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So when we learned about a supplement called "Get Smart" we were justifiably
skeptical.
Could 'smartness' really come in a bottle? And for under $50?
Unlikely.
And yet, credit card in hand, armed with hope, an order was placed.
And then, less than one week later, a Facebook post was made....
Oct 2: "GET SMART" Report Day 1: Caroline is singing 'Jingle Bells' and
songs from old dvd's that she's never sung before. Her response time has
been quicker & she's shown better memory recall in several situations.
Could it be? Maybe Get Smart wasn't too good to be true after all.
Oct 4: GET SMART Day 3 update! Caroline's fine motor skills are improving. A
therapist and I both separately from each other noted her handwriting is quite
improved. We're absolutely keeping it on board & Dr Usman agrees. It helps
both hemispheres of the brain communicate more effectively with one another
-- something our kids so desperately need.
After that, friends began ordering it and reporting similar gains.... Get Smart
was fast becoming the new darling of the autism community and we had a
feeling we were onto something big.
What exactly IS "Get Smart?"
It's a product sold by Smart Nutrition designed to improve memory,
concentration and learning while inducing a positive mood and sense of well
being. It's a blend of nootropics and other supplements. The ingredient list is::
Aniracetam, Piracetam, and Oxiracetam - nootropics that improve
communication between the two brain hemispheres.
Centrophenoxine and CD Choline - raise brain acetylcholine levels thereby
increasing alertness and attention span and improving learning ability.
Pyritinol - used in Europe since 1961 for various cognitive conditions such as
dementia, head injury, stroke recovery, coma, and cerebral circulatory
disorders. It has shown to help Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and is used by
people of all ages to improve memory, concentration, and to enhance
information processing.
Picamilon - a nootropic that enhances cerebral circulation. It is used in Russia
to treat anxiety, depression, headaches, glaucoma, and eye disorders.
Vinpocetine - a periwinkle plant extract that dilates arteries of the brain,
improving blood flow. It also improves the brain's utilization of glucose (what
the brain burns for fuel) and increases ATP within the brain's neurons.
Idebenone - increases Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the brain. Idebenone
has been used to treat Alzheimer's disease and to lessen brain damage from
strokes. Idebenone protects the brain from excitotoxins like MSG and
aspartame.
Huperzine A (Huperzia serrata) and Galantamine - plant extracts that extend
the life of acetylcholine, a brain neurotransmitter necessary for learning and
memory.
Quite a powerful list! All of the doctors and "already smart" people we asked
about it agreed, it showed great potential for kids on the spectrum.
How much should a child take?
On the bottle, the suggested dosage is 2 caps per day. We give Caroline one
in the morning and one at lunch. We've recently added another 1/2 cap after
school or at dinner. Upon increasing the dose, we noticed additional cognitive
gains. We have not noticed any side effects.
To give it, we break open a capsule and mix it in with her other supplements.
Word of caution however, some parents have said the taste is fairly strong for
their child. Most though, have found that mixing it in food works well.
The results are in...
Before writing this blog, we waited for testimonials from other parents of
children on the spectrum. Here's a sampling of quotes gathered:
Truth in Marketing
When you're an autism parent, chances are you know what it means to feel
oversold on a product. We tend to get our hopes up often.
Even more unfortunate is the high price tag so many supplements and
treatments carry. A price tag that adds to the disappointment when your child
doesn't respond.
Get Smart, however, doesn't require a large investment and truly seems to be
delivering for all of the families who have reported back.
So if you're looking for the 'Fountain of Intelligence,' you might want to look
into Get Smart. Chances are, you'll be glad you did. And yes, parents can
take it too!
www.smartnutrition.info/Get-Smart.htm
UPDATE: Please see our blog about Galantamine & Huperzine A
for more information about our current nootropic stack.
skeptical.
Could 'smartness' really come in a bottle? And for under $50?
Unlikely.
And yet, credit card in hand, armed with hope, an order was placed.
And then, less than one week later, a Facebook post was made....
Oct 2: "GET SMART" Report Day 1: Caroline is singing 'Jingle Bells' and
songs from old dvd's that she's never sung before. Her response time has
been quicker & she's shown better memory recall in several situations.
Could it be? Maybe Get Smart wasn't too good to be true after all.
Oct 4: GET SMART Day 3 update! Caroline's fine motor skills are improving. A
therapist and I both separately from each other noted her handwriting is quite
improved. We're absolutely keeping it on board & Dr Usman agrees. It helps
both hemispheres of the brain communicate more effectively with one another
-- something our kids so desperately need.
After that, friends began ordering it and reporting similar gains.... Get Smart
was fast becoming the new darling of the autism community and we had a
feeling we were onto something big.
What exactly IS "Get Smart?"
It's a product sold by Smart Nutrition designed to improve memory,
concentration and learning while inducing a positive mood and sense of well
being. It's a blend of nootropics and other supplements. The ingredient list is::
Aniracetam, Piracetam, and Oxiracetam - nootropics that improve
communication between the two brain hemispheres.
Centrophenoxine and CD Choline - raise brain acetylcholine levels thereby
increasing alertness and attention span and improving learning ability.
Pyritinol - used in Europe since 1961 for various cognitive conditions such as
dementia, head injury, stroke recovery, coma, and cerebral circulatory
disorders. It has shown to help Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and is used by
people of all ages to improve memory, concentration, and to enhance
information processing.
Picamilon - a nootropic that enhances cerebral circulation. It is used in Russia
to treat anxiety, depression, headaches, glaucoma, and eye disorders.
Vinpocetine - a periwinkle plant extract that dilates arteries of the brain,
improving blood flow. It also improves the brain's utilization of glucose (what
the brain burns for fuel) and increases ATP within the brain's neurons.
Idebenone - increases Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the brain. Idebenone
has been used to treat Alzheimer's disease and to lessen brain damage from
strokes. Idebenone protects the brain from excitotoxins like MSG and
aspartame.
Huperzine A (Huperzia serrata) and Galantamine - plant extracts that extend
the life of acetylcholine, a brain neurotransmitter necessary for learning and
memory.
Quite a powerful list! All of the doctors and "already smart" people we asked
about it agreed, it showed great potential for kids on the spectrum.
How much should a child take?
On the bottle, the suggested dosage is 2 caps per day. We give Caroline one
in the morning and one at lunch. We've recently added another 1/2 cap after
school or at dinner. Upon increasing the dose, we noticed additional cognitive
gains. We have not noticed any side effects.
To give it, we break open a capsule and mix it in with her other supplements.
Word of caution however, some parents have said the taste is fairly strong for
their child. Most though, have found that mixing it in food works well.
The results are in...
Before writing this blog, we waited for testimonials from other parents of
children on the spectrum. Here's a sampling of quotes gathered:
- "In the two weeks that my son has been on it, the boy who has struggled
with math has in two weeks made huge gains. We've been using a
program called xtramath for months to help him memorize the basic stuff
and the best he's been able to do is get 4 or 5 problems in a row right. It
just wasn't sticking in his working memory. A few days after starting Get
Smart, it jumped up to 7 or 8 in a row and has been steadily increasing
ever since. Today it was 17 in row! Since thats the only new supplement
we've added, I don't think I can attribute it to anything else."
- "We have now been on the Get Smart supplement for a little over a
week ... And this is what we have seen ... His teachers / his therapist /
his neurofeedback therapist ... are all reporting ... wow, he has just been
so "on" recently ... focused, saying words easier, commenting more. Its a
keeper in my book"
- "We are absolutely loving this supplement too. I am also taking it along
with my boys. For the boys, they have made some great academic and
language gains. Even their hockey coach has noticed some changes.
For me, I really notice it helps my memory which was notably getting
worse. I was struggling to find words and names but now since taking it,
this is improving."
- "We love it too! My son can write his name and draw pictures. Before he
would only trace and had no interest in drawing or coloring! Good stuff"
- "I was really impressed by the ingredients in it and decided to give it a
chance. We are very happy with it. Our son's articulation improved
almost immediately after starting on it ... I'm talking within 24 hours"
- "We started straight with Get Smart - about 2 weeks in now and seeing
nice improvements, particularly with a language programme we are
trialling with our son"
- "She takes 1 Get Smart before school and then another after school.
She has ALWAYS struggled in math, but the other day her teacher said
she seemed "interested" in math now! Yeah, we will keep taking it!"
Truth in Marketing
When you're an autism parent, chances are you know what it means to feel
oversold on a product. We tend to get our hopes up often.
Even more unfortunate is the high price tag so many supplements and
treatments carry. A price tag that adds to the disappointment when your child
doesn't respond.
Get Smart, however, doesn't require a large investment and truly seems to be
delivering for all of the families who have reported back.
So if you're looking for the 'Fountain of Intelligence,' you might want to look
into Get Smart. Chances are, you'll be glad you did. And yes, parents can
take it too!
www.smartnutrition.info/Get-Smart.htm
UPDATE: Please see our blog about Galantamine & Huperzine A
for more information about our current nootropic stack.
| Nootropics are a class of "smart" supplements, nutraceuticals, foods and drugs that boost mental functions. If you're wondering more about what Nootropics are, please see"What are Nootropics? Cognition, memory, intelligence, motivation, attention, and concentration all stand to improve with nootropics. They work in a variety of ways. Either by altering the availability of the brain's supply of neurochemicals (neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones), stimulating nerve growth, or improving the brain's oxygen supply (some say similar to hyperbaric oxygen). |
As a society, we've been conditioned to expect that products making
to-good-to-be-true claims usually are exactly that.
to-good-to-be-true claims usually are exactly that.
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