Do you know about the best cognitive enhancers for mindfulness? Continue reading this post to find out more.
Mindfulness is the human ability to be fully self-aware of where you are and what you are doing. It is being able to be fully present and maintain awareness of all your thoughts, feelings, environment, and sensations. Mindfulness involves paying attention to your body and thoughts.
The efficacy of the best cognitive enhancers, notably cognition enhancement medication such as nootropic drugs will be discussed in this article, but first, some background.
Mindfulness, which has its roots in Buddhist meditation, has become more popular in mainstream America in recent times. There are a lot of mindfulness exercises to help people better center themselves.
Bearing some semblance in definition to meditation, one may wonder if there is any relationship between mindfulness and science/ scientific research.
Mindfulness and Science
First and foremost, mindfulness is state-driven solely by the human brain.
With the knowledge that the brain has about 100 billion neurons, scientists have not been able to find, a lot of studies and research have been done on mindfulness, especially Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
It is also believed that mindfulness might help with illnesses like autism and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a mindfulness-based research program to help people change unproductive thoughts. MBCT uses psychological techniques to help patients understand the connection between different mood disorders and modes of mind. It helps you get rid of negative thought patterns. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on the other hand is designed to assist patients with life issues, pain, and other conditions that may not be easy to treat in a hospital. It is a combination of cognitive-behavioral skills, mindful movement, and meditation techniques to help alleviate stress, depression, anxiety, and pain.
So, yes, there is a relationship between mindfulness as a concept and science.
Cognitive Enhancers for Mindfulness
Nootropics are supplements and drugs, also known as ‘smart drugs’ that are believed to enhance cognitive function and boost some abilities of the brain, especially when it comes to creativity, motivation, and memory.
There is a lot of discussion and controversy around the use of nootropics. A lot of experts opine that nootropic drugs are not advisable, especially when administered to people who have not been previously ill. The concerns border mostly on the possible adverse effects of these drugs and science ethics. There’s a high demand from the side of opponents for proper and well-researched information on the safety of nootropic drugs. In the meantime, here are the top viable nootropics:
COCOA
Cocoa is a staple food that has been found to have very positive effects on mindfulness. It was discovered that it may improve one’s mood, learning, stress, and physical performance. Cocoa has no known side effects, and for this purpose, is safe. 250 mg of extracted polyphenol or 25 grams – in chocolate doses has its soothing effects, as well as warming cocoa into hot chocolate.
TURMERIC
Turmeric, mostly renowned as a healthy spice/ ingredient in global cuisine, is known to work its magic as a cognitive enhancer. It is also proven likely to improve nervousness, focus, energy, memory, mood, sleep, learning, and social anxiety. Turmeric may have some side effects for people that are not used to it such as headache, nausea, abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, and in extreme cases, conjunctivitis, however, it is mostly safe and legal to buy. Some ways you can use turmeric to boost mindfulness are 200 mg dosages daily for 12 weeks or 400 mg dosages for 8 weeks. If you have allergies, you may consider other enhancers.
L-THEANINE
L-Theanine is a type of amino acid and an all-natural nootropic that can be found mostly in black and green tea, useful in helping the body relax. It has been proven to have calming effects on the brain by decreasing the production of ‘excitatory’ chemicals in the brain that leads to anxiety and stress; while increasing the production of chemicals that promote a sense of calm. Some people like to consume it with caffeine, but it is not necessary. L-theanine is a great cognition-enhancing medication as it increases the alpha wave activity in the brain and reduces the heart rate as a response to stress. One of the few side effects of L-theanine is that it may lead to drowsiness. You can use a 200mg dosage of L-theanine to help boost mindfulness.
CITICOLINE
Citicoline is a naturally occurring brain chemical in the body that is very important for key functions, especially those that have to do with memory, learning, and cognition. It has been proven to improve attention, short-term memory, motivation, energy, problem-solving, etc. The supplement is known to support neurotransmitters in the brain like Acetylcholine and dopamine. Acetylcholine aids attention and alertness in the brain while dopamine aids/increases happiness. For introverted people, acetylcholine helps speed up the brain’s ability to process information while for extroverted people, dopamine increases their brain speed. Citicoline can be used at about 100g daily or when needed. Citicoline has no known side effects if taken properly.
N-ACETYL CYSTEINE:
N- acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a type of supplement made from the amino acid, Cysteine. It is a nootropic drug and an anti-oxidant that helps to reduce the brain’s negative reactions to stress hormones. Cysteine is produced by the human body but can be gotten from plant and animal-based foods. N- acetyl cysteine has the potential to improve anxiety, long-term memory, mood, and sleep. Some of the side effects of N- acetyl cysteine include headaches and gastrointestinal problems. You can use a 1000mg (this is the most common, but you can go lighter or stronger) dosage of N- acetyl cysteine to help boost mindfulness and reduce stress. Outside of mindfulness, proponents and researchers claim that N- acetyl cysteine supplements can help protect against psychiatric disorders, liver diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and even chemical dependency.