Supplement Reviews – Brain Wiz https://brainwiz.org Level-up your mind! Tue, 05 Feb 2019 19:45:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 Noocube Review: The Ultimate Alpha Brain Alternative? https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/noocube/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/noocube/#respond Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:03:18 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73858 Are you looking for a simple nootropic that isn’t loaded with stimulants? Noocube may be the best choice. It’s packed with almost all of my favorite nootropic ingredients (minus noopept) which made me very intrigued when I first got my bottle. In fact, you may notice that it is very similar to another very popular […]

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Are you looking for a simple nootropic that isn’t loaded with stimulants? Noocube may be the best choice. It’s packed with almost all of my favorite nootropic ingredients (minus noopept) which made me very intrigued when I first got my bottle. In fact, you may notice that it is very similar to another very popular nootropic on the market right now…

Check Noocube Price

About Noocube

Noocube is one of the various supplements designed and manufactured by Wolfson Berg Limited. I’m always a little skeptical of nootropic companies that are actually just broad supplement companies. They sometimes tend to throw together random cheap ingredients (including tons of caffeine) and call it a “nootropic” to capitalize on the biohacking boom that’s occurring right now. I see so many of these types of supplements that I don’t even review most of them. However, Noocube is different. This little brain boosting supplement isn’t loaded with stimulants. It actually has a blend of ingredients that are very beneficial to brain health, overall focus, and learning capabilities.

Noocube Ingredients

Ingredients

To properly analyze Noocube, I’m going to break down the ingredients. We’ll be looking at the research-backed benefits of each to see if this nootropic actually does what it claims to.

  • Alpha GPC (50mg):Also known as L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine or choline alfoscerate, Alpha GPC is used in almost all of the highly rated nootropics on Brain Wiz. It not only works on its own as potent nootropic but it also works in conjunction with a variety of other nootropics to help potentiate their effects. Some benefits of Alpha GPC include being able to enhance and restore memory, improve mood, boost energy, and increase strength.
  • AC-11 (175mg): AC-11 (also called Cat’s Claw) is derived from the inner bark of the Uncaria tomentosa vine. One of its biggest and most incredible benefits is its ability to repair DNA. As we age, DNA has a much harder time repairing itself. If a damaged DNA strand replicates without properly repairing itself, it can lead to negative effects such as memory loss and other cognitive issues (to only name a few).
  • Oat Straw (150mg): Oat Straw is derived from the same plant that oatmeal and plain oats are derived from (avena sativa). In addition to its ability to improve attention span and increase cognitive performance, it is also used as a natural anti-stress supplement.
  • Huperzine A (20mg): Huperzine A has been used successfully to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It works by improving memory by increasing levels of acetycholine (a chemical that nerves use to communicate with each other in the brain, muscles, and a variety of other areas in the body.
  • Bacopa (250mg): Bacopa has been used to help those suffering from a wide range of different cognetive issues, including attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. In addition to its brain boosting abilities, it also has been shown to improve users adaptability to stress (up to 90%).
  • L-Theanine (100mg): Commonly found in green tea, research has shown that L-Theanine has the ability to improve mental alertness and improve attention.
  • L-Tyrosine (250mg): Studies have shown that when people are given L-Tyrosine during high-stress times, it was able to improve various aspects of their cognitive function (when compared with a placebo).
  • Vinpocetine (2.5mg): Vinpocetine is found in the Perriwinkle plant. It has a variety of effects that can help improve the mental state of its users. It acts as a neuroprotectant, acts as an anti-aging agent, and may improve blood flow (helping oxygen and the other nutrients get to the body more efficiently).
  • Pterostilbene (14mcg): Not too much research has been conducted on Pterostilbene. However, early research has concluded that pterostilbene is “effective in reversing cognitive behavioral deficits, as well as dopamine release, and working memory was correlated with pterostilbene levels in the hippocampus”.

My Experience Using Noocube

To properly review Noocube, I spent seven consecutive days taking it. Below you will find my notes and experiences of each day.

Day One

As with all supplements I first receive, I chose to take a half dose of Noocube in the morning the first day. This is a precautionary measure to make sure my body doesn’t react negatively.

Since I only took half a dose, I wasn’t expecting much. Other than experiencing slightly less fatigue in the morning, there wasn’t any other effects.

Day Two

Because I was going to be traveling today, I chose to wake up early, have a small breakfast (two eggs and half an avocado) and go to the gym. As I was warming up on the treadmill at around 6am, I noticed my fatigue start to clear almost immediately. Surprisingly, I felt awake even though I had only slept for a maximum of around five and a half hours the night before. My workout went smoothly — not any better or any worse compared to previous sessions.

Later in the day, I did start to feel a euphoric motivation to work. I believe that this was the result of combining an early morning exercise routine with Noocube. I was mentally energized. Not like one would feel after drinking coffee but rather how you feel after waking up after a nap — content, not fatigued, and ready to get things done.

Day Three

Although I didn’t workout today, I did still feel motivated after taking Noocube. Much like Alpha Brain, this nootropic gives me a clearer mind, which helps me stay on task for longer periods of time.

I had a few calls today and noticed I was able to speak without tripping over my words as much. This is a big plus for me as I usually catch myself saying “um” a little too much when speaking.

One thing I noticed is that there is no energizing effect. That is because there are no stimulants in Noocube. I like this because it allows me to drink coffee or tea without having to worry about intaking too much caffeine.

Day Four

Day four was a Saturday so I didn’t have a demanding schedule to stick to as I did the previous three days. However, I found that I was still able to benefit from Noocube’s effects.

First, I went on a mid-morning run. Whereas I usually stop after 5k (3.2 miles) I decided to make it a nice round 4 miles. My breathing stay consistent and I was able to keep up a strong 7:40 mile pace.

Second, I was able to breeze through a writing assignment I had been procrastinating for a few weeks. Usually it takes me a while to sit down and churn out 2,000 or more words. Today it was like the words rolled off my fingers and into the Word document.

Lastly, I found myself to be a bit more social than I normally am at a big dinner that I was at later in the day. I’m not an introvert by any means but I certainly don’t talk and tell as many stories as I did on day four of using Noocube.

Day Five

One thing I’ve started to notice is that my dreams are really vivid and once I’m in bed, I’m usually out like a light within 15 minutes. The added benefit of helping me sleep better is definitely a big plus for Noocube in my book.

Day Six

Today I felt the effects of Noocube start to wane a bit in the morning. I was tired well into the morning, had brain fog, and even had a slight headache. This could be because I hadn’t slept well the night before (allergies kept me up).

Mid-afternoon I decided to take a quick nap to see if I could wake up feeling refreshed. This “quick nap” turned into an hour and a half nap. I did end up feeling refreshed after the nap and the effects of Noocube did kick in a bit more too. However, I wasn’t able to get much done today due to feeling mentally and physically tired for most of the day.

Day Seven

After six consecutive days of taking Noocube, I have to say that its effects on my cognitive state are very similar to Alpha Brain. One of the most similar effects that Noocube has when compared to Alpha Brain is its ability to create a calming and euphoric focus. Its unlike other nootropics which sometimes give me energy but with the negative effects of anxiety or jitters.

Noocube & Alpha Brain

Alpha BRAIN

When first opening up my bottle of Noocube and reading over the ingredients, I remember saying to myself, “This looks familiar”. Then I took out my bottle of Alpha Brain, placed the bottles next to each other, and read over both ingredients. They were almost exactly the same.

Normally I would complain but Noocube did something smart, they priced it lower than Alpha Brain. At first glance, one bottle of Noocube doesn’t look less expensive than Alpha Brain but when you add in taxes and shipping (which is free with Noocube) Alpha Brain becomes more expensive. Also, when you purchase the 3-bottle Noocube bundle, they give you 3 additional bottles. I’ve never seen a deal better than that for a supplement that is comparable to Onnit’s Alpha Brain.

Final Thoughts

Noocube is a great nootropic. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there that will say it is just a copy of Alpha Brain and that they should have come up with a unique blend. To be honest, I did think that but at the same time, Alpha Brain has a great product too. Noocube is taking something that is proven to work and selling at a lower price. There’s pros and cons to that business model but at the end of the day, the consumer is the winner.

Aside from having a positive experience reviewing Noocube, I also like the fact that they offer a 60-day money back guarantee. This isn’t as good as Alpha Brain’s “Keep It” policy but it’s better than nothing.

I think Noocube makes a great starter nootropic. If I was a student who needed a nootropic to help me study and was looking to save money, Noocube would be a great option. It’s also one of those nootropics I leave in my desk drawer for when I have long and tedious projects to complete.

If you’re interested in Noocube, check out the best price here. Or, if you’ve tried Noocube, let me know what you thought in the comments below!

Noocube Rating
4.4
Mood
3.9
Energy
4.6
Focus
4.4
Memory
4.6
Verbal Intelligence
Overall Rating 4.4 / 5

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Neurogum Review: Does This Chewable Nootropic Actually Work? https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/neurogum/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/neurogum/#comments Thu, 07 Sep 2017 22:25:48 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73829 Looking for a quick “pick-me-up” without having to chug an energy drink or down a few supplements? Neurogum could be exactly what you’re looking for. While it seems too simple to work—caffeine, l-theanine, and b-vitamins packed into a piece of gum—it’s actually quite innovative and useful. In my review, I found it to be a […]

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Looking for a quick “pick-me-up” without having to chug an energy drink or down a few supplements? Neurogum could be exactly what you’re looking for.

While it seems too simple to work—caffeine, l-theanine, and b-vitamins packed into a piece of gum—it’s actually quite innovative and useful. In my review, I found it to be a really great alternative to my daily 3 cups of coffee and it even improved one really important aspect of my life (keep reading to find out what).

Click For Best Neurogum Price

About Neurogum

Neurogum came to life in October of 2015 by founders, Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen.

Kent has a background in Cognitive Neuroscience, art, and film. Ryan has a background in Chemistry and Management Economics. As friends and business partners, they wanted to solve the age-old problem of giving people a quick-fix for energy and motivation during the day. While many other businesses were creating either supplements in pill/capsule form or energy drinks, Kent and Ryan decided to try something unique (and a little risky).

They spent a year working with chemists, brain surgeons, and athletes to develop the first iteration of Neurogum. While most nootropics are packed to the brim with ingredients, Neurogum isn’t and that’s for a reason. Narrowing it down to caffeine, l-theanine, and b-vitamins, they found the perfect combination of ingredients that gave results without the negative side-effects.

After raising over $20,000 during a round of crowdfunding on Indiegogo, they had secured the funds and the positive public backing needed to create and ship Neurogum.

Years later, Neurogum still has a strong user-base. From entrepreneurs and athletes to regular 9-to-5 office workers, people from all backgrounds are giving it a thumbs up.

Neurogum Ingredients

Neurogum Ingredients

While Neurogum doesn’t pack as many ingredients as some of the other nootropics out there (I’m looking at you, Qualia) it does have the right ones to help optimize the brain for focus and sustained energy without crashing. Below is an in-depth look at each ingredient, along with links to studies that back-up its effectiveness…

Nootropic Ingredients

  • Caffeine: Caffeine is one of the most used drugs in the world and for good reason — it helps people get things done! This popular little drug works by blocking adenosine in your brain (a neurochemical that tells your brain it’s time to get some rest). By blocking it, your brain thinks it’s okay to stay awake. While all of this is occurring, caffeine also helps release dopamine, which makes you feel happy, and adrenaline, which gives you energy. Too much caffeine and your brain becomes depleted of dopamine and adrenaline, leading to feelings of irritability and tiredness (also known as a caffeine crash). Neurogum only has 40mg of caffeine per piece. To give you something to compare it to, a cup of coffee has 100mg of caffeine.
  • L-Theanine: Look at all of the most popular nootropics on the market and you’re very likely to see l-theanine. This amino acid has been used for hundreds of years for its potent brain boosting properties. The Chinese were first to realize its benefits, as it is one of the many ingredients in green tea. L-theanine is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, which allows it to reach the brain directly and quickly. It helps increase dopamine and serotonin levels, which can lead to a feeling of euphoria. When combined with caffeine, it can lessen the effects of a caffeine crash.
  • Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6): This form of vitamin B6 is often used in foods. If you’ve ever seen cereal with vitamin B6 in it, there’s a strong chance that Pyridoxine was used. The benefits of vitamin B6 are abundant. It helps in the production of neurotransmitters (chemicals that allow brain cells and nerves to talk to each other). A B6 deficiency can lead to depression, insomnia, mental fatigue, and more.
  • Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12): Cyanocobalamin is the synthetic form of vitamin B12. Studies have found that it can help boost the mood of those with depression (when combined with folic acid). It also helps maintain energy levels by giving a nice boost to the users metabolism.

Other Ingredients

  1. Sorbitol: Since Neurogum doesn’t have added sugar, it needs something to keep it from tasting horrible. Sorbitol is that thing. It’s a sugar substitute that is often found in sugar free gum, diet foods, and mints.
  2. Gum Base: This ingredient is pretty self-explanatory. If you want to make gum, you have to use a gum base.
  3. Natural Flavors: If you’ve ever had candy, juice, or about 75% of the food/drinks in a regular supermarket, you may have seen “natural flavors” on the ingredients list. This is a pretty broad term that encapsulates any type of plant or animal byproduct that has been processed so much it can no longer be added to the ingredient label. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. In this case, it is likely used to give the gum a nicer flavor.
  4. Calcium Stearate: The addition of this salt is mostly to help stabilize the overall composition of ingredients. It may also have been added to give the gum a better consistency when chewing.
  5. Steviol Glycosides: Also referred to as “stevia”, this ingredient was added to give Neurogum a sweeter taste without using sugar.
  6. Acesulfame K: Often called “Acesulfame potassium”, this ingredient also acts as a sweetener.

Why Caffeine and L-Theanine Might Be The Best Brain Booster

Neurogum Packaging

People new to the world of nootropics are usually turned off by the vast amount of supplements that are out there. Not only that, but people almost always have their own opinions on what works best and why.

I know when I first started to get interested in nootropics, I could barely keep up with all the different “stacks” available. It was overwhelming and one of the reasons why I started this site. I wanted to review all of the major nootropics out there to give people a regular guys view of what the nootropic does and find out which are the best.

The first nootropic stack I ever stumbled upon was caffeine and l-theanine (2 of the 3 main ingredients in Neurogum). It was simple and gave me the mental boost I was looking for. Of course, I’ve experimented with a ton of other nootropics since then but I almost always go back to caffeine and l-theanine on a regular basis (usually in the form of green tea).

It’s not only my personal opinion that caffeine and l-theanine work for giving its users better cognitive performance, research backs me up. A study in 2008 looked at the effects of 50mg caffeine, with and without 100mg l-theanine on healthy volunteers. The results were not surprising:

“Caffeine improved subjective alertness at 60 min and accuracy on the attention-switching task at 90 min. The L-theanine and caffeine combination improved both speed and accuracy of performance of the attention-switching task at 60 min, and reduced susceptibility to distracting information in the memory task at both 60 min and 90 min.”

Beyond my own personal opinion and the scientific research, one of the biggest nootropic forums on the web (/r/nootropics) recommends caffeine and l-theanine on their FAQ page.

Already being a big fan of caffeine and l-theanine, I was really excited to give Neurogum a try…

My Neurogum Experience

Inside The Packaging

To properly test the effects of Neurogum in my regular life, I spent seven days using it. I am an avid coffee drinker but to make sure that I didn’t interfere with the results of my review by having too much caffeine (mixing coffee with Neurogum) I decided to sustain from any food or drink that had caffeine in it.

The first day I tried Neurogum was a Saturday. I had been up late the night before celebrating a friends birthday so I woke up a bit groggy. Even though I didn’t feel like it, I knew I had to get some work done. After a small breakfast of 2 scrambled eggs and a vegetable/fruit juice, I popped Neurogum in my mouth and started chewing.

Let me start by saying, this gum does not taste like Juicy Fruit or any other gum that is packed with sugar. If you’re familiar with how caffeine tastes in supplement form, it has that same slight bitterness. I’m not saying it tastes bad though, the mint and sweeteners definitely give it some nice flavor. To be honest, I like that it doesn’t taste “great”. If it did, I might be tempted to have more than a few pieces throughout the day, which could lead to a lot of caffeine coursing through my veins.

About 10 minutes after my initial chew, the minty flavor started to die down a bit and the nootropic cocktail of caffeine, l-theanine, and b vitamins started to kick in. It felt similar to drinking green tea. I was out of my initial morning “brain fog” and off to work at a relatively nice pace.

I wouldn’t say that I necessarily got more done while chewing Neurogum but it definitely gave me a mental boost. I wasn’t drilled into my work like I would be on Lumonol or Optimind but that isn’t a bad thing. Since it was the weekend, I wanted to be free to bounce around from project to project, grab lunch with friends, and enjoy myself.

Around day four of using Neurogum I discovered one of its biggest benefits—it’s a great pre-workout supplement. In the early years of working out I had been taking normal pre-workout supplements that were loaded with nasty ingredients and fillers. I’d drink a cup, head off to the gym, and hope that it wouldn’t make me feel nauseous or jittery from all the caffeine. As I grew up, I slowly started to wean myself off of pre-workout supplements but my workouts definitely suffered because of it. I just wasn’t able to push myself as hard.

When I popped in a piece of Neurogum and headed to the gym for the first time, I didn’t think much until I started to warm up. I felt the nootropics kicking in and noticed my energy levels pick up. It was about mid-workout when I really started to notice how my mood changed. It must have been the release of the dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline from the workout and Neurogum combining. The extra energy that Neurogum gave me helped push me through a serious workout that day. It was probably one of the best gym sessions I’ve had in a year. What’s more is that chewing the gum actually helped me focus on my breathing as I was lifting weights.

Note: I don’t recommend chewing gum and working out or running. It’s a very big choking hazard. If you choose to use Neurogum as a pre-workout like I did, try it before hitting the weights or doing anything strenuous. Maybe start chewing on your car ride or walk to the gym and spit it out before starting your lift.

On my last day of using Neurogum (day seven) I was only up to using two pieces per day. I’d start chewing one after breakfast and one mid-day. Whereas I usually drink around three cups of coffee per day (300mg of caffeine) I was only taking in 80mg of caffeine using Neurogum. This made me think that Neurogum would be a great way for someone to wean themselves off of a caffeine addiction, kind of like Nicotine gum for smokers. Instead of going cold turkey, which can lead to some negative side-effects like brutal headaches, Neurogum could be used and slowly decreased over time. It definitely helped me kick my caffeine addition. By the end of the review period, I wasn’t craving coffee or tea as I normally do.

Final Thoughts

Neurogum is a really interesting nootropic. For those that are new to the world of nootropics, I would say that Neurogum is a great way to get started. It’s much more “user friendly” than downing a bunch of supplements and the main two ingredients are almost the same as what’s in green tea (caffeine and l-theanine).

While I didn’t experience incredible focus, motivation, or productivity while using it, there was definitely an uptick in my energy levels, mood, and ability to get things done. The best part was I didn’t experience any weird or negative side effects—no crashing, no jitters, and no nauseousness.

Overall, I give Neurogum a big thumbs up and recommend it to people new to nootropics or those who want to try something simple and easy to use.

Neurogum Rating
4.5
Mood
5
Energy
3.5
Focus
3.5
Memory
3.5
Verbal Intelligence
Overall Rating 4 / 5

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Qualia Review: The Rolls Royce of Nootropics? https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/qualia-neurohacker-collective/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/qualia-neurohacker-collective/#comments Tue, 05 Sep 2017 22:56:59 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73805 Every once and a while a company comes along and releases a product that completely disrupts its industry. Apple did it to cell phones with the iPhone, Tesla did it to cars with the Model S, and the Neurohacker Collective has done it to nootropics with Qualia. Like you, I was researching the best nootropics […]

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Every once and a while a company comes along and releases a product that completely disrupts its industry. Apple did it to cell phones with the iPhone, Tesla did it to cars with the Model S, and the Neurohacker Collective has done it to nootropics with Qualia.

Like you, I was researching the best nootropics when I stumbled upon Qualia for the first time. It peaked my interest but the price tag initially scared me away so I moved on. My gut reaction was, “This is way too expensive for me?”

A few months passed and I got a call from Matthew Stein over at Neurohacker Collective. At first I thought he was going to try to sell me on why I should try Qualia and why he thought was the best nootropic on the market, but he didn’t. Instead, we ended up having a long, thought-provoking conversation about nootropics in general, biohacking, and even our favorite podcasts (we both agreed on the Tim Ferriss Show). He also told me about all of the cool things that Neurohacker Collective was doing as a company to push the world of nootropics forward. It was much more of an actual insightful conversation rather than a sales call — something that you don’t often see when talking with people who work for supplement companies.

While still a little skeptical (as I am with any new supplement) I was very intrigued by amount of time, energy, and research that went into creating Qualia so I decided to give it a try.

This ended up becoming one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in regards to nootropics. Here’s why…

View Best Qualia Price

What Qualia Does Differently

The gripe that many nootropic enthusiasts have with pre-packaged nootropic blends is that they usually…

  • Don’t contain high enough levels of the ingredients that are actually meaningful
  • Hide what they really contain under “proprietary blends”
  • Include tons of caffeine in an effort to trick the user into thinking it’s working (until they crash later in the day)

Qualia bottles and packaging.

Many nootropic blends on the market are also shady. The companies behind them do everything they can to maximize profits, rather than invest back into their products. I know it’s important to build a profitable company but it’s also important to be ethical about it at the same time.

That’s why Qualia stuck out to me. On my call with Matthew over at Neurohacker Collective, I heard the passion in his voice when he talked about nootropics. This wasn’t a salesperson I was talking to, this was a guy who really cared about working on putting out the best nootropic on the market.

So, how is Qualia different than every other nootropic out there? Well, I wouldn’t say it’s just different. It’s not even in the same league as most nootropics.

Qualia is lightyears ahead of most cognitive enhancing supplements out there, mainly because of these three things…

  1. It’s the most in-depth nootropic blend around. They have included every ingredient one could possibly include in a nootropic blend to make it as effective as possible in all facets of optimizing the brain (both long and short-term). This includes increasing focus, building/sustaining memory, lowering stress/anxiety, and increasing the immune system (which helps lower inflammation and brain fog). All of these ingredients aren’t just randomly thrown together but rather carefully calculated in an effort to complement each other and provide the best experience for the user, which is why Qualia comes in two steps.
  2. They invested a lot of time and energy into creating their product. A lot of nootropics on the market are just carbon copies of other successful nootropics, with minor differences. These copycat companies then slap a new label on their bottle and start marketing it like crazy. It seems that Neurohacker Collective did the exact opposite when creating Qualia. Not only have I never seen another nootropic with the same ingredients, I can tell that they invested in the actual product rather than the marketing “hype”.
  3. Qualia is built around actual science, not pseudo-science. One thing that really annoys me about the world of nootropics is how many companies bend the truth in order to sell their products. Some like to insinuate that certain ingredients are going to make you a genius or some kind of super human. Qualia doesn’t do that. Yes, this nootropic is packed to the brim with ingredients but all of the ingredients are actually backed by research (which I go into below).

The Masterminds Behind Qualia

I don’t often include my research on the people behind a nootropic. It’s not because I don’t want to but it’s usually because the founders aren’t experts in the field of biohacking or even experienced in nootropics.

In the case of Qualia and Neurohacker Collective, the people behind the company are what make this product so special. Here’s a brief look at each of the founders…

  • Jordan Greenhall: He previously co-founded DivX, one of the most popular video players in the world. After being introduced to one of the early versions of Qualia, he saw its potential and joined the team.
  • Daniel Schmachtenberger: As the founder of The Emergence Project, Daniel has worked to upgrade the human race on a micro and macro scale. Over his time in this role, he saw the massive amount of suffering that people are going through all around the world. Because of this, he and his brother James decided to start the Neurohacker Collective in an effort to bring an end to it.
  • James Schmachtenberger: James is one of the leaders in promoting medical cannabis use. His documentaries and advocacy has pushed legislation and helped patients relieve their suffering in a way that wasn’t dependent on man-made chemicals (e.g. pain killers).

The founders then put together an advisory board of neuroscientists, ivy league professors, philosophers, entrepreneurs, and even athletes to create what we know as the Neurohacker Collective.

Qualia Ingredients

Qualia has the most ingredients I’ve ever seen in a supplement. I’m honestly surprised they could fit it all on the label.

To make this the most comprehensive review I’m going to be going ingredient-by-ingredient to help you understand why each one was included in Qualia and the research behind it. This section is going to be a bit long so if you want to just read what my personal experience was using Qualia, feel free to skip to the next section.

Step One

  • Vitamin B6 (1,000 mcg): Research has shown the entire family of B vitamins help in overall brain function. Vitamin B6, in particular, helps the body make a variety of of different neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit signals from one nerve cell to the other).
  • Artichoke Leaf Extract (5% Cynarin, 500 mg): By itself, Artichoke Leaf Extract may not have any nootropic-like effect. However, when mixed with Forskolin it has an effect that some say is similar to Modafinil. If you’ve ever taken CILTEP, you may already be familiar with the cognetive benefits of Artichoke Extract and Forskolin.
  • Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract (3% Rosavins & 1% Salidrosides, 300 mg): Rhodiola rosea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. It has a wide variety of physical and mental benefits, including the ability to reduce fatigue, improve cognitive functions, and protect against toxins in the brain. There is even some evidence that it may promote longevity.
  • DL-Phenylalanine (300 mg): Also referred to as DLPA, DL-Phenylalanine is an amino acid that has a wide range of benefits. Some people take it for its ability to increase their mood, focus, and energy, while others take it to help ease chronic pain.
  • Centrophenoxine (250 mg): Research has shown that Centrophenoxine is effective in reversing waste buildup in the brain and acting as a neuro-protector.
  • N-Acetyl Tyrosine (250 mg): Being one of the most popular nootropic ingredients around, this amino acid is used to help the body in a variety of different ways. It has been shown to help build muscles, increase cell growth/recovery, and improve cognitive processes.
  • Purenergy (Caffeine and pTeroPure pterostilbene co-crystal, 209 mg): Purenergy was created by Chromadex, Inc. Its formulation allows for a few very unique things to occur. First, it allows 30% more caffeine into the bloodstream than ordinary caffeine. Second, 6 hours after taking it there is 51% more caffeine from Purenergy when compared to taking ordinary caffeine. Lastly, the half-life of caffeine in Purenergy is extended by about 25%. All of this allows for a stronger, more sustained energy from Purenergy caffeine (when compared to regular caffeine).
  • L-Theanine (200 mg): L-Theanine is another widely used nootropic. It is most commonly found in green tea. When combined with caffeine, it can vastly improve the cognitive state of its users by providing focus and energy without the crash that caffeine usually gives.
  • Noopept (30 mg): Noopept is one of my favorite nootropics. While research on it is still in the early stages, it has been shown to increase alpha/beta 1 activity in all brain areas. Its cognitive benefits include helping its users form memories/learn easier as well as prevent oxidative damage and apoptosis. Because of this, people dealing with cognitive impairment could possibly benefit from a regular dosage of Noopept.
  • Coleus Forskohlii (20% Forskolin, 10 mg): Coleus forskohlii has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine. As mentioned above, when combined with Artichoke Leaf Extract, this duo can have some powerful cognitive enhancing effects.
  • BioPQQ (10 mg): PQQ is one of the most recently discovered vitamins. It has been shown to slow the aging process, increase overall energy levels, improve cognitive function, and alleviate stress and sleeplessness. In 2013, BioPQQ won the Engredea Editors’ Choice Award for Ingredient with the Best Science.

Step Two

  • Vitamin B5 (as Calcium Pantothenate, 850 mg): Calcium Pantothenate is the synthetic form of vitamin B5. It helps synthesize acetycholine, which can increase focus, memory, and learning while reducing brain fog.
  • Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxal 5 Phosphate, 20 mg): Vitamin B6 has been shown (with mixed results) to help support brain function. What is known is that it plays an important role in making the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine — responsible for making people feel happy.
  • Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol, 2000 IU): Vitamin D is often referred to as the “sun vitamin”. It has a variety of antioxidant and neuroprotective benefits associated with its use.
  • Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid, 250 mg): Vitamin C is a highly potent antioxidant, which is the reason it is given to those that are sick or have a cold. In addition to having the ability to decrease fatigue and improve mood, it also increases blood flow by reducing NO oxidation.
  • Benfotiamine (100 mg): Benfotiamine is converted into vitamin B1 after ingestion. It has been shown to increase mood, energy, and alertness in its users.
  • Niacinamide (50 mg): Another B Vitamin (B3), Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties and anxiolytic effects.
  • Zinc (as Zinc Picolonate, 15 mg): Zinc is a type of metal. Many people around the world are deficient in it. People that have a zinc deficiency often have limited concentration, chronic fatigue, and nerve dysfunction. As you could probably tell, it is incredibly important to incorporate zinc into your everyday diet.
  • Magnesium (as Magnesium Threonate, 75 mg): Magnesium is another ingredient that is found in a variety of popular nootropics. It helps improve both short and long term memory, treat depression by increasing users moods, and helps improve glucose metabolism and energy production.
  • Bacopa Leaf Extract Monnieri (45% Bacosides, 300 mg): One of my personal favorite nootropic ingredients, Bacopa helps in memory formation and recall.
  • Citicoline (CDP Choline, 75 mg): Another popular nootropic ingredient, Citicoline (CDP Choline) is used to enhance the effects of other nootropics. It has a whole host of cognitive benefits: the ability to enhance memory, decrease mental fatigue, and increase focus are just a few.
  • Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract (24% Glycosides, 50 mg): Ginkgo has been used for hundreds of years in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been studied for being an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. In addition, it also helps increase concentration, fight anxiety, and improve memory.
  • Hordenine HCL (20 mg): Hordenine HCL acts as an MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitor. MAO’s can destroy monomamines (amino acids and hormones) which play an important role in the function of our brain.
  • Huperzine A 1% (5 mg): Another popular nootropic supplement, Huperzine A is both neuroprotective and helps support memory consolidation as well as neuroplasticity.
  • Mucuna Pruiens Seed Extract (98% L-Dopa, 100 mg): Mucuna Pruiens is both neuroprotective and adaptogenic. One of its main benefits is that it helps regulate dopamine adrenaline, serotonin, and noradrenaline in the brain. This helps reduce anxiety and stress.
  • Phenylethylamine HCL (500 mg):Phenylethylamine (PEA) is often referred to as the “love drug” because it stimulate dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine in the brain. This can make users feel happy, aroused, and focused.
  • Bioperine (10 mg): Sourced from black pepper, Bioperine has a wide variety of benefits. It helps with the absorption of some nutrients, synergizes with curcumin (enhancing its anti-inflammatory effects), has some anti-depressant effects, and increases productivity.
  • Theobromine (150 mg): Extracted from cacao, Theobromine’s effects are related to caffeine in that it increases alertness and the overall attention of its users. It has a longer duration than caffeine does.
  • Vinpocetine (30 mg): One of Vinpocetine’s biggest benefits is that it is a vasodilator and increases blood flow to the brain. This allows oxygen, nutrients, etc. to get to the brain in a much more efficient manner.
  • Alpha GPC (100 mg): Alpha GPC is another very popular nootropic due to its ability to deliver choline to the brain very quickly.
  • Phosphatidylserine (200 mg): Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an amino acid that contributes to cognitive function. Studies have found that it may improve memory in the elderly.
  • Curcumin Root Extract 95% (500 mg): Curcumin is one of the most interesting nootropics around. This is because it has been findings suggest that it is not only neuroprotective, has anti-inflammatory properties, and has anti-depressant properties, it could also boost the regeneration of brain stem cells. This has the ability to help those who have Alzheimer’s or have had a stroke.
  • Green Tea Leaf Extract (98% Polyphenol & 45 EGCG, 500 mg): Long used in Chinese medicine, Green Tea has a whole host of cognitive benefits that have been well-studied. It can help improve everything from cardiovascular disease to inflammation.
  • Lithium (as Lithium Orotate, 3 mg): Lithium has the ability to remove harmful metals from the brain, anti-depressant properties, and it may even increase gray matter in the brain.
  • Quercetin (200 mg): Quercetin has been shown to reduce inflammation, chronic fatigue, and cognitive impairment.
  • Algal DHA (200 mg): Algal DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3’s have neuroprotective
  • Taurine (500 mg): Often found in energy drinks, Taurine has high neuroprotective abilities, and has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-depressant properties.
  • Uridine Monophosphate (500 mg): In a study of gerbils who were given uridine monophosphate, choline, and DHA, the gerbils were able to complete their maze at a much more efficient rate (implying increased cognitive performance).
  • Lion’s Mane Extract (30% Polysaccharide, 500 mg): A study in Japan found that when people (ages 50 to 80) that had a mild cognitive decline were given Lion’s Mane extract for an extended period of time, a significant increase in their mental performance was recorded without adverse effects.
  • Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Herb extract (150 mg): Gynostemma is a strong anti-oxidant and adaptogen. This allows it to improve users resistance to stress.

As you can probably tell, the inclusion of these different ingredients are not random. They work together in a way that not only optimizes mental performance but the body on a whole. This means an improved mood, immune system, physical performance, and more. Only when the whole body is taken care of will the mind be able to function at its peak.

Making vs Buying Qualia

When I first looking at the price tag of Qualia and then the ingredients list, the first though that went through my head was, “I could just make this supplement myself.” So I spent a long time researching how much it would cost to buy a months worth of all of the ingredients, capsules, and a machine to package the capsules. It turns out that not only would it cost me more money to make Qualia myself but it would take hours (possibly even a full day) to purchase the ingredients, properly measure them out, capsule, and package them. Oh, and I risk accidentally miscalculating the dosing, which would not be fun.

My Personal Qualia Experience

Below I go in-depth on my personal experience with Qualia. While I tried my best to record how it made me feel, please remember that this is my personal experience and it may not apply to everyone that take Qualia.

Day One

My order of Qualia showed up on my doorstep the evening before the day I first took it. Having researched this nootropic and its ingredients for days, I was ready to get started. In fact, I ended up waking up around 6am on the first day because I so excited to try it out.

Upon reading the directions, I learned that the capsules in the first step needed to be taken without food. This posed a problem for me. I have a sensitive stomach so when it comes to taking any supplement without food, it can usually lead to me feeling nauseous for hours. I decided to compromise and have a vegetable and fruit juice so that there was at least something small in my stomach before taking step one of Qualia.

As with all new nootropics I take on the first day, I took less than the recommended dose of step one of Qualia to see how I reacted (2 capsules instead of 3).

Having taken noopept, CILTEP, and almost all of the other ingredients included in step one of Qualia, I was fairly familiar with the effects I felt within the first hour. There was a clearing of brain fog and a slight increase in motivation at first. As the morning progressed, I felt the Purenergy start to kick in and interact with the other ingredients. This led to a much more energized focused.

In the afternoon, around 1pm, I took half a dose of step two (3 capsules). The step two capsules are about 20% bigger than the step one capsules. They weren’t hard to swallow for me since I took them individually but I could see how some people could have a problem gulping them down.

Since I wasn’t too familiar with taking the majority of the ingredients in step two of Qualia, I wasn’t sure what I would be feeling. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel too much the first day. There was a slight overall calming effect and a slight increase in productivity.

I chalked the moderate success of the first day up to the fact that I ate some food in the morning before taking step one and only took half doses of both steps.

Day Two

This is the day where things started to get interesting.

While I didn’t take step one on an entirely empty stomach this day, I did decide to take the recommended dose of both step one and two. I also took step two mid-morning, rather than in the afternoon as I did the previous day.

About twenty minutes after taking step two I had to jump on a conference call to present a project I proposing for a client. In situations like this, where I have to give impromptu presentations, my adrenaline usually kicks in and leads to me feeling slightly nervous. What I found interesting is that while I was waiting for the conference call to start, I didn’t feel any adrenaline or “fight or flight” symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath). In fact, I felt calm and was able to organize my thoughts prior to even presenting.

My presentation went much better than I could have hoped. In fact, I was remembering to say things without even having to look down once at my notes. The words seemed to effortlessly jump from my thoughts into well-formed sentences. Needless to say, I was very happy with how Qualia helped me perform on the second day.

Day Four

As the days progressed, I started to feel the effects of Qualia more and more. While the first day didn’t do much for me, day four really showed me what Qualia could do.

It was a Sunday so I was debating whether I should take it or not because I wasn’t going to be working a full day. However, I decided to take it and spend the first half of my day working and the second part of my day at the gym.

One of the big benefits of Qualia is the fact that I don’t get distracted as easily. Because of this I was able to breeze through my to do list without a hitch. This makes even the most monotonous tasks easy to finish.

After getting some work done, I went to the gym. During my warm up on the treadmill I noticed I wasn’t getting as tired as I usually do and my breathing was staying consistent. This led to me actually wanting to run more than I usually do. Since I’m not a huge fan of running, this was a big surprise for me. I’m pretty sure that Qualia actually helped improve my cardiovascular performance.

The rest of my workout was spectacular. While Qualia didn’t magically allow me to lift heavier weights, I was able to workout more without feeling as fatigued. My usual grueling 45 minute workout turned into an enjoyable hour and a half workout.

Day Eight

Since I only take Qualia for five consecutive days at a time (and take two days off) this was my first day back from cycling off the previous two days.

I was starting to get used to the increase in focus, the mental edge, and the overall feeling of optimization. This led me to a big mistake — I mixed Qualia with three cups of coffee.

My caffeine tolerance is high so I can normally drink a lot of coffee without feeling much of a stimulant effect. For some reason I forgot to not drink coffee during this review and I ended up feeling pretty anxious and irritable the rest of the day. Luckily I realized my mistake and drank a lot of water in the afternoon to try and flush out my system but it was still a lost day.

My recommendation: Don’t mix Qualia with caffeine. 

Final Thoughts

Qualia is a pretty incredible nootropic. In fact, it’s hard for me to even call it a nootropic because the benefits I felt from it were more than just mental. Qualia helped to optimize a lot of different facets of my body. Beyond the mental edge of being able to focus and retain information at a higher level, I was sleeping better, less fatigued when waking up, and I could even perform better physically. The day-to-day feeling that Qualia gave me was unlike other supplements. I didn’t feel like I needed to get things done (as some nootropics make me feel) and I didn’t feel jittery.

An interesting video on how Qualia works, its benefits, and more.

To be honest, I was really surprised after reviewing Qualia. Many nootropics that I have tried in the past have slightly different variations of effects on me. Some give me more energy, some make me calmer, but they all basically do pretty much the same thing. Qualia was the first one that seemed to do it all and do it well.

I give Qualia a big thumbs up. Yes, the price is high but the benefits, in my mind, are worth it. It is truly unlike any other nootropic on the market. To me, it is the Rolls Royce of cognitive enhancing supplements.

Qualia Rating
5
Mood
5
Energy
5
Focus
5
Memory
5
Verbal Intelligence
Overall Rating 5 / 5

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OptiMind 90 Day Review — Pros, Cons, and My Final Thoughts https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/optimind-90-day-review/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/optimind-90-day-review/#comments Tue, 29 Aug 2017 16:53:29 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73786 I first reviewed OptiMind in 2016. Since then, the ingredients haven’t changed but the public interest has… It’s grown become one of the most popular nootropics on the market. In my initial review, I tested OptiMind for a full month (30 days). I do this to get an in-depth and personal account of what each […]

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I first reviewed OptiMind in 2016. Since then, the ingredients haven’t changed but the public interest has… It’s grown become one of the most popular nootropics on the market.

In my initial review, I tested OptiMind for a full month (30 days). I do this to get an in-depth and personal account of what each nootropic is like in my daily routine. While I believe 30 days is enough to initially test the effects of a nootropic, I often like to expand my review by testing it even further.

Because I’m a fan of OptiMind and I tend to reach for it in certain cases when I need an extra “brain boost”, I decided to take OptiMind for 90 full days and record the results.

Here’s what I found…

OptiMind 90 Days Later — Pros

The recommended dosage is 2 capsules

A big weakness of mine is being able to wake my brain up in the morning. It’s why I’ve relied so heavily on caffeine in the past (which has been both a blessing and a curse). Many nootropics that I’ve tried over the years didn’t have the ability to give me the morning boost I needed to really get myself going in the morning. Why? They lacked caffeine.

I have a love/hate relationship with caffeine. It is arguably one of the most popular drugs on the planet but it has a lot of drawbacks, such as crashing mid-day and building up a tolerance. I try my best to keep my caffeine consumption at a minimum and counter the negative effects with nootropics such as L-Theanine, which helps to ease the “crash” that caffeine has on many people.

Fun fact: the L-Theanine in tea is the reason why tea drinkers don’t usually crash as bad as coffee drinkers.

The reason I’m going on a caffeine rant is because OptiMind is one of the few nootropics I really enjoy using that has caffeine in it. That caffeine is mixed with a variety of other ingredients to make it a powerful way for me to wake up in the morning.

Since I had OptiMind to kick me into gear in the morning, I was less likely to mope around in the morning, slowly waking myself up and much more likely to begin working. By month two I had already seen a noticeable uptick in the amount of work I was outputting in the morning and my efficiency.

As I mentioned in my initial review, I found myself in an energy/focus flow state through most of the day. This was incredibly helpful in zipping through work. There were a lot of days I found myself at the end of my to do list mid-afternoon.

One added (and surprising) benefit that OptiMind had was on my fitness ability. Since I was able to wake up a lot easier while taking OptiMind, I began to wake up earlier. This eventually led me to move my schedule around so that I could workout or run in the morning, rather than in the evening. My initial concern was that I was going to be exhausted after my workout and not be able to work as effectively during the day, even after taking OptiMind. However, that wasn’t the case at all. In fact, working out in the morning after taking OptiMind was one of the best things I could have done. The combination of OptiMind plus endorphins and adrenaline from my workouts put me in a heightened mental state for nearly the whole day. My brain felt like it was firing on all cylinders.

OptiMind 90 Days Later — Cons

While I’d love to say that OptiMind is the next “Limitless Pill” and everything was fine and dandy for me while taking it, that wasn’t the case. There were some minor negatives I experienced but nothing that really surprised me.

First, I made the mistake of taking OptiMind on an empty stomach one day upon waking up. I usually always take any supplement with food but it slipped my mind this time. As someone who has a sensitive stomach, this was an issue for me. I’m not sure if it was the caffeine or one of the other ingredients but I had a bad stomach ache for about an hour. I remember getting the same stomach ache when taking multivitamins on an empty stomach.

Second, near day 75 I started to notice myself getting more irritable during the evening. This was most likely the effect of me crashing from the constant caffeine in my system. The crash wasn’t as bad for me as it would have been from drinking a lot of coffee or an energy drink but I still felt it.

Lastly, I did start to see the effects wear off after the first month. I don’t think it’s possible to take any supplement for a full 90 days without building up some sort of tolerance to it. Because I began building up a tolerance there were days near the end of the 90 days where I felt like I needed to take more than the recommended dose.

Final Thoughts: Is OptiMind Still One Of My Favorites?

Assessing the pros and cons over this longer review, I would still say that OptiMind is one of my favorite nootropic blends. In terms of ingredients, it has some of my favorites — Bacopa MonnieriVinpocetineHuperzine A, and of course caffeine.

Moving forward, if I were to take OptiMind for extended periods of time again, I would do a few things differently…

  • Drink a lot of water: I would often get so “in the zone” that I would forget to stay hydrated. This ended up making me crash a lot quicker and harder near the end of the day. When I would drink water regularly, I didn’t crash as hard.
  • Remember to eat healthy: I found that OptiMind curbs my appetite. While this might be great for someone who is looking to lose weight, I found that not eating led to late-day periods of brain fog and lethargy. Of course, when I ate (and ate healthy) I was able to regain my focus.
  • Get in a good workout: There are no miracle pills or supplements. Your body needs a good combination of exercise, healthy foods, and sleep to function properly. If you’re getting all of those things, a nootropic will be able to really help.
  • Don’t skip on sleep: A big problem I had when using OptiMind for an extended period of time was that I started to rely on it in the morning. This meant I would work late, get up early, and rely on OptiMind to get my through the day. This might be okay once or twice but not regularly. I ended up messing up my sleep schedule big time during the second month. Of course, this was my own fault and not really OptiMind’s. Again, your body needs a good combination of exercise, healthy foods, and sleep to function properly.

Overall I am happy I was able to perform this extended review. It shed a light on the pros and cons of this OptiMind as well as gave me a better insight into my own work habits (and what I could improve upon).

If you have a question about OptiMind, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll respond as quickly as possible!

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Mind Lab Pro vs. OptiMind: Which One Of These Popular Nootropics Is The Right Choice? https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/mind-lab-pro-vs-optimind/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/mind-lab-pro-vs-optimind/#respond Mon, 05 Jun 2017 19:36:41 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73596 If you’re trying to decide between Mind Lab Pro and OptiMind, you’re probably a bit flustered. They are both two of the highest reviewed nootropics currently available. Not only that, they have somewhat similar ingredients. Which one is the best? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. We’re going to break down each of […]

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If you’re trying to decide between Mind Lab Pro and OptiMind, you’re probably a bit flustered. They are both two of the highest reviewed nootropics currently available. Not only that, they have somewhat similar ingredients.

Which one is the best? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for.

We’re going to break down each of these nootropics, compare them, and help you make the best decision.

Let’s get started…

Best Mind Lab Pro Price Best OptiMind Price

Mind Lab Pro

As one of the most consistently well-reviewed nootropics around, Mind Lab Pro’s tagline is that it helps your brain “fire on all cylinders”. It was created by Opti-Nutrition, a company based in London. And while they are based in the United Kingdom, Mind Lab Pro is available worldwide.

In our review of Mind Lab Pro, we found it to be incredibly effective at increasing calm focus. Rather than the edgy and agitated focus that a lot of energy drinks can bring on, Mind Lab Pro kept us tranquil and relaxed, yet able to concentrate at a much higher rate than normal. I personally found that I was able to work for much longer periods of time without interruption.

Because Mind Lab Pro doesn’t have caffeine in it, I was able to enjoy my daily coffees without the caffeine and ingredients in Mind Lab Pro making me too stimulated/jittery. For me, this was a big plus because I am an avid coffee drinker.

Mind Lab Pro Ingredients

Mind Lab Pro Ingredients

One thing that makes Mind Lab Pro stand out among the sea of other nootropics is that it has a clean label. This means that there are zero artificial colors and zero additives. While I don’t have a big issue with artificial colors, I do think that additives (sometimes called “fillers”) are a big issue. You see, some supplement companies include additives to bring costs down. This allows them to say that they use the main ingredients you’re actually paying for but hide the amount behind a “proprietary blend”. The additives just fill up the pill and make it look like the main ingredients. Thankfully, Mind Lab Pro does none of this!

Now let’s look at what the ingredients in Mind Lab Pro are…

  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B12
  • Citicoline/Cognizin
  • Bacopa Monnieri
  • Lion’s Mane Mushroom
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Pterostilbene
  • N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
  • L-Theanine/Suntheanine
  • Rhodiola Rosea
  • Vinpocetine

A key thing to note is that there is no caffeine in Mind Lab Pro. As I mentioned before, I find this to be beneficial because it allows me to drink coffee and tea without crashing later in the day. However, it is really personal preference.

Price and Value

Mind Lab Pro can be purchased in a variety of different packages. Like most nootropics, the more you order, the less you pay. Ordering a single bottle of Mind Lab Pro is $65, two bottles comes in at $130, and three boxes is $195. While it sounds like a lot of money, when you break it down by serving, it’s actually a good deal. Let’s take the single $65 bottle for example. When you look at how much you’re paying per serving, it just about $2.16. I personally spend more every single day on coffee (at least $5 per day). At $2.16 per day, I can easily increase my focus and work more efficiently. To me, that is a huge bargain.

Optimind

Having rebranded from its last name, “Alleradd”, OptiMind has taken the internet by storm as one of the most popular nootropic blends around. While we initially thought it was due to great marketing and advertising, after our review it was clear that OptiMind is a powerful nootropic. Big websites such as Vice and Elite Daily agree.

What makes OptiMind stand apart from most of the other nootropics on the market is the fact that they give you a 10-day free trial. Not only is the product free but the shipping is free too. You don’t often find free trials where the shipping is free too.

OptiMind Ingredients

OptiMind Ingredients

So that we can properly compare OptiMind with Mind Lab Pro, let’s take a look at what’s inside it…

  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin B12
  • L-Tyrosine
  • Taurine
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Bacopa Extract
  • GABA
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid
  • Vinpocetine
  • Sulbutiamine
  • Huperzia Serrata
  • Caffeine

You’ll notice that OptiMind has caffeine in it. This isn’t a negative but it is something to think of if you’re a big coffee or tea drinker like me.

Price and Value

If you’re thinking about going with OptiMind for the first time, I recommend going with their free trial. There’s nothing to lose. However, if you’re looking to purchase OptiMind in bulk, a single bottle is currently $43.31 and two bottles are $69.31. If you end up purchasing the single bottle for $43.31, each serving is only $1.44.

Mind Lab Pro vs OptiMind: Ingredients

Below you will find a comparison of the ingredients in Mind Lab Pro and OptiMind.

IngredientsMind Lab ProOptiMind
Vitamin B6YesNo
Vitamin B12YesYes
CiticolineYesNo
Bacopa MonnieriYesYes
Lion’s Mane MushroomYesNo
PhosphatidylserineYesYes
PterostilbeneYesNo
N-Acetyl-L-TyrosineYesNo
L-TheanineYesNo
Rhodiola RoseaYesNo
VinpocetineYesYes
Vitamin DNoYes
L-TyrosineNoYes
TaurineNoYes
GABANoYes
Alpha Lipoic AcidNoYes
SulbutiamineNoYes
Huperzia SerrataNoYes
CaffeineNoYes

Final Thoughts

Mind Lab Pro and OptiMind happen to be two of my favorite nootropics. Both have their pros and cons.

Mind Lab Pro has a 100% clean label, which I really like to see in all supplements that I take. It gives me piece of mind but, at the end of the day, if it isn’t included in a great nootropic, it isn’t a deal breaker.

I also happen to like that Mind Lab Pro doesn’t include caffeine. Personally, the addition of caffeine in any nootropic makes it hard for me to know how much coffee I can have during the day without crashing. While OptiMind does have caffeine, it does not have enough to make me crash hard. This is a big plus.

Another thing to compare between these two nootropics is their money back guarantee. OptiMind has a 100% 30-day money back guarantee. Mind Lab Pro has a 60-day money back guarantee. In both cases you just have to return the bottle and they will send the money you paid for it.

So there you have it, the results of Mind Lab Pro vs OptiMind. Which came out victorious? It depeneds on personal preference. If you are just looking around and don’t want to spend any money on a new bottle of nootropics, check out OptiMind’s free trial. If you want to steer clear of caffeine because you’re like me and already drink a lot of coffee or tea, check out Mind Lab Pro.

Have experience with both or either Mind Lab Pro and OptiMind? Leave a comment below letting us know what you thought!

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New Mood Review: Can Onnit’s Supplement Help With Stress & Anxiety? https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/new-mood/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/new-mood/#comments Sun, 28 May 2017 21:12:36 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73569 If you’re familiar with Onnit’s popular nootropic, Alpha Brain, you also may have heard about New Mood. Whereas Alpha Brain helps take your cognitive performance to the next level during the day, New Mood helps you physically and mentally unwind when the day is over. Here at Brain Wiz, we are big fans of Alpha […]

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If you’re familiar with Onnit’s popular nootropic, Alpha Brain, you also may have heard about New Mood. Whereas Alpha Brain helps take your cognitive performance to the next level during the day, New Mood helps you physically and mentally unwind when the day is over.

Here at Brain Wiz, we are big fans of Alpha Brain and its simplicity for those new to the world of nootropics. Of course, when we heard about New Mood, we knew we had to review it.

View New Mood Price

Background

One of the biggest challenges I face daily is getting a good nights sleep. I have nearly perfected my daily routine to set my brain up for peak performance with nootropics, the right diet, an exercise regime, and meditation. However, when it comes time to “unwind” at night, I always have a hard time.

In the past I’ve tried things such as Valerian Root and Melatonin. While they did have mild effects, I wanted something more. I wanted a supplement stack that not only relaxed me but helped me feel refreshed the next day. That is when I stumbled upon New Mood and really began to optimize my sleep.

Ingredients

New Mood Ingredients

To understand New Mood as best as possible, we’re going to take a quick look at what is inside it.

  • Niacin: Also called Vitamin B3, Niacin is important for proper brain health. Research has shown that Niacin can help protect against Alzheimer’s as well as other brain diseases.
  • Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 helps the body create Melatonin. This chemical is what helps the brain unwind at night by slowing it down, allowing for sleep to be induced.
  • Magnesium: Magnesium helps GABA function in the body. GABA produces hormones (such as serotonin) that improve overall mood. In addition, Magnesium can also help quite the mind, relax muscles, and even bring the heart rate down to make it easier to fall asleep.
  • Valerian Root: A very popular sleep and anxiety aid, Valerian Root works in the brain the same way that prescription drugs such as Valium do. It helps to increase the chemical GABA in the brain, which has a calming effect.
  • Chamomile: Used for hundreds of years, Chamomile is most popularly drank in tea. It’s benefits include being able to fight anxiety and insomnia as well as keep inflammation to a minimum.
  • Lemon Balm Extract: Studies have shown that when used in conjunction with other calming herbs (such as the ones in this list) Lemon Balm helps reduce anxiety and promotes a restful sleep.
  • Jujube: Research suggests that Jujube is a potent antioxidant and sleep aid.
  • L-Tryptophan: Most known for being in turkey, L-Tryptophan can both improve cognition and work to ease the mind into a state of relaxation.
  • 5-HTP: Another popular anti-anxiety supplement, 5-HTP is commonly used for helping with a wide variety of different sleep disorders.
  • Inositol: Studies have shown that Inositol helps those with depression, panic, and OCD due to its ability to work positively with serotonin in the brain.

What People Are Saying

Across the board people are reviewing Onnit’s New Mood very well. Many say that is a great way to compliment Alpha Brain, which acts as a focus aid during the day.

The big factor that most people comment on is its ability to reduce stress. Since anxiety affects 18.1% of adults in the United States, its no wonder why New Mood has become such a popular supplement.

In addition to easing stress and anxiety, many users have reported increased moods and relaxation. This makes it a great sleep aid. The ingredients work together to draw out negative feelings, promote an enhanced mood, and give the mind a restful sleep.

What Our Reviewers Thought

“I have a hard time convincing myself to fall asleep. I’ll usually stay awake watching shows on NetFlix or, sometimes even working. This can be detrimental on my sleep cycle. Some nights I’ll get 5 hours of sleep, other nights I’ll need 10 hours of sleep just to function properly. New Mood helped regulate my sleep schedule. I took the first dose at around 10pm and started to see its effects around 10:30pm. By 11pm I was out like a light and slept a very deep sleep. I didn’t wake up once!”

“New Mood is a very interesting supplement. I have tried a variety of sleep aids in the past. Many have seemed to work but nothing special. I recognized some of the ingredients in New Mood when reading the bottle from past experiences so I wasn’t thinking much of it when I first tried it. However, I was pretty surprised at how well it worked. I slept well and it didn’t make me feel groggy in the morning like some other sleep aids have in the past.”

“Anxiety from work usually keeps my mind racing in the evening. Sometimes I even get some bouts of depression. I haven’t taken any prescription medication or supplements in the past but sometimes I’ll have a glass of wine to put my mind at ease. For me, New Mood felt like having a glass of wine without feeling “drunk”, if that makes sense. My shoulders relaxed, I felt a wave of calm hit my body, and I was able to just be at ease without my mind racing and keeping me up at night.”

Frequently Asked Questions

When can New Mood be taken?

While New Mood is effective at helping people unwind at night, it can be taken at any time (day or night). It all depends on when the user most needs it. Is anxiety striking right this very second? New Mood can help.

Are there any discounts on New Mood?

Surprisingly, Onnit is currently giving away a free bottle for new users. All that you need to do is pay for the shipping costs. They say they are doing this because they are so sure that you’ll love it, you’ll want to order it again. I’m unsure as to when this promotion will end, so act accordingly!

What is the dosage?

The bottle says to not exceed 6 capsules within a 24-hour period. Also, do not take this supplement if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition. Speak to your doctor is you have any medical questions or concerns.

Where can New Mood be purchased?

In addition to selling New Mood online, you can find it at Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market. However, these other retailers might mark up New Mood, so you’d be paying more than what it would cost you on Onnit’s website.

Can a tolerance be built to New Mood?

Like any supplements, when taken on a recurring basis a tolerance can be built up by the body. To ensure that New Mood continues to work, one should cycle off of it every once and a while.

Final Thoughts on New Mood

Stress can be detrimental when it comes to living a healthy and productive life. While it is important to cultivate a healthy diet and exercise routine, supplements can help fill the gaps that are missed. New Mood does just that. When anxiety or stress hits hard, New Mood is there to reel in the mind and help balance it.

Our reviewers found New Mood to be incredibly helpful in the evening, when they were trying to get to sleep, as well as intermittently during the day when they needed to relax or calm down.

New Mood has proved itself as a great sleep and anxiety aid.

If you have any questions or comments about New Mood, please leave a comment below and we’ll respond as quickly as possible!

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Elimidrol Review: Does it work for decreasing anxiety and increasing cognitive performance? https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/elimidrol/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/elimidrol/#respond Sat, 27 May 2017 20:10:11 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73548 When people try to increase their focus and productivity, they usually only work on upping their energy levels. Many people drink coffee or tea in the morning to help, others take nootropics. Almost everyone who is looking to balance the mental aspect of their daily lives focuses on increasing their energy levels. They usually do […]

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When people try to increase their focus and productivity, they usually only work on upping their energy levels. Many people drink coffee or tea in the morning to help, others take nootropics.

Almost everyone who is looking to balance the mental aspect of their daily lives focuses on increasing their energy levels. They usually do nothing to reduce stress and promote a positive mood. The key to true focus and productivity during the day starts with an overall sense of wellbeing. That is how Elimidrol helps.

It doesn’t work as a nootropic supplement that focuses solely on increasing energy levels and mental acuity. Rather, it promotes an overall comfort and calmness that could help those struggling with anxiety that want to gain their motivation and productivity.

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Elimidrol Ingredients

To understand what makes Elimidrol work, we will need to explore its ingredients. Below you will find an overview of ingredients in both formulas (daytime and nighttime) plus an explanation of what the benefits of each are.

Daytime Formula

  • Magnolia Bark: This supplement has been used in ancient Chinese medicine for a long time to help with anxiety and sleeplessness.
  • N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine:This supplement is often found in popular nootropics due to its ability to help fight inflammation. Inflammation is a plague on the mind and body. It can lead to brain fog, lethargy, and feelings of general unpleasantness.
  • DL-Phenylalanine:In addition to helping improve the mood of its users, this supplement has been used to help with chronic pain.
  • Asian Ginseng Root Extract: Ginseng has a wide variety of benefits. It has been used to help improve moods, increase energy, and boost energy levels to hundreds of years in Asian culture. It is considered an adaptogen, meaning that it helps the body withstand higher levels of stress (physically and mentally).
  • L-Tyrosine: This supplement has been used to help with a variety of different stressors, both physical and mental. It has also been used in trials to help improve the mood of users.
  • Gotu Kola Leaf: This herb has been used for many years in traditional Chinese medicine. While it has a variety of uses, many use it to calm themselves because of its anti-anxiety properties.
  • Hops Flower: Many are familiar with Hops because it is a plan commonly used in making beer. In addition to its widespread use in alcohol (and food) it is also used to help with anxiety and even sometimes help those with ADHD settle down.
  • Oat Bran:This is a food that has many nutritional benefits including 50% more fiber than oatmeal. It is also used to help those with high cholesterol. While fiber is an important part of any diet, the inclusion of this ingredient is a bit puzzling to me.
  • Kava Kava Root Extract: Most often used as a calming agent, Kava Kava is found in many supplements that promote restful sleep.
  • Milk Thistle Seed Extract: This ingredient has been used for thousands of years because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This helps it prevent free radical damage that occurs to the body. In addition to the wide array of health benefits it carries with it, it is most notably used in skincare products because of its anti-aging properties.
  • Passionflower Herb: This herb has been used for many years to help those with anxiety. Like Kava, it is often found in supplements that promote restful sleep.
  • Lemon Balm Aerial Parts: While Lemon Balm can help induce a good nights rest, it actually doesn’t fatigue the mind. A study has shown that it improves mood and cognitive functions.
  • Ginger Root: Astonishingly, this herb has been used to help those with pain issues (even better than some pain killers). Ginger Root works by reducing inflammation, which is the root cause of many physical and mental ailments.
  • John’s Wort Aerial Parts: This ingredient has been used in studies to help reduce the effects of depression.
  • Vitamin C: As one of the most popular vitamins around, Vitamin C is used to help protect the body against immune system deficiencies, eye diseases, cardiovascular issues, and more. It is a vitamin that the body needs to perform at its peak.
  • Vitamin B6:This vitamin helps to convert food into energy. Becaue of this, it works as a very good “natural” energy booster. In addition, it is also an important overall vitamin for healthy skin, hair, liver, and eyes.
  • Vitamin B12:One of the vitamins that many people are deficient in, B12 is also one of the most important. Why? It can convert carbohydrates into glucose (usable energy) in the body. In addition to increasing energy levels, it also has the ability to improve moods and help those with depression.
  • Magnesium: Not only does Magnesium help increase energy levels, it also works to calm the nerves and promote restful sleep.
  • Zinc: Used for a variety of different reasons such as boosting the immune system and even helping those with asthma, Zinc can also be used to help improve certain cognitive functions. It has been used on those with ADHD, Alzheimer’s, and even those with Down syndrome.
  • Copper: Copper is necessary for proper brain function. However, it is important to have the right balance. Too much or too little can do harm.
  • Potassium: This ingredient is incredibly important in maintaining the electrical conductivity of the brain. The right amount is important for proper brain function.

Nighttime Formula

Some of the ingredients in the Nighttime formula are the same as those in the Daytime formula. I will include the duplicate below but not outline them because they have already been outlined above.

  • GABA: This ingredient helps to calm the mind and body. It is a neurotransmitter that the body uses to dampen the nerve signals in the brain, leading to an overall relaxation.
  • 5-HTP: Often used for sleep disorders such as insomnia, 5-HTP can also help those with depression, anxiety, and even certain headaches. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin the body produces.
  • Chamomile Flower: This herb has been used for years as a tea to promote relaxation. The supplement form is no different.
  • Valerian Root Powder:As one of the most popular natural sleep aids, Valerian Root also helps lower anxiety and blood pressure.
  • Melatonin: Another natural sleep aid, Melatonin is naturally produced by the body to induce sleep. If the body is exposed to any type of light, Melatonin production can be halted. This is why it is very important to sleep in total darkness.

In both the Daytime and Nighttime formulas:

  • Magnolia Bark
  • N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine
  • Ginger Root
  • Hops Flower
  • Kava Kava Root Extract
  • Passionflower Herb
  • Lemon Balm Aerial Parts

What People Are Saying

The overall reviews of Elimidrol are, by a majority, very positive. In addition to helping the everyday person achieve a higher state of mind (stress-free) some people say that it has been beneficial in helping certain withdrawal symptoms. Of course, please take these claims with a grain of salt as not everything on the internet can be confirmed. If you are struggling with any drug problems or withdrawal issues, please seek immediate medical help. This website is not intended to give medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any side effects to using Elimidrol?

The maker of Elimidrol (Sunrise Nutraceuticals) has stated, “There are no reported adverse side effects when using Elimidrol.”

Is there a money back guarantee?

Yes, Elimidrol offers a 100% money back guarantee. That means you can purchase the product, try it, see if it works for you, and if it doesn’t, send it back for a full refund.

When will it start working?

Based on what the manufacturer states, it should start working within the first day of use.

Where can Elimidrol be purchased?

The best place to purchase Elimidrol is direct from the manufacturer. That way you don’t risk picking up a fake or tampered with product.

Final Thoughts on Elimidrol

While many nootropic formulas focus on the energy aspect, they lack the anti-anxiety and anti-stress properties. That is where Elimidrol takes the lead. This supplement focuses on overall wellbeing of the user.

What I like most is that it doesn’t include any stimulants that could potentially increase anxiety and stress levels. Many nootropics on the market today are loaded with caffeine, which helps improve energy levels but can potentially raise blood pressure and cortisol levels (increasing stress).

One thing to note is that Elimidrol is not a typical capsul supplement, it must be mixed with water to be used. Also, it comes in two different formulas (Daytime and Nighttime) to be used at different times of the day. This could be seen as a negative for some who just want to take a simple capsule once per day.

Overall, Elimidrol proves to be a great supplement for those looking to balance out their hectic or stressful lives.

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The Best Nootropics of 2019 https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/best-nootropics/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/best-nootropics/#comments Tue, 23 May 2017 15:08:23 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73509 The world of nootropics is filled with duds and snake oil. There are a lot of companies out there that claim to have produced a nootropic that will alter your brain like no other but fail to even come close. Many supplement companies just fill their nootropics with loads of caffeine in hopes that you […]

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The world of nootropics is filled with duds and snake oil. There are a lot of companies out there that claim to have produced a nootropic that will alter your brain like no other but fail to even come close.

Many supplement companies just fill their nootropics with loads of caffeine in hopes that you won’t notice it doesn’t really work when your heart is pumped and blood pressure is elevated.

Because there are so many different nootropics out there, it can be hard to distinguish the bad from the good and the good from the amazing.

Today I am going to reveal the top 10 nootropics currently available. Let’s get started!

1. Mind Lab Pro

Having tried almost every single popular nootropic available for purchase, Mind Lab Pro is definitely one of the best around. If you look at the ingredients, you’ll notice that it’s a pretty simple concoction — nothing too out of the ordinary. That is exactly why we like it. Mind Lab Pro gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t. Many nootropics are full of “fillers” which sound like great ingredients on the label but actually do nothing except keep costs down for the supplement company. Mind Lab Pro has no additives, it’s caffeine free, and it is the only nootropic we’ve reviewed that has a 100% clean label.

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2. Optimind

If you want energy with your focus, Optimind is our recommendation. It has just the right amount of caffeine so that you get a nice boost but don’t feel overly caffeinated during the day. The mixture of ingredients such as Bacopa, Vinpocetine, and Huperzine A allow for a heightened focus with the energy that comes with Optimind. We’ve tried Optimind with and without drinking coffee (or energy drinks). When taking it with another caffeine source, such as coffee, our testers felt “wired” so we recommend only taking Optimind if you’re not getting caffeine from other sources during the day.

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3. Lumonol

Energy, focus, and productivity all reach new heights when Lumonol is involved. One of our testers even mentioned how Lumonol was similar to taking his prescribed ADHD medication, Adderall. Lumonol has one of the more complex ingredients list we’ve seen. However, complex doesn’t mean bad. In this case, complex means good. One of the best ingredients seen in Lumonol is Noopept. This supplement is, in our experience, one of the best nootropics for increasing focus. Funnily enough, it is rarely included in many of the most popular nootropics.

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4. Alpha Bain

Out of all the nootropics on this list, chances are you’re familiar with this one the most. Why? It’s been popularized by it’s massive following due to podcast advertisements and celebrity endorsements. The real question is, does it work? Yes, it does. Alpha Brain is popular for more than just good marketing. The company behind it, Onnit, has combined great ingredients such as L-Leucine, L-Theanine, and L-Tyrosine to form a nootropic that pushes the limits when it comes to cognitive performance. It also contains no stimulants, like Mind Lab Pro.

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5. TruBrain

Easily one of the most unique nootropics that we’ve ever tried, TruBrain is the first drinkable brain boosters available. If you’re like me and enjoy parsing out supplement usage throughout the day, TruBrain might be right for you. Being a drink, it allows you to take sips when and as you need to. Its convenient packaging also means you can carry it around in your backpack, briefcase, or pockets. Carrying around capsules isn’t as easy. In terms of ingredients, TruBrain (like Lumonol) includes the “brain boosting” Noopept.

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6. SPRINT by Nootrobox

If you’re looking for the a nootropic that takes the basics of energy and focus to another level, SPRINT might be what you want. It’s ingredient list is short and sweet: Caffeine, L-Theanine, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vinpocetine, and L-Tyrosine. However, all of those ingredients are just what the brain needs for no-crash energy and focus. In fact, many die-hard nootropics users are fans of just using Caffeine and L-Theanine (the first two ingredients in SPRINT). This is because L-Theanine mellows out the side effects of caffeine and even helps reduce crashing.

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7. RISE by Nootrobox

Possibly the simplest nootropic that can be purchased, RISE includes just three ingredients (Bacopa Monnieri, Rhodiola Rosea, and A-GPC). To the naked eye, it may seem like there’s no reason why this nootropic should be on our “best of 2017” list. But it is. That is because we like simple nootropics that work and RISE just works. It takes the top three popular nootropic ingredients around, puts them together, and makes a darn good nootropic. RISE is perfect for those who are a bit confused by the endless ingredients on some nootropic labels and just want the basics.

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8. CILTEP

Touted as one of the best brain boosting supplements around by entrepreneur and human guinea pig, Tim Ferriss, CILTEP just works. When looking at the label, you’ll see some of the same ingredients that the other nootropics on this list have except when it comes to Artichoke Extract and Forskolin. These two ingredients add another layer to the energy and focus that many of the nootropics provide. That added layer is creativity. Taking CILTEP has personally helped me become much more creative and focused at the same time. It allows me to write for much longer periods without becoming mentally fatigued.

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9. Modafinil

The secret “smart drug” that many CEO’s and startup founders swear by, Modafinil is one of the original drugs that began the world of nootropics. Modafinal is not actually a supplement but rather a drug that (currently in America) you need to be prescribed. It is often given for Shift Work Sleep Disorder. This is a sleep disorder that occurs most often in those who have to work odd hours and must be awake while working (e.g. truck drivers that have to work odd and unexpected hours). Modafinil is known for being the “best of the best” when it comes to nootropics but it is only available to those who are prescribed. For that reason, it is near the end of our “best nootropics” list.

10. Noopept

Last but certainly not least is Noopept. I mentioned this nootropic above when talking about Lumonol and TruBrain (both of which contain it). In my experience, it is such a powerful nootropic that it actually doesn’t even need to be combined with any other ingredients for its effects to be felt. Some say that it is as powerful as Modafinil when it comes to providing high quality focus and concentration.

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Alpha Brain vs OptiMind: Which One Wins When Compared? https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/alpha-brain-vs-optimind/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/alpha-brain-vs-optimind/#respond Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:23:43 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73397 Are you trying to decide between Alpha Brain and OptiMind? Both supplements are very popular in the world of nootropics. However, each has their own pros and cons. To help you make a more well informed decision, we are comparing Alpha Brain and OptiMind. Let’s get started! Best Price on Alpha Brain Best Price on […]

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Are you trying to decide between Alpha Brain and OptiMind? Both supplements are very popular in the world of nootropics. However, each has their own pros and cons. To help you make a more well informed decision, we are comparing Alpha Brain and OptiMind.

Let’s get started!

Best Price on Alpha Brain Best Price on OptiMind

Alpha Brain

As Onnit’s flagship product, Alpha Brain immediately rose to success after various endorsements by big names in the entertainment and athletic worlds (most notably, Joe Rogan and other podcasters). Does this mean that Alpha Brain is all marketing hype? Definitely not. We thoroughly tested Alpha Brain to see what its effects are in terms of increasing cognitive abilities such as focus and concentration — all of which were improved.

An added benefit to taking Alpha Brain was that it induced lucid dreams. If you aren’t familiar with lucid dreams, they are dreams in which you are aware that you are dreaming and can control what you do. Imagine being able to explore your mind, fly across cities, and do anything you want in your dreams.

Onnit also backs up Alpha Brain with a really great money back guarantee (they nicknamed the “Keep It” money back guarantee). If you’re new to the world on nootropics and you aren’t sure if one will work for you, you should look for a nootropic that has a 100% satisfaction guarantee such as Alpha Brain.

Ingredients

So that we can properly compare Alpha Brain with OptiMind, let’s look at all of its ingredients.

  • Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCI)
  • L-Tyrosine
  • L-Theanine
  • Oat Straw Extract (Avena Sativa)
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • AC-11 (Uncaria tomentosa Extract)
  • L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha GPC)
  • Bacopa Monniera Extract
  • Huperzia Serrata Extract
  • L-Leucine
  • Vinpocetine
  • Pterostilbene

Many of the above ingredients are standard nootropics that I really love (Bacopa Monniera being one of my favorites).

Reviews

As mentioned above, our Brain Wiz testers loved using Alpha Brain. One even went as far as saying, “Alpha Brain is one of the best nootropics I have tried.” Now that is a good review. We really liked that Onnit didn’t stuff this nootropic full of caffeine to give users a big rush and crash.

In addition to our positive experience, many other people on the internet have had similar experiences. You’ll often hear the people who promote Alpha Brain on their podcasts talk about how they take it and how it really helps them perform. Beyond that, people of all walks of life have had success using Alpha Brain in their personal and professional lives. I recommend checking out what some of the customer reviews are on the Alpha Brain product page.

Price and Value

When purchased through Onnit, Alpha Brain comes to $29.71 (if you subscribe to get it monthly). If you choose not to subscribe, Alpha Brain is only $34.95. In total that only comes out to around $1.16 per serving for a 30 day bottle. Of course, if you decide to get the bigger bottle, you will save even more money.

OptiMind

OptiMind was once called “Alleradd” before their big rebrand. Beyond being popular by nootropic lovers, OptiMind has been mentioned in big websites such as Vice and Elite Daily. There is definitely a lot of hype around OptiMind, similar to Alpha Brain. To see is all of this hype is warranted, we tested OptiMind here at Brain Wiz and had very favorable results.

Like Alpha Brain, OptiMind offers a great money back guarantee. If you don’t like OptiMind or it doesn’t work for you, just send back the bottle within 30 days and you will receive a full refund. Just to reitterate, you want to make sure you go with a nootropic that has this type of guarantee because it proves that they believe in their product and you can get back your money if it doesn’t work.

Ingredients

To ensure that we properly compare OptiMind to Alpha Brain, let’s look at its ingredients.

  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin B12
  • L-Tyrosine
  • Taurine
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Bacopa Extract
  • GABA
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid
  • Vinpocetine
  • Sulbutiamine
  • Huperzia Serrata
  • Caffeine

You’ll notice that OptiMind has caffeine. If you are a big caffeine drinker already, you may want to use Alpha Brain instead. Taking too much caffeine can lead to a big crash later in the day (e.g. fatigue and irritability).

Reviews

As mentioned above, we had a great success using OptiMind. I skipped my normal daily coffee when testing it but the caffeine didn’t give me any jitters or make me crash later in the day, which is a huge plus. The focus and concentration was sustained for the majority of the day.

Other reviewers also had favorable things to say about OptiMind. I recommend watching some testimonials from the video below. You’ll notice that a lot of different people take it — engineers, teachers, interior designers, and more.

Price and Value

OptiMind can actually be shipped to you for free. That’s not a joke. They currently offer 10 capsules for free and free shipping. All you have to do is input your contact information. If you want to purchase a full bottle, it only comes out to $43.31 (plus free shipping). That equals around $1.44 per serving for one months supply of OptiMind.

Alpha Brain vs OptiMind: Ingredients

IngredientsAlpha BrainOptiMind
Vitamin B6YesNo
L-TyrosineYesYes
L-TheanineYesNo
Oat Straw ExtractYesNo
PhosphatidylserineYesYes
AC-11YesNo
L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholineYesNo
Bacopa MonnieraYesYes
Huperzia Serrata ExtractYesYes
L-LeucineYesNo
VinpocetineYesYes
PterostilbeneYesNo
Vitamin DNoYes
Vitamin B12NoYes
TaurineNoYes
GABANoYes
Alpha Lipoic AcidNoYes
SulbutiamineNoYes
CaffeineNoYes

Alpha Brain vs OptiMind: Final Thoughts

Overall I really like both of these nootropics. However, they are meant for different types of people. Having caffeine in it, OptiMind is for the person who doesn’t drink a lot of coffee, tea, or energy drinks during the day (more than 2-3 servings per day). Adding in another caffeine source could cause some unpleasant side effects. I would say that Alpha Brain is for the new nootropic user who drinks coffee or tea regularly but wants to take their mind to the next level in terms of focus and concentration.

OptiMind reminded me a lot of drinking an energy drink or a big cup of green tea. I had a lot of focus but there was definitely a lot of energy behind that focus too. Alpha Brain was more of a calm focus, the way you feel when you wake up completely rested and you just feel “in the zone”.

So, in conclusion, if you drink a lot of coffee or tea regularly, try Alpha Brain first. If you aren’t too susceptible to caffeine and you want focus and energy, try OptiMind.

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Alpha Brain Side Effects: An Honest Breakdown Of Each Ingredient https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/alpha-brain-side-effects/ https://brainwiz.org/supplement-reviews/alpha-brain-side-effects/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2017 17:45:30 +0000 https://brainwiz.org/?p=73389 Alpha Brain is one of the most popular nootropics in the world, and for good reason — it works. It is backed by some of the most high profile athletes and entertainers, such as Joe Rogan. However, regardless of how much fanfare there is surrounding it, some people really want to know if there are […]

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Alpha Brain is one of the most popular nootropics in the world, and for good reason — it works. It is backed by some of the most high profile athletes and entertainers, such as Joe Rogan. However, regardless of how much fanfare there is surrounding it, some people really want to know if there are any side effects associated with using Alpha Brain.

This is an incredibly important question to answer when considering using any supplement, not just a nootropic. Everybody is different and reacts differently to specific supplements. It is important to speak with a medical professional before trying any new supplement. Today we will be looking at each individual ingredient that makes up Alpha Brain and whether or not they cause side effects (based on research).

  • AC-11: Also more commonly known as “Cat’s Claw”, AC-11 can possibly cause headaches, vomiting, and dizziness in some people. I have found that I only feel these side effects if I take a supplement or vitamin without eating. This is because it has a negative effect with my stomach lining. There are other very special cases where people with an auto-immune disease (such as multiple sclerosis) caused the disease to become more active.
  • Alpha GPC: This ingredient has been rated as safe when used appropriately. Some side effects could include heartburn, headache, insomnia, dizziness, rashes on the skin, and confusion.
  • Bacopa Monnieri: One study on animals found that there were no adverse side effects when using this nootropic.
  • Huperzine A: This ingredient can sometimes cause nausea, diarrhea, sweating, blurred vision, restlessness, loss of appetite, some muscle cramping/twitching, and other mild side effects. It can also possibly slow the heart rate and cause some gastrointestinal tract blockage.
  • L-Leucine: The most common side effects recorded are fatigue and loss of coordination.
  • L-Theanine: There have been very few adverse reactions recorded in people using L-Theanine. The most common are headache, dizziness, and GI symptoms. L-theanine is drank regularly by green tea lovers.
  • L-Tyrosine: This ingredient has been rated as “likely safe” when taken orally. Some side effects recorded are nausea, headache, fatigue, heartburn, and joint pain.
  • Oat Straw: There are no recorded side effects of oat straw. However, if you are allergic to oat flour, you may want to avoid oat straw.
  • Phosphatidylserine: The most common side effects of this ingredient are only seen in high doses (300mg and up). They include insomnia and stomach upset.
  • Pterostilbene: In a study, researchers found that there were no real side effects when compared to the placebo.
  • Vinpocetine: Many of the side effects that have been recorded using this ingredient are similar to the above — stomach pain, nausea, sleep disturbances, headache, nervousness, and flushing of the face.

While there are some rare side effects listed above, I can honestly say I have only experienced a handful of them (headache and upset stomach). This is because, in my personal opinion, I took the nootropics on an empty stomach and they had an adverse reaction with my stomach lining. I also never took more than the recommended dose of Alpha Brain. In doing so, you greatly risk seeing some of the adverse side effects listed above.

Again, I am not a doctor, nor do I pretend to be one. If you have any questions about Alpha Brain, definitely reach out to a medical professional for answers.

To end on a funny/positive note, here is a video of comedians’ Joey Diaz side effects stories…

The post Alpha Brain Side Effects: An Honest Breakdown Of Each Ingredient appeared first on Brain Wiz.

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