The health supplement field is big business — in just the U.S. alone buyers invest around 30 billion dollars on nutritional supplements every year. Around 3.2 billion dollars of that is alloted to one of the most rapidly increasing sectors of the supplement industry: cognitive-improvers marketed as nootropics.
A nootropic is any drug or substance that is thought to boost brain (cognitive) abilities — the mental (cognitive) functionalities addressing logic (rather than emotions). A person uses nootropics thinking they'll be improving their focus, creativity, motivation, or memory.
Many folks who study up on nootropics really, really get into them. It's not out of the ordinary for somebody to pay one hundred bucks or even more each month on taking what they feel is the ideal mix of cognitive-enhancing nootropics. Most of us would certainly be very thrilled to down a tablet that increases our cognitive performance, but not many of us can easily justify or afford dropping the big bucks on daily supplements. Fortunately, the good news is that anyone can receive the favorable effects of these supplements at a very low cost. Why? Because nootropics are naturally a component of a number of the foods we commonly eat.
Dark Chocolate
Chocolate is well-known for being delicious, though not very healthy. That reputation is justified — for milk chocolate, though not for dark chocolate. Matched up with milk chocolate, dark chocolate has far less sugar and a lot more cocoa. And we know that it's the cocoa that is the nutritious aspect of chocolate. Cocoa is made from cacao seeds loaded with flavonoids — nutrients that exist in many plants. Flavonoids improve blood flow in the brain and improve oxygen levels, which contribute to better cognitive functionality. If you're one who loves chocolate, by all means continue to savor your goody. But remember, when it comes to chocolate, the darker the chocolate the better.
Red Wine (Not White Wine)
Resveratrol is a natural substance present in several plants, specifically various berries and grapes. Red grapes are quite rich in resveratrol, and so that high amount ends up in red wine. Resveratrol is an antioxidant, making it a substance that may diminish the rate of aging of the body's cells. Resveratrol boosts the development of brain cells in the hippocampus — described as the brain's memory center.
Why red wine, and not other wine types? Though white wine also includes some resveratrol, red grapes have more. Additionally, red wine has a fermentation period that lasts longer than white wine, meaning much more of the resveratrol from the grape skins makes it into the wine.
Dark chocolate, now red wine. Nobody would have considered increasing your brain strength would be both easy and enjoyable. However, more of a good thing isn't always better, and as you can well imagine that applies to red wine. If you tolerate alcohol well, and are a social drinker, one or two glasses of red wine per day is a safe and enjoyable way to get your dose of a nootropic.
Oily Fish
The oily part of oily fish may seem bad, but now we're talking about omega-3 fatty acids, which are good fats. About 65 percent of the brain is comprised of fat, with omega-3 fatty acids the most crucial type of that fat.
Omega-3 fatty acids support the structure of the membranes that encompass brain cells and assist in the servicing of brain cell (neuron) connections. Lowered levels of omega-3 fatty acids are linked with loss of memory, and it's believed that maintaining sufficient degrees omega-3 fat may supply shielding against Alzheimer's.
A person cannot go wrong by eating a couple of servings weekly of a rich, oily fish such as salmon, tuna, herring, or sardines. In addition to providing brain benefits, omega-3 fatty acids are thought to help in preventing heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.
Coffee
There's a good chance you can probably figure out what chemical in coffee provides a mug of java the capability to increase your brain power. Caffeine is possibly one of the most common ingredients in nootropic stacks — brain enhancing supplements that include a number of nootropic compounds. As every caffeine consumer knows, caffeine boosts a person's energy. However, it's a fact that caffeine also boosts a variety of brain operations including mood, memory, and alertness.
Caffeine performs its wonders in a range of ways, such as by triggering your body to release additional dopamine — a hormone, that transfers information between brain cells (neurons). Dopamine has many desirable effects on your brain, including assisting in focus and attention, and memory formation and retention.
By eating foods that are naturally high in nootropics you'll be building a better brain, and doing so in a low-cost, enjoyable way!