My aim is to start writing more regularly. I have just signed up to write on Medium. I’ll link here. And eventually publish back to this site.
Nootropics: Cognitive Enhancers 1
Nootropics: Cognitive Enhancers Part 1: A Combination for concentration, energy and focus
It’s not easy to have a productive day when plagued by brain fog, tiredness or apathy. When you can’t get with it or get into it. Of course lifestyle choices are important: adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and physical activity, But there are some supplements that can help us get that extra boost. This post will cover 2 supplements that can help give us that edge: increased focus, better mood, more energy and better concentration. As recommended with all supplements, you should check with a health care provider especially if you are taking prescription drugs or have a health condition.
This series of articles are intended to be short summaries of benefits and uses of various supplements. For those interested in more information on a particular supplement, longer, more in-depth articles, with much more detail and research results and links will follow at a later date.
Here are 2 of the herbs I use and like. They have been in use for many years and may have multiple benefits such as improving cognition, mood, stress response.
Rhodiola Rosea is an herb growing in colder mountainous areas of Eurasia, also called golden root or arctic root. This herb is an adaptogen, used as a natural tonic to counter stress and promote health, strength, endurance, mood, and mental performance. It has a long history of usage, few common side effects, and a wide range of potential positive benefits. In my experience, this is one of my favorite nootropics and I like to combine it with ginseng.
Ginseng (Panax or Asian Ginseng) is a plant with a long history of safe usage and many potential benefits. Also an adaptogen with benefits to handling stress (anxiolytic), immune system benefits, improved mood, and more, in addition to it’s nootropic effects. This combines well with rhodiola to help with focus and concentration and energy.
When and How to take: I take these together, just before or after lunch, on an empty stomach to get the strongest effects. I would not take these after mid-afternoon as the energizing properties may impact sleep.
I have personally used these specific products and was pleased with the results. Affiliate links are included below. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Next short article in this series will cover 2 more adaptogens used for their nootropic (and anxiolytic) activity, and an amino acid derivative that may have some fat burning effects as well as cognition improvement.
Let Prine Prime Action
The death of John Prine due to COVID-19 has hit me hard during this coronavirus pandemic. He beat cancer twice and other ailments. Only to lose to the virus.
I love his music, I think he is one of the top songwriters ever. And he just has always seemed genuine & compassionate, a good human being. Not a big ego, caring more about others than himself.
There are a lot of references to death in his songs. But, these are not sad, depressed, suffering lyrics. They are pretty light-hearted considering the subject matter. An acceptance of the inevitability, a part of life. It didn’t bother him. Might as well have a good attitude about it.
I think one thing is that he accomplished as much as he could during his time. He left it all on the field, nothing on the table. He was very productive writing songs, and even touring, in spite of his medical issues. He was a do-er, even when doing wasn’t easy.
John Prine was 73 when he died. I’m 59. It makes me think. I hope to have more than another 14 years, but, what can or should I accomplish in the time I have left, however long that is? I have a lot of goals and interests still. Better get to it.
Corona Quarantine Contemplation
Turning downtime into opportunity
The world is different.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed lifestyles, relationships, habits, and working conditions. We are restricted on the places we can go, and the people we can see. Yet, opportunity does present itself! This is the time to reflect on where we are, where we want to be, the things we want to do. On what is really important.
I started this site a while back. Since graduate school long ago, I have studied neuroscience, health & fitness, nutritional supplements, alternative medicine, spirituality, success and achievement. I have continued reading, learning, and experimenting.
I’m now 59 years old. I have a timer countdown on my phone. 301 days of 50’s left. Not that there is anything wrong with turning 60, but the thought does create a sense of urgency. I still have a lot of goals, big goals, for my health & fitness, business endeavors, and learning new things. I want to go through the rest of my life with strength, stamina, endurance, mental sharpness, and enthusiasm.
I have seen a lot, experienced a lot, learned a lot, and thought a lot. That doesn’t mean I know anything. I can’t tell anybody what to do, or what is best for anyone. I’m not qualified and don’t intend to dispense medical advice. But, I can share some of what I have tried and researched; what has helped me and what I have learned. I’ve dealt with depression, body fat, stress, anxiety, problems with alcohol, joint problems, sleep troubles and more.
This extra time in reflection during the days of Covid-19 has given me a new focus and urgency on my pursuits, and sharing the information I find. I hope the information will be useful to you too.
Get FIT, Save a BIT!
UPDATE: FitBit 4 is now available. We are in the process or re-evaluating the Amazon services and exploring the best resource for customers.
Fit Bit Charge 2 Now Available at a low price!
The thing that really amped up my fat-loss, activity level, and overall fitness was the acquisition of a FitBit fitness tracker. The notifications, reminders, and recorded progress increased my desire, motivation, and awareness to track my fitness journey. To get those 10,000 steps each day. That is about 5 miles/day, an excellent start to getting in better shape.
The model I have been using is the Charge 2. Besides steps, it records heart rate, flights of stairs, sleep stages and amount of sleep, and registers various more intense exercises. I have worn my FitBit almost non-stop since I got it. It reminds me to get steps in each hour, and it calculates how many calories I have burned. The reminders, notifications, and data it provides is motivating and informative.
FitBit has released the Charge 3, so right now (while supplies last) the Charge 2 is available at a great price!
The FitBit is functional on its own, but it is also synced to their smartphone app and website. This makes it possible to synchronize it with other apps. I use MyFitnessPal app to record my calories. The Fitbit app and MyFitnessPal app sync and give the calories in and out for the day, and how much is left. This works great but can be a little challenge to set up initially. I will cover that specifically in a separate post.
The best way to have more energy as we age is to improve our lifestyle, be more active. The FitBit motivates and prompts to be more active, move around more, get those steps. Start slow, fitness will improve, energy will improve, and the desire to be more active will come. An upward spiral to good health!
The Double Whammy of MidLife
They say 50 is the new 30. or 60 is the new 40. And in many ways they are right (whoever they are). However we have a strange dichotomy in out Western world.