It can be tempting to reach for a cup of coffee, energy drink, or cola to wake you up and get your mind ready to concentrate for the day. Chugging caffeinated beverages can lead to some not-so-pleasant side effects, like jitteriness, anxiety, and insomnia, not to mention the super-sized servings of added sugar found in some of these drinks.
Neither caffeine nor sugar are hormone-friendly ingredients. Fortunately, there’s a better and more natural ingredient that can help you sharpen mental focus and alertness: Bacopa Monnieri. There are at least three Bacopa Monnieri benefits for a healthier lifestyle that should have you considering integrating it into your wellness routine.
What is Bacopa Monnieri?
Bacopa Monnieri, or Bacopa for short, is a flowering plant that can be found growing in many parts of the world. You may have noticed it on the ingredient list of some brain health supplements. If you’ve never heard of it, this is one beneficial herb worth knowing about.
Bacopa has been used as a nootropic for many years in traditional Indian medicine, called Ayurveda. A nootropic works on the brain to sharpen thinking, focus, memory, and mood.
Bacopa, which also goes by the name Brahmi, is an adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens are plant-based ingredients that gently support your body coming into homeostasis. They work on an as-needed basis and are able to provide energy, help you rest, and improve how your body processes stress.
There are also a number of Bacopa Monnieri benefits, such as laser-sharp focus and stronger memory, that can level up how you think and feel. Read on to explore more of the history and science behind this powerful plant and how Bacopa Monnieri can benefit you.
Brahmi Benefits
Bacopa’s benefits come from its rich antioxidant profile. You hear about how great antioxidants are for you all the time, but what’s the big deal?
Antioxidants hunt down free radicals in your body and neutralize them before they have a chance to harm your cells. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause cellular level damage, known as oxidative stress, and are linked to serious health issues like diabetes and heart disease. Oxidative stress also contributes to premature aging on the inside and out.
The source of Brahmi’s magic is a group of compounds called bacosides and bacopasides. These antioxidants specialize in preventing free radical damage in brain tissue. They also increase brain chemicals that help you concentrate, memorize, and learn new things.
Researchers have also discovered that these compounds are capable of reducing inflammation in the brain. We’re talking about the kind of inflammation that you can’t see — not the good kind, like swelling or redness, that occurs after an injury to help your body heal. Bacopa benefits go deeper.
Inflammation at the cellular level is considered the root cause of poor health. There are Brahmi benefits in both animal and lab studies; it decreased this kind of inflammation by blocking the production of inflammatory compounds.
3 Bacopa Monnieri Benefits for Health
Brahmi’s benefits have been extensively researched in lab, animal, and human studies. Here are three health benefits associated with taking Bacopa Monnieri.
May slow brain aging
Some of the biggest Bacopa health benefits are for your brain. Inflammation and cellular damage can alter DNA, kill brain cells, and are two of the major players that contribute to age-related cognitive decline (i.e., changing memory, slow recall time) and the development of cognitive disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease.
Minimizing this kind of damage in the brain is key when it comes to retaining mental sharpness and high-functioning cognitive performance — even if the number of candles on your birthday cake is creeping up. Keep in mind the goal is making positive changes that support optimizing your health now so you keep it going into later in life.
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of Bacopa Monnieri may stop aging at the source and promote healthy brain tissue. Scientists have discovered the antioxidant compounds in Bacopa Monnieri appear to target the brain and protect against oxidative stress.
May improve memory and concentration
Considering how Bacopa Monnieri benefits brain tissue, it’s no surprise that researchers have linked taking the herb with improved cognitive function, especially in the areas of attention and memory.
It makes sense: the healthier your brain cells are, the better and faster you can expect them to work.
Several studies have taken a look at how Brahmi works on the aging brain. Cognitive performance of healthy older adults have been measured before, during, and after taking Bacopa Monnieri extract daily for 12 weeks and the results are consistent and impressive.
The groups that were given Bacopa Monnieri had faster memory recall and longer attention spans. These studies also observed higher levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps you learn and remember.
May improve mood
There’s evidence that Brahmi benefits your levels of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. While serotonin is involved in memory and learning, it has a big role in regulating mood and how you feel day to day. Low levels of serotonin are linked to anxiety, depression, and poor sleep.
Researchers have observed that Bacopa regulates serotonin levels in animal studies and suspect the same thing occurs in humans, which results in mood regulation and may decrease anxiety and depression.
Adults who take Bacopa Monnieri have reported feeling less stressed, greater calm, and seem to experience less anxiety.
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of Bacopa Monnieri benefits to consider. Based on evidence from human studies, Bacopa’s health benefits are greatest when it’s taken regularly.
Rebalance's Hot Flash System and Anxiety System both contain 10 milligrams of Bacopa extract in each lozenge to help you reap the benefits of Bacopa.
It’s combined with ashwagandha, maca, cordyceps, and organic green tea extract, SHINE helps boost energy, focus, performance, and endurance so you can go full throttle in the office and the gym.
If you’ve been curious about the benefits of Bacopa, there are plenty — our Hot Flash and Anxiety Systems are an easy way to experience them as part of your daily routine.