Have you heard of “smart drinks”? A relatively new addition to the world of health and nutritional supplements, smart drinks – sometimes referred to as cognitive enhancers or nootropics – are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, and across much of the western world. Promising to improve memory, enhance mental alertness, boost concentration and increase energy levels, smart drinks are taking the health industry by storm. If you’re keen to find out more about these transformative beverages and discover their main benefits, all you need to do is read on! Here, you’ll learn what smart drinks are, why you should use them, whether they have any side effects, and more. What are smart drinks? As the name suggests, smart drinks are designed to improve cognitive function. There are many different types of smart drinks or nootropics available, such as those intended to help treat specific conditions such as narcolepsy and attention disorders. In contrast, some are designed for health-focused people who simply want to improve their cognitive performance. While research is still ongoing into exactly how these smart drinks work and how they stimulate the mind, early findings suggest that they react with different systems in the body simultaneously – resulting in enhanced cognitive ability. It has also been shown that smart drinks can increase blood flow to the brain, which allows this vital organ to receive more oxygen and, therefore, perform at a greater capacity. Most smart drinks or nootropics contain caffeine – a well-known stimulant that enables people to stay awake and alert for longer periods of time. However, the level of caffeine in healthy, natural smart drinks is low and thus does not have the health risks associated with heavier caffeinated drinks such as traditional energy drinks. What are the main benefits of smart drinks? Studies suggest there may be both short and long-term benefits to regularly consuming smart drinks, some of which are as follows: Possible short-term benefits Enhanced focus Enhanced memory Resistance to stress Increased concentration Increased alertness More energy Improved mood Potential long-term benefits The promotion of healthy brain function during the ageing process The prevention of age-related cognitive decline Improved mental clarity in senior years What are the main ingredients in smart drinks? There are many different brands and types of smart drinks on the market, each claiming to offer its unique benefits and containing its own bespoke ingredients. That being said, some of the most common ingredients in smart drinks are as follows: 1. L-theanine L-theanine is a supplement that mimics the positive effects of caffeine on the body without any of the negative ones. This means you will feel more energised and alert without experiencing the jitters or difficulty sleeping. One of the easiest ways to consume this ingredient is through drinking pure green tea, although it can also be found in many shop-bought nootropic drinks as well. 2. Ginseng Ginseng is a natural ingredient that comes from the root of a plant that is used in TCM. Studies suggest that ginseng can enhance cognitive function and reduce metal fatigue. It is often found in natural energy drinks and nootropic beverages. 3. Caffeine As mentioned earlier, most smart drinks contain caffeine but in much smaller doses than traditional energy drinks such as Rockstar and Red Bull.Caffeine is known for its ability to boost alertness and increase energy levels. That being said, it is important to recognise that too much caffeine can cause side effects, such as anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness. 4. Maca Root Maca root works directly upon two regions of the brain (the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland) to help boost focus. A study found it may boost physical and mental energy, reduce stress, alleviate depression, and calm anxiety while also stimulating brain activity. Maca is used as a sports supplement by strength and endurance athletes to improve trial performance. This is likely due to better energy metabolism and improved antioxidant status. Natives in the central Peruvian Andes traditionally had their children eat Maca to improve their performance in school see (https://gomatedrinks.com/blogs/blog/nootropics-wanna-play-the-brain-game) 5. Guarana Guarana is a climbing plant native to the Amazon basin, and it comes with several health benefits, including a slow and steady energy boost, improved cognitive function, and enhanced performance.This ingredient is key for people who want to experience increased stamina when exercising and reduce levels of post-workout fatigue. 6. Cacao HuskAlso knows as Theobromine, Cacao Husk stimulates the release of phenylethylamine (PEA) which in turn releases norepinephrine and dopamine, says nootropics expert David Tomen, producing the euphoric effect often associated with a “runner’s high”.Cacao Husk also boosts the release of anandamide wich is known as the “bliss molecule”.see (https://gomatedrinks.com/blogs/blog/nootropics-wanna-play-the-brain-game) What can I use smart drinks for? Smart drinks are suitable for most people and can help to combat both physical and mental limitations. Explore some of the most common uses for smart drinks below: 1. Stress reduction While a little stress every now and then isn’t detrimental to the body, too much can seriously affect mental and physical health. You can buy nootropic drinks specially formulated to combat stress and replenish the chemicals in your brain that become depleted when you are stressed. Furthermore, some of the principal ingredients in smart drinks could help you feel more relaxed, which is just what your mind and body need when you are feeling tense. 2. Attention support If you struggle with attention and focus, smart drinks may help you overcome this issue. Attention and focus are centred around one’s ability to concentrate on a single task and ignore any surrounding stimuli. Whether you need to study, work more productively or take part in competitive activities, nootropic drinks can help you focus on the task at hand and boost your concentration levels. 3. Energy boost One of the main reasons why energy drinks are so popular is that they give you an instant energy boost. Unfortunately, this is typically followed by a powerful crash when the effects of the caffeine and other stimulants wear off. However, when you consume smart drinks instead of conventional energy drinks, you experience a much slower and steadier influx of energy that lasts longer and doesn’t result in a crash. Do smart drinks have side effects? As with most supplements, there are some potential side effects of smart drinks. However, it is worth noting that these are rare and uncommon in healthy individuals. Most notably, if you are sensitive to caffeine and you consume too many smart drinks, you could experience feelings of restlessness, increased heart rate, and difficulty falling asleep. That being said, you can find smart drinks that are caffeine-free if you are worried about the effects of this stimulant. Even when consuming caffeine-free options, you can still enjoy the benefits of these drinks. Here at Go Mate, we are dedicated to helping people experience good energy and have created our own bespoke line of all-natural smart drinks that we promise you will love. We have ones that can give you sustained energy and others that help you relax and remove anxiety. Browse our range of nootropic drinks and start feeling more alert, alive, and energised sooner rather than later!