I know you’ve had this feeling before.
You wanted to eat a pill and turn into some limitless like Einstein or newton.
But is there such a thing? That will enhance your cognitive functions and make you invincible.
Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Nootropics.
What are nootropics?
Simply put, nootropics are artificial and natural compounds which enhance cognitive function by increasing neurotropic factors and by affecting other cellular processes.
The exact mechanism of action will depend on particular nootropic.
Best nootropic stack. What is it?
A nootropic stack simply put is a combination of two or more nootropics in order to create an effect on the brain that is greater in cognition than the supplements could create on their own.
In fact it is very rare to use one nootropic supplement these days since the benefits are more when combining different supplements.
The combination of these two or more supplements can have beneficial effects on your memory, learning, focus and motivation than if taken separately.
If you are totally new to nootropic stack. I suggest you to read our guide and choose which stacks are best for you.
Best Nootropic Stack of 2017
Nootropic Stack | Type | Dosage | |
|---|---|---|---|
Capsules | 50-100 mg daily | ||
Capsules | 500 mg daily | ||
Capsules | 300-500 mg daily | ||
Capsules | 1-2 caps per day | ||
Noopept | Powder | 10-40 mg daily | |
Aniracetam | Powder | 1-2 gm daily | |
Capsules | 1-2 caps per day | ||
Capsules | 3 caps per day | ||
Capsules | 1-2 caps per day |
1. Caffeine with L-Theanine for reduced stress
For anyone who is new to nootropics and not sure where to start. This is a classic beginner best nootropic stack as it offers great cognitive enhancement effects that you could feel right away.
L-Theanine was originally paired with caffine by nature in the form of green tea leaves. That is why this combination of supplements is not just known to nootropics fans only.
Theanine is a natural component of tea is a calming neurotransmitter, known to increase brain levels of GABA. And caffine as most of us know is found in our typical morning cup of coffee. It boosts mental alertness but can cause anxiety in some also.
When these to supplements are combined it induces a clean, calm and lucid focus that is unmatched by any other energy drink or drug.
What is the Best Ratio of these two supplements?
The two supplements are generally combined in 2 parts of L- Theanine to 1 part Caffine. Also many users have reported success with 4 parts of L- Theanine to 1 part Caffine also.
Pros
- Reduces feeling of stress and anxiety
- Increases tolerance to stress
- Improves sleep quality
- Natural alternative to cofee
Cons
- Overdose of caffine may induce nausea
- L-theanine in green tea may have lower oral bioavailability
2. Sulbutiamine to Improve Neurotransmission
Sulbutiamine is a manmade chemical similar to Vitamin B1, similar to thiamine.
Thiamine can improve your cognitive ability but it is known to have a lower absorption rate and thus less of the compound actually gets to your brain and increase factors related to intelligence.
Whereas Sulbutiamine was discovered by Japanese researchers who were looking for a way to increase absorption rate of this vitamin. Thus sulbutiamine solves many of these problems by absorbing into your blood more easily.
This modification also makes it easier for Sulbutamine of better transportation across the blood brain barrier where it can interact with your central nervous system.
This is very important because if a supplement is not able to do this then it cannot enter the brain and produce desired cognitive effects.
Sulbutamine Nootropic Effects
- Effective communication between neurons within brain
- Thoughts become more fluid and faster
- Improve memory and learning capacity.
How Sulbutamine Works?
When you take a sulbutamine dosage orally, it first gets absorbed from your intestines and then circulated through blood to your brain tissue. After making way into blood barrier, it is broken down into vitamin B1 and certain related esters.
This supplement also helps to increase the powerful brain chemical along with dopamine receptor density which explains why Sulbutamine is capable of enhancing your mood and reducing symptoms of depression.
Pros
- Improve memory retention
- Improve alertness
- One study shows benefit to erectile dysfunction
- Improves neurotransmission
Cons
- May include mood and sleep disruption
- Negative effects for bipolar disorder patients
- Supresses the appetite
3. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine to improve attention
N- Acetyl L-Tyrosine or NALT in short is a modified formulation of non-essential amino acid.
Our body is capable of producing L-Tyrosine which is an amino acid but additional quantity is necessary to optimise cognitive function. Amino acids are vital to human body as they help to make proteins, build up new cells, aid in building and recovery of muscles etc.
NALT is modified version of normal Tyrosine as it contains the addition of acetic acid. This actually helps the supplement to get better absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
Since amino acids are important to our body that is why NALT has recently gained popularity. And one of the main things which makes NALT so special is that it also boosts the synthesis of dopamine which is one of our most powerful neurotransmitters.
Dosage and Suggested use of NALT
With this supplement, it is important that you consult doctor about the recommendations for usage.
The typical dosage that other user take range between 300 and 500mg per day. This could be taken once a day or several timer per day. You will see your body reacting to smaller dosages. In any case do not exceed dosage 1000 mg in a day.
Pros
- Improve mood and feeling
- Increase cognitive function under stress
- Improve attention and wakefulness
- Improve dopamine deficiency
Cons
- Cause stimulatory side effects
- Cognitive benefits
- Not suitable for individual with hyperthyroidism
4. Alpha GPC to Improve Cognition
Alpha GPC is a water soluble, choline supplement that is capable of easily crossing the blood brain barrier to deliver choline to brain.
Choline is an important nutrient in a number of cognitive and other brain related processes and functions. Which is the reason Alpha GPC is a great addition to your cognitive enhancement stack for improving learning, memory and brain stack.
Alpha GPC is considered as one of the best choline sources that you can buy as a nootropic.
There are various researches that shows that lack of choline is one of the leading sources of memory problems and low energy levels. Therefore one of the many benefits that Alpha GPC offers is to restore back the level of choline in your body.
Dosage and Suggested use of Alpha GPC
This supplement is one among the list of best nootropic stack which is very safe and does not produces any side effects it taken at recommended dosage levels.
According to the most common label doses, standard dosage of Alpha-GPC 300-600 mg. Since this supplement is water soluble it is easy to take it in powder form.
Pros
- Increases choline level in brain
- Increases growth hormone in athletes
- Improves cognition in studies
- Promotes memory and synaptic plasticity
Cons
- Expensive than choline
- Highly Hygroscopic
5. Noopept to enhance memory
Noopept is a name given to N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, a synthetic Nootropic molecule. Noopept is one of the most effective and strongest nootropic present in the market today.
It has been found to increase learning capacity, improve memory and concentration.
Noopept is also considered to be neuroprotectant, as it has the capability to protect neurons in brain from getting damage.
Most of the people use noopept to increase their brain power and experience cognitive enhancement. Memory recollection speed is also improved.
How noopept works?
When you take a dose of noopept, it gets absorbed from the body within GI tract where then it circulates into brain and crosses blood brain barrier with ease.
It is one of the fastest acting nootropic among the list of best nootropic stack as it is capable of reaching maximum concentration within about 15 to 20 minutes.
Noopept after reaching brain travels to specific glutamate receptor sites and helps to inhibit breakdown of glutamate which is one of the most powerful neurotransmitters relative to cognitive function.
Noopept Dosage
If you are new to usage of nootropics then the proper way to use Noopept is to start low and increase its usage over time as needed. This means you might want to begin with a dosage as little as 5mg two or three times a day.
Some people take 40 mg dosage per day but it is normal to take 10-30 mg of noopept per day.
NOTE- Under no circumstances you should not exceed your dosage 20mg three times a day. As this will overstimulate glutamate receptors.
Noopept Stacks
Although this strategy is not recommended for beginners. Under some conditions users may stack Noopept with other Nootropics to enhance the benefits.
Popular Noopept Stacks are
- Noopept with Alpha GPC
- Noopept with Citicoline
- Noopept with Piracetam
Pros
- Enhances Memory
- Exhibits significant neuroprotective effect
- Require lower dosage
- Promotes memory and synaptic plasticity
Cons
- Causes minor headache
- Stomach distress
- Can cause loss of apetite.
6. Aniracetam to increase mental energy
Aniracetam a nootropic supplement was developed in 1970s by a Belgium company known as Hoffman-La Roche.
This supplement tops in the class of nootropics known as Racetams, which are known for their ability to increase and improve a number of cognitive processes.
Aniracetam main function is to improve mental performance by increasing memory and enhancing learning capacity.
This drug starts working immediately, some will see strong effects and begin remembering everything while others may remember small and subtle details.
Rate at which this drug will affect you depends on your current mood than anything else. Those having nervousness or anxiety will see a calming effect.
How Aniracetam works?
The exact working of Aniracetam is not known completely but there are several theories about how this supplement works.
When you take a dose of aniracetam, it easily cross the blood brain barrier and binds to Acetylcholine receptors, causing this supplement to remain active in brain for a longer period of time.
By increasing activity in these chemical receptors sites, the supplement is able to help in areas of improving anxiety and other mood issues.
Aniracetam Dosage
Oral doses in the 1000-1500 mg range over the course of the day tend to be effective.
Also doses as low as 400 mg have also shown some results and it is common to take 1000 -1500 mg Aniracetam in two divided doses of 500-750 mg doses.
Aniracetam Stacks
To see stronger benefits a user may combine Aniracetam with different supplements. This process is known as nootropic stacking.
Some of the stacks with Aniracetam are
- Aniracetam go together well with Racetam supplements.
- Combining Aniracetam with Piracetam and Oxiracetam is also good.
Pros
- Enhances Memory
- Boosts Motivation
- Increases mental energy
- Anti-anxiety and mood enhancing effects
Cons
- Limited clinical data
- Has bitter taste
7. Alpha Brain to boost mood
Alpha Brain is one of the most famous and best nootropic stack in the market. It happens to be bestselling nootropic stack.
Developed in 2010 by Onnit’s lab, this nootropic stack has gained popularity since then and has been featured in many news outlets also.
The promise made by this nootropic stack is to achieve better mental focus and clarity.
The ingredients used in this product are said to improve your memory, increase your mood and reduce social anxiety.
Does Alpha Brain work as it claim?
Most people in nootropic community have a common question.
Does this nootropic work?
There is so much variation in each person’s brain chemistry that it is difficult to say that Alpha brain will work or not. The working of Alpha Brian greatly depends on the individual.
But to answer the question, Within Boston University a study was conducted that found out, Alpha brain is 12% more effective for verbal recall memory. Also it increases mental processing speed by 21%.
Imagine what you can do with 21% more mental processing and 12% better memory.
Alpha Brain Ingredients List.
The manufacturer Onnit Lab offers ingredients in meaningful amount, enough to be effective. Below are the list of ingredients in Alpha Brian
- Alpha GPC
- Huperzine A
- Vinpocetine
- Bacopa
- Pterostilbene
- L-tyrosine
- Theanine
- Ac-11
- Vitamin B6
- Phosphatidylserine
Alpha Brain Dosage
People who are too busy with family, professional or educational responsibilities and cannot maintain a healthy lifestyle. Alpha Brian is incredibly effective for such kind of people.
To get benefit from Alpha Brain take a dose of between one and three capsules per day.
Pros
- Very well balanced nootropic stack
- Increases memory and attention
- Significant mood booster
- Low risk of side effects
Cons
- High cost compared to other nootropic stacks
- May cause headache
- May cause restlessness
8. Ciltep Nootropic Stack to Improve focus
Ciltep is an acronym for chemically induced long term potentiation. It is a nootropic stack specially used to improve mental performance.
Ciltep is a little different from other nootropic supplements as it contains a unique blend of all natural nootropic ingredients that are not commonly found in other brain supplements.
It is a fast acting nootropic that claims to be a healthy way to stay focused, improve memory and motivation throughout the day.
Ciltep claims that you feel the effect of nootropic for atleast 8 hours but in some of the cases it might last longer.
Does Ciltep work as it claim?
Ciltep claims
- Increasing and improving mental performance
- Increase concentration
- Improves long term memory
- Improves your overall mood and ease of social environments.
Ciltep works by naturally inducing Long term potentiation (LTP). LTP is a long lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons which results from stimulating them both at the same time. LTP is one of the major cellular mechanisms behind learning and memory.
When you take clipet dose you will definitely feel more productive and will be getting more work done.
Ciltep Ingredients List.
Below are the ingredients of Ciltep
- Artichoke Extract
- Forskolin
- L-Phenylalanine
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)
- Vitamin B6
Ciltep Dosage
The manufacturer of Ciltep suggests that you should take Ciltep immediately when you wake up, before you take breakfast on an empty stomach.
It is recommended that you take 2-3 capsules in the morning and not more than 3 capsules per day.
NOTE- Don not take ciltep if you are consuming products that have nicotine.
Pros
- Significant increase in alertness
- Improvement in focus
- Increased motivation
- Improved memory
Cons
- Sleep difficulty
- Tolerance of ciltep increases
9. Smart Caffeine Nootropic Stack to Increase Altertness
Smart caffeine is a highly effective combination of L-theanine and caffeine.
Caffeine is consumed by millions worldwide and is an efficient natural stimulant consumed by many people. Various studies have showed that caffeine supplements increase energy and concentration.
On its own caffeine is not a great cognitive enhancer. That’s why we include L-theanine in it.
L-theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid that reduces stress, relaxes mind, improves work memory, enhances learning and most importantly increases alpha brain wave capacity.
When L-theanine is combined with caffeine, it removed the undesirable effects of caffeine leaving only the pure nootropic properties of both the compounds.
Does Smart Caffeine work as it claim?
If you take caffeine and L-theanine separately, they will have different effect on your body. However when both are taken together, the combined effects do not negate each other. Instead they work together allowing you to benefit from both the effect of the compounds.
Below are the effects of Smart Caffeine on your body
- It improves cognitive performance and increases alertness
- It improves both speed and accuracy of the task you are doing.
- It improves attention
- It enhance performance in terms of attention switching and ability to ignore distraction.
Smart Caffeine Ingredients List
Below are the ingredients of smart caffeine
- Natural caffeine
- L-theanine
- Vegetable capsule
- Cellulose
- Silica
- Vegetable stearate
Smart Caffeine Dosage
The manufacturer suggest that take 1-2 capsules of smart caffeine whenever focused energy is desired. The total dosage in a day should not exceed 6 capsules.
Note- Avoid the use of smart caffeine in the evening.
Pros
- Easy to take
- Simple Formula
- Increase alertness
- Improves attention
Cons
- Caffeine heavy
Wrapping it up
As you can see there are wide range of natural and herbal nootropics that are available in market. And in the list of best nootropic stack that we made each nootropic has a specific purpose.
They work well when taken individually but when combined together their effects are enhanced which results in increase of your brain power.
Give a try to the nootropic stack combination that are mentioned in the list of best nootropic stack. And tell us about your result in comment section below.