: A Retrospective Glance. By Aditi Kandlur, Kapaettu Satyamoorthy, and Gireesh Gangadharan. Retrieved: March 16, 2023. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Mind Lab Pro Universal Nootropic. Retrieved: March 16, 2023. Mindlabpro.com.
- Why Is Coffee Good for You? Here Are 7 Reasons. By Kris Gunnars, BSc. Retrieved: March 16, 2023. Healthline.com.
- Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? Retrieved: March 16, 2023. Fda.gov.
