ONNIT New Mood Review – Can this bottle give you a smile?

Ok, it may be one of the original names in supplements and nootropics, but it might not be the first and only you have heard of.

I have written a few reviews about their products already (you can check out my Alpha Brain and Shroom Tech reviews later) and therefore wanted to take a look at Onnit New Mood, a ‘relaxation’ supplement (as opposed to a nootropic or brain-function product) which claims to help the body’s ability to boost serotonin – the ‘happy hormone’.

I have tried a number of ONNIT supplements, but let’s find out a little more before we go on to look at New Mood itself.

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What is ONNIT New Mood?

New Mood is intended to be taken as part of a supplement regime that would support the body and mind through the various stresses and strains of your daily routine.

Intended to support the body’s hormonal response (specifically the creation of serotonin), the idea of this particular supplement is actually quite unique in this way, I’m not sure I’ve come across a particular product designed in such a way to aid with the hormonal release before.

“A bottle of smiles” is the tagline, but what really can it do, and is it all it is claiming to be?

Can we believe the hype that this brand has built around its products and the multitudes of adoring fans and testimonials? I am a fan of the brand and even though I didn't personally try ONNIT New Mood, I have tried many of their brands (check out my order I placed earlier this year below)

Photo by Lifehacker Guy

Background on ONNIT

As I mentioned above I’ve written a few pieces already on the Onnit products – Alpha Brain and Earth-Grown Nutrients, but if you haven’t had a chance to look over them, here is a little about the brand Onnit, what they stand for, and who is behind the brand.

The founder of Onnit, Aubrey Marcus, is an entrepreneur, author, and fitness guru. He calls himself the Human Optimizer and founded Onnit as an outlet for his desire to create products that aim to enable normal people (not just athletes or scientists) to reach their performance potential.

Hence Onnit carries formulations that are based on nootropic and holistic principles, aiming for peak wellness of body and mind in their customers. Marcus is a vocal public figure, podcast broadcaster, and author of the best-selling title ‘Own the Day, Own your Life’.

Aubrey Marcus has an ‘I’ve been there too’ approach so is actually pretty compelling for us everyday folk and you find yourself really wanting to get on board with the whole brand and their story. Onnit products all come with a Quality Promise (carefully sourced ingredients and rigorously tested).

There is even an Onnit Academy where you can gain certifications in order to promote the Onnit fitness lifestyle. They also sell fitness equipment and branded lifestyle goods.

So, back to New Mood. What is this product and why should we be considering it for mood enhancement? What can it actually do for us?

What Ingredients are inside ONNIT New Mood?

New Mood appears to be a carefully selected formulation of vitamins and minerals along with herbal extracts. The disappointing part for me is that the herbal blend is proprietary so I’m not sure how much of each ingredient I’ll be getting in each dose.

They have been more transparent with the vitamins and minerals amounts, I’ll go into further detail below.

Are There Any ONNIT New Mood Side Effects?

Unless you have a pre-existing sensitivity to any of the ingredients it doesn’t appear that New Mood would elicit too many unwanted side effects.

If you found that valerian made you particularly sleepy it wouldn’t be advisable to take this prior to drive or operating machinery. It’s also important not to take any mood-support supplements alongside prescribed medicines without checking first with your medical practitioner.

I would also point out that anything which affects the brain’s ability to synthesize a hormone should be considered with great caution – unless prescribed for a medical reason. I go into further detail below.

Does ONNIT New Mood Actually Work?

The amounts of each ingredient in this product are what I will look closely to see what the suggested dosage is and what Onnit has used to create the improvements in the mood they claim.

Vitamin D3 is usually supplemented at a dose of around 1000 IU per day (this is the measurement for fat-soluble compounds and is the equivalent of 25mcg). It should be taken with fat such as fish oil.

Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate is one of the best-absorbed forms of magnesium and is found to have various physiological benefits at doses of around 200-400mg.

The research into vitamin B6 supplementation is ongoing with few results showing that supplementation has any effect.

Valerian root has been traditionally taken for its sedative effects. It is not clear how much is included in the Onnit New Mood formulation.

Chamomile contains a flavonoid (apigenin) which is also found in Bacopa Monnieri and is thought to have a calming effect – causing sedation.

Lemon balm is similarly categorized as a sedative but is also thought to have effects on cognition. Jujube similarly has been used in traditional (specifically Chinese) medicine to treat anxiety by utilizing its sedative effects.

L-Tryptophan and 5-Hydroxytryptophan are essential in the synthesis of serotonin. In this way they could be seen as essential supplements for mood enhancement, often used to help in the treatment of depression. However, researchers warn that supplementation may affect the brain’s ability to synthesize serotonin.

5-HTP is usually taken in a dose of 300-500mg daily – New Mood contains 150mg in a 2-capsule serving, which is lower than the research suggests.

ONNIT New Mood Customer Reviews

Some people who have bought Onnit New Mood credit it with effects such as helping with Seasonal Affective Disorder, aiding sleep, and performing better at work. Others say it has negative effects and doesn’t help with the mood at all.

I’ll give a cross-section of the 350 reviews on Amazon for Onnit New Mood:

Daily stress, mood and sleep support supplement5 stars

It does work, but at a cost3 stars

No noticeable effect1 star

How to Take ONNIT New Mood

You are advised to take two capsules per day.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

All Onnit products carry the Keep It money-back guarantee – available up to 90 days after the first-time purchase of the product.

Where to Buy ONNIT New Mood

You can buy Onnit New Mood online from the official ONNIT website or on Amazon.

What’s the Cost of ONNIT New Mood?

A one-time-only purchase costs $59.90 (for 60 capsules), and their subscribe-and-save model costs $50.92. This is a relatively affordable product at a cost of roughly $2 per day, but that does presuppose that you are not taking any other products for mood support (or nootropics, or super greens, or just multivitamins!).

This specific mood-support supplement doesn’t offer full spectrum vitamins so that is something to consider when evaluating its worth.

My Verdict: ONNIT New Mood

As with most of the Onnit range, you can be sure that the ingredients are well-sourced, tested, and legitimate. The one thing that disappoints me about this usually-transparent brand is that they have used a proprietary blend in their herbal formulation, so I can’t do my own research and establish whether or not the potent plant ingredients are in the correct amounts to have any real effect.

Similarly with the vitamins, although Onnit has given the amounts, I’m not 100% certain, having looked up the daily suggested dosage, whether they have got the amounts correct in this formula. The reviews all seem to be glowing, which is hardly surprising with a brand as popular as Onnit, so I would definitely say proceed with caution.

I’m not sold on the use of tryptophan (the precursor to serotonin) as a supplement, my concern being that anything that works on the basis of boosting serotonin levels only jeopardizes your brain’s ability to produce this hormone on its own is a big risk. Be absolutely certain that you have exhausted all avenues before taking this type of supplement.

For me this Onnit product is useful for some, but I would rather take a broader-spectrum product that ensures more of my nutritional needs are met in order to boost my mood.

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LifeHacker Guy Greens Recommendation

Some Call This An "Extreme" Step...

Most super greens supplements are disappointing.

I learned this the hard way. After creating this blog in 2018, I spent months buying and testing all the most popular brands.

I wasn’t happy with the results so I did something you might call "extreme"....

In 2019 I created my own brand that ticks every single box of what I look for in a super greens product:

• No hidden ingredient amounts - we have full disclosure labelling, so you know EXACTLY whats inside
• Ingredient amounts that make a difference - we include the minimum effective amounts supported by research, and most of the time, MORE
• Ingredients that help immunity, boost mental clarity and shake off brain fog - making for a much more productive and happy lifestyle

No more worrying about ineffective ingredients or too low dosages. I finally have a product I KNOW does the job it’s made to do.

I use it every day and, after years of battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), I now have my energy (and my life!) back.

The good news? I made my brand available to the public so you can see and feel the difference for yourself.

Read Review

This new luxury pill looks more like a fashion accessory than a supplement.

Packaged in an expensive-looking hand-crafted copper pot, inside copper-colored pills with a stenciled crown logo on the side, Lyma Life exudes luxury and claims you can improve your beauty and boost health for the mere price of £199 ($250 USD) per month.

It’s hard to ignore this self-proclaimed “super supplement”.

With very strong claims of 80 percent smoother skin, strengthening hair by 47 percent and nails by 88 percent, improved sleep, and brain energy, maximized immunity, and a reduction in stress and anxiety.

Can this beautiful-looking copper pill give you the strength and beauty in body and mind at a price? Or is this simply great marketing of a so-so supplement? Check out what I think in my honest Lyma Life review.

What is Lyma Life?

The marketing sees a striking copper pot containing copper-colored pills, often in the hands of beautiful people. Whilst the imagery is really good and I can see this may be effective for some people, my immediate thought was are they overcompensating for a poor product with great marketing?

The hand-crafted copper pot that comes with the “starter kit” looks great although it’s unlikely to be too expensive itself (my opinion only as I haven’t held one in my hands!).

I talk more about the ingredients below, but briefly, there does look to be some good stuff inside the Lyma formula, so I was excited to take a look.

Background on LYMA Life Limited

Lyma Life is based in the UK and has been trading for a couple of years.

Reported to be the brainchild of British personal trainer Russell Bateman, Lyma was developed over two years to be the go-to supplement for his A-list clientele. This certainly explains the price as this gives a new meaning to the term “premium-priced” supplements.

If your client list includes the likes of actress Liv Tyler, singer Ellie Goulding, and several Victoria’s Secret models, it’s easy to see why the UK media have dubbed Lyma the “supermodel supplement”.

The company claims that its copper-colored capsules promise to improve your beauty and boost your health. Here is the kicker though, results can be seen within 3-months.

That’s right, you have to take this expensive “super supplement” for three months MINIMUM.

Lyma Life Ingredients

There are just eight ingredients in the Lyma Life formula, which includes two vitamins (K and D3), all using patented forms of ingredients.

Let’s delve into each one, some of which will be familiar to you if you have looked into supplement labels before.

KSM-66 Ashwagandha Extract (600mg)

This adaptogenic herb has a number of health benefits and the reason why I include this amazing ingredient in my supplement. Lyma uses a patented version called KSM-66 made by Lxoreal Biomed and claims to be the most clinically studied Ashwagandha on the market.

The list of Ashwagandha benefits includes; helping to reduce stress and anxiety, enhancing memory and cognition, supporting a healthy weight, and maintaining healthy testosterone in men.

Cynatine HNS (250mg)

This patented ingredient from Roxlor LLC supplies active keratin, which plays an important role in the body. It is a major structural component of hair, skin, and nails, but it is not naturally soluble, bioavailable, or digestible. Studies ran have shown improvements in hair, skin, and nails over a 90-day period.

Cognizin (250mg)

Lyma uses the patented version of citicoline called Cognizin, developed by Kyowa Hakko USA.

Cognizin citicoline provides vital nutrients that help the brain. Cognizin helps maintain normal levels of acetylcholine, a nootropic nutrient that regulates cognitive function.

Cognizin is also inside the formula of my recommended nootropic supplement Mind Lab Pro in the same dosage.

Lycored Lycopene (30mg)

Lycored Lycopene is the patented version of Lycopene is a form of carotenoid that’s been shown to support skin, prostate, cardiovascular, vision, and bone health. This is used in Lyma to promote healthy skin and the cardiovascular system.

Hydrocurc (250mg)

Hydrocurc is a patented form of Curcuma longa extract, a new type of curcumin, which you may be more familiar with as it’s the main ingredient in turmeric. The compounds in this are called curcuminoids and have been shown to have numerous health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This patented version is said to deliver 2.5 times more active curcuminoids than generic curcuminoid versions.

The Wellmune (250mg)

The Wellmune patented ingredient is very interesting as I looked into the benefits of this patented ingredient, especially the claims it may alleviate exercise-induced immune suppression.

Since suffered from chronic fatigue from overtraining many years ago, exercise often triggers upper respiratory infections, and its thought this is due to having a suppressed immune system.

K2Vital (75ug)

This is a patented form of Vitamin K from Kappa Bioscience that Lyma claim is one of the most underrated and important vitamins, which is deficient in most of our diets. It’s crucial for many health functions throughout the body.

Vitamin D3 (2,000iu)

This Vitamin D3 is taken from sheep’s wool, there is a “scientific” dosage that is 3 times that seen in many supplements, including the Vitamin D3 in AG1.

How to Take Lyma Life Pills?

The recommended dose of LYMA is two capsules in the morning with breakfast and two capsules in the evening with dinner.

Each order includes 120-pills for a daily serving size of 4 pills per day.

Side Effects

It's unlikely you will experience any significant side effects taking in the dosages seen in this supplement.

The biggest ingredient, Ashwagandha root, is generally well-tolerated when taken short-term (weeks to a few months), with mild to moderate side effects such as headache, sleepiness, and stomach upset reported in clinical studies.

Of course, it should go without saying that if you're taking a prescription medication and/or have a pre-existing medical condition then you should seek medical advice before taking ANY supplement.

Does Lyma Life Actually Work?

The company behind Lyma Pill has gone for the patented forms of the ingredients as there are more studies done on these by the companies who produce these versions.

Having more studies to support the advertised claims is what I look for, as otherwise, it’s just marketing BS.

The thing is I like the fact that Lyma has focused on fewer ingredients, just 8 in total. Furthermore, the ingredients look pretty solid too!

What you tend to see is the “premium” supplement market throwing in lots of ingredients in what seems to be to justify the higher price point.

Lyma aren’t trying to market a be like a powdered greens supplement to plug the nutritional gaps in your diet. Instead, they are promoting what they call “ultimate wellness”, but it does come at a huge price though, one that I am not sure I could justify.

What sounds a little fishy to me, is the fact the company says you need to be taking the supplement for at least 90-days for the results to “kick in”.

Okay, so I appreciate you’re not going to see overnight results but really, 90-days. At the cost of this supplement that’s like £497 ($600 USD) just to see if it works or not. This is a little too rich for my liking considering too-end supplements cost a lot less and are likely to have the same, if not better results.

Lyma Life Customer Reviews

There are a number of reviews of Lyma supplement on the official website. It seems a popular choice amongst magazine publications like Vogue, Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Grazia, Harpers Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, along with and with some UK celebrities.

Apart from the magazines that are known to endorse/sponsor products, I couldn't find a third-party website that shows testimonials from customers.

Nevertheless, the common trend from the feedback is this is a “celebrity super supplement” and “supermodel go-to supplement”.

Money Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

I struggled to find if any money-back guarantee existed and the returns/refund policy.

I eventually gave up as it’s not clear if any money-back guarantee is on offer. If it’s not shown, then it’s fair to say one doesn’t exist!

In terms of the refund policy, then standard distance selling regulations will be in force that gives customers 14 days with which to return a product if not open and used.

Where to Buy Lyma Life?

You can order or should I say become a member of Lyma Life via the official website. They ship to over 100 countries and so you should be able to get these in most places on the globe.

Ordering a starter kit from the official website will give you a member card along with the hand-crafted copper pot for holding your Lyma pills.

Is Lyma Life Worth the Price?

Absolutely NOT!

This is definitely a case of paying for the marketing over substance.

Now I know that patented versions of readily available ingredients are more expensive, but I really can’t see how you can justify spending £199 ($240 USD) at first and then £166-£200 per month depending on whether you get the 30 or 90-day supply.

This puts the cost of Lyma Life pills at £5.67 ($7 USD) per day for a supplement!

For this price you can get a LOT OF supplements – I thought ONNIT Total Human was expensive at £100 ($140 USD) per month but you get a lot more for your money there.

The Bottom Line

I am a fan of supplements and believe you can boost health and productivity with the right ones. And I truly believe you get what you pay for, mostly. However, I could never justify paying so much for a supplement like Lyma Life.

If you take a look at their marketing you can clearly see where the costs lay, yep in producing the glossy images of models taking their fancy copper pills.

Clearly, the guys behind Lyma Life have seen the gap in the market producing an aspirational pill that appears to be the Gucci of supplements. But the fact is you can get effective supplements at a much cheaper price, but no less effective.

To be fair, these supermodel “super pills” aren’t aimed at me, and most likely not at you either (to be blunt but honest here). They are for celebrities who have bought into this hype and are unconcerned with price, and ultimately value for money.

If you want a supplement that promotes and health and productivity, I would suggest taking a look at Supergreen Tonik – a greens superfood powder. Alternatively, you can opt for a nootropic pill like Mind Lab Pro, for a fraction of the price of Lyma Pill.

LifeHacker Guy Greens Recommendation

Some Call This An "Extreme" Step...

Most super greens supplements are disappointing.

I learned this the hard way. After creating this blog in 2018, I spent months buying and testing all the most popular brands.

I wasn’t happy with the results so I did something you might call "extreme"....

In 2019 I created my own brand that ticks every single box of what I look for in a super greens product:

• No hidden ingredient amounts - we have full disclosure labelling, so you know EXACTLY whats inside
• Ingredient amounts that make a difference - we include the minimum effective amounts supported by research, and most of the time, MORE
• Ingredients that help immunity, boost mental clarity and shake off brain fog - making for a much more productive and happy lifestyle

No more worrying about ineffective ingredients or too low dosages. I finally have a product I KNOW does the job it’s made to do.

I use it every day and, after years of battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), I now have my energy (and my life!) back.

The good news? I made my brand available to the public so you can see and feel the difference for yourself.

Read Review

Genius Joy breathes a refreshing change in the crowded nootropic supplement market. They produce a range of supplements that they claim can optimize everything in your life.

Promising an emphasis on science over profit margins, I am keen to learn more about the ingredients they use in this supplement.

What makes me especially keen on this brand is the fact they NEVER use non-proprietary formulas, and no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. In fact, most of their formulas tend to use patented and trademarked ingredients – more on this later.

With very promising reviews shown on Amazon, I have high hopes for this nootropic supplement. Does it live up to the promise though? Let’s delve into Genius Joy in my honest review.

Genius Joy First Impressions

Now first off Genius Joy isn’t meant to be your all-around nootropic supplement that lifts your productivity to another level (if the marketing around the best nootropic pills are to be believed).

Genius Joy is marketed as;

.. effective all-natural serotonin mood-boosting supplement to provide temporary relief from anxiety and mood swings

It’s hard not to like the Genius Brand, there is no fluff and pseudo-science. You can tell they are passionate about their mission of producing decent, good-quality supplements in a range of areas from beauty, weight loss, nootropics, pre and post-workout, and general health and wellness. I didn't see a greens powder supplement though!

The Genius Brand stock both supplements and apparel – both of which reinforce the company's aim of optimizing brand and muscle.

Background on Genius Brand

After you have seen numerous supplements they can begin to look all too similar. When I came across the Genius Brand I was pleasantly surprised. These guys actually look like they care about science and standing out from the crowd.

I like the approach this company takes, focusing on how to make the best version of you. I do this with my super greens supplement, where I use the tagline “you, but better”.

The Genius Brand is the brainchild of Robert Oliver, the acting CEO. I like the fact you get to see the man behind the brand as with so many supplement brands you have no idea!

If you want to know more about Rob Oliver the CEO of Genius Brand, I recommend taking a listen to this podcast by Mike.

Genius Joy Ingredients

If you have read any of my other reviews, you know the biggest thing I look for is a full list of the ingredients. This means EVERY single ingredient and its amounts are listed on the label.

I am really happy to see that Genius Joy’s ingredient label does just that – you can see what's inside! Very few companies do this and are one of the reasons I like the alternative nootropic brands, Mind Lab Pro (check out my review here).

You can see from the ingredient label below that I took from the bottle, there are a total of 14 ingredients of which 50 percent of these are B and D vitamins inside each veggie capsule. The rest of the ingredients in the formula are a mixture of adaptogens, antioxidants, and stimulants.

There are some of the usual suspects when it comes to nootropic ingredients, but there are some interesting ingredient choices too.

S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) Tosylate Disulfate (As Adomix) is a patented form of a popular ingredient found in supplement formulas looking to enhance cognition, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine (or NALT for short). NALT has been shown to have numerous benefits including reducing brain fog and Genius Joy contains a good dosage of 350mg per serving.

Tyrosine has been shown to be extremely effective at reducing anxiety and promoting a calm, clear mind during times of acute mental and physical stress.

Rhodiola5Plus Rhodiola Rosea is a patented form of Rhodiola Rosea. This is one of the go to ingredients seen in many nootropic supplements ( I have this one in my supplement too in the same dosage ! ), for good reasons – it’s an effective way to reduce stress and promote calm clear-headedness.

Most formulas include 100mg as the standard dosage, but Genius Joy have 300mg, which means you get a good, safe amount that can have a big effect on helping you handle and perform under stress!

Red Panax Ginseng has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its health giving properties. It’s inclusion here is for promoting blood flow and so nutrients to your brain. Whilst there is research advocating the benefits of Panax Ginseng its effectiveness here is questionable, it basically more for wellness.

One ingredient I hadn’t heard of before was listed as HTPurity Griffonia Simplicifolia. When I researched this I realised this West African shrub is one of the largest sources of 5-HTP, an amino acid which helps convert to serotonin – the feel good hormone.

According to Examine (my go to supplement ingredient resource) the lowest effective dosage of Griffonia simplicifolia extract is between 275-450mg depending on body weight.

So, as Genius Joy uses a 98% pure extract you should be getting enough 5-HTP to enjoy the full effects of this ingredient – great news!

Despite the fancy name, NeuroFactor Coffea Arabica, is just your everyday coffee bean extract. I rarely see caffeine-based ingredients in nootropic supplements, although it’s a popular ingredient in many supplements, mostly diet, and weight loss products. The benefits of caffeine for focus and alertness are well known, but there is no supporting evidence with this ingredient here.

L-Theanine is seen in many nootropic supplements as can help promote relaxation and focus, and when combined with caffeine reduces the potential of experiencing jittery effects and the dreaded caffeine crash. Trials with L-Theanine range from 50mg to 250mg dosage and so the 100mg used here should give some benefit.

How to Take Genius Joy?

The recommendation by Genius Brand is to start slowly at first taking one on an empty stomach in the morning. If you feel okay after this then take another capsule just before lunchtime.

They suggest doing this pattern for a few days to assess your tolerance and then if “comfortable” to double the dosage to two capsules upon waking and two capsules prior to lunch.

As with all dietary supplement, recommendations do not take more than the suggested dosage each day.

Side Effects

It should be safe for most people to take Genius Joy. That said the company does suggest not taking the recommended dosage straight away and to test your tolerance over the first 3-4 days of taking it.

This is sound advice, as supplements can cause different results and in rare cases side effects like stomach discomfort. There is caffeine in the formula too and so anyone particularly sensitive may wish to take it easy or avoid it completely.

Does Genius Joy Actually Work?

The big question is can Genius Joy help to unlock the genius in you?

If the Amazon reviews are to be believed then it would appear so, but I wanted to delve into the ingredients and see how the science stacks up.

Genius Joy Customer Reviews

The Amazon reviews are over whelming positive with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from a whopping 3,299 reviews at the time of writing my post.

Most are 5 stars (79%) with 1 star being less than 10% of the customer ratings.

This is very promising.

Here is a selection of customer feedback.

I'm officially feeling good. I'm not doing cartwheels down the street or anything, I'm just feeling good. I'm clearly being much more present and engaged and I can see this happening with myself because I'm pretty self aware.5 star Amazon review

I really like the Genius branding! The products are clear cut, and you know exactly what you're getting. However, I've now been using Genius Joy for about a month and I can honestly say that I have not noticed really anything different in my psyche or cognitive function.3 star amazon review

Took this product for a month, followed the instructions as instructed but I didn’t noticed any change in mood/anxiety levels. It was just a waste of $50.00. Not worthy.1 star amazon review

Money Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

There is a 90-day money-back guarantee available on all the supplements when purchased through the official website. So, be sure to check the returns policy if you purchase on Amazon or another distributor.

Where to Buy Genius Joy?

There are a number of places to buy Genius Joy. The most obvious place is the via the official website, you can also buy Genius Joy from Amazon.

Is Genius Joy Worth the Price?

I am always a little puzzled why some brands include less than a full month’s supply. Genius Joy does this as well, including only 25 servings in each tub. Whilst it may not be a deal-breaker it does mean of course that you need more than one tub to last a full month, which ends up costing you more.

That said the difference is not that huge a mere 40 cents per day.

I should mention a really cool thing the Genius guys do is to have the option of buying one-off samples of some of the range, including Genius Joy Sample. At $2 this is a great way to give it a try to see if this works for you!

The Bottom Line

There is a lot to like about Genius Joy and the company behind it, Genius Brand – they seem like a very reputable brand, one that you could trust. I really like what they are doing.

But company aside, how do I rate their nootropic supplement, Genius Joy?

This nootropic supplement is not all-rounder like others on the market but is aimed at reducing stress and anxiety, and less so cognitive performance.

Now, this is the kicker for me as if you’re looking for reducing stress and anxiety then I would suggest my greens supplement for the ingredients in my formula can provide the same effect and more.

Considering the limitations of Genius Joy on its own (and not combined with other Genius brands) then it would probably be better to look at alternatives. Going for my greens brand containing a dedicated nootropic blend, or alternative nootropic supplement, Mind Lab Pro, makes more sense.

Promising to add focus to your day, Addall XR is marketed as the solution to stay energized and focused throughout the day.

I can’t help but think the guys behind this product are attempting to capitalize on the similarity with Adderall (ADHD medication) in terms of the brand name.

Sounds great, but do the claims stack up? And can just two capsules give you that mental boost at an affordable cost?

Are you convinced that Addall XR is the solution to “adding focus” to your day? I have my doubts, but I will try to keep an open mind as I give my honest review of these focus pills.

What is Addall XR?

The brand is bright and bursting with energy with the vibrant orange and yellow colors. I find it visually pretty good and I like it.

I find it funny that the marketing says this nootropic helps you go the extra mile “without coffee or energy drinks” when one of the main ingredients is caffeine!

What’s the significance of the name, Addall?

It’s hard to ignore the similarity with the medication Adderall, which is a prescription drug originally to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – ADHD patients.

Even the Addall XR capsules look similar to Adderall! Check out the similarity in a side-by-side comparison below.

In my opinion, it's a little tricky when you have a brand that is similar to a prescription drug. This doesn't convince me that it's a better product, in fact, the opposite!

Background on Addall XR

I could find nothing out about the company or team behind Addall XR supplement. Even attempts to sign up for the newsletter didn't provide any answers.

The company address on the website shows the company is based near to San Diego in the state of California. Other than that, not a lot of information to go on regarding the guys behind the Addall XR brand.

Checking out their social media profiles and little seems to have been updated since December 2018 for both Facebook and Instagram. This makes me wonder if the brand has run out of steam.

What Ingredients Are Inside Addall XR?

There are very few ingredients in these nootropic pills. Other than Vitamin B1, B2, and B6, there are only three other ingredients all within a proprietary blend that amounts to 1,413mg.

Here are the ingredients in full:

• Thiamin (Vitamin B1) – 15mg
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – 21mg
• Vitamin B6 – 51mg
• Proprietary blend: Caffeine, gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Bacopa Monnieri – 1,413mg

Depending upon which package of Addall XR you have, each pack comes with capsules that makes one dosage or has two capsules that can be taken separately or at the same time.

Are There Any Side Effects To Addall XR?

Considering the ingredients, it’s unlikely there are side effects but then again, we don’t know the exact breakdown of the ingredients in the proprietary blend.

The FDA requires the ingredients to be listed in order of quantity and so we know that caffeine is the main ingredient in the blend. But how much caffeine in each serving is unsure!

One of the other ingredients in the proprietary blend (GABA) has some commonly reported side effects, such as an upset stomach, headache, and sleepiness, but these are short-lived and will stop once you have stopped taking the supplement.

Does Addall XR Actually Work?

How effective a supplement depends 100% on the ingredients and importantly their amounts in the formula. There is no question that the B vitamins in this formula are essential for normal bodily functions, but you may be getting these already in your diet or from any other multi-vitamin / supplement.

The effectiveness of this formula then falls on the proprietary blend of three ingredients.

The first ingredient caffeine you will be familiar with could well be the first thing you reach for in the morning.

The benefits of caffeine to boost alertness and focus have been well established. Whilst its effectiveness can decline with overconsumption you will likely experience a short-term buzz from ingesting caffeine.

The second ingredient was a new one for me and I didn’t know too much about this one. Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (or GABA for short) according to Healthline is a naturally occurring amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter in your brain.

GABA is important because it can have a calming effect by reducing feelings of anxiety and stress.

Evidence for the effectivness of GABA seems to be there to suggest there could be a calming effect if take in the right dosage of 50mg to 100mg.

You may not be too familiar with the last ingredient Bacopa Monnieri, I have outlined more on this Ayurvedic herb that has proven nootropic benefits. The science so far highlights you need at least 300mg per serving to get the benefits of boosting brain function and alleviating anxiety and stress, amongst other benefits.

We don’t know the amounts of these ingredients so it’s impossible to know if they are insufficient amounts to be effective.

This means that Addall XR could be just a caffeine pill, and despite the marketing very much JUST like a cup of strong coffee!

Addall XR Customer Reviews

Checking out the feedback from Amazon reviews and it varies a lot, in fact, polarised from shoppers giving either 5 or 1 star!

From the 11 customers reviews on Amazon with an average of 3.2 out of 5. Here are a couple of examples of typical Amazon feedback.

My absolute favorite keeps me going on hardly any sleep doesn’t make u feel sick I wish came in a bottle with more It works !!!!5 star

Wish there was a bigger bottle5 star

Basically expensive caffeine2 star

Zero percent focus one hundred percent vomit1 star

Some customers have reported the capsules broken upon arrival so that the powder had leaked out and the capsule crushed.

How To Take Addall XR

Adults are recommended to take two capsules per day and no exceeding four capsules. Considering the cost, you wouldn’t want to be regularly taking four capsules! More on this later.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

Well, sort of, possibly maybe. Confused, yes so was I.

Looking at the FAQs on the refund policy it simply states when asked if they offer refunds “Yes, depending on the situation”.

That answer doesn’t really inspire me with much confidence.

The refund policy page gives a better answer in they do offer a 30-day refund only if UNUSED and in the original packaging.

Where To Buy Addall XR

You can buy Addall XR from the official website, it’s also available on Amazon.com.

What’s The Cost Of Addall XR?

I thought I had misread the pricing when I first took a look at how much Addall XR costs. But nope, to buy a 3-pack of two capsules is going to set you back a whopping $26.97.

That works out to be $4.50 per capsule!

You can make marginal savings by buying more packs such as the 6, 12, or 24 packs, but the price saving is marginal ($3.82 per capsule for the 24-pack bundle).

It’s also worth noting that a single dose is 2 pills, so in reality, you are paying between $7-9 per serving. Crazy expensive when you consider the price of other nootropic pills is typically around $1 per capsule.

My Verdict: Addall XR

Addall XR doesn’t appear to be that popular looking at the 7 Amazon reviews alongside the inactive Facebook and Instagram profiles.

But these concerns aside my main issue is more to do with the cost and ingredient profile.

The high cost and the sub-par ingredient list make Addall XR a definite no for me. In my opinion, you would be much better taking a multi-vitamin to get the same results if any.

Even my super greens supplement packs more of a punch than this product, it’s way cheaper too.

If you’re looking for a serious cost-effective nootropic pill than alternative option is Mind Lab Pro (you can check out my review here). At only $2 per daily serving, it’s much cheaper for a better ingredient profile, that’s a lot more likely to work.

When I was a little kid, my mum used to make me drink a bright orange effervescent drink when I was sick. It looked like a soda but tasted very unpleasant.

I can’t imagine ever wanting to drink anything like that again, but when I look at some of the options for vitamin and superfood drinks, I am surprised to find that there are a few products on the market that resemble that self-same effervescent drink!

What do they put inside them and what do they claim to do?

One such drink, TruBrain, looks like it is breaking new ground in the nootropic market, so I wanted to have a closer look at this slick product to see what it claims and what it really does for the brain.

TruBrain First Impressions

‘Designed to help you carpe more diem’ announces the homepage of this cool brand. With their witty little animations and easy-to-swallow science soundbites, TruBrain seems to have cornered the market in terms of being a new take on nootropic product marketing.

Branching away from purely science-slick descriptions and performance-enhancing talk, they instead opt for a more down-to-earth approach, making it sound as though their drinks are not just for those who work in tech start-ups.

I mean there are other, normal people out there who are tired of experiencing burnout!

I want to know more about what the product does, or at least what people say it does, so on with my TruBrain review.

Background on TruBrain

Founded in 2012 by two neuroscientists Dr. Andrew Hill and Dr. Aida Attar, TruBrain seeks to apply more easily digestible scientific thinking to the supplement industry with a new wave of nootropics and a fresh approach to positioning.

With these ‘think drinks’ (drink shots) the clever marketing machine behind TruBrain has found a niche (or perhaps it already existed but they have exploited that niche) in promoting a product that – it is claimed – can put you in the ‘flow’ state of brain activity.

So what exactly is new about this approach?

Companies have been promoting products that claim to do this for almost a decade, but the thinking behind TruBrain is that in a drink format the ingredients are more easily absorbed.

In terms of research, this business wants us to believe it is backed by hard science. Claiming to have ‘measured brainwaves’ in high-performing individuals (such as CEOs, scientists, and lawyers), TruBrain says that they have identified optimal brainwave patterns and have used this research is looking into natural supplements that could enhance such brainwave states.

TruBrain also makes ‘hi-IQ snack bars’, food bars ‘to help you power past stress, overcome mental blocks, and boost mental output.’

Other additions to their product line are Brüd: ‘focus sticks’ which you add to your coffee to improve focus.

As well as the drink-shots, TruBrain also comes in capsule form.

Unsurprisingly there has been plenty of media coverage of TruBrain. After all, it’s a fun, new way to take your daily nootropic stack, and offers something slightly different to pill-popping. Coverage includes an appearance on MVP – a Shark Tank-inspired show, where NFL and NBA players tried the products on TV.

In 2014, PR Newswire said that TruBrain was ‘defining the emerging nootropic industry’.

What Ingredients inside TruBrain?

TruBrain says ‘The active nootropics in TruBrain, like noopept, have a long track record of performance and safety’

So, what’s inside the TruBrain formula?

The standard formula states the following ingredients:

• Oxiracetam, Piracetam – 800mg / 1000mg
• Caffeine, L-theanine – 80mg / 160mg
• Uridine – 500mg
• Magnesium, Tyrosine – 200mg / 350mg
• Carnitine, Citicoline – 500mg / 250mg

Flavourings: Monk fruit, Natural cane sugar, Mangosteen, Blue agave, Nopal cactus

Firstly, I need to say that because they are transparent about the ingredients this is a huge plus for me. Many nootropics and supplements brands hide behind proprietary blends believing that being honest about their ingredients will lead to imitators making money off their own hard work, but in this case, they have proven that this isn’t likely to be a problem.

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and see what they do.

Oxiracetam and Piracetam are two of the most powerful and most well-researched nootropics. Proven to improve blood flow to the brain and enhance cognitive function.

Uridine is thought to be involved in aiding RNA and storing memories.

Tyrosine is a building block for dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, so essential in achieving those alpha waves.

Magnesium deficiencies are known to cause mood dips and contribute to brain fog.

Carnitine and Citicoline are known to help break down glucose and fatty acid so they can be used in metabolic processes in the brain (such as the formation of acetylcholine).

It’s clear that the neuroscientists behind this product have done their research and have created a product that is well within the probabilities of causing benefits and can be classed as a functional food supplement.

Are There Any TruBrain Side Effects?

Users of racetams (Oxiracetam and Piracetam) have been known to experience headaches and irritability. L-Tyrosine should be taken with caution and has been found to interact with other medications.

Does TruBrain Actually Work?

The ‘science’ behind TruBrain is that it ‘increases blood flow to the brain, which delivers more oxygen and glucose to neurons. This improves the brain’s “plasticity” or ability to make new connections. In addition, our formula provides raw materials, like magnesium and choline, that naturally support your brain's metabolism and function’

The makers clearly know their stuff, and although I don’t want to dispute the science, I have a few concerns about taking supplements to improve daily brain functions. TruBrain claims that;

While present in many whole foods, one cannot attain beneficial amounts of nootropics from eating whole foods alone

Therefore suggesting that only their product will provide you with these brain-friendly nutrients. So by telling us that we can’t possibly be performing optimally by eating normal food, they have cleverly created a need where there wasn’t one before.

Here’s an example of what the makers of TruBrain say makes their product different: they cleverly debunk caffeine for not being able to guide you into an ideal state of focus, which is quite impressive seeing as caffeine is, and has historically been proven to be the original and best stimulant (which works by blocking adenosine – the ‘sleepy’ neurotransmitter).

Caffeine is – according to these guys – under par as a nootropic as it ‘does very little to support the biological processes of thinking’.

Overall I’m left confused and a little let down by the ‘evidence’ they quote in marketing TruBrain.

They haven’t provided links in the Science section of the site, instead opting to give research journal page references, which I am assuming people really won’t actually look up. After all, I didn’t!

TruBrain Customer Reviews

The reviews on the TruBrain site are all very positive, so I’ve looked at Amazon to see if I can get a cross-section.

they work!5 stars

nothing super noteworthy3 stars

absolutely horrible taste1 star

How to Take TruBrain

The drink is 30ml, only 26 calories, and is recommended to be taken once per day. The idea is that the ‘delivery’ method of the nootropic is more effective than a pill or a capsule.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

Unopened packages can be returned for a refund within 30-days of purchasing.

Where to Buy TruBrain

You can buy TruBrain online or on Amazon.

What’s the Cost of TruBrain?

TruBrain is a fairly expensive nootropic option, especially if you don’t opt for the subscription model. It is available in different size boxes, either 20 (for $49 per month), 30 (for $65) or 60 (for $125).

However, you can opt for a trial – 10 drinks for $19. This is only a 5-day trial though as they recommend taking 2 drinks per day. So at almost twenty dollars for less than a week that’s a pretty high price to pay.

There is a subscribe-and-save prepay model (3-months, 6-months, or 12-months) and you get a 10%-30% discount accordingly.

My Verdict: TruBrain

TruBrain is a popular brand and you can see why.

They blazed the trail in the early days of nootropics, taking a new look at the marketing and format of taking these brain nutrient supplements. It looks pretty cool and they have made a great effort to make the science more digestible.

On the positive side, it is backed up by reliable science, strong marketing, and the manufacturers have been transparent about the ingredients and their amounts. You really know what you are taking and it is therefore a product with integrity.

On the negative side, it is an expensive way to take nootropics, with added ingredients that may not work for you and your lifestyle. I see no reason not to take these powerful nootropics in pill form and the drinks aspect is a bit of a gimmick for me. I am more tempted to stick with a nootropic capsule that's still easy to take, like Mind Lab Pro capsules or a healthier alternative like Supergreen TONIK green powder supplement, both of which work out more cost-effective.

Saying that there will be people out there (and clearly there’s a huge following) who don’t want to give up on a good gimmick, it will suit their lifestyle and make them feel like the drink is all part of the goodness.

Although expensive, these think-drinks might just have the niche for a quick daily nootropic fix-in-a-shot.

Imitation, some would say, is the sincerest form of flattery. But I wonder how the pharmaceutical makers of drugs like Adderall feel about brands that have quite obviously been named with the intention of copying them.

Rather than using the exact same chemical formulation, these ‘smart pills’ occupy a space that falls between drugs and herbal supplements, with more than one similarity to controlled substances but falling short of needing to be licensed in the same way.

Aiming to improve concentration, focus, mental energy and beat fatigue, these nootropic supplements intend to copy the stimulation of compounds such as caffeine but also provide nutrients to the brain to improve its function. As I am fast learning this is a competitive and saturated market, with a profusion of products to choose from.

So I’ve taken a look at a product called ‘AdderRx’ which I think goes about as far as you can go in copying an existing pharmaceutical – Adderall – (in name only), because I really want to know more about the manufacturers, what they say the product can do, and most importantly whether or not it is likely to deliver.

NexGen AdderRX First Impressions

AdderRx is, as a host of other nootropics, branded in a pharmaceutical style, aiming to meet customers at the crossing between medicine and herbal supplement. Appealing to people who want to improve their focus but who don’t want a prescription, the branding on the container would stand out on the shelf as crisp and science-y.

Nexgen's AdderRx concentration and focus supplement have been the best selling neuro-enhancement for the last several years.

…says the blurb as I click on the Nexgen Biolabs site, but then I hit upon a big problem.

The main issue I have in finding anything out about this brand beyond what it looks like and how much it retails for is that I cannot get the Nexgen Biolabs site to load. Frustrated, I’m left looking around the web and finding disappointingly little that looks legitimate (from the manufacturers) and rather a lot of poor reviews.

I even stumble across some claims that they hire people to write false reviews. This isn’t looking good as first impressions go!

Not to be put off by the Nexgen site being offline, I pursue some other avenues to find ample information for my AdderRx review.

Background on Nexgen Biolabs Inc

AdderRx is one of many products manufactured by Nexgen Biolabs Inc. Their products are all named with a play on the pharmaceutical angle by using ‘RX' in the title (including ZenRx, PhenRx).

They call themselves “supplement and Nutraceuticals” makers, and I must admit I’ve never heard of the latter so, looking around to see what else I can find on this phrase, I discover that it is a “pharmaceutical alternative that claims to have physiological benefits. A fairly broad term, then, but one which nevertheless makes people think of science-y things and evidence-supported claims.

But, with the eagle eyes of an editor (and now finally able to get on their site) I see this sentence which doesn’t fill me with confidence:

We have continually follow the latest in neuro-science and listened to our thousands of customers over the years, to continually update and improve on our best-selling formula.Nexgen Biolabs

Now, in a market where marketing is absolutely King, I would expect the makers to be giving a little more thought to their spelling and grammar! Being pedantic about your values is my thing, it may not be yours, but if you want people to part with their money, I believe you have to look legitimate.

They also have a ‘science’ landing page with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ON IT.

Anyway, they follow up with the common caveat that ‘statements that have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration don’t seem to be putting customers off, and I see this disclaimer everywhere with manufacturers who make supplements getting away with quite frankly astonishing claims.

But I’m left feeling very unsure of what this brand is about. What do they stand for? What is their ‘why’? I don’t even know what this pill claims to do! Let’s see if we can at least find out what is inside it…

What Ingredients inside AdderRx?

Taking a close look at the ingredients is what my whole blog is about. I believe in being transparent and honest about your product and that this is the only way you can legitimately expect customers to believe your claims.

So what do they say AdderRX does and what is inside?

AdderRX is supposed to be ‘Pharmaceutical grade Nuphetamine HCM’.

So, what’s inside the AdderRx formula?

There are no dosage/ingredient amounts stated on the ingredients listing so already we can see that this is a proprietary blend.

Are There Any AdderRx Side Effects?

I would think so but I’m absolutely out of my depth in terms of these ingredients and how they might interact. You are advised, as usual, to use your own judgment and preferably speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you are considering taking this product.

Does AdderRx Actually Work?

Now here’s the thing. There are a lot of ingredients in here that I’ve never heard of. In neither my research into Super Greens or Nootropic stacks have I come across a bunch of them.

Simply put they are mostly stimulants, and there appears to be no research conducted into how they would interact (either as a pill where all ingredients are taken together or if you are taking other supplements alongside AdderRX).

DMAE, Trimethylxanthine, Cytidine 5’ – Diphosphocholine are forms of choline which has been researched and used in pharmaceuticals to fight cognitive decline in old age (examine.com) research is ongoing and doses are in the range of 500 – 1500mg.

Synephrine is a stimulant and is often taken in doses of 10-20mg thrice per day for weight loss. WebMD has a caution about interactions and states it is known to cause high blood pressure and interacts with caffeine.

Hordenine is another stimulant (adrenergic-like compound) which has not been sufficiently researched. Examine.com has the following statement:

Hordenine is on the FDA's Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List as of April 2019. These are ingredients that do not appear to be lawful ingredients in dietary supplements.

There are links to some of these ingredients being used as pharmaceuticals and in the treatment of something or another, however, it bears repeating that there has been NO research into the pharmaceutical use of these compounds in this particular formulation. There are strong cautions, for example, against taking bitter orange (synephrine) with antidepressant medication.

AdderRx Customer Reviews

I couldn’t find a listing on Amazon so I’ve gone straight to the customer reviews on Walmart, there are only six listed:

satisfied5 stars

would recommend5 stars

ehhh3 stars

Alongside customer reviews, I also took a look at other critical reviews. One such call it;

a cheap proprietary blend full of harmful stimulants

How to Take AdderRx

The guidance on the label is to take one capsule per day.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

Finally able to check on the Nexgen Biolabs site, I see that they offer a full refund if items are returned (unused) within 30 days.

Where to Buy AdderRx

You can buy AdderRX on the Nexgen Biolabs site or at Walmart.

What’s the Cost of AdderRx?

Now would be a good time to buy if you are interested in trying AdderRx (based on my review!) because the price has dropped from the standard cost of $69.99 to $39.99 for 30 capsules.

(Note the sale page takes you through to the Walmart site so you are not actually buying off the Nexgen site directly).

If you buy 2–3 items you receive 12% off, 4–5 items 16% off, and for 6 or more items you get 20% off. This pricing structure covers all products.

My Verdict: AdderRx

In terms of cheap imitation goods, this appears to be just about the lowest in a sea full of products claiming to do similar things to Adderall. There is no effort to supply information about the blend, no science, no grasping for research to back up any claims.

This company seems to be doing their very least in order to get the product out there, but here’s the thing: people are still buying it!

That golden promise of better focus is SO valuable that people will take concoctions of goodness-only-knows in order to achieve something that, well, it isn’t even written on the bottle!

AdderRx is, in my opinion, skating on the very thin ice of supplement promises, and has absolutely no backup to any claims. At the furthest reaches of integrity and safety, it includes ingredients which are considered to be unsafe by the FDA (but remember that supplements are not regulated by the FDA).

Based entirely on suggestive advertising and reviews, sales continue to keep this product out there, but I would be strongly encouraging people to look out for alternative nootropics that have more solid backing, such as Mind Lab Pro for starters.

For my dollar, I’ll be looking for a more premium product to take as part of my nootropic stack.

Profiderall is marketed as a “smart” supplement aimed at improving concentration, focus, and energy. An alternative to smart or prescription drugs and available to anyone. Claiming to be the first nootropic to combine clinically supported brain nutrients with “powerful” stimulants I am keen to check the formula out.

With an interesting take on brain health, compared to some of the other runners such as Alpha Brain and Mind Lab Pro (which seem to have a slicker approach to their marketing and branding), I check out Profiderall in my in-depth review.

What is Profiderall?

There are two things that strike me as I hit launch on the official Profiderall site.

Underwhelmed and vaguely disappointed by the lack of fancy marketing on the website, I immediately had to switch my brain to ‘science speak’ in order to read the blurb. It’s not like I don’t want to know what this stuff is supposed to do, I guess I just want them to simplify it a little more for me (I do consider myself something of an informed but nevertheless ‘average Joe’ type customer).

Profiderall also comes in a very bland container, styled to closely replicate a medicine bottle.

You would be forgiven for assuming it is actually a pharmaceutical medicine (it's not). This is just part of the subtle deception (supplements – nootropics included – are, after all, considered to be a ‘food’ in FDA terms, not a ‘drug’) and products which claim so much, scientifically, seem to be sailing a little close to the wind for me. I’ll expand a little on this under the ‘Does it Work’ part of this Profiderall review.

The first few introductory lines of the information page are – to put it quite frankly – a jumble of science words and neurochemical jargon.

Amplifying the density of muscarinic cholinergic [frontal cortex, striatum, & hippocampus],

Anyone? ANYONE?

Don’t forget I’m trying my best to understand the whole market of nootropics and smart supplements, so I do find myself capable of digesting some of the basic science that these products are trying to put across to us, but this takes the cake. I know they aim to improve brain health. I know they want to seem ‘smart’. But I don’t find it accessible and therefore I wonder whether this is an appropriate tack for something which is supposed to be a food supplement, not a medicine-drug.

Anyway, I don’t want to be accused of simply judging a book by its cover, so I’ll try my best to give a balanced review of Profiderall. I’ll revisit this overly-sciency approach later in the review.

Background on PROFIDERALL, LLC

As one of the first nootropics to put itself above the parapet, Profiderall appeared in around 2010. Created to steal a march on the rising popularity amongst performance-driven professionals in the USA for taking drugs such as Adderall (the ADHD drug) it, like others, mimicked the upper-and-downer effect of the amphetamine-based prescription drug.

Producers like Profiderall LLC cherry-picked ingredients that would provide stimulation (for focus) but also relaxation to give the calm focus that is thought to be the sought-after effect of drugs like Adderall.

Appealing to professionals and students alike, the promise of focus without the hangover / wired feeling of taking simply caffeine or other stimulants, helped to build the appeal of these new nootropic stacks.

The press release for the first wave of Profiderall promised:

key nootropic substances are clinically proven to improve creative thinking, information processing, attention, cortical/behavioral arousal, learning, and memory… while the powerful synthetics give you incredible energy that lasts up to 6 hours.

Time would tell if this ‘clinical proof’ would ever be effectively challenged, but Profiderall is still one of the more popular brands of nootropic selling in the USA today.

What Ingredients are inside Profiderall?

This is not a hugely complex formulation, made with a combination of vitamins and ‘energy compounds’ though it is careful to say there are no ‘herbal stimulants’.

Formulated with the intention of improving neuron communication in the brain (much of the science behind Profiderall is based on the health of your brain at the cellular level – “Increase cerebral phospholipids & cellular membrane fluidity by interacting with the polar head moieties of the phospholipid bilayer” – I mean it’s just a bit much, am I right?). You do have to wonder at this biological explanation because if your brain isn't functioning properly at that level you’d have bigger problems than just concentration, I’m quite certain of that.

(The FDA only asks that supplement ingredients are established as ‘safe’, so product manufacturers can go ahead and make a formulation with a health claim that doesn’t ever really need to be tested, let alone challenged in terms of how the ingredients interact.)

Anyway, to say again that there are just a few ingredients in this product would be overstating the point.

So, what’s inside the Profiderall formula?

I’ll look at a couple of the key ingredients and their amounts to see whether I think this formula could be effective.

Bacopa Monnieri is an herb with some nootropic properties that has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to support cognition through reducing anxiety. The suggested dose is 300mg (with 55% ‘bacoside’ content).

Huperzine is a compound made from extracts of the Huperziceae family. It is recommended that it be taken in a dose of 50-200mcg daily. Believed to have an effect on acetylcholine, the learning transmitter, Huperzine-A is in trials for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

Choline is a molecule which is thought to aid cognition as it turns into acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter. Examine.com suggests a daily dosage of 250-500mg daily.

So it can be seen that some of the ingredients may be seen to have some effectiveness in terms of boosting cognitive health, but it remains to be proven that all the ingredients together, in this particular blend, in these quantities would have an effect on focus, improve concentration and boost energy as suggested.

Unfortunately, looking at older reviews of the product, it looks as though the formulation has changed and it’s not made clear anywhere on the website why this might be. Perhaps some combination of ingredients was found to be unpopular or caused side effects, or possibly certain ingredients didn’t come up as favorably in research.

Notwithstanding this factor, I still don’t find the formulation to be particularly premium or cutting-edge.

Are There Any Side Effects to Profiderall?

There may be an interaction with any drugs or supplements you are already taking and it is up to you to read the label to make sure you don’t have any existing sensitivities to anything in the blend.

Does Profiderall Actually Work?

The ‘science’ behind the product would have you believe that it can make your brain function at an optimal pace. However, it is always worth considering that you are not operating on the same level as a ‘control’ subject of a science experiment. You may not be well-rested. Your body might be poorly nourished.

There is a multitude of factors that will feed into whether or not a product would ‘work’.

But to look at the actual ingredients and the justification (‘evidence’) for their usage – there are some scientific studies reported on the ‘Research’ page of the Profiderall site.

Some of them are looking at specific interactions between ingredients in the treatment of actual pathologies (Antioxidant agents in neuroprotection treatment of glaucoma, …macular degeneration, …dysadaptation syndrome, …hyperactive urinary bladder) while others are animal studies (Correction by nicotinamide and nicotinoyl-GABA of dopamine metabolism in rat brain in experimental Parkinson's disease, Comparative study of the effect of picamilone and piracetam on learning in rats in a radial maze).

Not only does this give me scant confidence in the product, but I also find it vaguely misleading, given the amount of promising ‘sciencey-type’ speak we see on the opening pages.

Looking at the ingredients we must also remember that they appear in relatively low amounts.

Profiderall Customer Reviews

Looking at the customer reviews on Amazon I can see that people believe Profiderall to be effective at doing what it says it does:

Good brain boost5 stars

Overpriced and overrated2 stars

Don’t bother1 star

How to Take Profiderall

The stated dose, for ‘maximum cognitive energy enhancement,’ is two capsules daily. There are an odd amount (37) of servings per bottle.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

The sales go through Amazon.com and, therefore, there is no money-back guarantee avaiable.

Where to Buy Profiderall

You can only buy Profiderall on Amazon.com.

What’s the Cost of Profiderall?

Currently priced at $56.99 for 74 capsules this product is reasonably priced considering the cost of some nootropics. That being said I always encourage readers to look at the ingredients: the quality and the quantity, and with Profiderall, the ingredients are low in quantity so overall it is actually quite expensive for what you’re getting.

My Verdict: Profiderall

Profiderall once blazed the trail as a new ‘smart pill’ of the nootropic stable, a supplement for high-achievers who need to attain the next level of focus and sustained energy.

I don’t see how it differs particularly from other products, in fact, I am vaguely annoyed by all the science to speak and would rather see some clear and honest marketing.

Leaving aside the obvious fact that the name of the product has been created to sound more than a little like Adderall (which only heightens my feelings of suspicions toward it) this product looks too much like medication but doesn’t, for my dollar, go far enough in terms of quantity of potent ingredients to be an effective nootropic supplement.

As a fairly bland mid-range nootropic, although cheaper than other brands, buying Profiderall is unlikely to grant you many – if any – of the life-changing cognitive effects it is so vocal about. But if it does, feel free to get back to me and let me know your story. In my opinion you would be better looking at alternatives like these or even a powdered nootropic.

If you’re looking for a cognitive game-changer, this nootropic stack misses the mark.

If someone tells me they can ‘decrease procrastination’ I think I might just vote for them to receive a Nobel prize.

This is my absolute worst trait and one I’m constantly looking to fight, in fact, it could be the sole reason I am researching nootropics and looking to find that elusive gold-standard product that claims to do everything for the body and mind AND enhance my concentration.

Along the way, I’ve come across a nootropic called Qualia Mind, a product that has been developed specifically as a ‘premium nootropic for mental performance’, and am very interested to see how these claims are supported.

It says that it has the following effects: Improves brain fog, Provides energy & focus, Boosts brain nutrition, Increases focus, Helps with mental clarity. Wow. This could just be the ticket. So here’s my full Qualia Mind review.

Qualia Mind First Impressions

When I first looked at Qualia Mind I was impressed with the packaging. It’s difficult not to like the look, the black tub in a white box looks quality.

Quickly browsing the ingredient list and it’s great to see that the ingredients are fully listed, so we know exactly what’s inside. This is rare for supplements that tend to hide their ingredient amounts within proprietary blends.

This nootropic brand is marketed as a “premium” product and this is certainly the case when it comes to pricing, but more on this later.

Background on NEUROHACKER COLLECTIVE, LLC

Neurohacker Collective are the makers and the brains (pun very much intended) behind the brain-boosting product Qualia Mind and have been a key player in the nootropics market for about as long as the term has existed.

Branded as a ‘premium nootropic product’ the makers launched Qualia Mind in 2016, a time when biohacking was starting to take off (specifically amongst the technology community of silicon valley).

Committed to a ‘revolutionary’ approach to nootropics, they also produce a caffeine-free version and products called ‘Qualia Focus’ (supporting the brain for better focus) and ‘Eternus’ (which claims to ‘support cell energy for better aging’).

They haven’t branched out too generally into other broad health-supporting supplements, so they must be doing something right.

What Ingredients are inside Qualia Mind?

The ‘science’ section of their information page suggests that the ingredients include:

• 6 Nootropic compounds
• 7 Neuro-vitamins
• 2 Antioxidants
• 6 Adaptogen Extracts
• 5 Amino Acids
• 2 Choline Donors

This is interesting in terms of nootropic blends as it appears to want to offer more of full spectrum nutrition for the brain, thus adding weight to the suggestion that it is a premium product (and therefore worth the daily cost).

So, what’s inside the Qualia Mind formula?

This translates to the following ingredients (per 7-capsule serving – more on this later):

WOW! This might just be the longest list of ingredients I’ve EVER seen! 28 in all!

And there are some I’ve never heard of. Needless to say, I won’t be going through every single one, but I am keen to take a deeper look at how some of the ingredients used might be trying to support the claims made on the tub.

Now, there are some old favorites, I’m pleased to see for example Rhodiola Rosea, Bacopa Monnieri, and Ginkgo Biloba included. These are, in my opinion, some of the more potent plant ingredients with some of the best research behind their effectiveness for nootropic supplementation.

But I do need to find out a little bit more about some of the other ingredients used, after all, there are so many of them (which means, of course, that the amounts used must be significantly reduced).

Artichoke, for example, has been used traditionally to support liver function and is thought to be useful in terms of nootropics because it contains Cynarin a compound that is thought to improve cognitive functioning. However I couldn’t find sufficient evidence on my go-to sites (Examine.com and Webmd) for this.

There is a suggestion that it may have antioxidant effects, and Neurohacker Collective claims that it can significantly improve memory and executive function’ which is a bold claim backed up by little research. It’s unfortunate that I can’t find the evidence as they have included a comparatively large amount of this one ingredient in their blend.

By comparison there is less of both Rhodiola and Bacopa (which have a powerfully adaptogenic and anti-stress effect), both of which are likely to have effects when taking around 300-600mg.

L-Theanine is typically taken alongside caffeine, in the range of 100-200mg, for relaxation without sedation. This is a common ingredient in the nootropic ‘stack’ as it is thought to be the cornerstone of
the focus-without-anxiety effect.

Caffeine is pretty much agreed worldwide to be a stimulant and research supports its ability to aid with focus. This formula includes 90mg, and researchers have been using 4-6mg per kilo of body weight in studies (so for a 70kg human that’s roughly 350mg caffeine, the equivalent of 2.5 8oz cups of coffee).

Are There Any Side Effects to Qualia Mind?

Because of the caffeine, you may feel jittery if you take other stimulants (or more caffeine), furthermore, there could be interactions between any of the ingredients and other medicines or supplements you are taking.

So you are advised to be cautious and consider everything in the ingredients list carefully.

Does Qualia Mind Actually Work?

The ‘science’ says;

“Qualia Mind is the result of thousands of hours of research and development by top scientists in complex-systems modeling, neurobiology, organic chemistry as well as dozens of MDs and PhDs.”

But for me, the answer as to whether it works is a simple case of checking out the ingredient amounts. Don’t forget that the amounts given in the ingredients list are for a 7-capsule serving. Now, whether it works will depend on whether or not you feel a ‘more is more’ approach is necessary for terms of supporting brain function.

I’ve outlined above how I think there are some key ingredients that are important in the effectiveness of a nootropic stack.

I don’t believe that many of the other ingredients are backed up by science, or even necessary alongside these key players.

A big benefit of this product is that the makers don’t hide behind proprietary blends, opting instead to include the ingredient amounts on the label. Therefore I have to be in support of the transparency of the ingredients on this one. However, there are a few powerful ingredients that I would be happy to take as a single or blended supplement on their own without the ‘full spectrum’ effect in Qualia Mind.

I also really don’t like the idea of taking handfuls of capsules in order to have the desired effect. I find this approach a bit dishonest as it means customers are spending a lot of money on a ‘premium’ product just to take a big handful of pills every day.

This is not to say that I believe this product contains fillers, rather I would like to see a model of the synergistic effects of the ingredients. Nootropics are supposed to give the brain nutrition enough to function fully and also provide prolonged stimulation without ‘burnout’, I just want to see a really clear example of how Qualia Mind is supposed to do so.

So let’s have a look at some reviews to see whether there is more said by customers who have taken Qualia Mind.

Qualia Mind Customer Reviews

The reviews on the Qualia Mind site are of course glowing so I looked at Amazon for what customers say. 144 customers left reviews, 74% of which are positive. A selection is below:

love this product! an absolute must for crushing your day5 stars

not what I was expecting3 stars

do not waste your money1 star

How to Take Qualia Mind

As I said above, you are supposed to take 7 capsules per day – 7 per day!

This still baffles me. I would much rather take a product that comes in, say, a powdered form, and know that I’ve taken the full dose in one hit.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

You are offered 100% of your money back in 100 days if you are not 100% satisfied. This does, however, only apply to first time purchasers on an initial order of a product and only one per household.

Where to Buy Qualia Mind

You can buy Qualia Mind online at their shop or Amazon store.

What’s the Cost of Qualia Mind?

The cost of this product is VERY expensive for a one-off bottle. At the moment it costs $69.50 (which is already at a discounted price from the usual $139). It becomes more reasonable for the first month if you sign up for a subscription, BUT then each month it will cost a huge $119 per month!

That being said it is a premium product, so if you are interested in trying nootropics out and you want to start big, you have to be prepared to pay a premium price.

My Verdict: Qualia Mind Nootropics

Qualia Mind is a hugely popular brand and one of the first premium nootropic supplements ever to hit the market. They have been careful to cover themselves when it comes to supporting their own claims for the product, but remember that this is still an unregulated (and therefore relatively un-policed) area of supplementation so really it is buyer beware in this sense.

For me, whether this really hits the mark is down to what you believe, does ‘more’ equal more? Do we, for example, believe that brain fog is completely caused by not having the right nutrition in our body for our brains? Or is the whole state of mental focus a tri-fold manifestation of rest, cognitive ability, AND nutrition?

I’m not sure that paying this much money for a premium nootropic is the way forward for me, rather I’d like to see a supplement that fully supports my body, and optimally nourishes my brain, but one that I can take once a day in an easy-to-take formula. This is why I tend to favor Mind Lab Pro for my “go-to” nootropic supplement of choice (check out why in my review of Mind Lab Pro by clicking here).

So, if you don't mind taking lots of capsules each day and have the budget, then Qualia Mind may just be the ticket. There are alternatives on the market that offer better value for money and are possibly more effective.

If you think Nootrobox sounds a bit like a nutritional television channel, you’d be right and I thoroughly agree with you.

But in this case – and the reason I’m reviewing them – they are actually a brand of nootropic supplements. In fact, they are a collection of four supplements that can be taken together as a nootropic stack or individually.

If you can get over this small misunderstanding then you might want to take a look at their products.

I’ve had a little look around on their website and done some more broad research so you can see for yourself in this honest Nootrobox review whether they could be products for you.

Nootrobox First Impressions

From a simple tagline – ‘supplements to support brain and body function’ to clear branding and no-nonsense product descriptions, the Nootrobox product looks like something you might consider spending money on if you are interested in exploring biohacking as a way of life.

Nootrobox sets out its stall as a set of four supplements – (known in the nootropics world as a ‘Full Stack’) named variously Sprint for ‘energy and focus’, Rise for ‘memory’, Kado your ‘daily omega3 health kit’, Yawn, a ‘rejuvenating sleep aid’.

The blends have been specifically created for different functions, but the idea is that all taken together will enable you to live optimally in different areas such as cognitive functions, sleep, and energy.

Background on HVMN

Way back in 2014 Geoffrey Woo and Michael Brandt, two businessmen with backgrounds in startups and tech, formed a partnership with a view to creating market-leading biohacking products. Coming from silicone valley – where productivity is the mainstay of business – they wanted to jump aboard a newly-emerging bandwagon of cognitive enhancement supplements and started to formulate their own products.

They began seeking investors, even appearing on Shark Tank to ask the Sharks to back their product ‘Go Cubes’ a combination of coffee and green tea which is edible, rather than drinkable.

They saught a valuation of their product at $40 million (they asked for $2 million) but the Sharks weren’t taken with their silicone valley-type valuation and couldn’t grasp the idea of the product so the duo left empty-handed.

Woo and Brandt who are now CEO and COO respectively of HVMN (pronounced ‘human’) – the makers of Nootrobox and Go Cubes – went elsewhere to locate backing and have made a success of their products in the nootropic market, gaining both financial backing and a loyal following of customers.

HVMN (pronounced ‘human’)

Other products alongside Nootrobox include MCT oil powder ($29.95), Keto collagen powder ($39.95), Ketone esters ($30 per bottle), GO Cubes ($39).

What Ingredients are inside Nootrobox?

As we might expect the main formula of these products is a combination of herbs and other ingredients that look to mimic the effects of prescription formulations that control alertness, focus, and cognition.

The manufacturers have been clear to market their product as both rigorously researched and yet somehow more ‘natural’ than taking something that would be considered to be a ‘drug’.

With all nootropics, the aim is to elicit the effect of being stimulated enough to focus but not ‘wired’, ‘jittery’, or anxious. Therefore there seems to be a clear effort to balance ingredients that have a stimulatory effect on the nervous system and also a calming, ‘anxiolytic’ effect.

So, what’s inside the Nootrobox formula?

Some of the old favourites are included, as well as a few ingredients I’ve not seen before:

Let’s take a closer look at these ingredients to see how effective these products could be.

Caffeine, L-Theanine, and Ginseng are familiar stimulants, especially for those already taking nootropics. Taken together they could be seen to have a stimulatory (caffeine and ginseng) but also calming effect (L-Theanine is thought to be a key anxiolytic) as mentioned in my opener – a key combo in nootropics.

Supplemental doses of Ginseng are recommended as being effective at 200-400mg daily (source).

Bacopa and Ashwagandha are herbs used traditionally (especially in Ayurveda) for focus and improved cognitive ability. The research around them suggest that 300mg daily of bacopa (with a minimum of 55% bacosides) (source) and 300-500mg of Ashwagandha could be effective (source).

There is research underway into the use of Omega-3 in treating the symptoms of ADHD. (source).

It looks as though both DHA and EPA could have neuroprotective properties and are recommended at a dosage of 1g daily. They also aid the absorption of Vitamins D and K.

Melatonin supplementation is under constant scrutiny for the reasons that sleep, and its elusiveness for many (especially shift workers) is something that is thought to be very important to processes such as cognitive function, premature aging, and even immunity.

Melatonin studies reveal that dosage should be somewhere in the region of 0.5mg-3-5mg daily. There are studies underway to assess whether supplementing with melatonin could lead to a reduction in the body’s ability to produce the hormone by itself (source).

Are There Any side effects to Nootrobox?

As with all supplements you are reminded to read the label, check the ingredients, and be aware of any existing conditions which may make you prone to side effects. For example, shellfish or fish derivatives may cause an allergic response.

Does Nootrobox Actually Work?

Geoffrey Woo has described HVMN’s products as unlocking “next-level thinking” that will be key to humanity’s evolution.

Unfortunately for HVMN their own scientific study actually concluded that caffeine (in the form of coffee) worked better than their product.

Nootrobox Sprint was tested (in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial) by researchers at Maastricht University against caffeine in an effort to prove whether it could help make people more effective. Unfortunately, the researchers found that there was little, or no, effect in the studies involving Sprint. A product that is ‘designed to promote alertness’ seems to be unnecessary in a world where we already have coffee (not to mention a multitude of non-coffee caffeine products) and sadly for the manufacturers their own study proved that to be the case.

One of the reasons could of course be that the effectiveness of capsules is known below as there are so few ingredients and in such small amounts versus powders which can allow for a much larger dose.

All this being said and here is a big disclaimer from me: their ingredients listing DOES include an evidence level for every ingredient.

This is one of the few times I’ve seen this on the nootropic ingredients listing and I find it to be both honest and transparent (similar to one of their competitors, Mind Lab pro).

This does make them open to criticism (for example, is there even any point in including an ingredient such as 2mg Astaxanthin which only has an H2 grading – evidence of effects in animals?). As with everything, buyer beware, but this does mean that some evidence for the amounts included in the dosage has been sought and I think this is a bonus.

Nootrobox Customer Reviews

The reviews on the Nootrobox website are all glowing so I’ve looked elsewhere for some honest write-ups. On Amazon there are three reviews for the full stack:

Best nootropic stack I have taken5 stars

Will not buy again1 star

How to Take Nootrobox

The recommended dosage, depending on the product, is either one or two capsules per day.

This is a little confusing and involves reading the dosage for each individual product, which has me thinking it’s sort of complicating matters having them all be separate products, and wondering how easy this is on the consumer considering the full stack involves taking 4 different products.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

Happily you can return unopened products for up to 60 days and get a full refund.

Where to Buy Nootrobox

You can buy the Nootrobox stack on their official website or on Amazon.com.

What’s the Cost of Nootrobox?

Taking all Nootrobox supplement stack means that the cost is a little on the high side.

At $109 for a one-off order or $98.96 per month on their subscription deal of all four. Don’t forget you are effectively buying four separate supplements with this ‘stack’ and you would have to question whether or not there are products out there that include the potent ingredients you need but only involves taking one all-in-one product a day.

If you were to buy each product individually they sell for $24.95- $34.95 depending on which you opt for. This is for 30 soft gels or capsules (one month’s supply).

My Verdict: Nootrobox Nootropics

In the market of nootropics this particular range comes out on the expensive side and the ingredient profile is not, in comparison, that amazing. Considering you are taking a 4-supplement stack you could arguably get more (nutritionally) from one all-in-one product.

Sadly, having a study commissioned which questions the effectiveness of your product may be too damning for some, although it doesn’t seem to be harming the commitment of some of the more loyal customers. I applaud their honesty and transparency in trying to seek evidence for some of the claims, but sadly for me the findings are a little too disappointing and I’ll be looking for other products that contain a more potent dose of those ingredients I consider to be powerful and effective.

I’m not a huge fan of taking handfuls of supplements, be they capsules, tablets, or different health drinks all at different times of the day. For my lifestyle, it is definitely preferable to get my health- and brain support all in one hit. This is possible with powder supplements like SuperGreen TONIK that contain good nootropic ingredients in the right amounts WITHOUT the handful of capsules!

Considering there are powders that do so much more than these products claim to, so, unfortunately, for me, Nootrobox doesn’t tick the box.

It may have been one of the first – or only – nootropics you have heard of, due to its early arrival on the market and enduring popularity, not to mention the massive marketing effort behind it.

This was the first nootropic supplement I heard of and still remains one of the most popular brands. So, is ONNIT's Alpha Brain still the “go-to” nootropic, or has it had its day? Join me as I find out in my in-depth review.

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What is Alpha Brain?

The founder of the brand ONNIT, Aubrey Marcus, is a bestselling author. His book Own the Day, Own your life has been a runaway success and counts among its fans celebrities such as Lance Armstrong.

He is not only the face of Onnit (a health brand that founded its marketing on his idea of ‘Total Human Optimization’), you may have heard about him as he has boosted his celebrity through popular podcasts, public speaking, and being vocal about his experimental fitness journey.

When you look at ONNIT, the brand, it’s a compelling story, how one day he was ‘just like you, sitting there all aimless and without focus, knowing he had so much more potential to fulfill.

He invented his range of Total Human and ONNIT products to enable him, and others, to fulfill this potential. With a huge marketing machine behind it, this looks like the blueprint for launching a nootropic and supplements brand – one which you can really believe in.

I believe that a time is coming where taking nootropics like Alpha BRAIN will be a standard human adaptation to get things done. Like drinking coffee. Except in a lot of ways, I like Alpha BRAIN better than coffee. It has no stimulants and works by directly stimulating neurotransmitters. So it won’t wear out your adrenals. But if you like coffee, enjoy them both at the same time. Go ahead and be on fire. Laying down on the pillow after a long day of crushing it is one of the most satisfying feelings in lifeMarcus says

What can I say, it’s compelling stuff and one of the reasons I am a fan of this company.

Related: Alpha Brain vs Mind Lab Pro

Background on ONNIT

You might have already read some of my reviews of ONNIT products ( my ONNIT Earth Grown Nutrients review for example) so you may know that I am a fan of the brand. I believe they are normally pretty honest and transparent about their products and the fact that the founder has a compelling story to tell and is 100% behind everything about his brand is really strong.

The brand began in 2010 to make ‘cutting-edge nutritional supplement combinations. Alpha BRAIN was launched in 2011 with the intention of helping consumers to optimize both mind and body. Although not a new concept, the brand was one of the first to market this nutritional brain care as part of an otherwise holistic approach to the fitness of the mind and body.

Photo by Lifehacker Guy

They now have testimonials from scientists and athletes who have helped to support the company to become a multimillion-dollar key player in the market.

The brand carries nutritional supplement lines including blended products (fats and oils, proteins, power foods, and coffees) and individual vitamins, minerals, and superfoods.

They are best known for their Total Human branded range and have recently launched keto-diet supporting supplements, New Mood (a stress support supplement), NCT oil, and Nitric Oxide.

Alpha BRAIN Instant is also available in dissolvable powdered form which comes in individual sachets.

What Ingredients are inside Alpha BRAIN?

The packaging states that Alpha BRAIN is ‘Clinically studied with Huperzine and Bacopa extract’. The marketing for Alpha BRAIN suggests it can do a number of things:

• Heightened focus
• Improved memory function
• Brainwave optimization
• Reduce stress

I’m particularly interested in how the individual ingredients might be seen to have these effects, specifically how supplements like this can help to promote alpha brain waves (those that help to keep you in a focused – or ‘flow’ – state). Is this even a thing they can do??

Let's break this down. AlphaBRAIN has a few proprietary blends, however, they have been a little more transparent with some of the amounts (for example they obviously consider the ‘herbal elements’, Bacopa and Huperzia to be important enough to have given ingredient amounts on the label).

This could be because there is enough evidence to suggest that these herbal extracts (which have been used in traditional medicine for centuries) have nootropic properties.

The standard dose for Bacopa is 300mg (source) and for Huperzine-A 50-200mcg. (source).

Alpha GPC appears to have cognitive-enhancing properties but there is little evidence in humans (Examine)

L-Tyrosine doesn’t have a clear dosage. This is disappointing.

In a blend of 650mg we don’t know if you are getting more than the recommended minimum dosage of 500mg, in fact it’s unlikely. (source).

There is evidence to support the use of L-Tyrosine through cognitive functioning improvement.

L-theanine, an amino acid (also found in green tea) is thought to help to relax but not sedate. More research is needed. The recommended dose is 100-200mg (Source).

Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid and is important for brain function. It is synthesized in the body and research on taking it as a supplement is ongoing. The normal dose is 100mg daily rising to 300mg (source).

It’s unlikely that the dosage in the proprietary blend in AlphaBRAIN is this big but we just don’t know.

As far as I can find in my research Oat Straw and Leucine are not considered to be nootropics, and I couldn’t find any research on the ONNIT site for the inclusion of Leucine in the blend. The ONNIT Fuel blend could be included as the ingredients are linked to building muscle mass.

Cat’s Claw is given in a specific dose however I struggled to find any research suggesting it had nootropic or anxiolytic properties.

Related: How long does Bacopa take to work?

Are There Any Side Effects to Alpha BRAIN?

The manufacturers have been clear to include a disclaimer on their packaging and marketing materials that Vinpocetine may cause miscarriage or harm fetal development.

L-Tyrosine has a stimulatory effect and therefore if you are susceptible to stimulants you should take with caution and beware of interactions with other stimulants (such as caffeine).

Does Alpha Brain Actually Work?

The suggested serving size is 2 capsules. This may give you a baseline dosage of some of the more potent and better-researched ingredients.

It’s very hard to tell when manufacturers use proprietary blends and that’s why this is one of my pet peeves in the supplement-manufacturing market.

As I have discovered with my research on nootropics supplements there is a fine line between what companies say their product can do and how much they test this hypothesis.

One of the issues I have in answering the question ‘does it work’ is that very few products are tested as a complete supplement to improve cognitive functioning, the reason being that this would involve a huge number of trials and evidence-gathering, at a phenomenal cost to the manufacturer. This may be one of the reasons that Onnit has chosen to market the Alpha BRAIN by saying the product is ‘clinically studied to help healthy individuals…’.

The ingredients that have actually been researched and studied, were most likely tested on healthy individuals (as it would be unethical to do so on unhealthy subjects, or would create problematic data if studies were on subjects with a specific impairment). They have been careful to include such caveats so as to not encounter the argument that the product doesn’t actually solve existing problems.

This being said, we all suffer brain fog, right? The elusive ‘fix’ to this problem is what nootropics claim to bring and in that sense can we ever really test the hypothesis?

Let’s look at the suggested improvements in ONNIT marketing:

Heightened focus; Improved memory function; Brainwave optimization; Reduce stress.

Some of the included ingredients have evidence to support the claims that they could improve memory or cognition. I struggled to find evidence around reducing stress, however.

Alpha BRAIN Customer Reviews

The reviews of Alpha BRAIN on their site are pretty compelling. Like I said earlier in this review the brand ONNIT has a massive following and people will continue to buy their stuff in absolute droves. I wanted to do some researching around so looked on Amazon at their reviews.

I am a little suspicious as it looked as though many of the negative reports had been removed and I had to look for all the sellers of this particular product to find some balance.

Five stars. I am more focused. the effects are more noticeable when you take them every day5-star review

Feel VERY sick after taking2 stars

makes me feel sickone star

Some buyers report getting a headache and nausea when taking this product, and recommend the dose is reduced to the absolute minimum. It seems you might get used to the product over time and that benefits improve after you have been taking it for a while.

How to Take Alpha BRAIN

The recommended dosage of Alpha BRAIN is two capsules per day and guidelines are to avoid taking more than three capsules of Alpha BRAIN in a day.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

ONNIT carries a Keep It Money-Back guarantee which applies to the entry size only (30ct) for first-time purchases only. This will also only apply to tubs purchased from the official website.

Where to Buy Alpha BRAIN

You can buy Alpha BRAIN online at their online store.

What’s the Cost of Alpha BRAIN?

The cost of this brand is on the high side but they sometimes do reduce the price (now is a good time to buy it from their store with 90 capsules costing just $67.96 rather than $75.95).

Especially if you take the full recommended dosage means one bottle could ONLY last 15 days. With the Subscribe and Save model, you save 15% on any products which are automatically shipped to you monthly.

My Verdict: Alpha BRAIN

This is a hugely popular brand and one of the first premium nootropic supplements with a very keen following. As I have already said the founder, Aubrey Marcus, has an interesting story and has a successful career as an author, coach, vlogger and with his supplements marketing, he is looking at really cornering the market.

For me, the problems with Alpha BRAIN stem from the proprietary blends.

I do believe that there are some potent ingredients included in the blends, but I’m not sure they have gone far enough in terms of revealing the amounts used. I’d really like to see a little more transparency as their customers and fans clearly feel that the products work. Perhaps they could consider a little more honesty on their labeling or come clean about what ingredients really have a noticeable effect.

I suppose for me it comes down to this: maybe not the Alpha, but definitely not the Omega, Alpha BRAIN is a sure shot in the face of mental fog.

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