Is Astaxanthin Good for the Brain?

The compound has been tied to increased blood flow, decreased low-density cholesterol oxidation (which could help reduce artery blockage and the risk of heart disease), and is generally considered a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. There’s some evidence that these two properties, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, could help alleviate symptoms of brain injury and trauma.

It’s a compound that may also slow age-related cognitive decline because it can have neuroprotective properties, protecting the brain against oxidative damage that comes with age.

Other research indicates astaxanthin could increase spatial memory in mammals, though that research has primarily been conducted on rodents, not humans just yet. This research also emphasized that the exact mechanisms for astaxanthin’s impact on cognitive function aren’t fully explored, so while there may be some perceived benefit in studies and anecdotal use, we don’t yet have a full understanding of exactly how it impacts our brains.

Where Do We Find Astaxanthin Supplements?

We’ve seen more and more standalone astaxanthin supplements come on to the market, and most research that shows positive effects in humans involves supplementation around 6 to 8 mg per day. However, it’s also a compound that’s becoming frequently paired with other anti-inflammatory nootropics like fish oil (DHA and EPA). We first saw this combination in Nootrobox’s KADO-3 supplement, which pairs astaxanthin with fish oil, vitamin D, and vitamin K. Nootrobox’s astaxanthin is sourced from krill, much like the omega-3 oils in KADO-3.

What are your experiences with astaxanthin? Let us know in the comments below!

The post What Is Astaxanthin, and Why Do I See It In Nootropic Supplements? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

But coffee is a big and complex world, and it’s tough to figure out where to start among the many thousands of varieties, farms, roasters, and brands producing “boutique” or “speciality” brews. We haven’t tried all the world has to offer, but we’ve made our way through some of the more common single estate coffees, and we’ve compiled our favorites below. Everyone has their personal preferences, but these are five companies with coffees that have helped us get more done (and enjoy our morning fix) time and time again.

1. Caveman Coffee Company

It’s no secret we love Caveman Coffee, and one of their founders, Tait Fletcher, was among the first to turn us on to the intersections of fitness and biohacking. Caveman Coffee is just a couple years old, and they don’t have a ton of products available, but that’s largely because they’ve taken their time sourcing incredibly specific coffee varieties. In fact, they go beyond single origin and single estate, focusing on single family coffee varieties from Colombia, Brazil, and Ethiopia.

From their website:

Caveman Coffee is not only a Single Origin/Single Estate Coffee, it is a Single Family Coffee. Our beans are grown, washed, dried, and roasted by one family. That’s right, a father and son team run the growing and drying in Colombia and the other two sons handle the small batch roasting.

We’ve found Caveman Coffee to be incredibly consistent in flavor profile, and it goes well with MCT oil and other productivity enhancers.

2. Picacho Coffee Micro Lots

Produced seasonally in very limited quantities, Picacho’s micro lot coffees are actually split between single-estate and cooperative growers. But the highlights, at least in our opinion, are definitely the single estate varieties, including several from the farm of Colombian farmer German Valenzuela.

Are Picacho Coffee’s micro lots cheap? Rarely. Are they delicious, well-sourced, and complex in their flavor profiles? Absolutely. It’s the kind of coffee you’re going to want to savor and enjoy, whether you’re crushing work or looking for a smooth weekend wakeup.

3. Intelligentsia Coffee 

Intellgentsia is a pioneering company in well-sourced, single estate or single origin coffees. Their single origin coffees include information on location, farmers, and harvest dates. If you’re a coffee nerd or just want to learn more about what’s behind the brew in your cup, their website and packaging is full of enough information to keep you occupied. Their single origin coffees come from a variety of countries and climates, so you’ll be able to narrow down which you like best based on everything from growing season to elevation.

4. Union Hand Roasted Coffee

With varieties from Costa Rica to Indonesia, Brazil to Rwanda, Union Hand Roasted Coffee produces some excellent coffees with easy-to-follow pedigrees. Are you someone who cares, highly, about what you’re putting into your body? Learn how each batch is grown, harvested, and roasted, along with who’s doing each step of the process along the way. Union takes a lot of the worry out of coffee so you can concentrate on enjoying your brew, and using it to get more done.

5. Bulletproof Coffee

Bulletproof gets their “Upgraded” coffee from single estates in Guatemala (though to be fair, some may argue their final roasts aren’t technically “single estate” but more “single origin,” coming from the same region but not necessarily the same farm). Their company popularized the combo of high-quality coffee, butter, and medium-chain triglyceride oil, it’s called “Bulletproof Coffee” for a reason!

And Bulletproof isn’t a newbie in the world of nootropics and productivity enhancement; in fact, it’s largely the foundation of their company, and they’ve made their coffee to reflect the high-performance edge their customers look for. We can’t say for sure if Bulletproof’s Central American-sourced beans make you leaps and bounds more productive than the standard roast off a supermarket shelf, but they sure do pair well with fats, like the company’s own Brain Octane oil, that may enhance mental clarity and focus. When it comes to mentioning high-performance, well-sourced coffees, Bulletproof’s is one we would feel bad leaving off our list.

The post The Best Single Estate Coffee Brands appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Our testers weighed in below. For in-depth discussions of each stack, read our full FOCUSfactor and Focus Fast reviews.

FOCUSfactor versus Focus Fast

One important thing to note is that with the “proprietary” blends and lengthy ingredient lists on each of these broad stacks, user experience can vary significantly, as there are many, many ingredients that will seem different in potency to different users. However, our testers generally — and we emphasize generally — preferred FOCUSfactor to Focus Fast. They found FOCUSfactor to be the more consistent of the two caffeine-free nootropics, and it paired fairly well with breakfast for a mild clarity and focus boost.

However, one downside of FOCUSfactor is the relatively large serving size (4 pills). If you’re prone to upset stomach from ingesting capsules or pills, this is definitely not one to take without food in order to ease absorption.

Our testers felt next to no cognitive boost when taking Focus Fast, perhaps because the supplement’s proprietary blend (i.e. you don’t know how much of particular ingredients are in it) may not have contained enough of the active ingredients to actually impart a benefit.

Are There Better Nootropic Stacks?

After years of testing nootropic supplements, our testers tend to feel the combo multivitamin/nootropic supps aren’t that effective. They’re simply trying to cram too many ingredients into one supplement, and that means they often have antagonistic ingredients or too little of some active ingredients to make any difference.

And while both FOCUSfactor and Focus Fast seem to be marketed toward beginners in the nootropic space — they contain relatively straightforward ingredients, though just many in extremely small quantities — we think there are better options. Our ultimate guide to nootropic stacks for beginners lists every nootropic we’ve ever tested, along with our general experience and rankings from best to worst (most effective to least effective, although there’s some variability on criteria).

The post FOCUSfactor Versus Focus Fast: Which Supplement Is Better? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Neurofuse vs OptiMind: What’s Similar About These Stacks

Both of these supplements contain a pretty broad array of nootropic ingredients, including adaptogens (they both share bacopa as an ingredient), B and D vitamin complexes (though in different forms), Phosphatidylserine, vinpocetine, and huperzine A. These are broad-spectrum stacks, meaning they can potentially boost cognition, focus, and energy through a variety of compounds and processes in the brain and body. Both nootropic stacks contain proprietary blends, meaning the manufacturer doesn’t release exact dosages of some ingredients , often in order to protect their formula from competitors.

What’s Different Between These Nootropic Supplements

While they share the above ingredients, Neurofuse and OptiMind have some significant differences in their formulas. One major difference is that Neurofuse contains the amino acid l-theanine, which can pair well with caffeine to reduce jitters and increase alertness and focus. OptiMind contains caffeine but does not appear to contain l-theanine. This may account for why our testers experienced some significant jitters when taking OptiMind, even at the recommended dosage.

Neurofuse also contains rhodiola rosea, and additional adaptogen with few (if any) clinical side effects. Rhodiola can have anti-fatigue properties in both mental and physical capacities.

OptiMind also lacks a choline-containing compound, even though several of its ingredients are involved in choline metabolism within the brain. Neurofuse contains choline in the form of choline-bitartrate.

Learn More About Neurofuse and OptiMind

For more information about Neurofuse, check out our full review here. Get the best price on Neurofuse by checking our Neurofuse coupons page.

Learn more about OptiMind in our full review.

The post Neurofuse vs OptiMind: Which Nootropic Supplement Is Better? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

One of the questions we’ve been getting a lot lately is, “What is the best time to take Lumonol? Having tested the product for 90 days, I have taken it at varying times of day, with varying effects.

Read our full Lumonol review here.

The first thing to take into consideration when choosing your timing  is your sensitivity to caffeine. Because Lumonol contains guarana, a berry containing four times the amount of caffeine as coffee beans, those particularly sensitive to caffeine should consider only taking Lumonol in the morning and starting slow.

I have a high tolerance to caffeine, so after experimentation, I started taking Lumonol on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, and following it up with a cup off coffee once I arrived at the office, a couple of hours later. This combination was the best in sustaining the wave of energy and focus well into the afternoon.

On days where I know I need to be alert later on in the afternoon, I split my Lumonol dose. I take one pill first thing in the morning, followed by breakfast, and the second pill before or right after lunch.

I found this to be the best way to prolong Lumonol’s effects to help me stay sharp most of the day. It’s important to note that this may not be the best option if you have difficulty falling asleep, like me. On instances when I did split my dose, I’ve had to take something to help me unwind at night, like Nootrobox’s Yawn.

In short, there are a number of ways to time your Lumonol, and it really all depends on what you are trying to achieve. For me, the best time to take Lumonol is first thing in the morning, right when I wake up, but I suggest you experiment with timing to find what works best for you.

The post What’s the Best Time to Take Lumonol? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Noopept Versus Addium

Lumonol’s Noopept Provided Superior Focus

Of the two, our testers overwhelmingly preferred Lumonol for the consistent, fast-acting focus they felt they got from taking it in the morning (and often again in the afternoon, one capsule per serving). Read our full Lumonol review and a more in-depth discussion of noopept here.

This is probably due – at least in part – to the inclusion of noopept in Lumonol. Noopept is a compound related to the racetam class of nootropics, powerful synthetic compounds that have shown significant promise in the field of brain enhancement. Research suggests noopept may have a similar effect to piracetam – the father of the racetam class of compounds – at much lower dosages. Noopept also metabolizes quickly, which could be one reason our testers felt Lumonol was among the fastest acting nootropic supplements they’d ever tried.

Addium does not contain any racetam or related compounds; that in and of itself doesn’t mean it’s not a good nootropic, and the racetams and related compounds aren’t right for everyone. But our testers didn’t have good experiences overall when taking Addium.

While our testers generally recommend folks start slowly with Lumonol (and any racetam or noopept-containing supplement) to assess tolerance (for example, not pairing it with coffee at first so as to keep caffeine intake under control), they generally didn’t experience many if any jitters from the supplement. That wasn’t the case with Addium, which caused an energy spike, but one accompanied by significant jitters and unrest for more than one of us. Read our full Addium review here.

Both Lumonol and Addium contain proprietary blends of nootropic ingredients, meaning the manufacturers don’t release exactly how much of certain compounds are in one serving (this is pretty common in the industry, even for leading sellers like Onnit’s super-popular Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant). However, it can make it challenging to assess tolerance, which is why we often start with less than the recommended dosage to see how our bodies and minds respond.

Even with the recommended dosage of Addium – just one capsule per day – we experienced unrest and jitters that made it difficult to focus, as opposed to the enhanced concentration the manufacturer would imply users experience.

Looking for Something Without a Proprietary Blend?

Lumonol is preferred head and shoulders above Addium among our testers, but if you’re looking for something without a proprietary blend, neither is the best option for you.

Companies like Nootrobox – which is backed by some of the world’s leading venture capitalists – are now rolling out products that clearly indicate the amount of each active ingredient. Nootrobox’s RISE supplement is one of our top choices right now, and among BrainWiz’s favorite nootropics that are stimulant free. Read our full review of RISE here, and check out our interview with one of Nootrobox’s founders here.

The post Noopept Versus Addium: Which Nootropic Helps Focus? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Onnit claims Shroom TECH Sport was formulated to boost athletic performance by aiding/enabling energy pathways in the body. However, many of its primary ingredients, including Rhodiola rosea, cordyceps mushroom, and ashwagandha, are popular nootropic ingredients in their own right.

We set out to see if this pre-workout formula gave our testers a mental edge as well. Read on to see what our testers thought.

Ingredients

Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin), 3mg

An essential nutrient, B12 plays an important role in numerous bodily functions, including neurological function and development. The particular form of B12 is the coenzyme form most often used to reduce brain fog and promote mental energy due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. This form of B12 can also directly participate in homocysteine metabolism.

Chromium (from Chromium Picolinate), 200mcg

This is an essential mineral and element that impacts glucose sensitivity and insulin in the body. Onnit includes chromium in ShroomTECH Sport to theoretically help balance and maintain blood sugar levels during activity.

Shroom Tech O2 Blend, 1500mg

A proprietary blend of ingredients from Onnit.

Organic Cordyceps (whole) Extract, Organic Cordyceps (whole)

This is Onnit’s headlining ingredient in ShroomTECH Sport, and it’s one we’re seeing more commonly in nootropic supplements. The cordyceps mushroom is an adaptogen that has been used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine as a treatment for numerous ailments, though its exact effects on the body still need to be determined through extensive clinical research. There’s also some early but promising clinical research indicating cordyceps extract has significant anti-fatigue properties.

Onnit claims it can boost ATP generation and oxygen utilization and aerobic capacity in the body, and some preliminary research backs their claims.

Shroom Tech Adaptogen Blend, 875mg

A proprietary blend of ingredients from Onnit.

Green Tea (leaf) Extract

Shroom Tech Sport gets some (unspecified) quantities of polyphenols, caffeine, and l-theanine from the addition of green tea. An amino acid that’s becoming an increasingly common ingredient in nootropics, l-theanine promotes relaxation without being a sedative. Research suggests it also helps the brain deal with stress. Often paired with caffeine, l-theanine effects appear complementary to the world’s most popular stimulant. It may also increase brain activity and memory.

Rhodiola (root) Extract

A noted adaptogen with few (if any) noted side effects, rhodiola is an herbal extract shown to boost physical and mental endurance while reducing the perceived symptoms of stress. Rhodiola fights fatigue, and there’s some anecdotal evidence it boost the effects of stimulants like coffee. Generally, a very large amount of rhodiola (over 600 mg) does not seem to boost the ingredient’s effects and may actually reduce them; with rhodiola, less may in fact be more for some users, and some clinical studies have seen effectiveness at doses under 100mg.

Onnit’s website cites some research suggesting a synergistic effect when combining rhodiola and cordyceps extracts. Rhodiola is also a headlining ingredient in stimulant-free stacks like RISE by Nootrobox (which our testers enjoyed).

Ashwagandha (root) Extract

The extract of Ashwagandha roots and leaves have been used in Ayurveda, the traditional Hindu medicine philosophy, as a mood stabilizer, and to combat stress and anxiety. The extract is said to work as a nervous system depressant, bringing about tranquility and relaxation, and making it easier to fall asleep.

Astragalus (root) Extract

One of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s fifty fundamental herbs, Astragalus has been shown to benefit the kidneys and is also linked to some general properties as they relate to anti-inflammatory effects and longevity. It may be adaptogenic in its effects, protecting against the effects of stress and neural decline.

The majority of human research, though, focuses on astragalus’ properties as they relate to the kidneys, though there’s some promising research suggesting it could improve exercise endurance. It generally has poor oral bioavailability (better via injections) and may interfere with some pharmaceuticals because it inhibits the enzyme CYP3A4. Onnit claims the inclusion of astragalus in ShroomTECH Sport positively influences the potency of cordyceps.

Other ingredients: Vegetarian Capsule (Cellulose, Water), Maltodextrin.

Usage Guidelines

• Designed to help the body with cellular energy and cardiovascular endurance.
• Take a serving of the greater of 3 capsules or 1 capsule per 50 lbs. of body weight, 45 minutes prior to physical exertion or competition, preferably on an empty stomach.
• When not engaging in planned physical exertion, take a serving of 1-2 capsules in the afternoon on an empty stomach to maintain daily energy.
• Do not exceed more than 6 capsules in any 24 hour period unless otherwise directed by a healthcare practitioner.

What Our Testers Say

“I’m always curious about the physical energy I get (or don’t get) from rhodiola, it all depends on what I’m taking it with. In this case, I felt sustained mental and physical energy. I took Shroom Tech Sport before workouts, as suggested on the label. It doesn’t seem to contain much caffeine, but it gave me at least the same boost, if not more, than some of the high-stimulant pre-workouts I’ve used in the past. It definitely stimulated me mentally, though I noticed the biggest impact on physical performance.”

“Adaptogenic formulas like Shroom Tech Sport often make me feel calm, and this was no exception. I took it in the morning and afternoon, and overall I prefer it to start my day with coffee or breakfast. On days I expected to be otherwise jittery or nervous, like when a quarterly report draft was due, I feel like Shroom Tech helped me stay level headed through it. I’m not sure it helped with my focus, but I felt less fatigued and less nervous than I might feel without it.”

“Like Alexandra, I also enjoyed taking this with coffee, though I liked it more in the afternoon when I’m facing a post-lunch slump. Cordyceps on its own has never been the most potent thing for me, but in this formulation and with these ingredients, I felt pretty good. I’m not sure I’d take it every day, but I’ll keep it handy if I need something to fight a sluggish afternoon.”

“This didn’t help me feel ”˜sharp’ like Alpha BRAIN, which was a little disappointing. However, I never felt tired on days when I took Shroom Tech. I’m going to think of it as more of a hedge against stress and tiredness than a focus or energy enhancer on its own.”

BrainWiz Tips

• Shroom Tech Sport contains some caffeine from green tea, so be aware of that when combining with other stimulants like coffee.
• This is a fairly robust adaptogenic formula, especially when starting, we recommend taking on its own instead of stacking with other nootropics.
• Don’t take too close to bedtime, as it may cause some mild difficulty sleeping when taken right before bed.
• Take before a workout to get more out of your session.

Supplement Summary

Unlike Alpha BRAIN or Alpha BRAIN Instant, Shroom Tech Sport didn’t impart a remarkable sense of sharpness or focus. It DID, however, prove popular among our testers for fighting fatigue and taking the edge off stressful situations. We’re not convinced this is an everyday nootropic, but for times when particularly challenging physical or mental tasks are right in front of you, it may certainly make those situations more tolerable, and less exhausting.

Interested in learning more? Check out our reviews of Onnit products Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant.

The post Kiss Fatigue Goodbye? Reviewing Shroom TECH Sport by Onnit appeared first on Brain Wiz.

10% Off Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant in 2016

As of writing this article, Onnit is offering Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant for 10% off specials. Find the Alpha BRAIN 10% off special here and the Alpha BRAIN Instant 10% off special here.

Cheaper Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant

Onnit often offers seasonal and special holiday discounts for specific products like Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant. These can be as high as 20% off a product. Check back on this page for those, which we’ll regularly update as Onnit announces them.

For discounts that can be applied throughout the year, customers have a few options. First, Onnit offers discounts for larger orders at checkout regardless of season. The standard is generally 5% savings for orders over $150, and 10% for orders over $250 when buying off their website.

Recurring Order Discounts

In addition, the company offers “Stay Onnit,” a recurring orders program that sends you a given supplement at regular intervals of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90 days. If you choose to go with Stay Onnit, the company will give you 20% off your first order. Stay Onnit also applies any special or larger discounts in a given month to your recurring order.

Military Discounts

Onnit also offers a military discount, which can be found on the footer of their home page here. It’s 15% off for anyone getting product shipped to a military base or for customers who verify active service by using a military email address and providing proof of military ID.

Check back on this page for regularly updated Onnit discounts and coupon codes for Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant.

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Four Sigmatic bills this form of their instant coffee as a productivity boosters with adaptogenic properties. Read on to see if it lived up to the manufacturer’s claims.

The Ingredients

Instant Coffee Powder – 40 mg caffeine

Caffeine doesn’t so much provide the brain/body with energy as it reduces fatigue. Caffeine actually reduces drowsiness and sedation by inhibiting adenosine (a nervous system depressant) from reaching receptors in the brain. There are extensive studies on the effects of caffeine on cognition, alertness, and athletic performance.

Siberian Chaga Mushroom Dual Extract (Inonotus obliquus) – 250 mg

The Chaga mushroom has been used extensively in both Ayurvedic and traditional medicine. The extract is typically prescribed for its diuretic and potentially anti-cancer properties. Four Sigmatic claims the highly alkaline mushroom also helps neutralize some of coffee’s natural acidity and bitterness, resulting in a smoother taste along with increased anti-oxidants properties.

Chaga mushrooms have been used in the past as replacement for coffee during times when it’s in short supply, so it’s not a big surprise that the two could be paired as far as flavor profile.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Dual Extract (Yamabushitake) – 250 mg

A dietary mushroom that is now being studied for potentially significant cognitive benefits, Lion’s Mane mushroom may act by increasing nerve growth factor by acting on mRNA. It may also promote the growth of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibers that helps conduct impulses between neurons. It may also be neuroprotective in that it could reduce the death rate of certain neurons. In another human study, it was also linked with reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Overall, the current clinical research on Lion’s Mane suggests its potential as a powerful neuroprotective and protector against cognitive decline, but only when taken consistently and in doses much higher than what’s available in Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane. However, it’s unknown at this point what the minimum effective dose is for this supplement.

Wild Tibetan Rhodiola Extract (water and ethanol extract) – 100 mg

A noted adaptogen with few (if any) noted side effects, rhodiola is an herbal extract shown to boost physical and mental endurance while reducing the perceived symptoms of stress. Rhodiola fights fatigue, and there’s some anecdotal evidence it boost the effects of stimulants like coffee. Generally, a very large amount of rhodiola (over 600 mg) does not seem to boost the ingredient’s effects and may actually reduce them; with rhodiola, less may in fact be more for some users, and some clinical studies have seen effectiveness at doses under 100mg. It’s also a headlining ingredient in stimulant-free stacks like RISE by Nootrobox.

Several of our BrainWiz testers enjoy pairing rhodiola with coffee for a cognitive and energy boost. While several supplements we’ve reviewed include a rhodiola-caffeine pairing, including Neurorise, this is the first coffee product we’ve seen with the herb included.

Usage Guidelines

Add one packet to 7fl oz of hot water or blend into your favorite smoothie.

What Our Testers Say

“This coffee is very mildly caffeinated (Four Sigmatic says it has about half the caffeine of normal coffee), and when I tried their Cordyceps blend, I actually ended up mixing it with cold brew to get more caffeine. But after trying this version, I felt a bit more in the sense of sustained energy, or at least less fatigue throughout the day than I normally do. The effect was somewhat similar to their Cordyceps coffee, but moreso. It’s also a convenient way to get rhodiola and coffee in one supplement, which is something I normally combine on my own up to twice a day.”

“I’ve played around with the best way to mix Four Sigmatic’s blends, and I’ve settled on putting them in protein shakes. I felt less of an energy boost than with the cordyceps version, but this one definitely kept me calm after I took it. The taste seemed similar to their other mushroom coffees, if you don’t like earthy tastes, may not be the best option for you.”

“I have a fairly low caffeine tolerance, and I enjoyed this lightly caffeinated coffee about as much as Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee with Cordyceps (which is to say, a significant amount). I’ve been taking Rhodiola for years, and I’ve learned it doesn’t take much to give me an added sense of calm in the face of stress. Overall, this blend worked well for me. It’s not the tastiest drink to start the day, but when paired with breakfast, which I always try to do on the occasions when I drink coffee, I really liked this blend. The packets are also really convenient for travel, I’m tossing a few in my toiletries bag for work trips.”

“I didn’t experience any energy boost from this, but I like the taste (not very acidic, so good for the first cup in the morning). It’d be a solid option to keep at my desk when I don’t have time to run out for coffee, but I might experiment with taking two packets at once.”

BrainWiz Tips

• Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffees mix well with both cold and hot liquids.
• This is a mild coffee that tastes far less acidic than most others we’ve tried.
• Has a slightly earthy taste.
• Four Sigmatic’s mushroom coffees are vegan and Non-GMO.
• A convenient option for travel with the portable, single-serving packs.
• A few of our testers experimented with mixing this into shakes and other drinks (which Four Sigmatic recommends trying). It was a welcome addition to vanilla or chocolate protein shakes as far as taste, texture, and effect.
• Like their other mushroom coffees, the taste is mild. Our testers had success mixing it with less water for a stronger taste.
• This supplement contains about half the caffeine as a regular cup of coffee, making this a potentially solid option for those sensitive to caffeine or other stimulants.

Supplement Summary

Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane was generally well received by our testers, who appreciated its mild taste and calming effect. While we’re slightly skeptical this amount of Lion’s Mane can significantly boost cognition with one serving, we enjoyed the rhodiola-caffeine pairing for a stress-fighting combo. We recommend new users experiment with various ways to mix or prepare this coffee, including protein shakes and both hot and cold preparations.

For its cost and ingredient profile, Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane provides solid value for its cost-per-serving in a travel-friendly and convenient delivery system.

The post Adaptogen Coffee? Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane by Four Sigmatic appeared first on Brain Wiz.

This means they don’t publicly list exactly how much of each ingredient is in a serving of their respective supplements. (This is a fairly common practice in the supplement industry and companies work to protect their formulas from each other, though there are notable exceptions; see Natural Stacks and truBrain.)

However, while they share a significant number of ingredients, our experiences with Alpha BRAIN and Addium differ in some key ways. First, it’s worth noting that Alpha BRAIN (an Onnit product) is stimulant/caffeine-free. While the exact amounts of ingredients in Alpha BRAIN differ between its regular and powdered instant formulas, neither caused jitteriness in our testers. (Read our full review of Alpha BRAIN, including our thoughts on timing, as well as our full review of Alpha BRAIN Instant.)

Alpha BRAIN’s stimulant-free nature also makes it a valuable part of one of our favorite travel stacks.

Alpha BRAIN in capsule form paired especially well with coffee in our experience, and it’s a regular part of the morning routine for several of our testers. They especially like the cumulative effect and tend to get more out of Alpha BRAIN after taking if for several weeks. However, some people sensitive to adaptogens like bacopa may see diminishing returns and could get more benefit from cycling off Alpha BRAIN every few days. Like any nootropic, personal experience will vary somewhat!

In contrast to the caffeine-free Alpha BRAIN, Addium does contain caffeine in its proprietary blend, though in an unspecified amount. After just a single capsule of Addium, our testers felt a different rush from the caffeine; some enjoyed this, while it gave others excess jitters, and we didn’t have much success stacking it with coffee or other nootropics. Read our full Addium review to see how our testers reacted to their proprietary formula.

Addium also contains GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid), which may have a positive effect on sleep and rest for certain users; even though it’s an ingredient that can have difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier, we recommend becoming familiar with its effect before users stack with other nootropics or stimulants, and we use caution or avoid drinking alcohol on days when we consume GABA-containing stacks.

While Alpha BRAIN tends to give our testers a bit more mental energy and focus that gradually builds over the day, Addium felt like a quick rush, with some jitteriness, that risked a crash shortly thereafter.

The post Alpha BRAIN vs Addium: Which Is the Better Nootropic Stack? appeared first on Brain Wiz.