Best Nootropic Stack 2021: Our Top Picks

What to Look for in a Premade Supplement

Before buying, how do you know if a premade nootropic stack is good or not? If the label says, “#1 Best Doctor Recommended Brain Health Stack Ever!!” do you take it at its word?

We hope not.

Indeed, you can never be 100% certain of a formula’s results until you try it yourself.

However, five observable criteria can guide you through your nootropic buying process. These criteria are:

1. Smart Ingredient Choices

Do the ingredients deliver the benefits advertised on the supplement’s packaging?

For example, if you’re looking at a sleep aid, do the ingredients contribute towards better sleep and relaxation? Or is that 300 mg caffeine on the “supplement facts” going to be a problem?

Research the ingredients. Supplement brands often make big promises yet deliver a simple caffeine pill without any high-quality compounds.

Always search for nootropics backed by clinical research. You can easily find them by searching the name of the nootropic with “ncbi” included in the search.

2. Ingredients Dosages

Are the dosages high enough to work? Are they too high?

Supplements tend to go on the lower end when it comes to dosages. One exception is caffeine, which is often overdosed.

For there to be sufficient dosages across the board, a supplement needs to pack only a modest amount of ingredients with a high enough serving size (e.g., capsules per serving).

With the exception of multivitamins, formulas with 20+ ingredients tend to have weak dosages.

3. Bio-Available Ingredient Forms

Choline bitartrate is a common ingredient that fails to do much of anything for brain health. This is because it’s unable to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Cognizin is a more bio-available source of choline, given its ability to cross the BBB.

Standardized herbal extracts offer a higher potency than plain powder herbal ingredients.

4. No Proprietary Blends

If you can’t see the dosages, how can you know if they’re sufficient or not? Uh, duh, you can’t.

This is the problem with proprietary blends. Certain brands hide a formula’s ingredient dosages. Here, the supposed intent is to hide a formula’s “proprietary secrets” by concealing its ingredient dosages.

This is pretty much BS, for the most part. Supplement companies that offer great dosage levels tend to reveal those numbers, not hide them.

Try to avoid proprietary blends.

5. No Additives or Fillers

After surveying the Supplement Facts, look next to the “Other Ingredients” and count how many additives are here.

In general, if the number’s high, you’re likely dealing with junk. FD&C colorants, magnesium stearate, fillers – these aren’t necessary.

And some additives can be detrimental to your health. Plus, vegans may inadvertently consume animal byproducts by eating gelatinous capsules.

Look for supplements with simple and clean capsules with a minimum amount of additives.

6. Synthetic Nootropics vs Natural? 

Synthetic nootropics (or so-called man-made nootropics) are very popular, but many are illegal for sales due to the lack of research. Some of the most popular synthetic compounds include piracetam, aniracetam, and noopept. 

Also, make sure that brands are not selling you smart drugs (like Modafinil) instead of real nootropics. 

Until we understand the effects of these compounds better, we suggest avoiding them and sticking to natural nootropics only. 

7. Synergies

When nootropics are smartly combined, they work in synergy and multiply the effects. For example, if you want to boost your memory, combine Bacopa monnieri with citicoline. Citicoline will increase the level of acetylcholine, while Bacopa will inhibit acetylcholinesterase. 

Another great synergy is between maritime pine bark extract (a potent antioxidant) and Lion’s mane mushroom. Maritime pine bark extract contains proanthocyanidins that boost circulation in the brain and flavonoids that increase BDNF (brain derived neutrothrophic factor) levels. 

Lion’s mane mushroom stimulates NGF production that promotes neural growth. This results in improved neuroprotection and neurogenesis. 

Always search for such synergies before buying a nootropic supplement. 

8. Negative Interactions

In most nootropic supplements, you can find nootropic substances that work extremely well together and can provide cognitive-enhancing effects. However, the same nootropic that causes synergistic effects can also cause adverse side effects if not combined smartly.

For example, combining 5-HTP with too many compounds that boost serotonin can be dangerous, especially if you take SSRIs. 

On the other hand, supplementing Ginkgo Biloba, a popular nootropic, while taking an Aspirin can cause hyphema. 

So, you always need to read the instructions before using nootropic stacks. 

Best Standalone Nootropic Compounds

To understand which ingredients make a nootropic stack great, you need to know the basics of individual nootropic compounds. Most potent nootropics enhance cognition and provide health benefits, but they work in many different ways.

Here we share our top-rated and scientifically proven individual nootropics.

Alpha GPC

Alpha GPC is a natural choline compound found in the body. It is a well-researched compound and safe for long-term use. [*] Alpha GPC delivers choline to the brain and increases the production of acetylcholine. [*] Because of that, it provides many cognitive boosting effects.

Research shows that supplementing Alpha GPC improves memory and accelerates learning. [*] In addition, Alpha GPC can slow down cognitive decline. [*]

Supplementing Alpha GPC can increase stamina and help with fatigue. Since it works as a dopaminergic, it has a positive impact on the mood as well. [*]

Early research shows that Alpha GPC can be used as a pre-workout supplement as well.

The optimal daily dosage is 300-600 mg. Keep in mind that Alpha GPC is used medicinally in Europe, so you need a prescription for it.

A great (and maybe even more potent) alternative to Alpha GPC is citicoline.

Citicoline

Citicoline is the generic name for CDP choline, a building block of cell membranes. [*] Citicoline is a compound that was developed in Japan for treating stroke.  Citicoline supplements have been recently used as cognitive enhancers. 

Studies show that citicoline can enhance memory, improve circulation, improve mood, and slow down aging.

Citicoline has been studied in people with age-related memory impairment. Studies show that citicoline supports memory in such individuals. It is especially effective for people during aging. [*]

Other studies show that citicoline improves glucose metabolism and increases blood flow which is crucial for optimal cognition. It also has neuroprotective properties and acts as a membrane stabilizer. It also helps to protect the function of brain cells after a brain injury. 

It may also help people with minor visual impairment. [*]

Citicoline also increases brain energy (ATP) and speeds up the formation of brain membranes in healthy adults. [*]

The typical daily dosage is 250-1000 mg.

L-theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid known to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation without drowsiness. [*]

L-theanine is a must-use nootropic if you want to boost your focus, reduce stress levels, or support sleep quality.

Many combine l-theanine with caffeine, but even without doing it, supplementing l-theanine can enhance focus in challenging tasks. [*]

Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that supplementing l-theanine increased anxiety in people with schizophrenia. [*]

Other l-theanine benefits include:

• anti-tumor effects
• reduced blood pressure
• reduced resting heart rate

The recommended daily dosage is 100-200 mg.

Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine is a fatty nootropic substance that protects every cell in our body. It is vital for the proper functioning of the nerve cells in the brain. [*]

Based on the available research, supplementing phosphatidylserine improves memory, mood, ADHD and helps with depression. [*] [*] [*] [*]

Even though FDA does not regulate nootropics and supplements, phosphatidylserine is the only FDA-approved food supplement on our list due to its potent effects.

The recommended daily dosage is 100 mg, taken up to three times.

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogen herb that provides multiple benefits for our body and brain.

Most importantly, it increases our body’s resistance to stress. When a group of people was given 400 mg of a Rhodiola extract for four weeks, they found a significant improvement in stress, fatigue, and anxiety. [*]

Rhodiola Rosea also has positive effects on fatigue levels and attention, as found in this study. It also reduces stress hormone cortisol levels. 

In addition, it has antidepressant properties, it can enhance brain function and help with physical performance. [*] [*]

If you are a highly active individual, we absolutely recommend supplementing Rhodiola Rosea.

The recommended daily dosage varies from 50 mg to 688 mg. We recommend taking a lower dosage (up to 200 mg) for a longer period.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom

Lion’s mane mushroom is one of the nootropics used for long-term brain health. It is known to protect the human brain and boost neuronal health. Its two active compounds (hericenones and erinacines) are responsible for this mushroom’s potency. 

This edible mushroom increases Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the brain. This is a group of proteins responsible for the growth and survival of neurons. [*]

Lion’s mane also helps to prevent neurodegeneration, fights inflammation, and boosts our immune system. [*] It can reduce nitric oxide levels and lower oxidative stress. 

One animal study showed that a Lion’s mane extract could reduce the weight of colon tumors in mice. [*]

Lastly, amyceneon, a compound found in Lion’s mane, has been shown to have antidepressant properties. [*]

The recommended dosage is 500-1000 mg, taken up to three times daily. 

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa Monnieri is one of the most popular adaptogen herbs on the market. It has been used for centuries by scholars who wanted to have more brainpower and be less stressed. 

Supplementing Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) improves spatial learning and the ability to retain information. [*] It also improves vocabulary, spelling, processing sounds, and understanding words in kids. [*]

It provides anxiolytic effects, and increases the body’s resistance to stress. [*]

It has antioxidant properties and neutralizes free radicals. As such, it can help with brain cell repair and overall brain health. [*]

Lastly, it may help with ADHD, depression, cancer, gut health, and it can boost cognition in healthy adults. 

The recommended daily dosage is 300 mg of a Bacopa Monnieri extract. Keep in mind that the extract has to contain 55% of the active compound bacoside.