160. Drinks 101: What Are Nootropics? Artwork

Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms

**A Spotify 'Rising Star' show** Practical moderation for the way you want to live.

Why can't I drink like I used to? How do I drink less without quitting completely? Should I go for low, no or light alcohol drinks? Why do alcohol-free drinks cost so much?

If you're in your 30s, 40s, 50s or beyond and asking these questions, this is your podcast.

Welcome to the essential show for midlife adults who want to drink less, on their own terms—without the pressure to quit completely, follow rigid rules, or label themselves as sober.

I'm Denise Hamilton-Mace, your mindful drinking mentor, writer and public speaker on all things low, no and light. Each week, I help stressed parents and busy midlife adults navigate their relationship with alcohol through practical approaches grounded in real-world experience and behaviour change strategy, not willpower or wellness culture

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Mindful Moderation Solo Episodes – Deep-dives answering the questions that matter to sophisticated drinkers who want to moderate smartly:

How do I cut back when my partner still drinks at home?
What really works: willpower vs. strategy?
Why do premium alcohol-free drinks cost the same as full-strength versions?
How do I navigate social situations when I'm the only one moderating?

This podcast is for you if:

You're looking for practical advice that fits your demanding life, not another wellness overhaul
You recognise that coasting with mid-strength drinks, zebra-striping, or bookending your evening with something non-alcoholic are all valid strategies
You want better mornings without giving up celebrating life's special moments

This isn't about going completely dry or reinventing yourself. It's about keeping energy for what matters most: family, health, career, and living life on your own terms.

Join the moderation revolution happening in midlife – because while Gen Z gets the headlines, you're the one actually doing it.

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Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms

160. Drinks 101: What Are Nootropics?

February 23, 2026 • Denise Hamilton-Mace • Episode 160

0:00 | 4:50

Send me a message 🤗

Think coffee is your only pick-me-up? I'm unpacking nootropics—the brain-boosting compounds showing up in your alcohol-free drinks that enhance everything from memory to concentration. From the caffeine in your morning brew to lesser-known ingredients like L-tyrosine and ginkgo biloba, I'll explain what these cognitive enhancers actually do and why you definitely don't want to drink them before bed.

Go deeper with: ep#69. The Fungi Consultant: Do Functional Mushrooms Work in Low/No Drinks?

On Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/69-the-fungi-consultant-do-functional-mushrooms-work/id1701338793?i=1000698034459

On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZLJayoZfdzS1775yTaUwJ?si=150266b3fd824799

On Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGumjchM

& Feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.

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Welcome And Episode Focus

SPEAKER_00 1:15

Welcome to Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife Drinks 101, where in just a couple of minutes each week I help you to understand some of the mysteries behind low, no, and light alcohol drinks.

What Nootropics Actually Mean

SPEAKER_00 1:27

Today we're looking at nootropics. Now, last week we looked at adaptogens in alcohol-free drinks and how they help the body to adapt to stress. But nootropics do something different. First of all, in case you were wondering, no, that is not a typo in the title. Nu in this instance is spelt no and it comes from Greek. It means of the mind, intellect, or reason, and tropic in this instance means turning toward or influencing or acting on. So nootropic literally means turning toward the mind or acting on intellect or acting on cognition. Where adaptogens are herbs, botanicals, and fungi, nootropics are compounds, both natural and synthetic, that enhance cognitive function.

Everyday Nootropics You Already Use

SPEAKER_00 2:17

In plain English, nootropics are brain-boosting ingredients found in everything from your favorite uh coffee shop cappuccino to specially formulated supplements that you'll find in alcohol-free drinks. This includes things like caffeine. We all know this one, but you might not realize that caffeine is not just from coffee. It's often misunderstood that coffee is the only thing that contains caffeine. Tea can contain quite a bit of caffeine and sugary soft drinks. Even some chocolate contains caffeine, which can all be considered nootropic.

Key Ingredients And Their Benefits

SPEAKER_00 2:50

Now, other ingredients include things like L-tyrazine, which supports mental performance under stress and helps with mood regulation. B vitamins, those wonderful B vitamins, especially B6, B12, and B3, which support energy production and brain function as well as fighting fatigue. Ginkgo BOA, I always wonder if I'm saying that correctly. If you know better than I do and I've said it wrong, please don't judge me. Which helps to improve blood flow to the brain. And ginseng for mental energy and concentration, as well as lion's mane mushroom, which supports memory and cognitive function. Some of these ingredients you may remember from last week, like lion's mane and ginseng, they can also be considered adaptogenic and nootropic because they provide both physical and mental benefits, and there are others that do that as well.

Personal Variation And Timing Tips

SPEAKER_00 3:41

And again, as with the adaptogens last week, the impact of these ingredients will differ from person to person depending on all the things that make you who you are, including uh your weight, your physiology, your general health, and how much full strength alcohol you currently consume. One tip to note with nootropic heavy drinks is to be careful when you consume them. These drinks are made to be brain-boosting, memory-enhancing, problem-solving elixirs. So you probably don't want to load up on them just before bedtime.

SPEAKER_00 4:13

In episode 69, I had a fascinating chat with a chap called Oli Gen Bash. Ollie is a fungi consultant and we spoke all about the ingredients that show up in functional low-no drinks with a specific focus on mushrooms. I'll link to that in the show notes for you, where you'll also find my email address. So if you do have a topic that you'd like me to cover on a future drinks 101 for you, then please let me know. Next time we'll be looking at CBD based drinks.

Sign Off And Teaser

SPEAKER_00 4:42

Until then, cheers to a life less intoxicated.

People on this episode

Denise Hamilton-Mace

Host