So competent, yet so boring. Your fellow members of the board are all upbeat and energetic while you’re dosing off. The coffee upsets your stomach and the chocolate is making you fat. What can you do?

Sure, we should all sleep more. Now tell me about the innovative nootropic products that can temporarily make me the brightest in the room.

Besides foods (think omega-3 rich fatty fish, flavonoid rich blueberries, vitamin K rich leafy greens and vitamin E rich nuts) there are new supplements known for their potential benefits in enhancing cognitive function.

Here’s a rundown of the American supplement Kage Mindset that comes in powder form, and an European alternative called Upsters Energy Focus that is sold as chewable mints. Both are available as non-caffeinated versions.

The main ingredients of Kage Mindset are Alpha GPC, Ginseng, Phosphatidylserine, L-Tyrosine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine. You are likely familiar with all of them except maybe Alpha GPC, which is a biosynthetic precursor of acetylcholine. You might remember that eggs are a natural source for choline. Acetyl-L-Carnitine was already popular in universities 30 years ago and Ginseng and L-Tyrosine are often included in energy drinks. Since this supplement comes in powder form, you’ll have to mix it up in your Yeti. It dissolves easily and the mango taste is refreshing.

The Focus mints from Upsters Energy come in a more convenient form, but have less active ingredients. The main ingredients are Uridine (UMP), CDP Choline (Citicoline) and Vitamin B. You might have heard about Uridine as you can get plenty of it from your current food intake, namely beer. Sticking with the popular exotic fruit flavors of nootropics, the Focus mints come in watermelon flavor.

Ok, Great. But do they work?

As with all supplements, there are two things to consider:

1. The higher the price tag, the more pronounced the placebo effect.

2. An unhealthier diet will make the effect of the supplement more noticeable.

One way to figure out if the mints works for you, is to order other types of mints and then try them out randomly (Upsters offer also caffeinated mints). The drinkable Kage Mindset allows you to dose your nootropic cocktail freely and comes also in a caffeinated version. If the nootropics won’t get you, at least the caffeine will.

There are of course more you can do to improve your endurance in the boardroom and you can learn more by reading the Fit Businessman book (www.FitBusinessmanBook.com). But if you feel you deserve a nap when your boss is talking and you don’t mind being overweight, then don’t bother. Treat yourself to some chocolate when you wake up and quit coffee another day.

#nootropics #upstersenergy #smart