Alpha BRAIN is one of the most popular over-the-counter smart drugs in the world. Since this nootropic was launched on the market in 2011, it has become a beloved product used by athletes, students, and working professionals who want to increase their energy levels and boost their immune system.
So, why do people choose this specific nootropic when there are so many other more affordable cognitive-enhancing products out there? And more importantly, does Alpha BRAIN work?
In this guide, we will go into detail about all the benefits, neurological mechanisms, and ingredients of this renowned product.
What Is Alpha BRAIN?
The dietary supplement Alpha BRAIN is manufactured and distributed by Onnit Labs. Some of the product’s popularity can be attributed to the promotion of the product by Joe Rogan, a comedian who owns the brand.
The smart drug delivers impressive cognitive benefits and is often used by students to enhance their mental performance while studying for exams. This smart drug is also leveraged by working professionals who need to manage stress and perform better at work. In addition, some athletes take Alpha BRAIN because it helps them stay focused on their fitness programs and many of the ingredients boost the repair of muscle tissue.
Alpha BRAIN is pretty easy to consume since it comes in both powder and capsule form. Adults are usually advised to take two capsules per day or they can mix one sachet of powder with water.
You can take this dietary supplement daily to keep your mind sharp, or you can take it temporarily to boost your cognitive functions for a specific period of time.
The benefits that this natural supplement offers are vast since it includes ingredients that serve a wide range of brain functions.
Alpha BRAIN Ingredients
It’s always good to take a peek at the ingredient list of nootropics and any other product you’re planning on consuming. The active ingredients in Alpha BRAIN are pretty simple and each one is thoughtfully included to offer you the most mental health benefits. Let’s examine the ingredients you’ll be consuming when you take Alpha BRAIN.
AC-11 Cat’s Claw Extract
Cat’s claw is a vine that grows in the Central American rainforest. The root and bark of this vine plant contain chemicals that stimulate the immune system and might help fight viruses or kill cancer.
Cat’s claw extract is often used for treating cancer, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, viral infections, and other conditions because it enhances your body’s ability to fight inflammation.
It seems that Alpha BRAIN doesn’t just boost your brain, but also reduces inflammation and boosts your immune system. Why would scientists include ingredients like these? Well, the simple answer is that we all focus better and feel better when our bodies and minds are healthy and inflammation-free.
Alpha-GPC
Alpha-GPC (L-Alpha glyceryl phosphorylcholine) is a choline compound that exists naturally in the brain. This substance is found in many cognition-enhancing products that assist in the prevention of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke.
This choline substance plays a role in cell maintenance and communication, and can assist in the metabolism of fats and DNA synthesis. Your body also needs choline to produce acetylcholine, a criticalneurotransmitter that’s essential for memory and muscle movement.
Alpha-GPC delivers choline to the brain which, in return, supports these and many other mental health functions.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient that we absorb by consuming certain foods. This vitamin is helpful for combating a great many health conditions such as depression, confusion, a weak immune system, alcohol dependence, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and many others.
Taking this vitamin also offers cognitive benefits since Vitamin B6 deficiency is linked to cognitive decline in elderly people. Short-term vitamin B supplementation can boost cognitive functioning, improve your mood, and enhance focus.
L-Tyrosine
L-Tyrosine is a form of the amino acid tyrosine. This non-essential amino acid cannot be absorbed through the consumption of food, yet it’s present in all body tissues and even in most of the fluids you have in your body. The crucial amino acid assists in the production of enzymes, thyroid hormones, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and melanin skin pigment. It also acts as a neurotransmitter that assists in cell communication.
For most people, it isn’t necessary to take L-tyrosine, since our bodies naturally produce it. But you can opt to take additional L-tyrosine to boost certain cognitive functions. This amino acid can help you perform better in stressful situations, assist in the performance of cognitive tasks, and help prevent memory deficits that occur in stressful or difficult situations.
In short, you will focus much better under pressure when your body has more L-tyrosine amino acids available for use. This amino acid can also make you feel a lot better since it boosts the production of certain hormones.
L-Theanine
If you love to drink green tea, then you have probably already enjoyed a couple of doses of this substance. L-Theanine is an amino acid analog found in specific plant and fungal species. It was first discovered in 1949 in green tea and derives from gyokuro leaves.
Green tea is useful for maintaining proper function of the digestive system. Still, you probably didn’t know that these teas are also superb for enhancing your cognitive functioning.
L-theanine boosts the alpha frequency band in your brain which relaxes your mind without causing drowsiness. This calmness can help boost mental alertness, arousal, and attention, and can improve your mood, enhance sleep quality, reduce stress, and offer up quite a few other cognitive benefits.Some of these other bonuses are an enhanced immune system, reduced blood pressure levels, and help with reaching your weight loss goals.
Oat Straw Extract
Oat straw extract is harvested from the stems and leaves of the unripened Avena sativa plant. It is believed that this extract offers an array of health and mental benefits. The extract is rich in minerals like iron, manganese, and zinc that can nourish the body and brain.
When you take oat straw extract, you can improve your blood flow and reduce inflammation. The product is also known to boost your mood and can improve memory, attention, and concentration. It’s so effective for enhancing cognitive function, that researchers suggest that this supplement may assist people with mild cognitive impairment.
Huperzia Serrata
Huperzia Serratais extracted from the Huperzia serrata plant, an herb commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This dietary supplement is known to improve brain function, while also offering nerve cell protection which prevents memory loss and mental degradation in elderly people. It’s often used in medications used for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, myasthenia gravis, and neuropathy.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri was first used in traditional Indian medicine. This plant is often found in medications that treat Alzheimer’s disease and has become popular as a nootropic because of its ability to enhance memory, boost thinking skills, reduce anxiety, and reduce the symptoms of ADHD by increasing brain chemicals that are needed for thinking, learning, and memory.
L-Leucine
L-Leucineis another essential amino acid that humans can absorb by eating certain foods. Protein synthesis offers many metabolic functions. L-Leucine is helpful for regulating blood sugar levels and assisting in the growth and healing of muscle and bone tissue.
But how does this help your brain? Well, the amino acid supports a healthy liver which counteracts decreased brain function that can be caused by liver disease. The chemical is also used to enhance athletic performance since it supports healthy muscle growth. With healthy muscles and a strong body that recovers more quickly, you can complete your workouts with less strain.
Pterostilbene
This natural dietary compound is found in blueberries and other small berry fruits. When consumed, Pterostilbene acts as a natural antioxidant. This product also has disinfectant properties and helps get rid of toxins and inflammation in your body and brain. It prevents cell damage which can protect you from diseases associated with aging. The overall body cleanse you’ll enjoy can also boost your energy levels and performance.
When you consider all of these ingredients, it seems that Alpha BRAIN should really be able to deliver a knockout performance. The smart drug contains helpful ingredients that detox and cleanse the body, substances that protect your nerve and brain cells, and it boasts compounds designed to support healthy cognitive functioning.
Benefits and Neurological Mechanisms of Alpha BRAIN
Alpha BRAIN contains many quality ingredients that can deliver up a wide variety of health and mental benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits you’ll enjoy when you start taking this smart drug.
Reduces brain fog
Inflammation and toxins in your body can have a wide variety of detrimental effects. Brain cells are especially vulnerable since inflammation prevents them from communicating well and performing at an optimal level. This usually results in brain fog, which can affect your thinking, memory, and concentration, even if you do have otherwise healthy cognitive functioning. The anti-inflammatory and detoxing ingredients included in Alpha BRAIN are ideal for reducing brain fog and promote a quick, clear mind.
Enhances memory
Many of the ingredients used in Alpha BRAIN are also found in medications designed to treat memory problems in patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia. These ingredients protect your memory function, enhance mental clarity, and improve your verbal retention.
Promotes focus
The natural supplement can enhance your focus in general and keeps you cool, calm, and collected under pressure. This is because L-Tyrosine ingredients enhance your cognitive functioning during stressful situations while L-Theanine keeps your brain waves calm and stable. Together, these and other ingredients support memory, focus, and alertness.
Enhances thought processing
The nootropic Alpha-GPC is very important for maintaining healthy brain cells and their function. This nootropic alone offers many cognitive function benefits since your brain cell health and communication will be optimized. Thought processing is enhanced when all of those microscopic cells in your brain unite and work together to process information.
Helps heal your mind and body
Alpha BRAIN contains ingredients like AC-11, L-Leucine, Huperzia Serrata, and many others that are designed to heal body and muscle tissues. L-Leucine, for example, is beneficial for promoting nerve, muscle, and cell health. AC-11 assists in DNA repair activation, which repairs nerve cells. Pretosillebene is helpful for removing toxins from your body so they don’t interfere with your body’s healing process, while cat’s claw extract is helpful for reducing inflammation.
A great many ingredients are geared to boost recovery and immune system functioning so you can stay healthy and perform better.
Helps control unnecessary impulses
Unnecessary impulses can get in the way of productivity at work because they cause compulsions to act on any random thought that enters your mind. If you’ve ever been distracted by cat videos when you should have been getting on with those reports, you know exactly what we’re talking about.
These impulses can keep you from sitting still and can interrupt your concentration. Ingredients like Bacopa Monnieri are often used in the treatment of ADHD (a condition where unnecessary impulses can be uncontrollable) and other medications to control these distracting tendencies. You can sit at your desk for longer and work on complex tasks without being swept away by any passing thought or idea.
Reduces stress
Various ingredients included in the supplement are designed to control your stress levels. L-Tyrosine helps you make better decisions in stressful scenarios, L-Theanine keeps your brain function calm, and anti-inflammatory ingredients reduce your overall stress levels. All of these elements can help you combat stress in spite of a chaotic situation.
Improves your mood
The product detoxes and reduces inflammation in the human brain which by itself can make you think more clearly and feel much better. Some ingredients are also designed to make you feel more awake, alert, and alive which can lead to increased feelings of happiness.
Alpha BRAIN is natural
The ingredients used in this supplement are 100% natural. Alpha BRAIN contains no chemicals, gluten, or caffeine which makes it perfectly safe for a broad spectrum of adults. The nootropic supplement is compatible with all sorts of different diets and lifestyle choices. The natural ingredients used in Alpha BRAIN are also beneficial since the chances of overdosing on this product are extremely low.
Side Effects of Alpha BRAIN
Alpha BRAIN is considered one of the safest nootropics on the market because it consists of natural ingredients. The product is clinically proven to be safe and no severe side effects have been documented thus far. Some users do, however, experience minor side effects. Let’s take a look at some of the most common side effects that might be caused by this nootropic.
Stomach aches
New users can experience tummy aches if they’re not used to taking daily supplements. If you usually don’t take supplements, then you can avoid getting a stomach ache by gradually increasing your daily dose of the product until you reach the full dosage.
Nausea
Some users feel a bit nauseated after taking the nootropic. Your chances of getting nauseated are higher when you consume these nootropics on an empty stomach. It’s best to take your medications or supplements along with, or just after, a light meal unless instructed otherwise by your doctor. Queasiness is usually temporary and will fade away as your body becomes accustomed to the supplement.
Headaches
Some users report headaches, but the medication is usually not the main culprit. The problem is dehydration, as users are more likely to forget to drink plenty of water after becoming more focused on work. Short breaks from work can also help you avoid headaches.
Lucid dreams
This might not be a bad symptom, unless you experience a nightmare. Some users find that Alpha BRAIN results in vivid and lucid dreams. These vivid dreams are likely to result from the Bacopa ingredient that helps you relax and enter a deeper state of sleep. Other ingredients will keep your mind active and alert at the same time. The result is lucid dreams that can sometimes be challenging to distinguish from reality.
Anxiety
Most people feel more relaxed on Alpha BRAIN. However, some can feel more anxious because the supplement is designed to elevate your mood. This mood elevation benefit can also make you feel jittery and jumpy.
Insomnia
The supplement has a wakefulness effect because it’s designed to enhance focus, memory, and productivity. If you take these and other nootropics too close to bedtime, then you’re very likely to have sleep problems like insomnia. Our advice? Take it in the morning!
Many of these side effects can usually be avoided by taking the recommended dose at the right time.
So, Does Alpha BRAIN Work?
When you consider all of the natural and healthy ingredients in this product and all the benefits of Alpha BRAIN, the natural conclusion is it has all the ingredients of a potent and effective recipe that works like a dream. Rest assured: this clever drug doesn’t just work in theory. It has been clinically tested.
Clinical studies have been done on the supplement to test its cognitive enhancing functioning in healthy adults. Before it was launched, it was tested on 63 individuals. Participants in the clinical studies showed improvement in verbal memory over a period of 6 weeks and other positive benefits have also been documented.
This popular supplement is also used by thousands of people all over the world who find it useful for treating mental fatigue and for enhancing focus.
Product Recommendations
Alpha BRAIN certainly is a worthwhile product to consider if you’re hoping to enhance cognitive function, boost your energy levels, reduce stress, and boost your immune system. The product might even be helpful for weight loss since it enhances productivity and contains many detoxing and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Bottom Line
So, does Alpha BRAIN work? We and thousands of others believe it does!
We hope that this guide answered your questions and gave you helpful insight into the workings of this impressive supplement.
If you decide that Alpha BRAIN isn’t a good fit for your lifestyle, then we recommend you take a look at some of our other guides where we compare and review other quality nootropics and smart supplements.
References
- Emanuel, PatrickScheinfeld, Noah – A review of DNA repair and possible DNA-repair adjuvants and selected natural anti-oxidants – Dermatology Online Journal 13 (3): 10
- Sheilla A Doggrell & Suzanne Evans – Treatment of dementia with neurotransmission modulation – Published online: 02 Mar 2005
- National Institutes of Health – Vitamin B6 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
- Simon N. Young – L-Tyrosine to alleviate the effects of stress? – J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2007 May; 32(3): 224.
- Anna C Nobre 1, Anling Rao, Gail N Owen – L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state – Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:167-8.
- Rachel H. X. Wong,1 Peter R. C. Howe,1,* Janet Bryan,1,2 Alison M. Coates,1 Jonathan D. Buckley,1 and Narelle M. Berry1 – Chronic Effects of a Wild Green Oat Extract Supplementation on Cognitive Performance in Older Adults: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial – Nutrients. 2012 May; 4(5): 331–342.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Huperzia serrata
- Carlo Calabrese, N.D., M.P.H.,corresponding author1 William L. Gregory, Ph.D.,1 Michael Leo, Ph.D.,2 Dale Kraemer, Ph.D.,3 Kerry Bone, F.N.I.M.H., F.N.H.A.A.,4 and Barry Oken, M.D.5 – Effects of a Standardized Bacopa monnieri Extract on Cognitive Performance, Anxiety, and Depression in the Elderly: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial – J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Jul; 14(6): 707–713.
- National Library of Medicine – Leucine
- Denise McCormack 1 ,* and David McFadden 2 – A Review of Pterostilbene Antioxidant Activity and Disease Modification – Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013; 2013: 575482.
- Todd M Solomon,corresponding author1,4 Jarrett Leech,2 Cynthia Murphy,1,3 Guy DeBros,3 Andrew Budson,1,4 and Paul Solomon1,5 – A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, efficacy study of alpha BRAIN® administered orally – J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015; 12(Suppl 1): P54.
- Shinsuke Hidese,1 Shintaro Ogawa,1 Miho Ota,1 Ikki Ishida,1 Zenta Yasukawa,2 Makoto Ozeki,2 and Hiroshi Kunugi1,* – Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial – Nutrients. 2019 Oct; 11(10): 2362.
- Farid Talih, MDcorresponding author and Jean Ajaltouni, MD – Probable Nootropicinduced Psychiatric Adverse Effects: A Series of Four Cases – Innov Clin Neurosci. 2015 Nov-Dec; 12(11-12): 21–25.
- Todd M Solomon,corresponding author1,4 Jarrett Leech,2 Cynthia Murphy,1,3 Guy DeBros,3 Andrew Budson,1,4 and Paul Solomon1,5 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4595564/ – Published online 2015 Sep 21
