Nootropics have moved well beyond niche supplement circles. You’ll now find them in focus drinks, wellness powders, supplements, and even ingredients you may already consume every day.
With celebrity endorsements, viral TikTok hashtags, and Insta influencers with 300k followers, it’s easy to think all nootropics are great. But just because you hear a product’s name every time you leave your house or scroll through your phone doesn’t mean anything.
Some nootropics have meaningful research behind them, while others are still being studied, so the name on the label only tells you so much. What matters is the evidence behind the individual compound and what it can realistically support.
In this guide, we’ll look at how nootropics work, what research says about several common cognitive enhancers, and where they may fit into a daily routine built around clearer, steadier focus.
What are Nootropics?
Nootropics are compounds that support and enhance cognitive health. There are synthetic nootropics used in the pharma industry to treat certain conditions, but when we’re talking about nootropics in the wellness industry, we’re referring to plants, mushrooms, or algae-derived compounds.
For example, everyone knows what caffeine is. The world’s favorite pick-me-up compound is found in plants like tea and coffee. Caffeine is a nootropic because it directly affects the neurochemical processes that increase attention, focus, learning, and memory.
Other nootropics you may have heard about include GABA, L-theanine, and Bacopa monnieri. And there are many others. But what exactly do they do?
What are the Potential Benefits of Nootropics?
Some nootropics, like caffeine, give you an in-the-moment cognitive boost. Others protect brain health by boosting cellular genesis in the brain. That’s why when you find, say, a nootropic drink that’s meant to support focus and concentration, much of the time, it’ll contain several nootropics. That way, there’s overall support for short- and long-term brain function.
Let’s talk about those 3 most common nootropics: GABA, L-theanine, and Bacopa monnieri:
GABA: The Calm-Down Chemical
GABA is the body’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter/amino acid/hormone/nootropic. It tells overexcited neurons to calm down and is associated with calm clarity that isn’t accompanied by drowsiness. GABA dysfunction is associated with several types of chronic mental conditions, especially related to mood.
A 2019 review of the literature supported GABA’s ability to:
- Protect from toxic agents and free radicals.
- Protect against degenerative disorders.
- Prevent neuronal damage and death.
- Regulate the immune system.
L-Theanine: The Brain-Booster
L-theanine is an amino acid found in multiple species of tea. It’s associated with focus, relaxation, cognitive enhancement, and energy support.
L-theanine’s effects come from increasing Alpha wave activity in the brain, which is associated with calm focus. This nootropic also inhibits neurotransmitters that tend to exacerbate stress responses.
A 2008 review of the literature supported L-theanine’s potential to help:
- Maintain alertness, focus, and attention.
- Reduce the negative effects of caffeine.
- Enhance the ability to switch attention.
- Enhance the ability to ignore distractions.
Bacopa Monnieri: The Cognition Companion
Bacopa monnieri is a nootropic herb that’s been a part of Ayurvedic medicine for millennia. It’s been used for a host of things, including cognitive function, memory, and learning.
This nootropic seems to work by promoting the activity of a key neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning. Bacopa monnieri may also increase or redirect blood flow to the brain and protect neurons from damage.
A 2013 review of the literature indicated that Bacopa monnieri may be able to:
- Increase cerebral blood flow.
- Attenuate symptoms of dementia.
- Protect neurons from oxidative damage.
- Reduce production of harmful chemicals that result from stress responses.
Other Key Nootropics
MTE’s formulation contains both GABA and L-theanine. In addition, a few other strategic nootropics offer well-rounded support for focus.
One is a millennia-old tried-and-true nootropic for focus and brain health. The other is new on the scene, but the evidence is already pretty clear.
Saffron
Saffron has been used for at least 6000 years in traditional medicines around the world. Its compounds, crocetin, crocin, and safranal, are well-known for their antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties, but research indicates they also perform some pretty neat brain-boosting functions.
A recent review of the literature cited several findings in which researchers observed that:
- Crocetin protects the brain’s learning and memory center from oxidative stress and damage.
- Saffron or its major compounds improve behavioral and biological signs of cognition, particularly learning and memory.
- Saffron extract reverses some symptoms of cognitive impairment.
Paraxanthine
Paraxanthine is a naturally occurring metabolite of caffeine, meaning that when your body breaks caffeine down, it produces paraxanthine. The cool thing is that it doesn’t use a stress response to accomplish its energy and focus boost, so you get the sustained support you need through the day without the jitters and irritability that come with that second cup of coffee.
The research is new, but it’s compelling. For instance, one study comparing the effects of paraxanthine vs. caffeine observed:
- Energizing effects of both nootropics lasted 6-8 hours, but only caffeine caused a rebound/crash.
- Both increased muscle activity and body temperature, but only caffeine switched to harmful, opposing effects (hypothermic) at high doses.
- Caffeine increased stress during a focused test, but paraxanthine didn’t.
And when other researchers went to discover the safety profiles of paraxanthine vs. caffeine, they found that not only did paraxanthine fail to demonstrate signs of toxicity, but that even at high doses, where caffeine shows mutagenic properties, paraxanthine did not.
What Does Science Say?
Let’s take a quick look at 10 important studies on the positive effects nootropics have had on cognitive health in clinical settings:
- A rat study on the neuroprotective benefits of nootropics saw a significant reduction in several neuronal markers of age-related cognitive decline, including decreased neuron loss in the hippocampus.
- A rat study on nootropics and cognitive decline observed deficits and indicators of deficits restored in aging rats.
- A study on nootropic use for treating children with MBD (mild brain deficit) saw significant improvement in focus, attention, organization, and memory – 75% in the treated group compared with 15% in the control group.
- A human study on mild cognitive impairments found that nootropic supplements helped improve memory, selective attention, word reading, and memory quotient in people with MCIs.
- A human study on the cognitive health benefits of nootropics found increased subjective feelings of alertness and a significant improvement in performance during task-switching.
- A human study on mental performance under stress saw nootropic treatment reduce the neurochemical effects of stress during a stressed mental task, coupled with mood support.
- A human study on performance during stressful tasks saw nootropic supplements both decrease stress markers and increase accuracy on arithmetic problems, compared to the control group.
- A study on nootropics and cerebral ischemia in mice observed a protective effect against oxidative damage in the brain.
- A human study on the cognitive benefits of nootropics saw supplementation significantly increase subjective scores on concentration, motivation to exercise, energy, and mood.
- A human study on nootropics and exercise saw consistent improvements in selective attention and response inhibition.
Are Nootropics Safe?
Yes, nootropics are generally considered safe. It’s important to note that we don’t yet have enough data to say that all of them are always safe for everybody, no matter what. However, in the data we do have, as well as the general opinion of the scientific community, severe responses to nootropics are rare when used responsibly.
Because nootropics support brain function, you should notice a difference when you use them. Effects also tend to accumulate over time. You’ll be able to tell if a certain nootropic isn’t for you if you become angsty, irritable, restless, etc. Basically, if they’re doing the opposite of what they’re supposed to, it’s not a good fit.
Aside from those with individual intolerance, people who should consult a physician before undertaking a nootropic supplement routine include:
- People with mental health challenges
- People on maintenance medications
- Anyone under the age of 18
In addition, there are contraindications for nootropics in people who are pregnant or lactating.
Ways to Incorporate Nootropics into Your Daily Routine
Taking nootropics as a supplement is the most common and convenient way. You can buy nootropics as capsules, powders, or liquids. Nootropic drink mixes tend to be more bioavailable than pills.
You can also add nootropic-rich foods to your diet, as there are many foods that are naturally rich in nootropic compounds. A few easy-to-find foods with nootropic activity include:
- Blueberries are a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect your brain cells.
- Ginkgo biloba is a plant that has been shown to improve cognitive function.
- Fish is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain health.
- Dark chocolate is a good source of antioxidants and flavonoids, which can also help improve cognitive function.
Nootropics aren’t magic solutions for supporting cognitive health. You have to do your part, too. Lifestyle factors that maximize the potential benefits of nootropics include:
- Get enough sleep: Sleep is essential for brain health. When you don't get enough sleep, or you get poor-quality sleep, your brain doesn't have time to repair itself or the resources to function at its best.
- Exercise regularly: Exercise is also good for brain health. It helps to improve blood flow to the brain and promote the growth of new brain cells. It also supports important hormones and neurotransmitters for mood and sleep.
- Reduce stress: Stress can have a negative impact on cognitive function – among a host of other things. Find healthy ways to manage stress, like yoga, meditation, or spending time in nature. (And adaptogens can help, too!)
- Learn new things: Learning new things is a great way to keep your brain active and engaged. Try to learn something new every day, even if it's something small. Learning promotes neural plasticity, which protects against the development of cognitive deficits and disorders.
How MTE Brings Nootropics Into Daily Energy
Nootropics can support different aspects of cognitive performance, but the ingredient itself matters more than the category on the label. Some are studied for attention and memory, while others may play a role in calm focus, mood, or mental energy.
That thinking shaped MTE’s formula. Our 10-ingredient blend combines nootropics with adaptogens and superfoods to support steady energy, clear focus, mood, stress resilience, and broader everyday wellness without relying on caffeine for a quick spike.
Instead of packing the formula with as many cognitive enhancers as possible, MTE uses a focused group of ingredients that each have a reason to be there and work together to support the way you want to feel throughout the day.
Get your first box of MTE and experience a different approach to daily energy and focus.
