Biohacking: Supplements

What are nootropics?

"Nootropics ...are drugs, supplements, or other substances that improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals."

Wikipedia, in the entry Nootropic


"Nootropics are a broad classification of cognition-enhancing compounds that produce minimal side effects and are suitable for long-term use. These compounds include those occurring in nature or already produced by the human body (such as neurotransmitters), and their synthetic analogs. We already regularly consume some of these chemicals: B vitamins, caffeine, and L-theanine, in our daily diets."

Sumeet Sharma, MD/PhD in training, in the article Nootropics

Biohacking Supplements Cognition

Healthy flora and the things that feed them

"You don't necessarily need probiotics — a type of 'good' bacteria — to be healthy. However, these microorganisms may help with digestion and offer protection from harmful bacteria, just as the existing 'good' bacteria in your body already do. 

Prebiotics are nondigestible carbohydrates that act as food for probiotics. When probiotics and prebiotics are combined, they form a synbiotic. Fermented dairy products, such as yogurt and kefir, are considered synbiotic because they contain live bacteria and the fuel they need to thrive."

The Mayo Clinic, in the article Do I need to include probiotics and prebiotics in my diet?


First and foremost, probiotic foods are excellent for maintaining healthy gut flora. You already know how important your gut flora are for just about everything: if you want healthy digestion, clear skin, metabolic health, a generally good mood, easier weight loss, or pretty much anything else, pampering your gut flora should be at the top of your priorities list. 

The 'good bugs' in probiotic foods are some of the very same bacteria that populate a healthy gut, so when you eat these foods, it’s an infusion of healthy flora right where they need to be."

Paleo Leap, in the article Paleo Foods: Probiotic Foods

Biome Gut Supplements Biohacking

Links/Resources