Nootropics For Studying: What You Need to Know

Are you wondering why you just can't seem to sit down and study? There are many reasons why you might not be able to focus, but no matter what the reason is, nootropics for studying might be the answer you need. If you've never heard of nootropics, you might be wondering what they are and how they could possibly help you study. 

Luckily, you've clicked on the right article to find out. Here, you'll be able to locate the possible roots of your studying troubles and how using nootropics can help by improving your brain health. By taking in this information, you'll stop wasting your time trying to study and start studying for real. 

To start off, let's take a look at what nootropics are and what they aim to do when it comes to maintaining a healthy brain. We will also explore the reasons why you might feel foggy when studying and why it might be so hard to focus in the first place.

What Are Nootropics

Nootropics go by a variety of names, such as smart drugs or cognitive enhancers. Nootropics can either come in the form of prescription medications or over-the-counter supplements. As such, they may be synthetic or natural. 

Their main function is to improve focus, memory, and attention. They may be especially useful for those who have trouble concentrating, such as those who have ADHD. Nootropics do not aim to cure memory or concentration problems, but they can treat the symptoms of these problems. 

Some nootropics, mainly prescription nootropics, are considered stimulants and some may contain amphetamine. Stimulants are a class of drugs that alter your brain function in a way that heightens your concentration and alertness. Adderall is a very common example of an amphetamine nootropic.

It is most commonly prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADHD. However, some doctors may prescribe it to those who suffer from narcolepsy as well. Adderall can be a great way for people to focus more on their studies as this medication does wonders for improving focus and attention. 

However, there is a big downside to nootropics that are based on stimulant drugs: drug dependence can form if the drug is taken for a long period of time. For Adderall in particular, the brain starts to rely on the extra dopamine the drug produces. So, if you were to stop taking the drug all of a sudden, your brain would become deprived of dopamine and you would experience a "crash."

This crash can be very unpleasant since you would experience withdrawal symptoms. You might experience intense bouts of depression since your brain is lacking dopamine, the feel-good hormone. You might also experience chills, nausea, and cravings for more Adderall. 

Fortunately, you don't always need to use stimulant nootropics to treat your poor concentration.

Natural Nootropics and Brain Fog

While stimulants can be very helpful for ADHD and concentration problems in general when taken for short periods of time, there are other options if you want to err on the side of caution and avoid stimulants entirely. There are plenty of natural nootropics to choose from that can help your concentration and attention no matter how hard it might be for you to study. 

Some common natural nootropics that we will explore in more detail later include caffeine, L-theanine, and omega-3, among other substances. When taking nootropics, however, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. For example, you should not expect nootropics to immediately fix all of your concentration and focus problems. 

This is because nootropics, especially natural nootropics, aren't supposed to produce effects at once as stimulants might. Some nootropic supplements may need a few days or weeks before they start to enact effects on your brain and body. Only then will you start to see improvements in your mental acuity.

Because of this, you should not get discouraged if you don't see fast results when taking nootropics. Patience is key. As you start taking nootropics, you can also try some various studying tips or try to figure out what might be causing your concentration problems. 

More often than not, brain fog is the problem and brain fog can be caused by many different factors in the life of the average student. 

What Is Brain Fog?

Would you describe your thinking as sluggish or fuzzy? Do you have trouble keeping up with a conversation when someone is talking to you? Do you often forget why you entered a room?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might have brain fog. Brain fog is also known as cognitive dysfunction, and it can affect how you think, your ability to concentrate, your reaction time, and your memory. It can be frustrating to have since you might not feel as sharp as you usually do and you might not feel like yourself. 

Brain fog might affect some people for a few days while for others, it might last months or even years. Brain fog is not considered a medical condition and so a doctor would not be able to diagnose you with brain fog, but that does not mean you don't have a real problem to deal with. For students especially, it is important to be mentally sharp and to be able to remember large chunks of information. 

First, ask yourself if you are sleeping enough and if you are under a lot of stress. If the answer is yes to either of these questions, you need to fix them right away. Sleep deprivation and stress are not your friends when it comes to making sure your mind is sharp and healthy. 

However, if you still have trouble concentrating after a good night of sleep and after relaxing, you might have more serious problems to deal with. Brain fog can also be caused by depression, certain health conditions, and nutrient deficiencies. Luckily, some of these problems can be improved by taking nootropic supplements.

Let's take a look at what nootropics might be best to take as you prepare for a big study session. 

Astaxanthin as One of the Best Nootropics for Studying

You might not have heard of astaxanthin before, and that is because it is a substance that has been growing in popularity only very recently. It is a ketocarotenoid that is related to carotenes which are found in carrots. Because they are related, ketocarotenoids tend to share many of the same benefits as carotenes, such as better eyesight. 

However, ketocarotenoids like astaxanthin also have their own unique benefits that can be hard to find in any other supplements. Astaxanthin is a red plant color that comes from certain types of algae and yeast. In nature, small creatures like shrimp love to eat it, which is one of the reasons why shrimp are pink. 

Don't fret, however, since you won't turn color when consuming astaxanthin as long as you don't down huge quantities. Astaxanthin is an antioxidant which means it will reduce the number of free radicles floating around in your body. Free radicles are unstable atoms that can be very harmful to your body. 

Free radicles can accelerate aging and cause cellular damage and even cancer along with general inflammation. Antioxidants like astaxanthin can smother the damage that free radicles cause and improve your health overall. But more than that, astaxanthin molecules are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier and promote cognitive health. 

Because of this, astaxanthin may be able to prevent the development of certain neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. You can take astaxanthin every day and you'll certainly feel clearer and more focused. 

L-theanine for Studying

L-theanine, like caffeine, can also be found in certain teas, mainly black and green teas. However, unlike caffeine, it is not considered a stimulant. Instead, it is an amino acid which is a natural chemical compound that occurs not only in teas but also in some species of mushrooms. 

Because many people don't drink a lot of teas or consume many mushrooms, many people may not have adequate levels of L-theanine in their bodies. This can lead to fatigue and difficulty focusing. L-theanine does not simply make you more alert, but instead, it stimulates your brain in a way that it increases alpha waves. 

Some studies have shown that by increasing alpha waves in the brain, the symptoms of depression such as fatigue and brain fog are reduced. Alpha waves can also help you feel relaxed and yet alert at the same time. Many people like to take L-theanine supplements along with caffeine since the effects seem to be improved when one takes both substances together. 

While there are no official dosage guidelines as with caffeine, it is not recommended that you consume more than 400 mg of L-theanine in one day. Also, be careful not to consume too much caffeine if you plan on mixing L-theanine with caffeine.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Studying

Don't let the term "fatty acids" throw you off since these are some seriously healthy fats that you should add to your diet at once. Omega-3 fatty acids come with plenty of benefits, from improving your triglyceride levels and strengthening your heart. They also seem to be able to improve brain health. 

Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fats which is what makes them so healthy. Saturated fats, which are often found in butter, are very unhealthy in comparison. Omega-3s are usually found in fish like salmon, but since people don't tend to have enough fish in their diet, many people can benefit from taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements. 

Omega-3s have huge implications for improving brain function and allowing the brain to age in a healthy way. For example, omega-3s are very important for allowing the body to build membranes around neurons and other cells in the body that function to protect the cells. Omega-3s also work to repair aging neurons in the brain. 

You can get omega-3 from more than just fish. You can also get these acids from krill oil and shrimp oil. There are usually no side effects when taking omega-3. However, if you take blood clotting medications, you may want to check with your doctor before you take omega-3 supplements.

Creatine for Studying

Creatine is another amino acid much like L-theanine. Unlike L-theanine, creatine can be found inside our muscle cells which is where it occurs naturally. However, just because our bodies can produce their own creatine, that doesn't mean our bodies have all the creatine they need. 

Athletes often take creatine supplements to build muscle and increase strength, but creatine supplements can also be beneficial for the mind. Unfortunately, there have not been many studies conducted on creatine's effect on the brain. However, creatine may have some implications for improving short-term memory. 

If you're trying to remember a lot of information before a big test, creatine supplements might be right for you. Others believe that creatine may also be able to reduce mental fatigue.

Many students who study for long periods of time know that mental fatigue can be a real problem and an annoyance. The recommended dose for creatine is around 30 grams per day. 

Finding the Perfect Nootropics for Studying for You

If you've made it to the end of this article, then you should know all about the different nootropics for studying and how they can help your brain health in different ways. With the information you've learned from this article, you're on your way to studying better and more efficiently.