We’re often getting asked about the top supplements for learning and memory. Each year, we find ourselves coming up with a new list of our favourite supplements. Our criteria for selecting the top supplements for learning are that they need to be able to increase mental alertness and support cognitive performance while improving memory and boosting mood.
Believe it or not, there are actually quite a few supplements that can seriously improve your learning abilities. Some are less obvious than others. So, in this article, we’ll explore 2018’s top supplements for learning and memory, and how you can use them to boost your performance in school or at work.
Background
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born, to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” - Krishnamurti.
Whether you’re a working professional, a university student, an older learner, or if you’re just curious, we know it can be difficult to focus and maintain attention at times, especially while learning new things.
At times, school life gets stressful, and stress is counterproductive for learning. Keeping an open mind is important for success in life, and it opens you up to new knowledge and new experiences. However, you need to be able to maintain focus and attention to get the most out of learning.
That being said, it’s important to remember that the purpose of true education is to expand your consciousness and your understanding of the world, of people, and of reality. In its pure form, education is the ultimate freedom, liberating a person from the chains of ignorance and opening a multitude of doors to new experiences. Unfortunately, educational institutions do not always operate from this viewpoint, offering instead to teach people a form of obedience and respect for authority, under fear of ‘failure’. Today’s system of education has been criticized by many of our top thinkers. Here’s some food for thought:
“We destroy the love of learning in children, which is so strong when they are small, by encouraging and compelling them to work for petty and contemptible rewards, gold stars or papers marked 100 and tacked to the wall, or A’s on report cards, or honor rolls, or dean’s lists, or Phi Beta Kappa keys, in short, for the ignoble satisfaction of feeling that they are better than somebody else.” - John Holt.
Despite these criticisms, the process of industrial education continues, and many of us find ourselves a part of it, for better or worse. Nevertheless, trying to have a positive outlook towards your education, and viewing it more as a process of self-liberation - of opening your mind to new ways of seeing the world - may help you to find more meaning and enjoyment in your studies. Remember, your education is for YOU.
Keeping that in mind, here are our top supplements to help with the process of learning - to help the mind stay clear and alert, to help maintain focus, to reduce stress, and to help support memory.
Top Supplements for Learning and Memory in 2018
1. Caffeine + L-Theanine:
An energizing and mood-lifting stack that combines the world’s most used stimulant, Caffeine, with the mood-boosting and health-promoting amino-acid derivative, L-Theanine. People have been using Caffeine to boost cognition and mental alertness for hundreds of years. It is probably the most consumed stimulant on Earth.[1]
Studies have shown that the combination of these two compounds helps to improve cognitive performance to a greater extent than using either supplement alone. L-Theanine may help to reduce the jitteriness and anxiety sometimes associated with Caffeine. This great supplement stack promotes wakefulness and an increase in learning capacity.[2]
2. Huperzine A
A powerful and extremely potent compound extracted from the Huperzia serrata herb, with a strong ability to increase levels of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is often called the 'learning transmitter’ - with reference to its importance for cognition and memory. It is vital for signal transduction through the central nervous system. By increasing acetylcholine A, this supplement significantly improves learning capacity and mental alertness. [3]
In one study, 34 pairs of school kids were given either placebo or active Huperzine extract. After 6 weeks, the results showed a significant improvement in memory and marks for those children who were given Huperzine A.[4] Our Huperzine A supplement is a 1% extract with strong benefits on mental focus and energy, as well as support for cognitive function and memory.
3. Taurine
A 'semi-essential’ amino acid that is used in energy drinks around the world for its ability to promote an alert and relaxed state of mind. Although our bodies produce small quantities, dietary Taurine is important for maintaining normal physiological pathways - it has a vital role to play in many of our body’s systems, including protein synthesis. Taurine supplements help to improve mood and cognitive performance while simultaneously acting as a powerful antioxidant and supporting a healthy metabolism.[5]
4. Hordenine with Phenylethylamine
Found alongside Synephrine and Ephedrine in the Bitter Orange fruit, Hordenine works by increasing dopamine levels in the brain, effectively improving mood and mental focus.[6] Hordenine can also be used to promote increased energy levels and is often used in combination with Phenylethylamine (PEA) to extend and improve on the effects.
Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a trace amine found in numerous plant and animal food sources. When taken as a dietary supplement, it effectively increases catecholamine synthesis in the brain – especially epinephrine and dopamine.[7] The resultant effects are a noticeable increase in mood and energy. Unfortunately, the effects of this supplement are often short-lived, which is why it is best when combined with Hordenine.
5. Melatonin
Some people may find it strange to mention Melatonin as a supplement to use for learning. However, this important natural hormone is produced by our brains to help regulate the circadian rhythm. It is also a great natural sleep aid! We mention Melatonin because of the important relationship between sleep and learning capacity.[8]
In times of stress, we often struggle to get a good night’s rest, which negatively affects our ability to focus and stay alert - to a far greater extent than most people realize! In terms of your ability to learn, focus, and stay alert, sleep is SO important! Using a natural sleep aid like Melatonin helps to promote healthy sleep and to reduce the mental ‘slowness’ felt during stressful exam times or when you’re trying to meet a tight deadline.[9]
Conclusion
In summary, this year’s top supplements for learning and memory include some of our favourite cognitive enhancers and brain boosters. These supplements help to promote improved cognition and to support a healthy brain while also improving mood and alertness. To learn more about how dietary supplements can help you with education or university, try reading some reviews about supplements for learning on our product description pages!
Caffeine + L-Theanine capsules are great for promoting wakefulness and improved cognition, while Huperzine A provides a serious mental energy kick. Taurine is a semi-essential nutrient with great mood-boosting effects and health benefits, while Melatonin helps to promote healthy sleep. The stack of Hordenine with Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a great way to boost energy, mood, and alertness.
“Every man who has the ability to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant, and interesting.” - Aldous Huxley.
References:
[1] Nawrot P, Jordan S, Eastwood J, Rotstein J, Hugenholtz A, Feeley M. “Effects of caffeine on human health.” Food Addit Contam. 2003 Jan;20(1):1-30.
[2] Giesbrecht T, Rycroft JA, Rowson MJ, De Bruin EA. “The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness.” Nutr Neurosci. 2010 Dec;13(6):283-90
[3] Zhang H. “New insights into huperzine A for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.” Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2012;33(9):1170-1175. doi:10.1038/aps.2012.128.
[4] QQ Sun et al. “Huperzine-A capsules enhance memory and learning performance in 34 pairs of matched adolescent students.” Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1999 Jul;20(7):601-3
[5] Ripps H, Shen W. “Review: Taurine: A “very essential” amino acid.” Molecular Vision. 2012;18:2673-2686.
[6] Hapke HJ1, Strathmann W. “[Pharmacological effects of hordenine].” (Article in German) Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 1995 Jun;102(6):228-32.
[7] Irsfeld M, Spadafore M, Prüß BM. “β-phenylethylamine, a small molecule with a large impact.” WebmedCentral. 2013;4(9):4409.
[8] Ferracioli-Oda E, Qawasmi A, Bloch MH. “Meta-analysis: melatonin for the treatment of primary sleep disorders.” PLoS One. 2013 May 17;8(5):e63773
[9] Claustrat B, Leston J. Melatonin: Physiological effects in humans. Neurochirurgie. 2015 Apr-Jun;61(2-3):77-84
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