You’ve heard of them. They’re trending and adored by those who use them. They sound like a vacation spot in Costa Rica, but what are Nootropics, really?
“Nature is the Source of All True Knowledge”–Leonardo DaVinci
Erik Levi has had his own run-ins with health problems. “Like a lot of wholistic practitioners and health coaches, I really found the holistic way is the best way. I became very disenchanted with the health care system. I worked in it, and I watched my friends become beholden to it.”
Learning that the body works together as a whole, interdependent unit was transformative for Erik. The body isn’t just a conglomeration of individual parts. (2:10) “Once I embraced that, everything changed. I really wanted to help others learn what I found out.” And change he did.
*Becoming a Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner opened a whole new world of natural medical treatment options. “Old School” methods of health care treatments have come a long way in the past 20 years.
- One-on-One meet-ups with clients is the best way to determine vitamin and mineral deficiency, with rapid return testing.
- Mental health evaluation and treatment is a closely related area showing great promise in the nootropics field.
** Prefer To Watch? Check Out Our Livestream, Level Up Your Health With Nootropics With Eric Levi Here!**
Nootropics: Spa Treatments for the Brain
“There’s a lot of people out there who know enough about the brain to be dangerous, which is not good,” warns Erik. (5:10). “A lot of people out there have done quite a bit of research, though, and can contribute to an educated discussion. Some of them are wrong, but it makes you want to do the research on your own.” Erik struggled with his own depression episodes, and this motivated him to find the truth.
A pharmaceutical approach to supplementation is a real problem. Because each person’s body is unique, we have to use principles, rather than established, across-the-board treatments.
- The mind-body connection is closely tied to gut health. (6:30)
- Most neurotransmitters are made in the gut, not the brain.
- Metabolism, hormones, blood sugar and liver function all determine the synthesizing of neurotransmitters.
- The environment contains an abundance of toxins, many of which can “sabotage your brain.”
- Chemicals in fireworks, gym mats, and molds in foods and buildings cause considerable damage to the body/brain functioning.
Slowly But Surely 
Let’s face it. Humans are not a patient lot when it comes to our health.
“You need at least 3 months to start to see even a little bit of an improvement. (10:30) Our bodies work in ratios when it comes to supplementation. Vitamins and minerals can complement or fight against one another depending on the cellular load already existing.”
For instance, taking an iron supplement will cause your copper and zinc levels to decrease.
Blood testing and DNA analysis are mandatory processes to find out how to properly care for and treat body and mind issues.
Bring the Heat
Once you figure out what your body is either lacking (sleep, vitamins, minerals, nootropics, eg.) and/or is what is making it sick, (toxins in the environment, allergies, diseases, eg.) then you can move to the next step–“You gotta turn on the heat.” (20:50) Energy is the gas stove to your omelet.
Without adding in energy or heat to the equation, your body doesn’t utilize the new changes.
- Light exposure, outdoor interaction (think nature), deep sleep, and spiritual experiences are the secret sauce to health.
- Having a strong purpose for getting up in the morning is critical for both emotional and physical health. (22:30)
- Feeling “broken” prevents healing and delegates health to outside influences, which often fail to fill the emotional void. Taking responsibility for one’s ability to heal encourages change. Finding positive energy is a part of this process.
Drama Damage
“Some people have a legitimate sympathetic nervous system response to drama that trumps whatever good they’re doing now.” (24:30)
Some people overreact to stressful conditions, react emotionally to everyday problems, and have a difficult time pulling out of these lows.
- Meditation, religious practices and beliefs, and good relationships contribute to the mind-body-spirit healing process. (25:40). This is part of the “heat” or energy of the equation.
Nootropic Power–General and Specific
Is there a general go-to nootropic that most people benefit from? (27:00)
“If you were to push me into a corner and be like, ‘Erik, I need the name of the best nootropic that I’m going to recommend to my million viewers,’ L-Theanine would be that amino acid (part of a nootropic stack). It’s a very calming amino acid that works on the Gaba part of your brain.
- When taken with caffeine, L-Theanine takes the energy and focus you want in the direction you want to go.
- L-Theanine is also an excellent source for creativity and brain energy when taken in the morning, and does not cause a “buzzy” reaction.
Phosphatidylserine is another widely-used nootropic that replenishes the fatty coatings on cells and nerve pathways to enhance message transfer and regulation of what is allowable into the cells.
- A strong cell membrane helps regulate cell activity.
- Phosphatidylserine has a calming effect, but will not make you sleepy.
Lion’s Mane, Rishi, Chaga, Shiitake, Cordyceps and Turkey Tail are all mushroom derived nootropics and aid in focus and calm.
