Self reflection:

• Can the toothpaste I use benefit both my oral health and brain health?
• Is there a toothpaste that could help me improve my mental performance?
• Can brushing my teeth help me stay more active during the day or get better sleep at night?

Key takeaways:

• Nootropics are substances that optimize brain functioning, making you smarter, focused, motivated, and productive.
• Nootropics are growing in popularity as people strive to improve their mental performance.
• Consuming nootropics may help you improve your focus, memory, sleep quality, and help you reduce stress levels.

In today’s busy and competitive world, it’s important to be at your peak mental performance. Imagine being able to learn faster, write a better sales pitch, score higher in games, and improve your productivity in general. It’s no surprise that many people are looking for ways to improve their mental functioning.

If this is you, you might want to consider nootropics. Nootropics promise to make you smarter, sharper, and happier. But do they work and are they worth the hype?

This article will dive into the benefits of nootropics, examples of nootropics, and where you can find these compounds in everyday products.

What Are Nootropics?

Nootropics are substances that may help improve cognitive functions including memory, focus, and motivation. They are also sometimes referred to as cognitive enhancers or brain boosters.

Nootropics have been used to help manage mental deficits in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, narcolepsy, schizophrenia, ADHD, or advanced age. Due to their success, people look to these substances to boost their brain power.

There is a growing interest in nootropics, especially as people seek natural ways to improve their productivity and mental performance. While some nootropics are available as dietary supplements, others can be found in food or natural sources.

5 Benefits of Nootropics

Taking nootropics could have some positive effects on your health. Here are five benefits of nootropics.

1. Boost Cognitive Performance

One of the most common reasons people use nootropic supplements is to promote brain health. Research shows that nootropics improve mental functions such as memory, attention, motivation, and creativity.

Nootropics may enhance mental performance because they:

• Improve blood flow to the brain
• Stimulate the action of neurotransmitters such as glutamate by binding to their receptors
• Suppress depressant neurotransmitters such as GABA

Apart from boosting mental performance, nootropics may also slow down age-related cognitive decline. Older adultsusually experience symptoms of cognitive decline such as memory loss. Nootropic supplements can come in handy in delaying these symptoms.

An excellent, regular source of nootropics is Karmicare’s Awake morning toothpaste. Awake morning toothpaste is rich in guarana, a nootropic that will spark your mind to life and keep you active throughout the day. Infused with lime and mint flavors, Awake morning toothpaste tastes and smells zesty and fresh, giving you the confident smile you deserve.

2. Improve Sleep Quality

Good sleep is essential for your physical and mental health. Taking a nootropic could help you sleep better.

Nootropics like valerian are used as a sleep aid to improve sleep quality. Nootropics help the body to calm down and release anxiety, setting the stage for quality sleep. A good night’s sleep comes with other cognitive benefits such as memory formation.

Again, with Karmicare’s Asleep evening toothpaste, you can be sure to enjoy the best quality sleep just by brushing your teeth before bed. Asleep evening toothpaste is enriched with valerian, orange essential oil, and cinnamon, three ingredients that help you relax and get in the right state of mind for quality sleep.

3. Increase Attention Span and Concentration

Scientists have proven that nootropics can enhance attention and concentration in kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a mental condition that makes it difficult to sustain one’s attention on a task.

Aside from their clinical indications, you can use nootropics to try to enhance your focus and concentration. In recent times, the internet has popularized the use of nootropics as “study drugs” because they enhance focus and wakefulness. Many learners around the world are familiar with the attention-enhancing benefits of drugs like Adderall and modafinil.

These drugs modify the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and GABA. By doing so, they improve your brain’s alertness and focus. However, beware that when using these drugs, you are more likely to experience side effects.

Natural nootropics are the safer alternative because they are free from toxic synthetic compounds and lack side effects associated with high dosages.

4. Ease Stress and Boost Mood

Nootropics can boost your mood and reduce the symptoms of mental anxiety and stress. This is mainly because nootropics increase the level of dopamine, the mood-enhancing chemical in the brain.

Dopamine is the brain’s “reward chemical” and is closely linked to feelings of contentment and pleasure. With little dopamine, you are likely to experience mood swings, lack of focus, or lack of motivation.

5. Reduce Mental Fatigue

Your brain is a busy factory that uses a lot of energy. It’s common to feel mentally drained to a point where you can barely focus. Mental fatigue affects decision-making, short-term memory, and productivity.

Taking nootropics can help keep you moving. Nootropics improve blood flow to your brain and facilitate energy production by your brain cells. They also reduce stress hormones that cause fatigue.

By relieving brain fatigue, they supercharge your performance and improve your overall quality of life.

Where to Find Nootropics in Everyday Products

If you’re ready to boost your brain power, mood, sleep quality, and focus, here are a few rich sources of nootropics.

1. Guarana

Guarana, also known as Paullinia cupana, is a Brazilian plant found mostly within the Amazon basin. It produces fruits that are harvested for their seeds. One guarana fruit is the size of about 4 coffee beans. Guarana fruits contain black seeds that are usually processed into a powder form called guarana extract.

Guarana is famous for its health benefits. For millennia, Amazonian tribes have used guarana powder to promote good health. Today, guarana extract is a common ingredient in many energy drinks and soft drinks.

Guarana extract is rich in stimulants such as caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine.

The health benefits of guarana are:

• Improves brain power: Guarana is a nootropic. Guarana consumption has been shown to improve learning and memory. A study comparing guarana to ginseng, another popular nootropic, showed that guarana was superior in enhancing brain function.
• Lowers the risk of heart disease: Antioxidants are substances that help your body get rid of free radicals. Free radicals are compounds produced when your cells process energy through oxidation. Similar to green tea, guarana contains antioxidants like tannins, saponins, and catechins. Antioxidants lower the risk of heart disease by reducing blood pressure and possibly, by helping to control blood sugar.
• May promote weight loss: Guarana may help you lose weight and avoid obesity. Studies show that compounds in guarana may suppress genes that take part in fat production.
• May reduce mental fatigue and help you focus: Guarana is an awesome source of caffeine. Caffeine has stimulating effects that can help you focus and stay alert.

Without a doubt, guarana is one of those healthy foods you want to consume to help you improve both your mental performance and physical health.

But since guarana is mainly added to energy drinks and soft drinks, you risk consuming too much processed sugar and other unhealthy additives in your quest to enjoy guarana benefits.

So where can you find a healthy and regular source of guarana in everyday products? Toothpaste is an easy way to add guarana to your routine. Karmicare’s Awake morning toothpaste is rich in guarana to help you boost your energy levels as you gear up for the day. For a boost of guarana, choose Karmicare’s Awake morning toothpaste to ensure you don’t miss out on the awesome benefits of this nootropic.

2. Valerian

Valerian is an herb native to Europe and Northern Asia. It’s a common herbal nootropic used to induce sleep, especially in people with insomnia.

Research shows that taking valerian can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. In addition, unlike other sleep aids, you can consume valerian without having to worry about side effects.

Apart from promoting healthy sleep, valerian helps to reduce stress and anxiety. We've all had those days where being tired, you can’t seem to fall asleep. Your thoughts are racing and you can't seem to recover from the pressure and anxiety of the day.

Valerian-infused Asleep evening toothpaste from Karmicare will help you drift into slumberland. With superior minerals like nano HAp along with active nootropics, Karmicare helps you achieve an optimum mind and mouth. Unlike fluoride-based oral hygiene products that disturb your wake/sleep cycles, Karmicare actually harmonizes with your body's circadian rhythms.

3. Caffeine

You’ve probably used caffeine before to stay alert and enhance your performance. Caffeine boosts the activities of both the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, energizing your body and brain.

Common sources of caffeine include coffee, tea, guarana, soda, and energy drinks. While taking caffeine-containing products, ensure you keep your caffeine content in check. Consuming too much of substances with high caffeine content can result in dependence and other side effects like insomnia, dehydration, and dizziness.

Other nootropics you should take note of are:

• L-theanine: Found in tea, L-theanine will help you improve your cognitive performance, boost your immunity, lower your blood pressure, and aid in weight loss.
• Creatine: Creatine supplements are mainly used by athletes because it enhances athletic performance, but it may also improve brain health, lower blood sugar, and reduce fatigue.
• Bacopa monnieri: This is an herb that may also boost brain function, reduce anxiety, and ease inflammation.
• Panax ginseng: Panax ginseng is considered an adaptogen. Adaptogens are substances that are believed to make your body more resistant to stressors. Panax ginseng may also enhance your mental performance, reduce inflammation, boost your immunity, and boost your energy levels.
• Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo biloba extract may improve cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, enhance brain health, and lessen anxiety.
• Rhodiola rosea: Also an adaptogen, rhodiola rosea may help manage stress and anxiety, reduce the symptoms of depression, and improve brain function.

Are Nootropics Safe to Use?

Yes. Nootropics are safe to use in the correct dosage and with guidance from a health care provider.

It’s important to note that prescription and over-the-counter nootropics will almost always have side effects, especially if consumed in large doses. Therefore, always consult your health care provider before using these substances.

The potential side effects of nootropics are:

• High blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Addiction
• Insomnia

Natural nootropics are generally safer because their actions in the body are more subtle compared to pharmaceuticals. Ensure you get your nootropic supplements from reputable manufacturers and distributors. In the U.S., for example, the FDA regulates dietary supplements differently from other food and drugs. It’s easier for unhealthy products to reach the market. Look out for products that undergo independent testing to ascertain their safety profile.

Nootropics are substances that improve cognitive function. They can be used to improve memory, focus, concentration, sleep, and mood.

Generally, natural nootropics are safer than drugs because they are less likely to cause side effects. Be sure to only purchase quality products from reputable manufacturers and sellers.

If you’re looking for a healthy, mild/moderate source of nootropics, choose Karmicare’s Biorhythmic Oral Hygiene Set. With both morning and evening toothpaste, Karmicare’s toothpaste set contains nootropics tailored to help you maximize your performance during the day and get quality sleep at night.