Nootropics: Do They Truly Augment Human Intelligence? 🧠
Beyond the Hype: A Realistic Look at Nootropics & the Science Behind Them (8min read)
TL;DR Summary:
The blog explores nootropics' history, their impact on the brain, and the research supporting their use.
Nootropics' effectiveness can vary per individual, and their long-term effects are largely unknown.
Mind Lab Pro stood out for its transparency, absence of stimulants, and plant-based ingredients.
30 Day Trail w/ Mind Lab Pro was positive, with noticeable improvements in alertness, focus, and energy.
Despite initial skepticism, Mind Lab Pro has become a part of my daily routine.
As always consult a doctor before starting any new supplement and managing expectations as nootropics are not a miracle cure.
Welcome Back!
When Mind Lab Pro reached out to me to try their nootropic, I was skeptical, to say the least.
This is because I’ve been researching and learning about “smart drugs” or "cognitive enhancers" for over a decade.
It started in high school when I ran my first neuroscience experiment on learning, memory, and attention by testing whether music, chewing gum, or writing notes was more effective at increasing learning and memory in class.
Spearmint gum ended up being one of the most effective memory enhancers and therefore became the first “smart drug” I ever researched.
I was so curious how these “minty” chemicals affected the brain and its function.
Then, during my college years, in addition to my rigorous Neuroscience coursework, I started listening to a podcast called Smart Drug Smarts.
Each episode was more like a neuroscience lecture than a podcast and covered things like neurotransmitters, nootropics, neuromodulators, neurotechnology, and brain function with some of the leading researchers in the world.
So, I know a thing or two about the space, and I’ve tried numerous of these “smart drugs.”
That being said, I’ve never been more impressed with a nootropic than I have been with Mind Lab Pro.
Before I explain why, let’s learn some more about where nootropics came from, how they work, and most importantly, does research support their fantastical claims?
Let’s find out…
A Deeper Dive into the History of Nootropics
Nootropics, while recent in human history, reflect the age-old human pursuit of cognitive enhancement.
Our ancestors used herbs and spices like ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, Brahmi, and Ashwagandha for cognitive benefits.
The modern nootropic era began in the mid-20th century with Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea's creation of Piracetam, setting criteria for what qualifies as a nootropic.
These criteria were:
Enhances memory and learning
Improves processing & cognitive function
Supports performance in adverse conditions
Protects and supports brain health
Is free from stims, toxins & side-effects
The subsequent decades saw increased development and interest in nootropics, from military applications to academic studies.
With the internet's growth, knowledge about nootropics expanded, as did experimentation and crowdsourcing of information.
However, the field's history is complex, involving debates around legality and ethics, and is entwined with the ongoing development of neuroscience.
Neuroscience Unraveled: The Overall Effects of Nootropics on the Brain
Nootropics aim to enhance cognitive function by interacting with the brain's complex network of neurons and neurotransmitters.
They commonly operate by modulating neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin, which are essential for cognitive processes.
Some nootropics provide neuroprotection, defending neurons from damage, and others promote neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, crucial for learning and memory.
Additionally, certain nootropics enhance cerebral blood flow, benefitting overall brain health.
It’s Not That Simple…
The brain is not an aggregate of independent processes, but an intricate, interconnected network where a change in one node can reverberate across the entire system.
Nootropics, therefore, might have broad, system-wide effects that our current understanding doesn't fully capture.
Thus, the neuroscience of nootropics is an ongoing exploration, a thrilling journey into the heart of what makes us human—our brain.
Does Research Support Nootropics?
Research on nootropics shows context-specific benefits, such as improved alertness in sleep-deprived individuals with substances like caffeine and modafinil.
Some nootropics, like citicoline and phosphatidylserine, may slow cognitive decline in older adults. However, their effects on healthy, young individuals are inconsistent.
It's important to note that the placebo effect can play a significant role in perceived cognitive enhancement as well.
Believing that a substance will improve cognition can lead to perceived improvements, even if the substance itself doesn't have a significant effect.
Individual genetic and physiological differences between people can influence their effectiveness too, so what works for you, might not work for me.
Finally, the long-term effects and safety of many nootropics remain unclear because most research centers around short-term effects.
That being said, looking for nootropics that are made with natural, plant-based ingredients that have been used for hundreds of years for cognitive enhancement can help calm your mind about the long-term effects.
This is where Mind Lab Pro comes in!
Mind Lab Pro
As I mentioned, I’ve tried lots of these kinds of “smart drugs” on my own and over the last few years, lots of different brands have started sending me their nootropics to try.
To be honest, I am generally underwhelmed with the results, experience side effects like crashes when they wear off, and sketched out by what’s inside them because they don’t have all of the ingredients listed on the bottle… Yikes.
That being said, you can imagine how skeptical I was to try Mind Lab Pro out for 30 days…
Still, the same curiosity that lead to my fascination with the brain benefits of spearmint gum in high school caused me to give it a try.
What Makes Mind Lab Pro Special?
Before I try any kind of supplement, I dive deep into the research behind it, and the company that makes it.
This is the exact place where Mind Lab Pro started to differentiate itself from anything I’ve looked at in the past.
What Impressed Me the Most
As I dove into the research, there were a few things that lead me to believe that this nootropic might be different.
First of all, they have an open-source formula, meaning, I could see every single ingredient and exact dosage on the bottle, no “proprietary blends.”
Next, as someone who tends more towards the anxious side, I’ve found that the stimulants inside most nootropics give me the jitters, and make me feel more panicky than focused.
Mind Lab Pro is made without any of these kinds of stimulants though, which is very important not just for me, but for my clients & community of people healing from trauma, CPTSD, burnout, and anxiety.
Real Research
The other thing I’ve noticed when researching most nootropic brands is that they say they are “research-based” or “clinically proven” but then I can’t actually find any of the research…
Here are two research studies, from a real college research lab, run by a team of Neuroscientist, published in peer-reviewed journals, from the last 3 years, and done independently of the company that sells Mind Lab Pro:
I found these within 15sec of visiting the Mind Lab Pro cite… They’ve got nothing to hide, and I can’t tell you how much I respect this kind of transparency.
Finally, Mind Lab Pro is 100% plant-based (vegan certified), gluten-free, allergen-free, synthetic additive-free & sustainably sourced, I’ve never seen a supplement that checks all of these boxes…
Needless to say, I was impressed upon my initial inspection, so I decided to give it a try.
Does Mind Lab Pro Work?
The short answer is a resounding yes.
I’ve never used a nootropic that I’ve stuck with long-term until Mind Lab Pro.
Here’s a breakdown of my experience over the first 30 days I used it.
Weeks 1 & 2:
On the first day of taking it, I felt it start working after about 20-30mins.
I felt more alert, more focused and it felt like it was easier to pull information from my memory.
I’m happy to report that I didn’t get any jitters or anxiety at all from it, which was my biggest fear when starting it.
I also noticed that my concentration improved, which is impressive because when writing blogs like this, or doing content, I usually get easily distracted.
Week 3 & 4:
In weeks 3 & 4 I increased the dosage I was taking because when I started, I begin with half the recommended dosage because of the jitters/anxiety fear I mentioned above.
By week 3, I was confident that I would be find though, and I’m happy to report, the increase didn’t bring on any of the things I was worried about!
The other things I noticed in the last two weeks was my afternoon energy level and mental acuity.
I generally hit a wall around 2:30-4PM or so where it’s extraordinarily hard to focus or work on mentally strenuous things, like writing, or filming content.
However, on days that I take Mind Lab Pro, this doesn’t happen, I find myself able to stay on task, and still be very sharp mentally, even in my energy trough in the afternoon.
This is probably one of the largest benefits for me personally because sometimes I have coaching calls, speaking events, or content shoots where I need to be on, and Mind Lab Pro allows me to show up at 110% for these things!
What’s the Verdict?
Since my 30-day testing phase, I am still taking Mind Lab Pro every single day.
It’s become a part of my daily supplement stack, which I would have never guessed would happen, but here we are.
In fact, they are the first supplement brand that Mind, Brain, Body Lab has ever partnered with for that reason!
I recommend it to everyone now, which I am generally very very unlikely to do.
What’s Inside?
By now, you’re probably wondering what on earth is inside this stuff?
I don’t have time to cover this today, but I’ll be writing another in-depth blog on each of the 11 plant-based ingredients that make up Mind Lab Pro in a couple of weeks!
One more thing…
Before You Try Mind Lab Pro
If you are interested in trying Mind Lab Pro, here are a few things you should know before you do!
Mind Lab Pro is a natural supplement, so it is safe to take for most people. However, it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking any new supplement.
It’s also not a miracle cure. It will not make you a genius overnight. However, it can help you to improve your cognitive function.
And finally, you may not see the dramatic results you have in mind right away. I can personally attest that I felt a difference the first time I tried it, but that’s me, not you!
If you are looking for a natural way to improve your cognitive function, Mind Lab Pro is a great option. It is safe, effective, and backed by science.
If you’d like to try it, here’s a link:
To Nootropic, or Not to Nootropic
Ultimately, the history of nootropics tells us a story about ourselves.
It is a narrative that mirrors our relentless pursuit of progress, and our enduring quest to unfurl the mystery of the human brain.
I hope today’s blog interests you as much as it did me, I really enjoy diving deep into subjects like this.
Thanks for being here, and until next time… Live Heroically 🧠
Supporting Research:
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