What Are Nootropics Or Smart Drugs, And Are They Effective

Over a decade ago there was a movie about a guy that took some experimental drugs designed to make him more intelligent. He went on to solve some crime mysteries and it was quite a good movie. It started a trend though of people interested in similar drugs to gain an upper hand in school and on the job by becoming more intelligent. Of course, the movie exaggerated the effects of the drugs, but more and more has been discovered about these chemicals called nootropics or smart drugs. Here is some useful information written by Nootropics Review Nerd if you’re interested in exploring their use.

There Are A Wide Range Of Drugs, Some Not So Effective

Before you start using your own body like a guinea pig test subject, you should do plenty of research. You should also understand that, whenever an effective drug comes out that is supposed to achieve some monumental feat, dozens of copy-cats will also appear, most of them sugar pills, promoted by charlatans to get your hard-earned money. That being said, not all of the various smart drugs will work on everyone the same either, so what works for your buddy next door might not do a thing for you at all.

Then there is the caffeine factor in that, almost everyone will perform better when given a stimulant, and caffeine is by far the cheapest, in the form of coffee. What to avoid, is someone selling a pill that costs more than a cup of coffee, claiming it’s better than coffee, and the main ingredient is caffeine, just like coffee. You’ll see it over and over again in this smart drug environment where the main ingredients in many supplements are caffeine laden herbs. Do your research, know what’s in the supplements you’re taking. Read the reviews to see how others have experienced the effects of various supplements.

Diet And Exercise Can Be Just As Effective

As you go online and begin your research into nootropics you’ll note that in some studies where people used various foods plus exercise, they were able to achieve some of the same results as those that took caffeine supplements. There is a lot to be said for getting some hard exercise every single day, once in the morning and again in the evening.

The theory is that our own bodies create many brain-enhancing chemicals on their own and release them when we exercise. Plenty of research has been done and the theory does show results, people that exercise are more alert, retain information better, and can think quicker than those that sit all day. Combining a proper diet, a daily exercise routine with smart drugs may be a better solution than just using drugs alone.

Prescription Drugs Have Shown Efficacy

Adderall, which has been used extensively in young children to combat hyperactivity and other problems has shown promise in the smart drug niche as well. Scientists are theorizing that the drug opens up more cognitive receptors in the brain which allows it to absorb more information and communicate with other parts of your brain better. Adderall is also a stimulant so it does a lot of the same things as caffeine making you more alert, awake, less drowsy, and everything else.

There is a range of other prescription drugs that work similar to Adderall and some people will claim one is better than the other and vice versa, each person’s body may have a slightly different reaction to a different drug. Some are harder to get than others as well, some are legal in Europe but illegal in the United States.

Online Forums Offer The First-Hand Look

If you’re unsure where to start, there are dozens of nootropic/smart drug forums online. In those forums, you’ll find hundreds of people that have mixed up various concoctions of herbs and supplements to see if they get any feelings of higher intelligence. Many of them are very scientific and others are not. However, you can gain from their experiences and avoid the supplements that don’t work for anyone. Beware of those that are selling a product AND making a claim of efficacy, that’s a red flag right there.

If you’re wanting a little more of an advantage at the game of Trivial Pursuit, then there are a lot of options available. For a long-term solution, one that lasts until you’re old, daily exercise and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish is the best idea so far.