11 Best Nootropics For Intermittent Fasting

This amino acid is critical for overall metabolism.

L-Glutamine helps maintain the integrity of your gut lining. This helps both digestion and immune function regulation during fasting.¹⁴Mignon M, Beaufrère AM, Combaret L, Meynial-Denis D. Does long-term intermittent treatment with glutamine improve the well-being of fed and fasted very old rats?, JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2007

Phosphatidylserine is a naturally occurring phospholipid that makes up a significant part of every cell membrane in your body. It may be useful to supplement this compound while your body is in a fasting state.

It can help with blood glucose regulation which may enhance the benefits of fasting, including lowering stress.¹⁵Michael A Starks, et al. The effects of phosphatidylserine on endocrine response to moderate intensity exercise, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2008

Intermittent fasting is known to increase a process called apoptosis, or clearing out cellular waste. According to research, phosphatidylserine can help identify cells for clearance in apoptosis. This may increase the efficiency of this process.

This could have a broad range of benefits for mental and physical processes, as well as treat the symptoms of a number of disorders.¹⁶R B Birge. Phosphatidylserine is a global immunosuppressive signal in efferocytosis, infectious disease, and cancer, Cell Death And Differentiation. 2016

Phosphatidylcholine is the counterpart of phosphatidylserine, and together they compose large amounts of your cell membranes.

This nootropic supplement can increase the function of the liver and aid in transporting lipids.¹⁷Author links open overlay panelSergio O.Serna-SaldivarJanet A.Gutiérrez-UribeSilverioGarcía-Lara. Phytochemical Profiles and Nutraceutical Properties of Corn and Wheat Tortillas, Wheat Flour and Corn Products. 2015

During starvation, your liver breaks down lipids in the bloodstream in a process called macrolipophagy. This is an important process that can regulate metabolism and possibly prevent some metabolic disorders.¹⁸Singh R, et al. Autophagy regulates lipid metabolism, Nature. 2009

Phosphatidylcholine can theoretically support this process while you are fasting.

This amino acid is critical for overall metabolism.

L-Glutamine helps maintain the integrity of your gut lining. This helps both digestion and immune function regulation during fasting.¹⁹Mignon M, Beaufrère AM, Combaret L, Meynial-Denis D. Does long-term intermittent treatment with glutamine improve the well-being of fed and fasted very old rats?, JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2007

Glutamine has been shown to improve gut and colon barrier function, which could ultimately help brain function through the gut/brain axis.²⁰Clément L’Huillier. Glutamine, but not Branched-Chain Amino Acids, Restores Intestinal Barrier Function during Activity-Based Anorexia, Nutrients. 2019

GABA is an amino acid and neurotransmitter that is often described as the “brakes” of the central nervous system. It can also affect glucose and insulin levels, possibly making GABA supplements useful for fasters.

GABA and GABA-enriched natural products can be effective agents in lowering blood glucose, attenuating insulin resistance, and stimulating insulin release.²¹Soltani N, et al. GABA exerts protective and regenerative effects on islet beta cells and reverses diabetes, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011

In one study, GABA significantly reduced the concentrations of fasting blood glucose, and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in the High Fat Diet-fed mice. More importantly, after the onset of obesity, GABA inhibited the continued weight-gain and stabilized insulin and glucose levels.²²Tian J, et al. Oral treatment with γ-aminobutyric acid improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by inhibiting inflammation in high fat diet-fed mice, PLoS One. 2011

This means that GABA supplementation may help your body stabilize during intermittent fasting.

N-acetyl L-tyrosine, or NALT, is a potent derivative of the essential amino acid L-tyrosine. Both NALT and L-tyrosine convert rapidly into dopamine, one of your body’s most important neurotransmitters.

Fasting can (naturally) cause you to experience mental and physical stress. Luckily, studies show that NALT helps cognitive ability while under stress.²³O'Brien C, et al. Dietary tyrosine benefits cognitive and psychomotor performance during body cooling, Physiol Behav. 2007

NALT can help with overall mood and behavioral deficits that may come as a result of the stress of intermittent fasting. This may be especially relevant as you start a fasting routine and your body adjusts.²⁴Lehnert H, Reinstein DK, Strowbridge BW, Wurtman RJ. Neurochemical and behavioral consequences of acute, uncontrollable stress: effects of dietary tyrosine, Brain Res. 1984

So, this could be a good option to maintain cognitive function while fasting for extended periods.

Alpha-GPC is a direct, highly-bioavailable source of choline, which is an essential nutrient. Adding Alpha GPC to your stack can work as a sort of neurohack to increase overall brain processing and problem-solving.²⁵Amenta F, Parnetti L, Gallai V, Wallin A. Treatment of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease with cholinergic precursors. Ineffective treatments or inappropriate approaches?, Mech Ageing Dev. 2001

Choline has many neurological benefits, and it can overall enhance the mental benefits of intermittent fasting.²⁶Parnetti L, Amenta F, Gallai V. Choline alphoscerate in cognitive decline and in acute cerebrovascular disease: an analysis of published clinical data, Mech Ageing Dev. 2001

Alpha-GPC can enhance inter- and intra- cell communication, which is important during the cellular cleanup work that happens during intermittent fasting.²⁷Zeisel SH, Blusztajn JK. Choline and human nutrition, Annu Rev Nutr. 1994

As a supplement, it may be good for helping maintain strength for those who may feel weak and nutrient deficient after fasting.²⁸Tim Ziegenfuss, et al. Acute supplementation with alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine augments growth hormone response to, and peak force production during, resistance exercise, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2008

Ashwagandha is a powerful adaptogenic herb that has been used in traditional medicine for millennia to combat stress and balance hormones.

Fasting can induce physical stress and tilt the autonomic nervous system more towards sympathetic responses (stress responses).²⁹Solianik R, Sujeta A. Two-day fasting evokes stress, but does not affect mood, brain activity, cognitive, psychomotor, and motor performance in overweight women, Behav Brain Res. 2018

Luckily, there is evidence that ashwagandha can help control and lower cortisol output to help relax the body during fasting-induced stress.³⁰Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. 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, Indian J Psychol Med. 2012

According to research, ashwagandha can lead to a statistically significant reduction in anxiety, depression, and overall stress ratings, as well as an increase in testosterone in men.³¹Lopresti AL, et al. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Medicine (Baltimore). 2019

Similar to ashwagandha, Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogen with a long history of use for stress relief and increased mental ability.

This herb has adaptogenic and stimulatory qualities to help keep you energized and alert during times of fasting and keep your mental acuity high.

Taking Rhodiola can boost learning and memory as well. Even one dose of Rhodiola extract was found to improve learning and memory in rats. Researchers suspect that this is most likely due to its adaptogenic qualities.

As you may imagine, by boosting mood and lowering anxiety/stress, you indirectly give your brain more energy to use on productively.³²Petkov VD, et al. Effects of alcohol aqueous extract from Rhodiola rosea L. roots on learning and memory, Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulg. 1986

Rhodiola can significantly increase stamina and energy. Young military cadets who took Rhodiola extract performed much better on cognitive tests after engaging in physically strenuous activity.

They were consistently more alert and "on top of it" compared to their counterparts who took a placebo. They even showed lower physiological measures of fatigue, such as blood pressure and heart rate.³³Shevtsov VA, et al. A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work, Phytomedicine. 2003

This makes Rhodiola a great overall nootropic for anyone interested in fasting.

Usually, modafinil (and it’s prodrug adrafinil) are considered stimulant/anti-narcolepsy drugs.

But, there is clear evidence that modafinil/adrafinil can also decrease appetite. Obviously this may be useful if you are attempting to fast.³⁴Perez GA, et al. Modafinil decreases food intake in humans subjected to simulated shift work, Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008

Keep in mind that these nootropics are a bit stronger than some of the others on this list, and may have more side-effects.

Modafinil requires a prescription in most places (including the US), but adrafinil is an over the counter supplement.

Where to Buy Adrafinil:

Double Wood Pure Nootropics