If you're working from home, it can seem like it’s impossible to get work done with an endless procession of distractions and constant interruptions. Everyone wants to perform their best - we all desire “the edge.”
You may have heard about friends and colleagues turning to nootropics to bolster performance. If the word alone makes you feel intimidated, don’t worry.
Nootropics are simply substances or supplements that improve cognitive function including creativity, memory, and motivation.
Caffeine is an example of a safe, widely available and often used nootropic. Its effects are well known and it’s one of the few proven subtables to increase alertness and decrease fatigue.
Millions of American rely on a routine dose of caffeine each morning to get their day started with their morning cup of coffee.
Nicotine is another well known nootropic. While nicotine is still highly addictive, nicotine increases alertness and attention. Biohackers are beginning to use it as an alternative when their caffeine tolerance has gone too high.
[It's important to note that this is looking at nicotine alone or in a gum - not smoking it.]
In the same way that caffeine and nicotine increase alertness and reduce fatigue, matcha is also a powerful nootropic as well. A standard one tablespoon serving of matcha delivers about half a cup of coffee’s worth of caffeine combined with naturally occurring L-theanine.
The special combo of caffeine and L-theanine in matcha allows for feelings of alertness that are calm and sustained, while supporting an elevated mood.
One thing is for sure, the natural nootropic compounds in matcha can help you enter ‘the flow state.’
Unexpected things you should be adding to your latte.
If you’re looking to take your morning coffee or afternoon matcha up a notch, you could consider adding additional nootropics to help give you an added boost.
Enter mushrooms…
Mushroom add-ins like Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps are popping up at ultra-trendy coffee shops, and are fast becoming the go-to choice to safely and easily boost energy and cognition.
While the benefits of Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps mushrooms are just beginning to be studied by western medicine, they have a 2,000 year history in eastern medicine.
Cordyceps mushrooms are best for energy, while Lion’s Mane is often used to boost cognitive function and increase focus.
Cordyceps get their name from the compound known as cordycepcin. Cordycepcin is very similar to ATP which your body uses to produce energy in the cell. Cordycepcin also helps cells with their ability to absorb oxygen - more oxygen means more energy.
Fun fact: Tibetan Sherpas claim this fungus allows them to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.
Lion’s Mane mushroom are named for their resemblance to a shaggy lion’s mane. Lion’s Mane has been shown to reduce memory loss in mice and, as well as, to prevent plaque buildup in neural pathways that can accumulate and is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Both Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps typically come in a powder or a liquid extract form and are easy to mix with your beverage of choice. If your local coffee shop doesn’t have the ability to boost your favorite drink, both Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps are easy to order online and there are a lot of great companies supplying them today.
If you’re making your coffee or matcha at home, you can try mixing unsweetened almond milk with some Lion’s Mane or Cordyceps mushrooms and matcha over ice. It’s a tasty and powerful combination that will keep you cruising through your afternoon workload.
How to make your Ultimate Productivity Super Matcha Latte in 60 seconds or less.
What you'll need:
- 1 tsp Moontower Adaptogen Matcha
- 1 cup of unsweet vanilla almond milk
- 500 - 1,000 mg Lions Mane Powder
- 1 tbsp MCT oil (optional)
- ice cubes
Directions:
- Pour 1 tsp of Moontower Adaptogen Matcha mixed with almond milk over ice into a tall glass.
- Add in MCT oil, then stir vigorously for 10 seconds.
- Enjoy!