What I learned gathering nootropic ratings (2022)

Exercise as the Dominant “Nootropic”

• Many commenters agree with the article’s conclusion that exercise, especially resistance training and HIIT, outperforms most supplements for cognitive and emotional benefits.
• Several people report life-changing improvements in mood, focus, pain, and sleep from modest daily routines (e.g., ~20 minutes lifting + 20 minutes cardio).
• Others say they feel no mental benefits from exercise, only physical ones, highlighting substantial individual variation.

Barriers, Pain, and Special Cases

• A major theme is why people avoid exercise: it’s painful, boring, time‑consuming, and rewards are delayed. Some liken early training discomfort to “pain” that only feels normal once you’re adapted.
• There’s a split on injury risk: some argue regular resistance training almost inevitably yields chronic tendon/ligament issues; others with decade‑plus lifting histories report no lasting pain and less age‑related dysfunction than sedentary peers.
• People with chronic conditions (CFS/ME, MS, long COVID, fibromyalgia) describe post‑exertional crashes or tissue damage without corresponding gains, so standard exercise advice can backfire for them.

Diet, Sleep, and Lifestyle

• Multiple comments echo that “any daily movement + minimally processed food” is powerful; debate then erupts over what “processed” means (bread, flour, preservatives, glyphosate, “everything in moderation”).
• High‑quality sleep is framed by some as even more fundamental than exercise, with feedback loops between the two. Meal timing, late protein (e.g., casein), and avoiding nighttime water are discussed for sleep quality.

Subjective Ratings, Placebo, and Evidence

• Several people question the article’s reliance on self‑rated effects: strong placebo, expectation, and early-euphoria biases are seen as pervasive.
• Others argue subjective reports are still “evidence,” just weak observational evidence that should motivate proper blinded trials rather than be taken as proof.
• There’s discussion of how randomized trials often show strong placebo effects (e.g., depression), suggesting caution when interpreting enthusiastic first‑dose anecdotes.

Stimulants, “Real” Nootropics, and Risk

• Strong stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin, modafinil, amphetamines) are widely acknowledged as powerful but also addictive, tolerance‑forming, and highly individual in effect; some find them life‑changing, others report severe mood crashes or cardiovascular concerns.
• Substances like phenibut, kratom, tianeptine, and psilocybin are criticized as being treated as “nootropics” despite clear recreational/addictive profiles and withdrawal risks.
• Commenters urge medical supervision before using prescription‑grade compounds for performance, warning that the “nootropics” label often obscures real drug risks.

Meta: Definition Drift and Framing

• Some object to calling weightlifting a “nootropic” at all, since it’s not a substance and doesn’t match early definitions.
• Others note the original concept of nootropics (safe, non‑sedating, non‑stimulating cognitive enhancers) has largely collapsed into a catch‑all for anything that feels like it boosts mood, focus, or confidence, at least temporarily.