As a performer, you want to continuously improve your mental and physical performance and therefore seek new hacks to elevate your mental performance to a new level. Caffeine is the most well-known „fuel“ for your brain in this regard, giving you a significant energy boost in the morning. However, there are many other natural substances that you can utilize for enhancing your mental performance. In this article, we will reveal these active ingredients to you.
1. Increase Concentration: Accelerating with Brainpower
You are probably aware from experience that it is not always easy to remember things or maintain focus. While caffeine can be a real miracle weapon for enhancing concentration, its magic fades when used too frequently. In addition to caffeine, there are many other substances available to enhance your brainpower and improve your concentration and memory.
2. Factors That Can Increase Your Concentration and Affect Your Memory
Despite good intentions, exercise, and a healthy diet, it is possible to have a bad day and not perform mentally at your best. As a result, your performance suffers, and you may not accomplish as much during the day as you had planned. One factor that can be particularly detrimental is stress, which drains your energy over time and leaves you tired and unmotivated. Stress can also be a major cause of sleep disorders, leading to fatigue and difficulty concentrating.
However, not all stress is the same. Stress generally refers to distress, which persists over a longer period and forces your body to continuously release cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that keeps you working at full throttle until your body eventually gives out. In contrast to distress, short-term stress reactions (eustress) can actually be advantageous, such as when you need to compete in a race or take an exam, or when you are deeply involved in something.
Therefore, the goal should be to eliminate chronic stress from your life as much as possible, so that it cannot drain your energy. While stress is an ancient instinct that helped humans either fight or flee, it can make you sick in the long run and lead to sleep disorders, concentration problems, and a lack of motivation, which would certainly be detrimental for you as a biohacker.
Below, we will show you how you can increase your concentration and optimize your performance by using specific nutrients and plant compounds, as well as banish stress from your life. In addition to vitamins and healthy fats, adaptogens and nootropics are among the most important hacks that you should know as a biohacker.
3. Brainfood for Your Brain: Optimize and Boost Your Concentration
Nutrition should always be the foundation in the life of a biohacker. It determines whether you can operate at the highest level or not. If your nutrition is not right and certain nutrients are neglected, you will not be able to increase your concentration. Did you know that there are certain nutrients that are particularly important for your mental power? These include:
4. Vitamins and Healthy Fats as Daily Essentials
Vitamin B Complex
B vitamins are extremely important because your body cannot store them. There are around ten B vitamins in total, which are of great importance for brain metabolism, as they can have not only a performance-enhancing but also a calming and balancing effect.
Vitamin D
Did you know that nearly half of the population suffers from a Vitamin D deficiency even though we can produce the vitamin ourselves through exposure to sunlight? This is because we spend most of our time indoors. Vitamin D is needed for the production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter also known as the „happiness hormone,“ which is the perfect booster for your brain as it can elevate mood and increase concentration.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Fatty acids should play an important role in a biohacker’s diet, as they provide your body with the necessary energy and contribute to the production of happiness hormones and the transmission of nerve impulses. Did you know that fat is the best booster for your brain? The two most important omega-3 fatty acids are EPA and DHA, which you must obtain through your diet as your body cannot produce them on its own.
MCT Oil
MCT oil is the perfect brainpower for your gray matter. MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides, which are primarily found in coconut and palm oil. Unlike other fats, these fats can be converted into ketone bodies, which your body can then use directly as an energy source. And the best part is that your body simply excretes excess fat and does not store it for „bad times.“
5. Improve Mental Performance with Adaptogens as Natural Stress Killers
Have you ever heard of adaptogens? Adaptogens are natural plant compounds that can contribute to reducing stress and improving adaptability in stressful situations. Ginseng and Rhodiola rosea are among the best-known adaptogens, which should be of particular interest to you as a biohacker.
Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years and is therefore often referred to as the „king of adaptogens.“ As an adaptogen, it is believed to not only reduce stress and improve well-being but also have an impact on your sleep and mental performance.
Rhodiola Rosea
Like ginseng, Rhodiola rosea is one of the strongest adaptogens that you can use as a biohacker because the plant can minimize the release of cortisol. This, in turn, can reduce stress and its associated symptoms, such as fatigue, exhaustion, and concentration problems.
Ashwagandha
When it comes to adaptogens, Ashwagandha cannot be ignored. In Ayurvedic medicine, the sleep berry, as Ashwagandha is often called, has long been used for stress, sleep problems, and restlessness because the adaptogen can inhibit the release of cortisol and contribute to hormonal balance. The stress hormone cortisol is mainly released in the morning hours due to the influence of light and serves (alongside melatonin) as a regulator for a balanced day-night rhythm.
However, if your body releases too much cortisol, which can happen with stress, it can lead to sleep disorders. Ashwagandha is said to bring the cortisol levels back into balance, allowing you to sleep better at night. Improved sleep quality can, in turn, have a positive effect on your mental performance and increase concentration.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a sleep hormone that is produced in the pineal gland after darkness sets in. As the antagonist of cortisol, it regulates your circadian rhythm and contributes to healthy sleep and a shorter time to fall asleep. As an adaptogen, it can be particularly important when your circadian rhythm is disrupted due to stress or night work. By being able to fall asleep and stay asleep better at night with the help of melatonin, you can increase your mental performance the next day.
6. Nootropics to Enhance Concentration
As a biohacker, you have probably heard of the term nootropics. Nootropics are substances that can directly affect your central nervous system. They are said to not only improve blood circulation in your brain but also boost energy supply in the form of ATP, which can ultimately contribute to improved concentration, attention, and memory. Sounds promising – especially if you’re looking for a natural hack for your brainpower.
One major advantage of nootropics is that you can take them for an extended period as they don’t cause habituation. Nootropics primarily include natural plant compounds and supplements that you can incorporate into your daily diet. Curious? We will now show you the best nootropics that can be of great importance to biohackers.
Cordyceps
Vital mushrooms are becoming increasingly important in the field of biohacking. A mushroom that thrives in the Tibetan highlands at an altitude of 5,000 meters has long been used in Chinese medicine for exhaustion and fatigue. Researchers suggest that Cordyceps can enhance mental and physical performance and concentration by improving the oxygen capacity of the blood. It’s no wonder that this mushroom is used as a nootropic with adaptogenic effects by both biohackers and athletes.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is one of the most extensively researched nootropics. As it can contribute to improving memory and concentration, Ginkgo biloba is often referred to as a natural „brain-boosting“ supplement.
Caffeine
If you’re looking for a natural way to enhance your concentration, you should reach for caffeine more often. Although caffeine is not considered a true nootropic as it is classified as a stimulant, it can be of great importance to biohackers. It is mainly found in coffee beans, black and green tea, mate, and guarana. You are likely familiar with the stimulating effect it has on your body. It can inhibit the release of adenosine by binding to your nerve cells. Adenosine is a receptor with a sedating effect that makes you tired rather than alert.
NADH
NADH, as a nootropic, is still relatively unknown. However, it is one of the most important coenzymes in the human body, involved in many metabolic processes. The coenzyme is, for example, an important catalyst for energy production and is indispensable for physical and mental performance enhancement. Unfortunately, the body’s own production decreases with age, and an increased demand for NADH can occur with increased physical and mental stress, making supplementation worthwhile.
Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri)
Brahmi is an ancient medicinal plant that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3,000 years. As a dietary supplement, it is an important component of many nootropics and is often used in combination with Ginkgo biloba. Many scholars used the plant centuries ago when they needed to memorize long texts. Therefore, the plant is not unjustifiably referred to as the „memory plant“ since it can enhance concentration and improve memory.
7. Conclusion: Harness the Power of Nutrients and Plants!
If you’re feeling tired, exhausted, and have lost your focus, you should take a look at this article and focus on the essentials. There are many natural nutrients and plant compounds that can help you improve your cognitive and physical performance. In addition to B vitamins, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids, adaptogens and nootropics can boost your concentration and significantly increase your mental performance.
