Smart drink
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Smart drinks, also known as nootropic drinks, are beverages made from a mix of fruit juices, vitamins and any number of amino acid supplements. The origin of smart drinks and associated "smart drugs" dates back to the early 1980s when baby boomers started using them as a way to improve job performance and gain a competitive edge in the workplace.
The popularity of smart drinks peaked during the early 1990s, as all-night techno and house music "ravers" substituted these concoctions for alcoholic beverages. Smart drinks not only held a novelty factor for the vibrant underground dance subculture, but they also helped rave promoters by eliminating the need to secure alcohol sales permits.
Smart drink ingredients include DL-phenylalanine or L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, choline (trimethylaminoethanol), pyroglutamic acid, and DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol). These amino acids, to varying degrees by individual, could have positive or enhanced effects on alertness, stress resistance and energy levels. Some of the acids, then considered "foods" and nutritional supplements by government agencies like the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), changed in status and have since been removed from store shelves. Others are still available "over the counter" when prescribed by a doctor.
