Have they found a cure for the tiredness epidemic?
Mar 3, 2024
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Exploring the hype and risks of brain boosters in combating tiredness epidemic, lack of evidence, benefits of l-theanine vs caffeine, repairing neurons with antioxidants, importance of healthy eating choices
Cognitive enhancers lack substantial evidence, relying on vague marketing claims.
Importance of a healthy diet for brain health over dependence on supplements.
Deep dives
The Rise of Cognitive Enhancers
The podcast discusses the rise of cognitive enhancers in response to pandemic fatigue and exhaustion. Brain supplements or nootropics have entered the market, promising to increase cognitive abilities, improve focus, and reduce anxiety. Despite the multibillion-dollar market for these products, there is limited evidence to support their claims, with much of the marketing relying on vague language and minimal clinical trials.
Challenges in Regulating Brain Supplements
The podcast delves into the challenges of regulating brain supplements and cognitive enhancers. In Australia, products need to meet certain standards to be listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, allowing for general health claims like enhancing brain health or reducing cognitive fatigue. However, many products do not undergo extensive clinical trials to prove their effectiveness, leading to a market filled with products making claims without robust evidence.
Exploring Promising Areas in Brain Health
The podcast highlights the interest in nootropics that can affect nerve growth, potentially aiding in brain repair from injuries or conditions like dementia. Research focuses on dietary interventions, such as consuming foods high in antioxidants like green leafy vegetables and purple foods rich in anthocyanins. The key message emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet over relying on supplements, promoting the idea of 'eat food, not too much, mostly plants.'
There’s a lot of attention right now on nootropics, or brain boosters. The marketing is telling us these over-the-counter supplements will keep us awake and alert, and even improve the way our brains perform. But should we believe the hype? Guardian contributor Bianca Nogrady says … it’s complicated. You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport
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