Does it feel like you’re constantly trying to find your way through a mental fog? Like each day you wake up, hoping to feel refreshed but just can’t seem to tap into the focus and mental energy you once had? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people are walking around, experiencing the very same thing that you are, and wishing a solution existed.
Maybe you’ve tried getting better sleep, changing your diet or even went to a doctor who wanted or prescribe medication that also came with a seemingly never-ending list of side effects. You need something effective, but also prefer a remedy that’s gentler, natural and not riddled with side effects.
Nootropics offer a solution. Nootropics are substances that are commonly referred to as smart drugs. There are dozens of nootropics that enhance cognitive function, and a great number of them are completely natural.
Product | details | Header |
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Physician's Choice Ashwagandha | Cell | |
Double Wood Bacopa Monnieri | Cell | |
NutraChamps Korean Red Panax Ginseng | Cell | |
Fresh Nutrition Lion’s Mane Mushroom | Cell |
Natural nootropics provide the boost in cognitive function you’re looking for, without all the concern about toxicity and side effects that come with traditional medications. But this doesn’t mean you should jump on the natural supplement bandwagon blindly. There is a huge range of quality and safety in natural supplements and it’s important to choose wisely.
Natural supplements aren’t regulated the same way medications are, so you need to do your homework if you want the best options that are safe, pure and effective. We’ve done some of the legwork for you. Here are the best natural nootropics available in 2019.
Physician's Choice Ashwagandha
Physician's Choice Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s used to treat a variety of ailments but is well known for its ability to restore a sense of balance and calm. Ashwagandha is considered a gentle herb that is well tolerated by most people.
Ashwagandha is what we call an adaptogen. This means that it helps the body adapt and regulate its response to stress. In this way, Ashwagandha is a great natural remedy for calming the nerves, and also for protecting oxidative damage that can be caused by a stress response in the body.
Physician’s Choice makes a natural Ashwagandha supplement that’s both potent and effective, contain 1,950mg of pure Ashwagandha in each serving.
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Double Wood Bacopa Monnieri
Double Wood Bacopa Monnieri is another popular herb used within the Ayurvedic medicine system. Like Ashwagandha, it has many beneficial healing properties, but for our purposes here, we’re going to focus in on the nootropic benefits it provides.
Bacopa Monnieri has been shown to enhance memory, including producing positive results when taken by dementia patients. This Ayurvedic herb is also known for the calming effect that it produces, which eases symptoms of anxiety and depression. It accomplishes this in part by increasing blood flow to the brain and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.
Double Wood Supplements makes a solid, reputable Bacopa Monnieri that contains 450mg of the herb per capsule. Double Wood’s supplements are also tested for purity and come with a money back guarantee if you’re anything less than completely satisfied.
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NutraChamps Korean Red Panax Ginseng
NutraChamps Korean Red Panax Ginseng is an excellent natural nootropic supplement. You’re probably already familiar with Panax Ginseng for its reputation in increasing vitality and energy. There’s no question that Panax Ginseng is a great supplement for these purposes, but we can’t dismiss the fact that it also has powerful nootropic capabilities.
Thanks in part to ginsenosides, Panax Ginseng calms inflammation, which is key to staying cognitively sharp. Individuals who take Panax Ginseng often report improved focus and less fatigue.
NutraChamps produces an exceptional Korean Red Panax Ginseng supplement, with 500mg of Panax Ginseng in each capsule, which is also standardized to contain at least 5% ginsenosides for extra potency.
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Fresh Nutrition Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Mushrooms have become known as Mother Nature’s little powerhouses, packed with all sorts of good nutrients and natural substances to support health. One mushroom that’s getting a lot of attention lately is Lion’s Mane, and we can’t get enough of it as a nootropic. Fresh Nutrition Lion’s Mane Mushroom is one of the leading brands.
There’s some interesting research that supports Lion’s Mane role as a nootropic. Mainly, research that shows it to be effective in treating or lessening the symptoms of anxiety and depression. It has also been shown to enhance memory function and focus.
You’ll find plenty of different forms and brands of Lion’s Mane supplements on the market, but Fresh Nutrition makes a Lion’s Mane capsule that is arguably one of the best. The mushrooms they use in their formula are organic and DNA tested for purity. With Fresh Nutrition, you know you’re getting what you pay for with the highest quality, purest supplements.
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Nature’s Bounty Ginkgo Biloba
Nature's Bounty Ginkgo Biloba is a natural herb, native to China, that has incredible nootropic benefits. When you take Ginkgo Biloba, it gets to work increasing blood flow to the brain and modulating all the neurotransmissions that are bouncing around. The result is better focus, improved memory and lessens the feelings of stress and tension.
Ginkgo Biloba contains glycosides and terpene lactones, both of which are powerful forces behind its nootropic qualities. If you’re looking for a natural nootropic that gives a nice boost to cognitive function in general, Ginkgo Biloba is a great choice.
Speaking of great choices, Nature’s Bounty is always a solid choice in the natural supplement world. Their formula contains 120mg of Ginkgo Biloba, standardized to contain 24% Ginkgo flavone glycosides, in each capsule. Nature’s Bounty has been a trusted name in natural supplements for over 40 years.
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Anthony’s Organic Ground Ginger Root
Anthony’s Organic Ground Ginger Root is a rhizome that’s popular for its many applications. Many people are familiar with ginger for the bright, citrusy zing it adds to food and beverages, but it has also been used throughout time as a healing plant in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Ginger is a soothing, healing plant that is well known for calming digestive distress and supporting immune health. It earns a spot of this list of best natural nootropics because it has also been shown to be beneficial in enhancing memory and slowing the process of age-related cognitive decline.
There are plenty of ways to get some ginger into your system, with Anthony’s Organic Ground Ginger Root being one of the most effective and most convenient. This pure ginger powder is USDA certified organic and batch tested for quality and purity.
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NaturaLife Labs Organic Maca Root
NaturaLife Labs Organic Maca Root is an amazing plant that packs an incredibly powerful nutritional punch. In fact, it’s a staple of people living in the higher altitude of the Andes because it’s the most nutritionally dense food grown in the region. To add to its greatness, Maca contains plenty of amino acids, which are important for healthy neurotransmitter function.
Maca has been shown to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety, along with improving memory function. What’s especially interesting about Maca is that it has been shown to be particularly effective as a nootropic in post-menopausal women.
NaturaLife Labs makes an Organic Maca Root supplement that is formulated to provide noticeable, sustainable results. Their formula is organic, produced in an FDA approved facility, and delivers 950mg of Maca root per capsule.
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Garden of Life Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Something as simple as coconut oil is considered a powerful natural nootropic? You bet. Coconut oil is mostly saturated fat, but it contains a special type of saturate fat called MCT, or medium chain triglycerides.
Just like the rest of your body, the brain requires a certain amount of fat for healthy function. Most fats never make it past your digestive system, but MCTs are digested and processed different. Through this different mechanism they actually enhance cognitive function and serve as a neuroprotectant.
Garden of Life Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a high-quality Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Their coconut oil is cold pressed, raw, organic, and USDA certified.
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Getting Better by Going Natural
Natural supplements offer a wonderful alternative to modern pharmaceuticals in many cases. You should still consult your doctor, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions, before taking any of the supplements on this list. The natural nootropics here all work to improve cognitive function in a way that also supports whole body health. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little to find the best nootropic for you and your lifestyle.