Calm Nootropic | Breakdown

Calm is our anti-stress and sleep nootropic. It is designed to help you unwind at the end of a big day and prepare for a high quality sleep in the evening. It does this by helping modulate and reduce stress levels, support calming neurotransmitters like Serotonin and GABA and increase alpha brain wave activity.

Calm is our solution for the modern hustler who also understands the importance of de-stressing and sleeping well. It’s important to be productive and high performing during the day, but it is even more important to take the time to rest and recover and get your brain back in a state to do be able to do it all again. This is how you prevent burnout, and ensure a sustainable routine of high performance and output. 

It’s also far too common now to spend all day consuming stimulants, through coffee, energy drinks and sports supplements which can lead to exhaustion, fatigue and impacting the quality of your sleep later at night. Calm is here to help calm down your nervous system so that you can still have a restful sleep.

A lack of sleep in the short term will significantly reduce your cognitive performance and output during the day. A chronic lack of sleep, however, can lead to accumulation of waste products in your brain, which can actually increase the chances of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases later in life. We want to avoid this at all costs.

Format: Powder

Flavour: Rich Chocolate

Purpose: To reduce stress and improve sleep quality later in the day. A soothing beverage to help you unwind, recharge and rest so that you can continue to operate at high performance the next day.

Who should use this product: Corporates, knowledge workers, busy parents, insomniacs or poor sleepers, people with high stress/anxiety levels, sleep optimisers and health nuts.

Directions of use: Mix 1 scoop with hot (not boiling) water and sip on later in the evening (2–3 hours before bed). Can also be used cold although we recommend a hot chocolate style!

Calm Ingredients:

• Reishi Mushroom 15:1 Extract (200mg)
• L-Tryptophan (500mg)
• GABA (800mg)
• L-Theanine (300mg)
• Ashwagandha 10:1 Extract (500mg)
• Chamomile 5:1 extract (200mg)
• Magnesium Glycinate (400mg)
• Zinc (30mg)
• Vitamin B6 (10mg)
• GoMCT (4.5g)
• Astragin (50mg)

Ingredients Breakdown

Reishi Mushroom 15:1 Extract (200mg)

Summary

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum) is a polypore fungus that contains over 400 bioactive constituents including phytochemicals, triterpenes, polysaccharides (such as Beta Glucans), amino acids, fatty acids, proteins and more. It has been used as a Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Reishi is rising in popularity and commonly used to improve general health, immunity and support stress and sleep.

This mushroom exerts potent anti-oxidative effects, is able to activate natural killer cells which increases immunity and may increase anti-cancer effects. 

Reishi can come in a variety of forms and extracts, from powdered extracts of varying concentrations, to liquid tinctures which can be ethanol or water extracted. 

Nootropic Effect

1. May reduce stress
2. May increase immune system response
3. Acts as an antioxidant
4. May increase sleep quality or reduce sleep latency

Mechanisms of Action

1. Increase in natural killer immune cells
2. May induce cell apoptosis and inhibit cancel cell spread
3. May suppress motor activity and increase relaxation leading to better sleep

Research

1. (PDF) Extract of Ganoderma lucidum potentiates pentobarbital-induced sleep via a GABAergic mechanism (researchgate.net)
2. Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats | Request PDF (researchgate.net)
3. Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients — PubMed (nih.gov)
4. Neuroprotective effects of ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides against oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis — PubMed (nih.gov)
5. [Sleep-promoting effects of Ganoderma extracts in rats: comparison between long-term and acute administrations] — PubMed (nih.gov)
6. Linzhi (Ganoderma lucidum); evidence of its clinical usefulness in renal diseases (nih.gov)
7. The anti-oxidation and anti-aging effects of Ganoderma lucidum in Caenorhabditis elegans — ScienceDirect

L-Tryptophan (500mg)

Summary

L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid used to create proteins that must be taken in from the diet.

It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, melatonin and vitamin B3. 

L-Tryptophan first converts into 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) before converting into serotonin and finally melatonin in the body. L-Tryptophan, therefore, gives your body the building blocks to create serotonin if required, as opposed to taking 5-HTP which bypasses the rate limiting step and outright increases brain serotonin levels.

Increasing serotonin can affect mood and is known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter. 

L-Tryptophan is often supplemented and used as a natural remedy for depression, pain, insomnia, hyperactivity and eating disorders.

Within Calm, L-Tryptophan is used for its potential to support mood and wellbeing, and increase sleep quality.

Low levels of L-Tryptophan has been shown to impair cognitive function, and increases feelings of anxiety, tension and nervousness.

It’s important to not combine L-Tryptophan with other serotonin increasing supplements or drugs such as MAOI’s or SSRI’s. 

Nootropic Effect

1. May support mood and wellbeing
2. May aid in depressive symptoms
3. May increase sleep quality

Mechanisms of Action

1. Precursor to 5-HTP and therefore serotonin and melatonin

Research

1. L-Tryptophan: Basic Metabolic Functions, Behavioral Research and Therapeutic Indications (nih.gov)
2. Letter: Tryptophan and depression — PubMed (nih.gov)
3. Sleep-inducing effect of L-tryptophane — PubMed (nih.gov)
4. Evaluation of L-tryptophan for treatment of insomnia: a review — PubMed (nih.gov)
5. Sleep induced by L-tryptophan. Effect of dosages within the normal dietary intake — PubMed (nih.gov)
6. Influence of Tryptophan and Serotonin on Mood and Cognition with a Possible Role of the Gut-Brain Axis (nih.gov)

GABA (800mg)

Summary

GABA is an amino acid that also acts a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that limits nerve transmission. For this reason, it is often taken as a mild sedative to help reduce anxiety and potentially improve sleep.

It is known that a problem with GABA supplementation is its lack of efficiency in crossing the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). This seems counter intuitive as it does seem to have a potent effect both anecdotally and in research. This could be in part, due to the fact that GABA receptors are also found in the enteric nervous system, such as in the gut and thus GABA can bind to these receptors.

One small 2018 study, showed that participants who took 300mg of GABA an hour before going to bed fell asleep faster than those taking a placebo. They also reported improved sleep quality four weeks after starting treatment. [3]

Nootropic Effect

1. May reduce stress and anxiety
2. May improve sleep
3. May help with insomnia

Mechanisms of Action

1. Acts as a inhibitory neurotransmitter and slows down nerve signaling

Research

1. GABA and glutamate in the human brain — PubMed (nih.gov)
2. Physiology, GABA — StatPearls — NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
3. Safety and Efficacy of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid from Fermented Rice Germ in Patients with Insomnia Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial (nih.gov)
4. Psychological stress-reducing effect of chocolate enriched with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in humans: assessment of stress using heart rate variability and salivary chromogranin A: International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition: Vol 60, No sup5 (tandfonline.com)
5. Relieving Occupational Fatigue by Consumption of a Beverage Containing γ-Amino Butyric Acid (jst.go.jp)
6. Frontiers | Effects of Oral Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Administration on Stress and Sleep in Humans: A Systematic Review | Neuroscience (frontiersin.org)
7. GABA Receptor Physiology and Pharmacology — Basic Neurochemistry — NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)

L-Theanine (300mg)

Breakdown/summary:

L-Theanine is a non essential and non-protein amino acid, commonly found in small quantities within green tea, black tea and some mushroom species.

When extracted from these sources and taken at higher doses (typically 100–400mg), there seem to be very unique and promising therapeutic properties for this compound.

It has a similar chemical structure to glutamine, and both neurotransmitters that are produced from it, GABA and glutamate.

L-Theanine is mostly taken for its ability to promote a relaxation feeling, and help calm down your nervous system. It is also commonly used with coffee or caffeine to reduce the negative side effects that can often occur, such as sweating, jitters or anxiety.

L-Theanine is thought to provide a relaxing effect without sedation.

Nootropic Effect

L-Theanine is able to support the following effects:

1. Lower stress and anxiety
2. Increase sense of calm and wellbeing
3. Reduce blood pressure and heart rate
4. Reduce time to fall asleep
5. Increase quality of sleep
6. May increase focus and attention when paired with caffeine

Mechanisms of Action

1. Binds to glutamate receptors (glutamate receptor antagonist) thus inhibiting its excitatory characteristics
2. Increasing GABA and potentially serotonin/dopamine
3. Increases alpha brain wave frequencies
4. NMDA receptor antagonist 
5. May increase BDNF and NGF levels in the brain

Research

1. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of caffeine and L-theanine both alone and in combination on cerebral blood flow, cognition and mood (nih.gov)
2. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial (nih.gov)
3. L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state — PubMed (nih.gov)

Study 1 is a double blind, placebo controlled study evaluating the effects of caffeine and L-Theanine on cerebral blood flow, cognition and mood. 12 habitual and 12 non-habitual consumers of caffeine each received 75mg caffeine, 50mg L-theanine, 75mg caffeine plus 50mg L-Theanine, and placebo in a counterbalanced order across four separate visits. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured via near-infrared spectroscopy with cognition and mood assessed at baseline and 30 minutes post-dose. This study found that the combination of L-Theanine with caffeine, eliminated the vasoconstrictive and behavioural effects of caffeine.

Study 2 examined the effects of 4 weeks of L-theanine administration on stress-related symptoms and cognitive function in healthy adults. 30 individuals took either 200mg of L-Theanine or placebo each day. Stress related symptoms and scores all decreased after L-Theanine administration. Scores for sleep latency, sleep disturbance and use of sleep medication all reduced after L-Theanine administration. For cognitive function, verbal fluency and executive function scores all increased after administration.

Study 3 looked at electrical brain activity using EEG technology after ingestion of L-Theanine. A total of 35 healthy, young participants consumed 50mg L-Theanine or placebo. They were resting with their eyes closed during this period. EEG recordings were taken at baseline and 45, 60, 75, 90 and 105 minutes after ingestion. There was a statistically significant increase in alpha brain wave activity in the L-theanine group as compared to placebo. This was also replicated in another study, showing that L-Theanine, at realistic dietary levels can have a significant impact on mental alertness and arousal. 

Ashwagandha 10:1 Extract (500mg)

Summary

Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera is a plant of the nightshade family that has been traditionally used in Eastern, Indian medicine (Ayurveda).

It’s commonly known to be an “Adaptogen” e.g. a natural compound that helps your body fight stress and physical/mental fatigue.

The main phytochemical constituents in Ashwagandha which contribute to its potent effect are called withanolides.

Current research shows Ashwagandha can have an appreciable anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects and may reduce cortisol levels, reduce fatigue, reduce insomnia and may increase testosterone.

The most common dose for Ashwagandha seems to be in the range of 300–500mg per day. Most extracts are a 10:1 extract. Several high quality patented extracts exist such as KSM-66 and Sensoril Ashwagandha. 

Nootropic Effect

1. Reduces anxiety
2. Reduces stress and cortisol levels
3. Increases energy
4. May increase testosterone
5. May decrease inflammation
6. May increase sleep

Mechanisms of Action

1. Blocks the stress pathway by regulating chemical signaling in the nervous system
2. May be a GABA receptor agonist and thus exert sedative effects on the CNS

Research

1. A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Safety and Efficacy of a High-Concentration Full-Spectrum Extract of Ashwagandha Root in Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Adults (nih.gov)
2. An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda (nih.gov)
3. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacologic… : Medicine (lww.com)
4. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males — Adrian L. Lopresti, Peter D. Drummond, Stephen J. Smith, 2019 (sagepub.com)
5. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study (nih.gov)
6. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Insomnia and Anxiety: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study — PubMed (nih.gov)

Chamomile 5:1 Extract (200mg)

Summary

Chamomile is a daisy-like plant that is often used as a herbal tea infusion. Chamomile tea is most often consumed for its ability to promote a sense of calm and wellbeing.

The main constituents in Chamomile flower are polyphenol compounds like apigenin, quercetin, patuletin and luteolin. 

Apigenin is a bioflavonoid and antioxidant found in Chamomile tea which is most associated with reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality. 

One study in particular showed that people who consumed 270mg of chamomile extract, twice daily for 28 days, had 1/3 less night time awakening and fell asleep 15 minutes faster than those who did not consume the extract.

Nootropic Effect

1. Has a sedative effect and may improve sleep
2. Reduces anxiety
3. Reduces inflammation
4. Acts as an antioxidant

Mechanisms of Action

1. Anxiolytic effect by acting as a benzodiazepine ligand
2. Suppresses induction of NO-synthase and COX2 enzymes leading to anti inflammatory effects
3. Inhibits interleukin-4 production

Research

1. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future (nih.gov)
2. Herbal medicine for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis — PubMed (nih.gov)
3. Preliminary examination of the efficacy and safety of a standardized chamomile extract for chronic primary insomnia: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study (nih.gov)
4. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: an exploratory study — PubMed (nih.gov)
5. A systematic review study of therapeutic effects of Matricaria recuitta chamomile (chamomile) (nih.gov)

Magnesium Glycinate (400mg)

Summary

Magnesium is an essential mineral used by over 300 chemical processes within the human body.

Everything from helping muscles contract to keeping your immune system strong and healthy.

Magnesium can be found in many foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains beans and fish.

Many people have been found to be at least partially deficient in this essential mineral. Keep in mind the RDA for it is 420mg for men and 320mg for women. If you’re not getting enough from your diet, which you can confirm via a blood test, you should definitely be supplementing with one form or Magnesium!

Magnesium Glycinate, in particular, is a form of Magnesium that is bound to glycine (an amino acid and inhibitory neurotransmitter), and has very high absorption levels in the body.

It has a list of positive effects, including:

• Exerting a calming effect on the brain due to the presence of glycine
• It can help relieve anxiety
• Glycine can promote better sleep by lowering core body temperature
• Reduces time taken to fall asleep

This is the best form of Magnesium if you’re looking to promote anti-stress and better sleep.

Other forms of Magnesium are known to give an upset stomach or diarrhea more easily (not ideal). This can also occur if you take too much at once or too frequently, so watch out. You’ve been warned.

Nootropic Effect

1. May relieve anxiety
2. May improve sleep quality and reduce time taken to fall asleep
3. Manages blood sugar levels
4. May amplify exercise performance

Research

1. The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders (nih.gov)
2. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress — A Systematic Review (nih.gov)
3. The Importance of Magnesium in Clinical Healthcare (nih.gov)
4. Magnesium: Are We Consuming Enough? (nih.gov)
5. The sleep-promoting and hypothermic effects of glycine are mediated by NMDA receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus — PubMed (nih.gov)
6. New therapeutic strategy for amino acid medicine: glycine improves the quality of sleep — PubMed (nih.gov)

Zinc Gluconate (30mg)

Summary

Zinc is an essential trace element and mineral for humans, second to Iron in the human body.

Zinc is required for the function of over 300 enzymes and 1000 transcription factors (proteins that control the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA).

Approximately 2–4 grams of zinc are distributed throughout the human body, with most being located in the brain, muscle, bones, kidney, and liver with high concentrations in the prostate and parts of the eye.

Within the brain, zinc is stored in synaptic vesicles by glutamergic neurons and can modulate neuronal excitability. It plays a key role in synaptic plasticity and in learning. Zinc homeostasis also plays key role in the functional regulation of the central nervous system (CNS). 

Nootropic Effect

1. May improve immune function
2. May promote blood sugar control
3. May support normal brain function

Mechanisms of Action

1. Is a cofactor for polymerases and proteases involved in cellular functions
2. Has antioxidant properties 

Research

1. Zinc and its importance for human health: An integrative review (nih.gov)
2. Zinc, the brain and behavior — PubMed (nih.gov)
3. Frontiers | Zinc homeostasis and neurodegenerative disorders | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
4. Zinc in the central nervous system: From molecules to behavior (nih.gov)

Vitamin B6 (1.2mg)

Summary

Vitamin B6 is a water soluble vitamin naturally present in many foods.

Vitamin B6 performs a wide variety of functions, involved in over 100 enzyme reactions. Vitamin B6 plays a role in cognitive development through the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters, supports immune function and much more.

The RDA for men 14–50 years old is 1.3mg daily and for women aged 19–50.

Nootropic Effect

1. Indirectly aids in brain function by lower levels of homocysteine

Mechanisms of Action

Research

1. B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy — A Review (nih.gov)
2. Vitamin B6 and cognitive development: recent research findings from human and animal studies — PubMed (nih.gov)
3. The effect of vitamin B6 on cognition — PubMed (nih.gov)

Astragin (50mg)

Astragin by NuLivScience is a patented ingredient combining two natural extracts from Panax Notoginseng and Astragalus Membranaceus.

It has been shown to increase the absorption of many vital nutrients such as amino acids, Omega 3s, creatine and even CBD.

It promotes a healthy gut lining and gut barrier integrity which leads to reduced inflammation in the intestinal lining. 

There have been a total of 16 in-vitro (test tube/cell model) studies and 8 in-vivo (animal/human) studies on Astragin. These studies have shown that Astragin has the following mechanism s of action:

• Increase the absorption of peptides, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and phytonutrients by up-regulating the absorption specific mRNA and transporters, such as SGLT1, CAT1, and GLUT4.*
• Rejuvenate ulcerated and damaged intestinal walls and reduce intestinal submucosa inflammation.* AstraGin® was shown in a hematoxylin-eosin stain and an MPO assay to reduce ulceration and unclear surfaces of intestinal epithelial cells and submucosal edema in TNBS-induced colitis rats.
• Support the digestive system by maintaining a healthy microbiota population by mending ulcerated and damaged intestinal epithelial cell surfaces for the microbiota to populate.*
• Helping support stronger immune functions by mending ulcerated epithelial cells and reducing the inflammation in intestinal mucosal lamina propria that hosts the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT1), T cells, plasma cells, mast cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages.

The recommended dose for Astragin is 50mg and that is the amount we use in Calm Nootropic.

goMCT — Medium Chain Triglycerides (4.5g)

goMCT is a patented form of medium chain triglycerides by our friends over at Compound Solutions. This form of MCT is a healthy fat that converts readily into ketones, an alternate energy source for the human brain and body. It also has the additional benefit of staving off hunger and potentially aiding in weight management. 

goMCT specifically contains C8 (caprylic acid) and C10 (capric acid) MCT’s as well as acacia fiber, a prebiotic that aids in gut health.

goMCT was used in Enhance V2 primarily as a source of healthy fat to help increase absorption of the fat-soluble ingredients and plant extracts found in this formula. It also has the additional benefit of giving a rich, creamy texture to the powder when mixed in water.

MCT’s are also a great source of ketones, which has some evidence showing it can help support long term brain health. In particular, the use of MCT’s or a high fat ketogenic diet to reach nutritional ketosis may have a modest beneficial outcome in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease and in mild cognitive impairment [1].

Another major study found that MCT’s improved learning, memory and brain processing in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. However, this was only observed in those who didn’t have the APOE4 gene variant. [2]

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