Smart Supplements: How Nootropics Can Fuel Your Focus

Work, life commitments, family, friends and countless other daily distractions means finding and maintaining focus may appear too difficult a task these days. With the stresses of day-to-day life never far away and the societal demand to achieve the best, many search for methods to give them an added edge. This is the idea that is brought about by nootropics (no-O-tropics) otherwise known as 'smart supplements'.

Nootropics, also known as “smart drugs” are a diverse group of medicinal substances whose action improves human thinking, learning, and memory. (NIH)

Nootropics are now widely recognised for their effectiveness in enhancing focus, memory, and overall brain health. Many of them are available and functional mushroom tinctures have emerged as a natural and efficient way to boost your brain power.

Lets delve deeper to get to know what nootropics are, why they are the best among the many brain-boosting supplements in the market and how they are used to not only bring back your focus but super charge it!

What Are Nootropics?

Nootropics are compounds or supplements that whenever ingested improve cognitive function in particular memory, creativity, mental clarity, and focus. The term 'nootropic' was first introduced in the 1970s by Romanian psychologist and chemist Dr. Corneliu Giurgea who described nootropics as safe, non-toxic drugs or supplements that can enhance brain function.

There are two classes of nootropics:

Synthetic nootropics are lab-fabricated compounds such as modafinil and racetams, that are generally developed for fast and efficient mental enhancement.

Natural nootropics From plants, herbs, and fungi that have many active common compounds including L-theanine, caffeine, and particularly functional mushrooms.

In fact, while synthetic nootropics may produce immediate effects, it is the natural options that many people gravitate towards for safety and holistic advantages in the long run. This change has caused mushroom-based nootropics to be the rising star of the herbal and wellness industry.

Functional Mushroom as Nootropics

Mushrooms have been utilised for their cognitive and healing properties for centuries by various traditional cultures from the Egyptians to the Mayans. Recently, powerful fungi aka functional mushrooms have emerged as natural nootropic powerhouses. The effectiveness of mushrooms as nootropics is attributed to their polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and triterpenes, which can harmonise brain function, enhance mental clarity, and assist with stress management.

Here are four of the most notable mushroom nootropics, and the four that we at Scandi Shrooms use in our Relax and Focus blends. Lets see why:

Lion’s Mane: The FOCUS Booster

Lion’s Mane is renowned for its capacity to stimulate the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which is an important protein for brain function and neuron health. Research suggests that Lion’s Mane can boost memory, concentration, and brain clarity by facilitating neurogenesis - the process through which the body can grow and repair neurons crucial for overall health.

How It Helps Lion’s Mane is optimal for boosting memory and concentration, which is why it has become one of the primary functional mushrooms for focus enhancement, especially during times of intense cognitive effort.

Cordyceps: The Energy Enhancer

Cordyceps are widely recognised for their capacity to boost energy levels, as it stimulates cellular energy production through ATP (adenosine triphosphate) synthesis. While it has mainly been used to improve sports performance, its positive effects on mental activity, such as focus, during highly stressful and mentally draining tasks, cannot be dismissed. One of the reasosn we use it in our Focus Blend... check it out.

How It Helps By naturally increasing energy levels and bringing about an instant energy shift, they're responsible for improved mental stamina and concentration which allow you to stay focused and attentive without that awful sense of unease that often accompanies the use of caffeine.

Reishi: The Stress Reliever

Reishi is a super effective functional mushroom and an adaptogen, which means it helps the body cope with stress. Stressors such as high levels of anxiety can interfere with the ability to concentrate and a clear thought process. Nevertheless, Reishi can help prevent cortisol level spikes helping to create a sense of calmness and balance. Ultimately it makes focusing on tasks easier, especially during times of pressure.

How It Helps By creating conditions for stress reduction and the mind to be quiet, Reishi allows for mental clarity to occur so that you remain energetic and clear headed.

Chaga: An Antioxidant Powerhouse

Not many people realise that Chaga mushroom is a very powerful nootropic, although it is not the most popular one. It is a valuable component of brain health, thanks to its antioxidant properties. Having multiple superoxide dismutases (SOD) molecules, a powerful enzyme that helps reduce the impact of free radicals. As a result it can mitigate oxidative stress to brain cells that can, in turn, impair cognitive function over time. Additionally, Chaga supports the immune system, which can indirectly help maintain optimal brain function by keeping you healthy and resilient.

How It Helps Chaga through the use of its antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory effects protects brain cells from deterioration promoting good brain health. Chaga also elevates overall mental clarity and focus by supporting the immune system along with reduction in inflammation.

Pros and Cons of Mushroom Nootropics

Bearing in mind that every supplement has positive as well as not so positive sides, mushroom nootropics too have pros and cons. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide if they’re the right focus-enhancing tool for you.

Pros +

Natural & Plant-Based Rather than synthetic nootropics, functional mushrooms are those that come from nature and are generally free of synthetic alterations. As a result they have a long safety record too.

Support Long-Term Cognitive Health As well as the enhancement of focus, mushroom nootropics are known to contribute to the health of the users brain over time, which in turn, helps to negate age-related cognitive issues.

Limited Side Effects The majority of functional mushrooms easily adapt to the body and the impact they have is less compared to synthetic nootropics which can leave users restlessness or in extreme cases addiction.

Fast-Acting When taken as food supplements, mushroom tinctures are rapidly metabolised in the body, giving you a chance to experience their effects in a very short time.

Cons -

Subtle Effects The advantages of mushroom nootropics may include the slight brain boost. On the other hand, they may take a long time before accomplishing their desired effect.

Not a Quick Fix Mushroom nootropics work best when taken over time. Like all good things they take time to work their magic.

Quality Varies by Brand Not every mushroom products are created equal. It is more important to select reputable brands and take care of the credentials in order for the consumer to benefit from the power of the products.

Why Choose Mushroom-Based Nootropics Over Synthetic Options?

When it comes to nootropic supplements theres an ever growing number to choose from, you may wonder why to pick a mushroom based tincture over a synthetic one? Here are a few key reasons:

• Sustainability and Safety Indeed, mushroom nootropics are safe, natural, and time-tested, having been used for centuries. While synthetic nootropics prove to be beneficial, they are often linked to side effects, dependency or long-term health concerns.

• Synergistic Benefits Functional mushrooms have been shown to not only help people concentrate, but are also good for overall physical health as well as the mental wellbeing. This is because they can decrease cortisol levels, increasing immune resistance and promoting sleep help patterns.

• Adaptability Mushrooms such as Reishi and Lion's Mane are natural adaptogens, enabling the body to adapt to stress. This, in turn, leads to improved mental clarity and focus.

To wrap up...

In the pursuit of natural remedies for cognitive enhancement, mushroom nootropic tinctures have shown their strength as a very effective and secure choice. Whether you wish to fortify your skills with Lion's Mane, have Cordyceps to amplify your stamina and vigor, or Reishi to relieve stress, functional mushrooms are a means for whole-body healing.

Looking for a natural way to improve your brain power? Choose from our selection of high-quality, 100% Swedish functional mushroom tinctures and find out the difference for yourself.