It's almost Xmas! Most of you will be feeling XITE'd for the holiday season, however the colder weather, darker mornings and shorter days can have a negative effect on the mind and body to some. If you can relate, we're going to have a look at how our 7 nootropics can help you beat the winter blues.
1. Bacopa Monnieri
Let's start with Bacopa Monnieri. The darker months can you have your mind feeling fatigued and struggling to focus on tasks. Bacopa Monnieri helps you concentrate more, remember more and learn quicker than without the ingredient. It improves mental performance by reducing anxiety and stress - helping you to stay motivated through even the most boring of tasks!
2. Zinc
A lack of zinc in your body can halt the process of your hippocampus (a key part of the brain for storing memories) to create, and later store those new memories. This can create a negative impact on your personal and work life, but having enough of this nootropic, exercising regularly, and getting a sufficient amount of sleep can protect this vital part of your brain. Brain fog is also an issue that you may commonly get through the winter period and inflammation could be the cause of this. Zinc prevents that inflammation alleviating those symptoms of not being able to focus and not feeling yourself.
3. Ginseng
Next up, ginseng. Ginseng is a plant that grows slowly in areas of Asia and north America. It is a popular herbal remedy that has been used for centuries in China, Korea and other countries in Asia. Our bars and drinks contain ginseng, and have proved to improve cognitive function, increase memory and suppress stress. It works by reducing the hormone cortisol (or the "stress-hormone"), which in turn boosts your cognitive well-being!
4. Choline
Choline is an organic, water-soluble compound that affects your overall brain development. This makes it one of the essential nutrients for optimal brain health. This nootropic has been proven to affect your memory, mood, and intelligence. Some studies even suggests that having a deficiency of choline may stunt the development and treatment of mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. So make sure you get enough of this, this winter!
5. L-Carnitine
Carnitine is an amino acid that is a powerful anti oxidant outside of the brain and readily crosses the blood brain barrier. It modulates the overall health of the brain, protects neuro transmitters and improves mitochondrial health throughout the body, not just the brain, by transporting fatty acids into those cells to get processed for energy.
6. L-Tyrosine
We also use L-Tyrosine in our Xite energy drinks. N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine (NALT) is an amino acid, that promotes working memory (helping during multitasking activities), improves alertness, mood and sharp mental clarity and optimises mental performance when your brain is foggy.
How does it work? L-Tyrosine stops the decrease of catecholamine neurotransmitter (which causes a stress response) that usually occurs with environmental conditions such as cold weather. There are also studies that show L-Tyrosine promotes catecholamines which is the dopamine that is needed for focus, memory and cognition.
7. Lion's Mane
Finally we have Lion's Mane. Lion's Mane is a large, white, shaggy looking mushroom that is used for culinary and also medicine. We use this nootropic in our bars and they help reduce anxiety and depression and boosts cognitive function and health. Lion’s mane also improves focus as well. Reduced inflammation improves blood flow, which gives your brain more oxygen.
What happens when you get more oxygen to your brain? Improved brain performance. The antioxidants in the nootropic also helps recall and learning, by strengthening the cells in your brain and stimulating the growth of new neurons.
These are the 7 nootropics that we use in our bars and drinks that can help you think, feel and perform at your best throughout these cold, wet and dark months.
Be sure to check out this blog to find out when the best time in the day to drink Xite is to get these nootropics' optimal effect.