When winter’s chill arrives and the dreaded winter brain fog sets in with it, reach for a nootropic supplement to beat that sluggish, unmotivated feeling that turns productivity into a struggle.
It’s a real battle to stay sharp, focused, and on task when the days are short and the warmth is fleeting. But what if you could naturally enhance your cognitive function and maintain peak mental performance, no matter how grey it gets outside?
Whether you’re a student preparing for exams, a professional tackling crucial deadlines, or an athlete aiming for an edge, staying mentally acute through the colder months is essential. This is how natural nootropics can be your secret weapon against winter’s mental slump.
READ MORE | Get a mental boost with the Biogen nootropics range
Clear brain fog
Winter brain fog is often caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors, such as disrupted circadian rhythms, shorter days and less exposure to sunlight, and a change in diet or lifestyle habits like lower activity levels.
Nootropic supplements are one way to help combat winter brain fog, boost mental clarity, and support cognitive performance without the need to rely on stimulants like caffeine.
When researchers looked at the effects of nootropics on young healthy adults1, they found that “a dietary multi-ingredient nootropic enhances cognitive performance in comparison with placebo.”
Those taking the nootropic supplement also showed “higher creativity and positive emotions and lower sadness-depression emotions”.
READ MORE | Get your mental performance roaring with a lion’s mane nootropic supplement
Nootropics to look for
While research is ongoing, we know that various ingredients included in nootropic supplements work by potentially influencing levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are important for cognitive function and mood regulation.
For instance, the amino acid L-tyrosine is a precursor of dopamine2 and norepinephrine, which may counteract decreases in neurotransmitter function and production.
Another amino acid, L-theanine, changes levels of brain chemicals that regulate neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA3.
Supplementing with products that contain L-theanine can help promote relaxation and feelings of well-being, support healthy sleep cycles, cognitive function and focus, and help manage acute stress.
B complex vitamins are other essential micronutrients needed for brain energy metabolism and neurotransmitter function, helping to reduce mental fatigue and support mood stability – perfect for lifting the winter blues.
B vitamins may help to support cognitive function by promoting healthy nerve function4 and playing a role in the production of important neurotransmitters5.
A product like Biogen Vitamin B Complex Boost or Biogen Supreme Vitamin-B Complex also supports your energy-yielding metabolism to temporarily promote alertness and wakefulness.
Adding adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola rosea can boost the beneficial nootropic effect, helping promote calm and balance, both mentally and physically.
For instance, ashwagandha, available in products like Biogen Ashwagandha Root, may improve focus, particularly during periods of prolonged stress by preventing excessive cortisol and adrenaline release.
Rhodiola rosea, found in Biogen Adrenal Assist, stimulates the body’s stress-protection response and helps the body return to a balanced state (homeostasis). It also supports cognitive function, focus and mental clarity.
Added support
You can also boost the effects of nootropic supplements with other products that complement their cognitive effects by supporting the brain and nervous system.
For example, 5-HTP is a chemical that your body makes from an essential amino acid called tryptophan. Your body converts 5-HTP into serotonin, which can support mood regulation, sleep, and appetite, and promotes neural regeneration6 to repair the nervous system.
Because it does not directly boost cognitive function, a product like Biogen 5-HTP Neuro is not considered a nootropic. However, its ability to support mood enhancement and reduce anxiousness can create a more conducive mental state for learning and cognitive tasks when you find yourself in a winter brain fog quagmire.
References:
- Medrano, M., Alcantara, J. M., & Ruiz, J. R. (2022). Acute Effect of a Dietary Multi-Ingredient Nootropic as a Cognitive Enhancer in Young Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Triple-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 858910. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.858910.
- Bloemendaal M, Froböse MI, Wegman J, Zandbelt BB, van de Rest O, Cools R, Aarts E. Neuro-Cognitive Effects of Acute Tyrosine Administration on Reactive and Proactive Response Inhibition in Healthy Older Adults. eNeuro. 2018 Apr 30;5(2):ENEURO.0035-17.2018. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0035-17.2018. PMID: 30094335; PMCID: PMC6084775.
- Nathan PJ, Lu K, Gray M, Oliver C. The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent. J Herb Pharmacother. 2006;6(2):21-30. PMID: 17182482.
- Calderón-Ospina CA, Nava-Mesa MO. B Vitamins in the nervous system: Current knowledge of the biochemical modes of action and synergies of thiamine, pyridoxine, and cobalamin. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2020 Jan;26(1):5-13. doi: 10.1111/cns.13207. Epub 2019 Sep 6. PMID: 31490017; PMCID: PMC6930825.
- Kennedy DO. B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy–A Review. Nutrients. 2016 Jan 27;8(2):68. doi: 10.3390/nu8020068. PMID: 26828517; PMCID: PMC4772032.
- Sobrido-Cameán D, Rodicio MC, Barreiro-Iglesias A. Serotonin controls axon and neuronal regeneration in the nervous system: lessons from regenerating animal models. Neural Regen Res. 2018 Feb;13(2):237-238. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.226387. PMID: 29557370; PMCID: PMC5879892.
Author: Pedro van Gaalen
When he’s not writing about sport or health and fitness, Pedro is probably out training for his next marathon or ultra-marathon. He’s worked as a fitness professional and as a marketing and comms expert. He now combines his passions in his role as managing editor at Fitness magazine.
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