Nootropic Supplements Used for Athleticism
Athleticism, by nature, demands competitive nature. Sports and athletics can be very demanding on the body. For this reason, people often turn to all types of advantages to find an extra edge over the competition. Fortunately, there are natural, holistic methods for achieving an edge, these benefits coming from the world of nootropic supplements. While there are many nootropics for energy, stamina, and overall athleticism, some stand out above others as the best options.
Top Nootropics for Athletics
Although there are many, these are the top nootropics for athletes and physical competitive sport.
Panax Ginseng
Panax Ginseng may be well known for its life-enhancing and vitality-oriented benefits (Chevallier, 2016), but it is also well-known for its ability to help with physical performance (Orr, 2014). It has a favorable impact on respiration and can help athletes in stressful situations (2014). The nootropic is a common stimulant throughout Eastern and Western cultures alike and it can help the body thwart fatigue (Chevallier, 2016). It has even been considered one of the best herbal supplements to combat chromic fatigue syndrome (Beshara, 2019). One of the main reasons it possesses such potent endurance-boosting qualities, is its ability to bypass glycogen and make use of fatty acids for energy (Balch, 2010). It is even turned to for protection against extreme temperatures (Chevallier, 2016).
Tongkat Ali
TongKat Ali has been around for a long time in terms of its energy and stamina-boosting benefits. Both traditional and modern cultures have turned to the nootropic for its athletics-building power (Rehman et al., 2016). For these reasons the herb has become extremely popular in body building and weight lifting communities, even offering purported benefits to muscle growth, strength, and endurance (Khanijo and Jiraungkoorskul, 2016). Many studies exist which show the herb’s potential energy-producing properties, as well as its ability to reduce overall fatigue (2016).
Honorable Mentions
Although the most potent herbs for athletes are listed above, there are still some honorable mentions. When it comes to endurance and energy, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola Crenulata, Cordyceps Mushrooms, and the Black Hoof Mushroom are known to provide excellent benefit. Ashwagandha is also known for its muscle-building and strength-building properties (Chevallier, 2016). Black Hoof Mushroom is known for its ability to improve metabolic function, energy, and endurance (Huang et al., 2016). Rhodiola is an adaptogen, making things a lot less stressful for an athlete (Orr, 2014), also offering energy (2014), and muscle repair properties (Beshara et al., 2019). These nootropics alone, or as a combination, can provide athletes an amazing extra edge in addition to Panax Ginseng and Tongkat ali.
Last Words of Wisdom on Using Athletic Nootropics
Athletes are known for always pushing to be their best. That extra drive can be hard to come by from time to time, but nootropic supplements can offer the edge in a natural, safe form. The few nootropics which are proven to help with athleticism have been used for thousands of years in Eastern cultures and have other benefits to the mind and body as well. Ultimately, choosing an athletics nootropic for any nootropic stack is reasonable with a little trial and error.
A Note From NooFiles
This article is intended to be used for information only. We want to remind you that consulting your physician is recommended before adding any dietary supplement of any kind to your daily regimen.
Sources
Balch, P. (2010). Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Fifth Edition. Avery Publishing. New York, New York. ISBN 978-1-58333-400-3
Beshara, J., Engle, D., and Haynes, K. (2019). Beyond Coffee. Monocle Publishing. ISBN 9781544505459
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Third Edition. DK Publishing. New York, New York. ISBN 978-1-4654-4981-8
Huang, S., Chen, J., Chen, C., Su, C., and Hu, M. (2016). Black Hoof Medicinal Mushroom Phellinus linteus (Agaricomycetes) Extracts Protect Against Radiation-Induced Hematopoietic Abnormality in Mice. Int J Med Mushrooms. Vol. 18(5). Pp. 425-31. DOI: 10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.v18.i5.60. PMID: 27649604.
Khanijo, T., and Jiraungkoorskul, W. (2016). Review Ergogenic Effect of Long Jack, Eurycoma Longifolia. Pharmacognosy reviews, Vol. 10(20). Pp. 139–142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.194041
Orr, S. (2014). The New American Herbal. Clarkson Potter Publishers. New York, New York. ISBN 978-0-449-81993-7 Rehman, S. U., Choe, K., and Yoo, H. H. (2016). Review on a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali): Its Traditional Uses, Chemistry, Evidence-Based Pharmacology and Toxicology. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), Vol. 21(3). Pp. 331. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21030331