Do Nootrobox’s GO CUBES live up to the hype, and will they replace your morning cup of Joe? Read on to get our full review, including whether they gave us a mental boost and how the flavor stacked up against real coffee.

[Get our exclusive discount coupon on Nootrobox products here.]

The Ingredients

Per cube; typical serving size is 2 cubes. Nootrobox is a company that values transparency in its supplements, so they list all ingredients and ingredient amounts.

Caffeine – 50 mg

The world’s most popular stimulant, caffeine is one of the more common ingredients in nootropic stacks because of its ability to reduce fatigue and enhance concentration and energy. Two cubes of GO CUBES is equivalent to roughly one cup of coffee (100 mg).

L-Theanine – 100 mg

A calming amino acid, l-theanine has been shown to enhance the effects of caffeine while reducing the jitters some people experience with caffeine consumption. This caffeine/l-theanine ratio is common in nootropic supplements.

Vitamin B6 – 10 mg

Vitamin B6 is involved in the production of neurotransmitters. When taken with phenylalanine, vitamin B6 can improve cAMP levels, and dopamine synthesis.

GO CUBES Nootrobox Ingredients Label

Vitamin B12 – 30 mcg

An essential nutrient, B12 plays an important role in numerous bodily functions, including neurological function and development.

Folate – 500 mcg

Often referred to as Vitamin B9, folate (a slightly different form than folic acid) is vital to neurological development in infants as well as a process called methylation for all adults.

This is a pretty high amount of folate for a supplement, as the upper dosage recommended is normally around 400 mcg, and there’s some evidence a high amount of folate could mask a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Go Cubes Nootrobox Pack

Glucuronolactone – 125 mg

Glucuronolactone is a common ingredient in many energy drinks, largely based off claims it can help “detoxify” the body and liver. Current research suggests few benefits to cognition or energy. This compound also found in Nootrobox’s SPRINT supplement (full review here).

Inositol – 125 mg

A compound with some anxiety reducing properties in amounts generally much higher than what’s found here. Also found in Nootrobox’s SPRINT supplement.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) – 25 mg

Vitamin B3 acts within the adrenal system to synthesize a number of sex- and stress-related hormones, along with serotonin, a neurotransmitter acting on the central nervous system and the GI tract. Some people experience a harmless “flush” when taking niacin-containing supplements.

Other Ingredients: Corn syrup, sugar, water, pectin, caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, sodium citrate.

Usage Guidelines

We made coffee you can put in your pocket. GO CUBES are perfect for your purse, backpack, or briefcase. They’re the easiest way to always have coffee on hand with no mess & no stress.

Serving size: 2 pieces

GO CUBES Review on Flavors

GO CUBES come in three flavors: Pure Drip, Mocha, and Latte. There’s a mix of these in each pack (4 cubes), and while they’re slightly different colors, it’s tough to tell exactly which one you’re getting before you bite into them.

Overall, our testers enjoyed each flavor of GO CUBES, citing Mocha as the strongest flavor and very chocolate-y, Latte as relatively mild, and Pure Drip as the straightest coffee flavor of all (tasting a bit like a darker roast, not unlike Starbucks’ normal iced coffee).

What Our Testers Say

“I probably have the lowest caffeine tolerance of any BrainWiz tester, so I really appreciate knowing EXACTLY how much caffeine I’m getting, that’s one reason I don’t drink coffee that often, because it varies so much from cup to cup depending on the beans, roast, etc. I like the taste of coffee, though, and GO CUBES was definitely convenient. When I do drink coffee, I often pair it with 100 or 200 mg of L-Theanine, and I appreciated that they did this for me here. I’ll take GO CUBES with me when I do need a caffeine boost and want more control over exactly what I’m taking.”

“I’m a coffee snob, and GO CUBES will never replace coffee for me. But...they’re interesting. I think you start absorbing some of the caffeine while you’re chewing (probably sublingual), so you feel an almost immediate kick, then another as you digest. The flavors were all good, though I normally take my coffee black, and these were a bit too sweat for me to have every day.”

“I didn’t get as excited as some outlets about these. They’re not going to replace coffee for everyone, if only because they taste more like candy and have sugar in them. But they were convenient and they were pretty tasty, and the flavor profiles seem like they took a lot of work. The boost felt mostly like caffeine and l-theanine, not a ton beyond that, but they fit easily in a backpack, which my iced coffee does not.”

“It’s worth having a pack or two of GO CUBES at your desk. Sometimes coffee won’t be available. Sometimes it won’t be convenient, or you want to know exactly how much caffeine you’re getting. GO CUBES solve that, but they’re never going to replace a morning cup.”

BrainWiz Tips

• Nootrobox’s GO CUBES are sweet, and if you’re watching your sugar intake, save these for after a workout or just go with black coffee, these are definitely not calorie neutral, especially considering you’ll probably have between two and four cubes in a sitting.
• Our testers were impressed with GO CUBES flavor, and they do pair well with breakfast if you’d rather chew your coffee than drink it.
• A full pack is 200 mg of caffeine, more than you’ll find in some energy drinks. Stay aware of your caffeine intake when taking GO CUBES and other nootropics.

Supplement Summary

Just like SPRINT and RISE, Nootrobox’s GO CUBES sets out to bring transparency to a brain boosting industry; in this case, they’re trying to disrupt coffee as opposed to nootropic supplements proper. And they partially succeed: These gave us a good, jitter-free boost with the added nootropic ingredients to compliment caffeine. And with GO CUBES, it’s clear exactly how much caffeine you’re getting in every serving. They also fit in well with Nootrobox’s other supplements, including RISE, which is one of the top research-backed, caffeine-free, and transparent nootropic stacks we’ve ever tried.

We look forward to seeing what Nootrobox comes up with next, and we hope it’s a sugar-free version of GO CUBES. For us, they’re a sweet treat, but they’d be even more useful to more people without the sweetener.

Read our interview with Nootrobox’s co-founder and CEO Geoffrey Woo here.

The post GO CUBES Review: Is Chewable Coffee Better for Your Brain? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

1. I want something with caffeine (Alpha BRAIN is caffeine free, and while this is also something a lot of people cite as a benefit, preferences of course differ)
2. I want a simpler formula
3. I want a more transparent formula (Alpha BRAIN doesn’t publicly release the exact makeup of their proprietary blends, but they have generally been revealed in one research source)
4. Alpha BRAIN is too expensive
5. I just want to try something different

To make it easier to find some of the best Alpha BRAIN alternatives, we’ve highlighted these reasons and some of our favorite solutions below.

Have another Alpha BRAIN alternative you love? Let us know in the comments!

You Want Something Simpler

Alpha BRAIN is a broad-spectrum nootropic, meaning it contains a high number of ingredients that, while potentially synergistic, have numerous different effects on the brain and body. It has 12 active ingredients, many of which might not carry a potent effect for everyone.

Learn what our testers think about Alpha BRAIN in our review.

One of our current favorite Alpha BRAIN alternatives with a very straightforward formulation is RISE by Nootrobox. It has just three active ingredients: rhodiola rosea, bacopa monnieri, and Alpha-GPC. And unlike Onnit, Nootrobox is very upfront with how much of which ingredients are in its supplements.

Learn more about RISE in our full review.

Like Alpha BRAIN, RISE is caffeine-free and is designed for daily use. Both supplements contain notable adaptogens, though only RISE contains rhodiola, which our testers have anecdotally found to give a mental as well as physical boost. Both supplements contain Alpha-GPC, the highest-quality form of choline you’ll find in nootropics (and the form most able to cross the blood-brain barrier). Learn more about Alpha-GPC here.

It’s worth noting that Bacopa and Alpha-GPC are both found in Alpha BRAIN, though in significantly smaller quantities than RISE; Alpha BRAIN contains 240 mg of their Focus Blend, which includes both ingredients, while RISE contains 300 mg of each.

You Want Something More Powerful With Caffeine

Alpha BRAIN’s caffeine-free formula is famous and pairs well with coffee. However, some people want a powerful, fast-acting nootropic formula that gives them a more perceptible energy boost. In that case, our testers prefer Lumonol.

Lumonol is another broad-spectrum nootropic stack that includes a choline source, but it’s paired with guarana (a potent caffeine source) and noopept, a fast-metabolizing compound that can provide a cognitive boost shortly after ingestion (similar to, but potentially more potent than, piracetam).

Lumonol is one of our highest-rated nootropics and one of the fastest-acting, highest-energy blends we’ve tried. Find out more about Lumonol and who it may be best for in our review.

truBrain is another fast-acting nootropic our testers generally had good experiences with, and it’s one with a transparent list of ingredients plus the backing of an impressive team of neuroscientists. We found their liquid shots, which come in caffeinated and non-caffeinated forms, tasty and convenient.

You Want Something Cheaper

Onnit isn’t known for bargain-basement prices, though they occasionally release coupons and discounts. (Find out how to get the cheapest Alpha BRAIN at our coupons portal.)

If you’re looking for a broad-spectrum nootropic at a cheaper price, especially one that’s accessible to beginners, our testers recommend looking at Cognitex. It has a pretty different ingredient profile than Alpha BRAIN, but we overall enjoyed it, and it paired very well with coffee and other sources of caffeine like Smart Caffeine. If you take into account the price per serving, Cognitex is about half the price of Alpha BRAIN (assuming a 2-capsule serving of Alpha BRAIN).

Read our full Cognitex review here. 

Another cheaper option per serving is Choline Force by Bulletproof (also known as Upgraded Self). Find out about our experience with Choline Force in our review.

You Want Something More Transparent

Again, Onnit isn’t always the most forthcoming with their exact formulations. Of the options listed above, RISE, Cognitex, and Choline Force are all very transparent in their formulations, in fact, transparent ingredient amounts is one of the founding principles of a company like Nootrobox. As far as a stimulant-free stack with a quality, no-gimmicks formula our testers enjoyed, RISE is currently our preferred alternative to Alpha BRAIN.

Still looking for that perfect stack? Check out our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide for rankings of the best nootropics.

Quick note: Some in the biohacking community enjoy creating their own blends and mixing raw ingredients. We primarily review consumer-ready supplements and don’t put out recommendations for at-home or self-packed supplements made from raw ingredients meant for research purposes, which can carry its own set of risks. When starting any new supplement regimen, please use common sense and don’t be afraid to consult with your healthcare provider.

The post What’s the Best Alpha BRAIN Alternative? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

The company manufacturers a line of science-backed nootropics that include the adaptogen and choline-rich RISE, caffeine-containing SPRINT, and sleep-boosting YAWN.

Our testers have generally liked these supplements, which are among the most consistent we’ve reviewed. (Read our reviews for RISE and SPRINT, and find out what our testers thought about each supplement.)

Who Founded Nootrobox?

Nootrobox was founded by Geoffrey Woo and Michael Brandt, both Stanford graduates with degrees in Computer Science. Woo serves as CEO, while Brandt serves as COO. Read our interview with Geoffrey Woo here.

The company’s two “Medicine & Science” staff members are Sumeet Sharma and Robert Chen, both MD/PhD candidates. It’s important to note that while these employees have impressive pedigrees, it doesn’t seem like Nootrobox has and full PhDs or medical doctors on staff at this time. We anticipate that may change in the near future as the company grows its research branch.

Investors in Nootrobox include Andreessen Horowitz, Marissa Mayer, Mark Pincus, Dr. Connie Chen, and Keven Chou.

What Makes Nootrobox Different?

And Nootrobox seems to have a heavy focus on quality; the company states they’re focus is squarely on “safe, long-term cognitive enhancement.” Nootrobox is also very transparent when it comes to ingredient labeling and dosage; none of their supplements contain “proprietary” blends or mystery ingredients, and they list the amounts in each serving. That’s a welcome feature in a space where many brands protect their exact formulations at the expense of the consumer.

We’ve reviewed dozens of the most popular nootropic supplements on the market, and Nootrobox’s supps predominantly contain ingredients that have given our testers few, if any, side effects with generally consistent benefits. While their stacks aren’t the most “innovative” on the market, yet, you know what you’re getting, and they’re generally among the first supplements we recommend to beginners looking to test the waters of nootropics and brain enhancement.

Where Is Nootrobox Made?

Currently, it doesn’t seem like the company owns its own manufacturing facilities, though their site’s FAQ claims their supplements are made in FDA-registered and independently audited GMP labs in the United States.

What’s in Nootrobox’s Future?

We expect Nootrobox will be using an influx of investment capital to research and scale production for new supplements in their line. A chewable coffee product from the company, GO CUBES, is currently in pre-release after a successful crowd funding campaign.

The post Who Is Nootrobox, the Company Behind RISE, SPRINT, YAWN, and More? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Read our review of Nootrobox’s RISE nootropic here and SPRINT nootropic here.

The company’s two main nootropics are RISE, a combo of well-researched adaptogenic and cholinergic compounds, and SPRINT, which features the potent caffeine + l-theanine combo for sustained energy and no crash. We’ve reviewed each independently, but we’ve also been trying the two in tandem.

The company generally suggests taking RISE as the baseline, everyday brain booster, with SPRINT added in when you need an extra, well, boost. Read below to see what we thought of the pairing.

What Our Testers Say

“I really liked RISE but wasn’t the biggest fan of SPRINT on its own. However, when I took them together (RISE in the morning, SPRINT after lunch when I generally lag in energy), I liked what I felt. I’ve found out I really like the combo of rhodiola + Alpha-GPC + caffeine + theanine before, and stacking these two puts those compounds in a much more convenient package (as opposed to reaching for them individually and adding in coffee).”

“RISE keeps me calm and level-headed in the face of work stress, and it’s gradually becoming one of my go-to’s for regular use. I haven’t felt like I’m building a tolerance to it, and generally I think the effects are cumulative for me; I felt better the second week of taking it than the first, and so on. Adding SPRINT in is a nice touch, but I’m a coffee person, so generally I’ve got enough caffeine on hand to keep me going. I can see how it’s convenient, though.”

“I’m still a little skeptical that SPRINT lasts 6 hours for me, but it’s definitely at least as potent as coffee, and I like the addition of theanine, among other things. I took both these supplements on my last trip, when it would be tough for me to keep on my regular schedule or get coffee I liked, and they kept me productive and focused. A good combo for convenience and impact. Not compounds you can’t get elsewhere, but if you don’t like mystery ingredients or amounts, this is probably a good way to get started in nootropics.”

“I got the most benefit out of taking both RISE and SPRINT together with breakfast. One really hard days I needed coffee or another serving of SPRINT after lunch, but I’ve found this combo a solid way to start my mornings.”

Supplement Summary

Overall, our testers found the RISE + SPRINT combo convenient and reliable, though not overly innovative. That’s almost a relief, as the nootropic supplements space is filled with “proprietary” formulas we’ve tried and hated. We’re excited to see what Nootrobox releases next in their product line, and we hope they maintain the same level of transparency moving forward.

If you’re looking for another potent stack that includes Nootrobox’s RISE supplement, consider combining it with MagTech for an all-day boost in productivity.

Interested in RISE or SPRINT? Save 10% off all Nootrobox products with the exclusive BrainWiz Nootrobox coupon.

The post Stacking Nootrobox’s RISE and SPRINT: Is It the Ultimate Combo? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Image Credit: Andreessen Horowitz

But there’s one piece of information you won’t find in news reports on the deal. And it’s something you have to learn from a lot of testing and comparisons of the market’s leading smart drugs. We’ve reviewed Nootrobox’s products before, and their current lineup is hopefully just the tip of the iceberg. Our testers were enthusiast on their RISE and SPRINT supplements, though their ingredient combos aren’t entirely new in the space. To be fair, Nootrobox is pretty transparent with their ingredients, labeling, and dosages, which we appreciate. As far as transparency, we place them alongside all-natural or earth-grown blends from some other manufacturers, which are also well sourced and transparent.

Illustration by Morgan Schweitzer

Nootrobox seems eager to use at least some of their new funding to research new stacks and products. Nootrobox’s blog announcement comes at a time when nootropic manufacturers are making big leaps forward in taking their products from niche supplements to worldwide popularity; increasing product diversity and creating supplements that stand as unique will be crucial in that push. We’ll be monitoring the company (and its competitors) closely, testing out the latest products to see which are actually pushing the envelope on quality and effectiveness.

The post Why the World’s Top Venture Capitalists Just Bet Big on Nootropics appeared first on Brain Wiz.

At first glance, Nootrobox’s formulations aren’t carbon copies of other popular stacks, but they all contain ingredients that are fairly well researched, and ones we have quite a bit of experience testing. First up is RISE, their “daily” nootropic stack designed for regular/everyday use. Hear what our testers had to say by reading our full RISE review below!

Get the best deal on Nootrobox HERE.

RISE by Nootrobox Ingredients

The Ingredients

• Active Ingredients: Bacopa monnieri (50% bacosides) – 300 mg
  • Bacopa Monnieri is an herb used as an antidepressant and a cognitive booster. While performing stressful cognitive tests, subjects taking Bacopa Monnieri experienced the herb’s nootropic effects and reduced both stress and cortisol levels. This is on par with the highest concentration of bacosides in the extract we’ve seen in a nootropic product. Nootrobox recommends taking RISE with fat-containing meals, as this ingredient may be better absorbed when paired with fats.
• Rhodiola rosea (3% rosavins and 1% salidroside) – 300 mg
  • While there’s some evidence that Rhodiola Rosea can combat the effects of physical stress, it’s best known and well-researched to fight fatigue from mental challenges and tasks. Basically, evidence suggests this herb helps us better manage stress, and it also combats fatigue we might feel from mentally (and potentially physically) grueling tasks. Some early research also indicates Rhodiola could improve overall longevity and brain help in mammals. Rhodiola supplementation also has diminishing returns in that more than ~600mg may actually reverse the positive effects. To that end, we’re happy to see Nootrobox showing some restraint on the dosage here instead of powering up their numbers just for show.
• a-GPC (L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine) – 300 mg
  • Choline is a vital compound in neurotransmission, and research suggests many Americans don’t get enough from their regular diets (in fact, choline-based nootropics are increasingly common, and some of our testers have experienced enhanced memory and focus simply from supplementing choline). This is the same high-quality form of choline as in popular stack Alpha Brain.
• Other Ingredients: Rice flour, vegetable cellulose (capsule), calcium carbonate, silicon dioxide.

Read what happened when we stacked RISE with SPRINT, another Nootrobox nootropic.

Usage Guidelines

Simply take one in the morning with breakfast, and one post-lunch or with an afternoon snack. It’s recommended that you take RISE with food because bacopa monnieri tends to be better absorbed when taken with fat. Some of our customers take one in the morning with a tall glass of water and then take one more additional RISE in the afternoon post-lunch or with a snack. Others just take two at once with a meal with fats – dairy, meat, nuts, etc.

What Our Testers Say

“Taking this supplement felt very similar for me to Rhodiola rosea supplementation, with a little extra kick. Doesn’t sound terribly exciting, but that’s not a bad thing, and I appreciate the help dealing with stress. With the added Alpha-GPC and other adaptogen [Bacopa], this is a stack that seems low on gimmicks while doubling down on research-backed compounds. I’ll probably reach for RISE when I want the endurance and stress-fighting effects of Rhodiola in a simple package.”

“I took RISE with caffeine and without, and definitely think it pairs well with. It’s a stimulant-free supplement, so it may be a good option for beginners to nootropics or people who are sensitive to caffeine. I also liked the inclusion of Alpha-GPC; I get a lot of choline in my diet, so I probably didn’t notice too much from this, but it could be an especially good option for people who don’t, like many vegetarians.”

“This took the edge off my work stress, and I found myself better able to power through mundane or draining tasks at work. Doesn’t contain any stimulants, and I didn’t feel an energy boost whatsoever, but it did well to aid my focus.”

“I felt calm and level-headed when I was doing the RISE trial, but no more energetic than normal. I appreciate Nootrobox actually listing the amounts of various ingredients, and this is a nice, straightforward adaptogen + choline stack I’ll probably reach for in times of stress or heavy workload. It also paired well with my morning coffee and breakfast. ”

BrainWiz Tips

• Take with fats during breakfast or lunch to help improve absorption of RISE’s bacosides.
• In our review of RISE, most of our testers compared this supplement to standalone supplementation of Rhodiola rosea, which pairs well with coffee (RISE is caffeine and stimulant-free) and is good before stressful situations.
• As with any supplement or nutritional regimen, you should talk to your doctor or medical professional before use.
• We appreciate that Nootrobox lists active ingredient amounts; you know what you’re getting.

Supplement Summary

For our testers, RISE by Nootrobox felt a lot like plain Rhodiola with an added “kick”, and at the very least, their effects were similar. None of us felt negative side effects when taking RISE, though as with many supplements, individual user experiences will vary.

Interested in RISE? Save 10% off all Nootrobox products with the exclusive BrainWiz Nootrobox coupon.

Several of our testers are trying RISE on a more long-term basis and will report back. We’re also excited to see what other stacks Nootrobox develops with their newly raised venture capital money.

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