The brain needs to be optimally nourished and hydrated if it is to remain at peak performance for long periods. As the most powerful organ of the body it is no different from any other organ big or small, whether it be the the skin, stomach, pancreas or heart: it cannot function properly when it isn’t fed oxygen-rich blood that is also filled with the other nutrients it needs. This is where brain boosters or nootropics enter the scene. Sure, there are medical pills you could take on prescription but the preference these days is increasingly for the mostly natural make-up of brain boosters or nootropics. No more sitting in a meeting yawning due to a doctor-prescribed drug making you irrepressibly sleepy!
Today we review Brain Awake! as manufactured by Irwin Naturals. Brain Awake! Promises to promote focus and mental clarity, enhance performance on cognitive tasks, help you store information for longer and increase your feelings of energy.
Ingredients
- Vitamin B6 – 10 mg
- Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
- Folate (as Quatrefolic) – 200 mcg
- MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil – 1000 mg
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine – 500 mg
- Bacopa extract (50% bacosides)(whole plant) – 300 mg
- Holy Basil extract (2% ursolic acid) (leaf) – 200 mg
- AlphaWave L-Theanine – 100 mg
- InnovaTea Natural tea Extract (standardized to 95% caffeine) – 52 mg
- Lemon Balm Extract – 30 mg
- Rosemary extract (3% rosmarinic acid) – 6 mg
- Bioperine Complex – 6 mg
Bacopa as a nootropic is well-known for enhancing brain cognition, with another well-known ingredient being L-theanine which brings about feelings of calm without inducing sleepiness. Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a compound that forms one half of a very important neurotransmitter. Holy basil is brilliant for reducing stress – as a known adaptogen, this is its primary function. It would synthesize well with the calming properties of lemon balm. InnovaTea is the caffeine Irwin Naturals discloses is included in the formula and it is, of course, an effective stimulant. The amount included is equal to about half a cup of coffee. Folate is a vitamin so along with the first two vitamins plays a vital role in neurotransmitter and brain health.
If you’ve heard of medium-chain triglycerides before, you’ve likely done so in the context of coconut oil, which has been proven as non-harmful from a cholesterol point of view, and which has been linked to helping the brain without the crash of stimulants.
Dosage
It is not clear how many capsules you should take a day, but it is best to start with one and use two or three if your body tolerates it well. Always have it with lots of water. A non-disclosed product in this formula has been linked to birth defects, so do not use it if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. As stated by the manufacturer, do not take this at night if you have a caffeine sensitivity.
Price
Each bottle of 60 capsules retails for $22.99 on the product website with no discounts for buying more than one.
Guarantee
Despite extensive searching, we found no evidence of a returns policy.
Irwin Naturals Brain Awake! Review – Conclusion
There are a few standout ingredients in this formula, such as bacopa and L-theanine, which are mainstay brain booster ingredients. It seems the strongest benefit is bound to be energy, followed by memory and focus increases. However, a detracting feature is that some users complain of the product not storing well, while others complain that it gives them nausea over time. If you have a caffeine sensitivity, or are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, this product is a definite miss for you. In light of the fact it does not store well, it is also a high-risk product given that there appears to be no returns policy.