Nootropics 101: Improve Your Mind's Performance Naturally

For centuries humans have used caffeine as a tool to increase performance. Our love and need for it carved its way into our culture and social behaviour. Making coffee and tea so ever popular. But soon after that first cup, the awaken mirage fades away leaving behind a state of fatigue and a need for more. So we have another espresso to do the trick, and the cycle goes on and on.

Living in fast-paced cities the pursuit of a perfect work-life balance can get the best of anyone. Our calendars packed, trying to squeeze and use every last drop of time only to be able to get it all done. Which makes a simple cup of tea not enough for a society with ambition and drive.

Our desire for a source to help us make great things happen leads us to look for alternatives.

We try out meditation, gyms, books, gurus, podcasts, brain training... Anything to conjure a way for us to up our performance. Hoping to find an alternative that won’t give us the jitters during our business meeting... While searching for the next big thing we've stumbled upon nootropics.

Nootropics are compounds shown to reduce fatigue, assist focus, boost creativity, optimise brain function and improve memory. Nootropics are its own category of substances or supplements specialised in mental performance.

Ginkgo Biloba, Turmeric, caffeine and L-Theanine are amongst the most popular. You can find them in vitamins, coffee or green tea. They share similar benefits but tend to work at their best consumed together. The keyword here is together because consumed in a perfect match highlights their benefits. This is why a pairing of caffeine with L-Theanine will provide energy and focus yet it won't produce that crashing sensation a cappuccino does.

For this reason, they've become very popular on Wall Street, among students, and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.

To choose which ones to consume and how to can easily become extensive research. One that most don’t have the time for. In 2016, our team hit the kitchen and the lab intending to develop a nootropic drink. Wanting to create one that would be healthy, tasty and natural, we took the challenge and created Shine.

5,000 retailers later, we help people achieve mental clarity, concentration and focus. We work following a simple belief... Help people think better, feel better and do better. So next time you find yourself before an important game, pitching session, or before an exam have a go for a Shine!