Brain-boosting nootropics: They’re not just a Silicon Valley thing anymore

Even working at a wellness company, I’m not immune to the stresses of everyday work life: looming deadlines, overflowing inboxes, back-to-back meetings… There is always so much to do, and the inability to concentrate long enough to get everything done sure doesn’t help. So when I started hearing about a way the 24/7 worker bees of Silicon Valley were "biohacking" their brain to stay focused using something called nootropics , I worked my health writer magic and had a few brands send me some to try. For the uninitiated, nootropic supplements are cognitive performance-enhancing products made with a blend of herbs and natural brain enhancers such as bacopa , l-theanine , and ginkgo biloba —all of which have been linked to boosting focus in the present as well as supporting long-term brain health. It took a little trial and error, but once I figured out out the best way to take them, my ability to focus sky-rocketed. It was noticeable enough that colleagues started asking me to share my secrets. When we named nootropics as a 2018 Wellness Trend , the supplements were just starting to take off. A year and a half later, the brain-boosting trend has exploded beyond Silicon Valley entrepreneurs—with their benefits are now available outside of capsule form. How to Stop Hair Thinning Easy Mold Removal "Seeing this surge in the popularity of nootropics isn’t surprising to me," says Beekeeper’s Naturals co-founder Carly Stein, who created honey-tasting nootropic elixirs long before other brands jumped on board. "Modern life is hard on the brain—we could all use the extra support." Studies and surveys say she’s right: when Well+Good asked 2,700 readers about stress and anxiety , 95 percent of people said they were stressed. What’s more, multitasking reduces productivity as much as 40 percent . "True […]

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