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.
Alternative Suggestion:
Many of the ingredients seen in Qualia Mind are in my super greens nootropic blend – SuperGreen TONIK. I would recommend checking out my review here, just in case you would prefer to take this instead (especially if you're not keen on taking lots of capsules each day!).
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.