BrainGains is a relatively new release to the nootropic market, created for ‘high-level thinking, gaming and physical training.’ It pledges to boost energy, productivity, focus and even physical performance – in essence, combining an energy drink with a nootropic, thanks to the addition of taurine and teacrine, alongside traditional nootropics.
It’s an interesting approach, and BrainGains certainly promises a lot. But does its Nootropic Brain Fuel stand up to scrutiny? Let’s find out, but first a little background…
What are Nootropics?
In case you’re not familiar with nootropics, here’s a brief definition: Nootropics are supplements that enhance your memory, creativity, cognition, motivation or general brain functioning. They are usually made from natural plant extracts like Bacopa Monnieri or Lion’s Mane mushroom. Nootropics are not classed as drugs because they’re not habit-forming.
They’re not dietary supplements either because our bodies don’t need them. A good-quality nootropic must be safe to consume. There should ideally be rigorous testing into its brain-enhancing abilities, and it should pass double-blind, placebo-controlled studies into its properties and uses.
About BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel
BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel is made from a blend of cognitive-enhancing nootropics, vitamins and minerals, alongside some energy boosters. Using this supplement can give you a boost of physical and mental energy – not many energy supplements provide both.
Formula notes:
- It’s surprisingly low in calories as it doesn’t contain any added sugar.
- It is caffeine-free.
- Combines 18 ingredients which would normally be a warning sign of insufficient dosages (too many ingredients, not enough space), but at first glance, dosages look to be very promising in BrainGains. Take a look for yourself…
BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel Supplement Facts
| Ingredients | Per 2 Scoops (13g) |
| Vitamins and Minerals | |
| Vitamin C | 250mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 20mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 10mg |
| Vitamin B2 | |
| Zinc | 231mg |
| Electrolyte Blend | 108.5mg |
| L-Tyrosine | 2g |
| Taurine | 1.5g |
| N-Acetyl L-Carnitine | 1.5g |
| Nootropics | |
| Alpha-GPC | 800mg |
| Ashwagandha KSM-66 | 600mg |
| Lion’s Mane | 600mg |
| Panax Ginseng extract | 400mg |
| Ginsenoside | 16mg |
| Bacopa Monnieri | 300mg |
| Phosphatidylserine | 250mg |
| L-Theanine | 200mg |
| Teacrine | 100mg |
* Nutritional facts may vary slightly between flavors.
Directions for Use
The manufacturer recommends mixing one scoop with 400ml of water, or two scoops if you want a real boost. You should take 30 minutes before activity. Maximum use is to take one scoop 2-4 times a day, or two scoops once or twice a day. For reasons that we will come onto, we would probably only recommend double scooping it once a day.
Formula Analysis
BrainGains is packed full of different energy-promoting supplements. It contains vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and nootropics premixed into an easy-to-use powder. Let’s look at some in more detail…
Vitamins and Minerals
Take a look at the ingredients list of BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel and you’ll notice that it’s full of nootropic powerhouse vitamins, such as B6 and B12, as well as a generous dosage of vitamin C. Vitamin C, while not as well-known as the B vitamins, helps the brain to synthesize dopamine, flush out toxins and can help it tackle oxidative stress. It can help to improve mood, memory and overall brain health. Overt deficiency is uncommon but sub-clinical deficiency can be a problem for at-risk groups, such as smokers, the elderly, low income families etc.…
Vitamin B6, also known as Pyridoxine, plays an important role in brain functioning. It is a chemical building block for the hormones, serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin regulates mood – without adequate serotonin we feel depressed and drained. Taking a B6 supplement will maximize your chances of producing more serotonin, helping you feel alert, happy and full of life.
Another B vitamin in this powdered nootropic blend is vitamin B12. Although it doesn’t do much on its own, vitamin B12 aids other processes within the body. It’s used in DNA synthesis, brain development and it promotes nerve and blood cell health.
Not having enough of this important supplement in your diet can lead to a deficiency. This can cause fatigue and anemia, a serious blood condition, so it’s crucial to watch your vitamin intake. Just 2 scoops of BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel provide you with 120% of your daily vitamin BNRV!
N-Acetyl L-Carnitine
N-Acetyl L-Carnitine is used to make energy inside the mitochondria in our cells. This long and complicated process makes ATP, which is the body’s energy currency. ATP is used to power every cell in our body – it’s vital to have a steady supply of ATP. Taking N-Acetyl L-Carnitine will help keep your brain and body fueled. It’s also been shown to increase glucose consumption and reduce rates of depression in clinical studies.
L-Tyrosine
BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel contains 2g of L-tyrosine, an amino acid shown to particularly help performance when stressed, overworked or sleep deprived. L-tyrosine is commonly used in dosages between 500-2g 30-60 minutes before activity, so two scoops would put you at the higher end. Generally considered safe for most people but tyrosine does interact with certain medications such as L-dopa (for Parkinson’s’) and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors. It can also influence the T3 and T4 thyroid hormones, so speak to your doctor first if this applies to you.
Taurine
If you’ve ever looked at an energy drink’s ingredient list, you might have noticed Taurine. This supplement improves muscle function and endurance. If you’re physically tired and aching, take some Taurine! It aids cardiac health and reverses insulin sensitivity. There’s evidence to suggest Taurine can even boost testosterone levels in guys. Common dosages of taurine differ from 500mg to 2g per day, though safe upper levels of taurine are thought to be around 3g a day, more than double the dosage in two scoops of BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel. Consider it carefully if you want to take two scoops twice a day, however.
Lion’s Mane
Lion’s Mane is a powerful nootropic. It’s a medicinal mushroom that grows wild across Europe, Asia and North America. Although it’s been eaten for hundreds of years in Asia, it’s recently become a popular food and nootropic in the West. There are numerous studies into Lion’s Mane mushrooms brain-boosting properties. Clinical studies have shown that Lion’s Mane mushroom can; decrease cognitive decline, reduce anxiety and reduce depression. It’s widely used for its brain-supporting properties – taking it regularly increases nerve growth factor (NGF) in the body. This strengthens brain cells as well as supporting the growth of new neurons. Dosage recommendations on lion’s mane differ according to strength, but the sweet spot seems to be anywhere between 300-1,000mg a day. BrainGains’ 600mg should be enough to be effective.
Alpha-GPC
Alpha-GPC is a natural source of choline, an important building block for neurotransmitters like acetylcholine. Our bodies use acetylcholine to regulate lots of processes like pain response, muscle contraction and sleep. Why is it included in a nootropic powder? Alpha-GPC has been shown to improve memory and attention. It can cross the blood-brain barrier while other choline-releasing molecules, like CPD-choline, can’t get across it. This makes Alpha-GPC a great ingredient in any nootropic blend. There’s 400mg of it in every scoop of BrainGains, which is slap bang in the middle of the recommended 250-500mg.
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Bacopa Monnieri
If you’ve never taken Bacopa Monnieri, you’re missing out. This powerful nootropic is extracted from the vines of the Bacopa plant that grows wild across Asia. It’s been used in traditional medicine for years but now there is solid, science-backed evidence that it can improve memory. A 2008 study into its effects concluded that taking Bacopa Monnieri for 6 weeks ‘enhanced AVLT delayed word recall memory’. In layman’s terms, this shows that the people who took Bacopa Monnieri could remember more information than the control group, who weren’t given the supplement. A standard effective dose is 300mg, the same as that included in this product.
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine can help your physical and mental energy levels – this is an all-round energy-boosting supplement. It’s used to improve memory, reduce fatigue and increase general cognition. In a Japanese study, people who took Phosphatidylserine for 15 weeks showed improvements in learning ability and short-term and long-term memory recall. BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel gives you 125mg of Phosphatidylserine in every scoop, a great amount for memory improvement.
Ashwagandha KSM-66
BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel contains 600mg of Ashwagandha KSM-66. Studies have shown this Indian herb is potentially effective for depression, reducing stress cortisol levels and reducing inflammation with the added benefit of boosting fertility in men.
The KSM-66 form of the herb is the superior choice, even award-winning, evidence that BrainGains is committed to quality. It has more than 20 clinical human trials behind it and offers the highest concentration of withanolides (the bit that makes it effective!) on the market, while also having negligible levels of Withaferin A, a toxin that cheaper forms of the herb may contain.
Clinical trials have used the same dosage of KSM-66 – 600mg – as in this product safely, though it should be pointed out that dosages over 500mg are usually recommended to be taken morning and afternoon and not all at once. Here you’ll get the full 600mg in one go if you max it with the two scoops. If this is a concern for you, take once scoop twice a day.
Potential side effects to be aware of with Ashwagandha include thyroid issues (it stimulates the thyroid so anyone who is hypothyroid should use caution). It may also boost the effects of alcohol, sedatives, anti-depression meds, blood pressure medication and blood glucose medication, so we’d recommend a conversation with your doctor first if you take any of these.
Teacrine
Teacrine is a tea-extract that contains the powerful theacrine alkaloid. Theacrine is similar to caffeine – both molecules have similar structures. Kucha leaves, the leaves of the Camellia assamica plant, convert caffeine into theacrine for use inside the plant. Now, scientists have discovered how to extract the useful theacrine from these plants to make Teacrine.
Humans have been drinking tea for its health benefits since at least the 3rd century AD. In more recent years, scientists have been able to understand why and how tea affects us. The theacrine molecule, which is the active part of the teacrine extract, has shown analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in clinical tests. It also provides mental stimulation, similar to caffeine. There are 50mg of Teacrine in every scoop of BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel.
The Teacrine used to make BrainGains energy supplements is made to extremely high standards. It’s produced in the EU and is WADA and NCAA-compliant.
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Who Takes It?
Anyone in need of increased energy and improved focus can take this product; students, athletes, CEOs and everyone else in between can all benefit from BrainGains. Children and pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take this supplement without medical supervision.
Any Side Effects?
This product doesn’t contain any addictive substances (including caffeine), so you won’t build a tolerance to it or experience any withdrawals. One possible side effect is stomach discomfort, but this can be avoided by taking BrainGains with a meal or reducing the amount you’re taking. If you experience any serious side effects like chest pain, stop taking this product.
All the ingredients in BrainGains are safe for human consumption so it’s unlikely that it will cause significant negative side effects in most people. However, some individual ingredients have the potential to interact with certain medications or influence particular hormones in higher dosages (see individual mentions above), so we would recommend seeking medical advice before taking it if you are on any medication.
As a general rule, we would also recommend you think very carefully if planning to take the maximum two scoops twice a day as you’re reaching the tolerable upper limits on a few different ingredients.
An Energy Drink Alternative
If you’re used to chugging energy drinks all day and you want a healthier alternative, you could do worse than to buy this product. BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel contains a lot of the same ingredients as energy drinks, but without dangerously high levels of sugar or caffeine – it doesn’t include either of these substances. Because it comes in a strong, solid container, you can easily keep it in your bag and take it out and about with you.
If you’re into health and fitness, you can use BrainGains as part of your workout regimen. Take it as a pre-workout to help you give 100% every workout or use it as a post-workout drink to aid recovery. You could even sip it while working out – this is an energy supplement that works whenever you need it to. Can you tell that we’re impressed?
For Maximum Energy
The ingredients found in BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel have been carefully chosen for their energy-promoting properties. It’s one of the only pre-mixed energy supplements to contain Teacrine and it contains lots of mind-boosting nootropic supplements too. We think this product ticks all the boxes.
If you struggle to keep focused and often find yourself procrastinating, try using BrainGains to refocus your mind. A lot of its ingredients, like Teacrine, Taurine and Lion’s Mane mushroom extract, are known across the globe for their brain-boosting properties.
Because of the wide variety of supplements in this energy supplement, it could help you stay motivated and full of energy while keeping your brain cells healthy and protected. There’s even a blend of electrolytes included in the supplement, for even more energy.
Summary
Pros:
- Compared with other energy powders on the market, this powdered Brain Fuel contains a wide variety of nootropics, minerals and vitamins.
- It contains Teacrine to fuel your focus and keep you motivated on the task at hand.
- BrainGains is premixed, so you don’t have to buy each supplement individually.
- It comes in four flavors. General consensus seems to be that they are tasty, though you can definitely taste it when you mix two scoops with just 400ml of water.
Cons:
- It could have included a few more vitamins, or at least vitamin D, but to be fair, we’re splitting hairs.
- It’s so popular that some flavors are occasionally out of stock.
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BrainGains Price & Buying Info
BrainGains comes from a UK manufacturer. One container of Brain Gains Nootropic Brain fuel contains 40 servings (6.5g each) and retails for £44.99 ($56), although it’s currently on sale at the bargain price of £34.99 ($44).
You can buy it directly from the manufacturers at braingainsuk.com. They offer free worldwide shipping on any order over £75 ($94).
Final Word on BrainGains
In the next few years, we predict that more and more people will ditch unhealthy energy drinks and use energy powders instead. BrainGains Nootropic Brain Fuel is a great energy-boosting supplement. It contains a wide variety of nootropic supplements as well as a few vitamins and minerals.
It’s sugar-free and caffeine-free which means that it’s great for people trying to watch their calorie intake. There are four interesting, tropical flavor options – they’re better than the usual strawberry, vanilla or chocolate options that other supplements offer.
Compared with other energy supplements on the market, BrainGains is slightly more expensive than average. However, it’s worth the additional costs because of its superb quality ingredients.
Overall, we think BrainGains is a great choice for everyone – first-timers who have never used an energy supplement before, and supplement-connoisseurs will all enjoy BrainGains.
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