Last week I was researching nootropics for an article here on Boomer Buyer Guides and I made a great discovery. But before I tell you about that, I’d like to share a tiny bit about my process for finding really good products to recommend to our readers…
If you’re not interested in reading about my experience that’s ok! Click here and the page will scroll down to information about Bright Brain products.
After asking Google a lot of questions, educating myself on the general topic, and reading product reviews on too many products, I narrow my list down to five or six that I’m convinced are exceptional. Then I reach out to the manufacturer via email. Sometimes I get no reply. And, for some reason that I can’t figure out… sometimes I get rude responses. The way a company treats people who are interested in what they’re doing can tell you a lot.
One of the memory supplements I told you about in that article is called Absolute Focus. It’s a daily nootropic supplement that promotes mental performance, learning, focus, alertness, and a lot more. It’s manufactured and distributed by a company called Bright Brain.
So, I sent Bright Brain an email expressing my interest in their product and within a couple of hours, I received a reply from someone in their marketing department. It wasn’t a form letter like I’m used to receiving with links to product photos and promotional copy they want me to use in an article. Instead, what I got was a thoughtful, enthusiastic offer of help from someone who is genuinely excited about Bright Brain nootropics and proud to be part of their team. Wow, right?
“Science Not Marketing”
I found the above statement from the Bright Brain website particularly telling because although they are clearly great marketers, they have a product-first approach. In the supplement space that’s not always the case. I see LOTS of businesses that just throw their name on “white label” products and marketing is their primary focus!
Bright Brain impresses me and I want to return the goodwill they showed me (and you) by not only including Absolute Focus as one of 5 products featured in Baby Boomer’s Guide to Memory Improvement Supplements but by publishing this article that will focus 100% on Bright Brain and several of its excellent nootropic products.
Let’s start with their best selling product, Absolute Focus…
ABSOLUTE FOCUS
Absolute Focus is a cognitive enhancing nootropic supplement that helps improve your brains’ ability to concentrate and process information.
Absolute Focus was developed to be taken regularly, even daily, by those who want a mental edge to keep them sharp, focused and productive.
Absolute Focus promotes:
- Focus & Alertness without jitters
- Heightened energy and drive
- Enhanced Cognition and problem-solving skills
- Improved Memory recall
CRASH + REBOOT
Anyone else out there have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Did you know that nearly half of all men and women over 60 struggle with insomnia? It’s like an epidemic.
Some people believe that as we age we need less sleep but that’s not true. Even Baby Boomers need 7-9 hours of consistent, refreshing sleep and if we don’t get it, we are more likely to experience unpleasant things like depression and memory problems.
Bright Brain nootropics spent thousands of hours doing research trials and studies to come up with a great sleep product called “Crash + Reboot”. It targets multiple brain pathways to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep. And that’s not all. If you’ve ever tried prescription sleep aids, or even over the counter ones, you know that while you might get a good night’s sleep, you’re probably going to wake up feeling hungover and groggy. Crash + Reboot is specifically formulated to help your brain and body recover so you wake up refreshed!
Bright Brain’s Crash & Reboot promotes:
- Falling asleep faster
- Staying Asleep
- Neuroprotection
- Mental Recovery
- Restorative rest
- Alleviate stress and anxiety
CHILL + RELAX
You may already know this but even post-retirement, stress and anxiety still manage to find their way into our lives and sometimes makes it challenging to enjoy our well-earned “free-time.”
Chill And Relax was created by Bright Brain specifically to reduce anxiety and stress while improving your mood.
When you take Chill + Relax from Bright Brain, it promotes:
- Mood Improvement
- Stress Relief
- Relaxation
- Neuroprotection
- Cognitive Recovery
Nootropics – What Are They?
Nootropics (/noʊ.əˈtrɒpɪks/ noh-ə-TROP-iks) (colloquial: smart drugs and cognitive enhancers) are drugs, supplements, and other substances that may improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals. – Wikipedia
The idea of a drug that can supercharge our brains is compelling, isn’t it? Have you ever watched the Bradley Cooper movie, “Limitless?” It’s about what happened to a business consultant with average intelligence when he started taking a fictional drug that gives the user super human intelligence.
In a recent episode of “Billions,” employees at Axe Capital (including Axe himself) start taking “Limitless” smart pills. In both Limitless and Billions, the initial result after taking these fictional nootropics was incredible and beneficial. But after a while, things went south for them.
The Bright Brain supplements we are discussing in this article are considered Nootropics but you don’t have to worry about experiencing any of the side effects the characters in “Limitless” or “Billions” did. In real life, these supplements simply support our brains’ ability to function normally with some improvements. If you’re like me and you notice that your new “Baby Boomer normal” isn’t what you’d like it to be, the following information on BioHacks may be just what you need.
Biohack Your Brain with Supplements
What is biohacking? Simply put, biohacking can be described as do-it-yourself (DIY) biology. For many “biohackers,” this consists of making small changes to diet or lifestyle to make incremental improvements to your health and well-being.
In the same way, athletes take supplements to enhance their physical performance; some people hope to improve their brains’ performance and well-being with nootropics or brain health supplements.
These supplements can support memory improvement, clarity of thinking, focus, sense of connection, and mood. The Bright Brain products we discuss in this article all qualify on these points.
Biohacking is becoming more and more popular. However, everybody is different, so what might work for one person won’t necessarily work for another. This means that it is essential to test and try out different products to discover what works for you as an individual.
We believe that the earlier you start biohacking your brain, the better, as all memory-related ailments tend to worsen over time.
The Foods You Eat Affect Your Brain Health
What you eat affects the risks you have of cognitive decline and the development of ailments such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. One of the best things you can do to support your memory and brain health is to give your brain the nutrients and antioxidants it needs to function properly.
According to nutritionists, the best strategy to follow is a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and green, leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli. They are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta-carotene.
It would be best if you tried to get protein from plant sources and choose healthy fats, such as olive oil or coconut, rather than unhealthy saturated fats.
There is a great variety of foods that promote healthy brain function.
Fatty fish, such as salmon, trout, and sardines, are full of omega-3 fatty acids, which play a powerful role in mood and memory improvement.
However, even if you consume loads of such foods and brain-healthy nutrition in your daily diet, it’s still challenging to get the recommended amounts that your brain needs to perform at its highest levels and to preclude age-related brain degenerative conditions.
Fortunately, brain health supplements can bridge the gap between what we’re consuming and what we need for ultimate brain functioning and protection.
What are Brain Health Supplements?
Brain supplements, like the ones offered by Bright Brain are often referred to as nootropics. They can improve your brain power, memory, thinking ability, and reduce the risk of developing memory-related ailments in the later years of your life.
Given the multitude of essential health benefits they offer, it should be no surprise that the consumption of nootropics is on the rise, particularly in the US.
The term “nootropics” first referred to chemicals that met very specific criteria. But now it’s used to refer to any natural or synthetic substance that may have a positive impact on brainpower and cognitive function.
In general, nootropics fall into three broad categories: dietary supplements, synthetic compounds, and prescription drugs.
Are Brain Health Supplements Effective?
Many such supplements have shown promising results for improving and protecting brain health, and most of them are proven to help improve memory and brain function.
Bright Brain products including Absolute Focus and Chill + Relax are great examples of supplements that were thoroughly researched and developed to be effective and safe. Keep in mind however that not all brain-boosting supplements have the same effects on everyone. So, a supplement that works for one person might not work for another – and not every study has found subjects to benefit from consuming brain health supplements.
We recommend you research each supplement you’re thinking about taking beforehand, especially if you’re currently on any other medication, and you should always consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Brain Health Assessments
How can a brain health assessment help you? It can allow you to discover your brain type, your brain’s risk factors, and develop a personalized supplement, nutrition, and fitness plan.
For the most accurate and comprehensive medical brain health assessment, you should see a doctor (ideally a neurologist.) But still, you can get a limited look at your brain health by completing an online questionnaire. There are many online assessments available for Boomers to complete, and they usually take less than 30 minutes.
Other Things You Can Do to Promote Brain Health and Memory
How a Proper Diet Supports Brain Health
Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is important for general health and wellbeing. It is also well-established that a good diet can help lower the risk of developing dementia. As with general health, brain health declines with age. So, the protective role of nutrition in slowing down this inevitable neurodegeneration is essential, and it’s undoubtedly something Baby Boomers should keep in mind.
Recently, clinicians have been trying to uncover the specific mechanism by which a proper diet provides this protection. Researchers have linked a better diet to greater brain volume.
Positive diet changes have been found to affect the body’s white matter regions and the hippocampus. The role of white matter is to process and send nerve signals up and down your spinal cord to facilitate movement and sensation, among many other things. On the other hand, the hippocampus is heavily involved in learning and memory.
This shows that adequate nutrition supports brain health in key regions via the protection of structural volume and integrity. This, in turn, lowers the risk of developing dementia and general cognitive decline.
It is important to note that studies have shown both the potential benefits of taking a single food or nutrient and of good dietary patterns.
To reap the benefits of nutrition on brain health, you should optimize your entire diet instead of focusing on only part of it. While it is always advisable to maximize fresh fruit and veg intake, you will not benefit as much from doing so if you continue to engage in damaging eating behaviors such as consuming lots of saturated fats or drinking alcohol excessively. The key is to have healthy dietary patterns across the board.
How Physical Exercise Supports Brain Health
The benefits of physical exercise are extensive but often mistakenly thought of as solely physical. But increasing research has revealed a whole range of mental health benefits associated with exercise. Exercising regularly can increase your daytime energy levels, ability to focus, and quality of sleep.
It is also a highly effective way to keep stress levels at bay. The physical benefits of working out generally mean that Baby Boomers and other adults who exercise often have better self-esteem. And, those who engage in regular exercise often report greater levels of general positivity about themselves and their lives.
In addition to promoting better general wellbeing, exercise has a strong role in managing mental health issues. For example, in depression, exercise helps reduce inflammation in the brain and promotes neural growth. The release of endorphins also helps with general wellbeing in both depression and anxiety.
Furthermore, exercise serves as a good “grounding” technique. This is when the person focuses entirely on being in the present moment and often involves mindfully experiencing physical sensations as a way to manage difficult emotions. In PTSD or anxiety sufferers, shifting their focus onto the feeling of their feet touching the ground or their arm movements can help dissipate challenging emotions, such as uncontrollable panic or frozen feelings.
A common misconception is that you must be a fitness fanatic to reap any of these benefits – and this tends to dissuade Boomers from exercising.
However, countless studies have shown that even modest amounts of exercise make a statistically significant (meaning the difference could not be due to chance alone) difference compared to no exercise.
When exercising, listen to your body. If you feel you need a break after 5-10 minutes, then that is absolutely fine. Everyone starts somewhere, and it is better and safer to go at a pace suitable to your body – especially for Boomers. And with time, you will find that you can exercise for longer.
The key is persistence, and it is recommended that you try to exercise – however little – on most days. Just remember, no amount of exercise is pointless; it all counts.
Brain Exercises That Help Support Brain Health and Memory
There are a number of different, evidence-based brain exercises that can help promote brain health. They have been shown to help improve memory, concentration, and overall focus.
Puzzles – No matter the complexity, jigsaw puzzles are a brilliant way to sharpen your visuospatial cognitive skills. This essentially means that by looking at the puzzle pieces and figuring out how they fit together, you engage and exercise multiple parts of your brain at the same time.
Cards – There are so many different card games, but a unifying factor amongst them is their potential to improve your thinking and executive skills as well as memory.
Dance – Learning new dance moves can help increase the speed of your brain’s processing abilities as well as help memory. It can be any style too – from salsa to Zumba to tap. And there are many ways you can learn: class-based, online video tutorials from the comfort of your home, or as a group activity.
With so many different dance styles to choose from and various settings to try them in, you’re bound to find something that takes your fancy.
Skills (learn or teach) – Learning and/or teaching skills are great ways to have fun, learn, and improve your memory function. It can be any skill, such as learning to use a computer program, changing a flat tire, playing golf, or even learning a new language.
Music – Music has long been associated with its ability to encourage creative thinking. Whether you prefer to simply listen to music or want to learn how to play, there are brain health benefits to be had.