8 Best Nootropics for Mood: Elevate Your Happiness in 2024

Nootropics, also known as smart drugs or cognitive enhancers, are substances that are used to improve brain health and accelerate mental performance.

While nootropics are primarily used to reach peak cognitive performance, they also show promise in reducing stress and anxiety levels as well as boosting mood.

Prescription smart drugs have been clinically proven to be an effective way to manage the symptoms of numerous neurological disorders. Adderall, for example, is prescribed to improve focus and increase attention span in people with ADHD.

This type of stimulant has been shown to have the same effects on people without ADHD – and similar effects can be achieved without prescription nootropics. Most importantly, nootropic supplements, unlike many stimulants, elevate mood and can make you feel better.

Health Reporter has compiled a list of the best nootropics for mood improvement to help you choose the best nootropic supplement for you.

Top 8 Best Nootropics for Mood

Brain fog, inability to concentrate, and mental fatigue can leave us irritable and prone to mood swings. It’s important to take care of our brain in order to maintain cognitive health and, in turn, boost mood. 

A healthy brain requires a healthy lifestyle, but sometimes life gets in the way, and despite your best efforts, you’re still feeling under the weather. This is where nootropics come in.

Let’s dive into our list of the best mood-boosting nootropics and take a deeper look into the pros and cons of each.

#1 NooCube – Best overall

NooCube is a nootropic supplement designed to boost brain health, increase energy levels, and eliminate brain fog. Most importantly, NooCube contains thiamine, L-theanine, and a carotenoid mix, making it one of the best mood-boosting nootropic supplements on the market.

Why? Low intake of carotenoids and thiamine has been associated with negative moods such as irritability, mood changes, and even depression.

Moreover, research has shown that L-theanine, a naturally occurring amino acid, can increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin, for example, is a neurotransmitter responsible for healthy mood regulation.

Supplementing with NooCube could give you a boost of these important vitamins and minerals, reducing the risk of developing a deficiency and improving your overall mood.

Other NooCube ingredients include Bacopa monnieri extract, L-tyrosine, oat straw extract, and vitamins B7 and B12, all of which contribute to healthy brain function.

Most importantly, NooCube, unlike many other nootropic supplements, is caffeine-free, ensuring that you don’t suffer from the all-too-common caffeine crashes and increased anxiety.

#2 Mind Lab Pro – Best for improved cognitive function

Among the numerous brands of mood-boosting nootropics, Mind Lab Pro (MLP) stands out as one of the most researched smart drugs.

Human trials found that individuals taking MLP nootropic supplements were more efficient at performing information-processing tasks than those who weren’t taking MLP. This suggests that MLP can improve brain function, especially within the context of cognitive performance.

MLP is designed with clarity in mind – it contains only nootropic ingredients and has no filler content. Some of them include lion’s mane mushroom and Rhodiola rosea, both of which have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression.

Although research is limited, individuals with mild cognitive impairments, such as reduced attention span and difficulty remembering things, may also benefit from nootropics.

According to verified customer reviews, many people who try MLP report increased attention span, mental clarity, and improved mood, making it an excellent option for individuals who struggle with negative emotions due to difficulty in performing work-related tasks.

#3 Qualia Mind – Best for reducing mood swings

Qualia Mind is a premium nootropic supplement that provides food not just for the brain but for the body as well.

Its vegan formula contains 28 high-purity ingredients, including nootropic compounds, antioxidants, and amino acids. One of them is DL-Phenylalanine – a blend of an essential amino acid phenylalanine, L-phenylalanine, and D-phenylalanine, which can improve both cognitive function and mood.

It’s worth noting that, as a premium product, Qualia Mind is on the higher end of the nootropic supplement pricing scale, making it unfriendly to those on a tighter budget.

#4 Hunter Focus – Best for greater focus

With over 20 years of experience in the dietary supplement industry, Hunter Focus promises to improve cognitive function with its natural nootropic supplements.

Hunter Focus nootropics contain a blend of all-natural ingredients, following a synthetic-free ingredients policy.

Some of their natural ingredients include citicoline, a nootropic agent with a potential for treating depression symptoms; ashwagandha root, a herb that shows promise in reducing stress and anxiety levels; and L-theanine, an amino acid shown to improve cognitive function.

In addition, L-theanine, a common ingredient in nootropic supplements, has been scientifically proven to increase alpha brain waves, helping you relax without making you feel sleepy.

Hunter Focus emphasizes the importance of adhering to safety guidelines and strictly following FDA-authorized Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations. However, this translates to a relatively higher price than its nootropic supplement counterparts.

#5 Gorilla Mind Smooth – Best for reducing anxiety

Gorilla Mind Smooth is a nootropic supplement designed for individuals that are sensitive to caffeine and other stimulants.

It combines natural and synthetic ingredients, such as L-theanine, Bacopa monnieri, and Ginkgo extract, into a stimulant-free formula, delivering a smooth stream of energy without caffeine-induced anxiety. 

According to the manufacturer, just within 1 hour of taking the supplements, you will feel an increase in your ability to concentrate and ignore distractions. This highly productive state of mind lasts for around 4–5 hours, gently diminishing after 6–8 hours of taking the supplement.

This makes Gorilla Mind Smooth an excellent option for caffeine-sensitive individuals to increase their focus without sacrificing their mental well-being.

In addition, Gorilla Mind Smooth can serve as a pre-workout mix, providing more energy for your incoming workout session and increasing strength.

#6 Neuro Fuel – Best for learning

Nootropics, such as Neuro Fuel, are brain supplements that boost brain function by increasing focus and improving long-term memory.

Unlike many of its competitors, Neuro Fuel has a short ingredient list. It’s made out of 5 ingredients, including acetyl-L-carnitine, artichoke leaf extract, coleus forskohlii, L-phenylalanine, and vitamin B6, all of which are natural.

Ingredients like acetyl-L-carnitine, L-phenylalanine, and vitamin B6 enable Neuro Fuel to serve as a mood enhancement supplement.

Acetyl-l-carnitine, for example, has been scientifically proven to significantly reduce depressive symptoms. Vitamin B6, on the other hand, calms the central nervous system, thus reducing anxiety and stress levels.

According to verified customer reviews, individuals who have tried Neuro Fuel reported significant improvement in mental energy, concentration, and productivity.

#7 Uridine Monophosphate by Pure Nootropics – Best for cognitive functioning

Uridine Monophosphate is a nootropic supplement designed by Pure Nootropics – an FDA-registered dietary supplement company that has been in the industry for more than 10 years.

One capsule of this nootropic supplement contains 250mg of uridine monophosphate. It’s the one and only ingredient in the capsule, making Uridine Monophosphate one of the most straightforward nootropics on the market.

Pure Nootropics claim that Uridine Monophosphate helps you keep your brain healthy by simply being present in the processes which build acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in the function of the human brain.

What’s more, uridine monophosphate is a delivery compound for uridine – a major compound shown to reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents.

#8 Ashwagandha by Pure Nootropics – Best for relieving stress symptoms

Another excellent pick from Pure Nootropics is Ashwagandha – a dietary supplement formulated with high-quality ashwagandha root extract. 

Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb used in alternative medicine that has been gaining popularity due to its ability to relieve anxiety and other stress symptoms. It’s an adaptogen that has been shown to have nootropic properties.

Pure Nootropics designed Ashwagandha to support brain health by helping you reduce stress symptoms and improve mood.

Unlike many other nootropic supplements, Ashwagandha comes in the form of both capsules and powder, allowing you to choose what you’re more comfortable with.

Most importantly, it’s inexpensive compared to other nootropic supplements on the market, making it a good starting point for individuals who want to try out nootropic supplements without blowing all of their savings.

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Nootropics for Mood

If you’re new to the world of nootropics, choosing a nootropic supplement can seem daunting. There are many things to consider when purchasing nootropics – they will impact your brain, after all.

When compiling this list of best nootropics for mood, we looked into the quality, price, brand reputation, and effectiveness of each dietary supplement. Let’s have a look at what that implies.

Quality

Every nootropic supplement listed is formulated with research-backed ingredients that have been proven to have positive effects on brain performance and mood. Our picks stress the importance of ingredient transparency, providing a list of all nootropic ingredients in their products.

Price

Most of these nootropic supplements will not cost you an arm and a leg to purchase, providing the opportunity for individuals on a tighter budget to try out nootropics for themselves before making a decision on whether to invest in them or not.

The ones that are more expensive are considered premium and are made out of a longer list of ingredients – neither of which are proven to make the nootropics more effective than those with a lower price or a shorter ingredient list.

Brand reputation

Brands like NooCube, Mind Lab Pro, and others on the list are among the most popular nootropic supplement brands on the market. With decades of experience, they have garnered the reputation of being trustworthy brands that deliver high-quality supplements.

Effectiveness

Our picks are formulated with the best, research-backed ingredients that have been proven to be effective in keeping the brain nice and healthy, increasing focus, relieving anxiety, and improving overall mood.

FAQs

Conclusion

Nootropics are non-prescription supplements that increase energy levels and reduce stress, allowing people to better manage their emotions and stay in a positive mental state. 

When it comes to nootropics for happiness, our top 3 picks are NooCube, Mind Lab Pro, and Qualia Mind. Formulated with research-backed ingredients, these nootropic supplements will relieve stress-related symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety, and inability to focus.

Remember – nootropic supplements are exactly that, supplements designed to support brain health and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, which is crucial for managing your mood.

Make sure to get 8 hours of sleep, eat a well-balanced diet, and exercise on a regular basis. Use nootropic supplements as a way to complement your healthy lifestyle and boost your mood.