Looking through some of the glowing user experiences online, it’s no surprise that Onnit Alpha Brain is on fire right now. It’s one of the top-rated nootropics currently on the market. Because of this, we were naturally keen to do a thorough Onnit Alpha Brain review.
Are you looking to boost your mood, brainpower, and mental sharpness? Because if the claims of the Alpha Brain official site are correct, this supplement could be for you.
Backed and personally used by Joe Rogan, Alpha Brain promises:
- Faster, clearer thinking – Come up with the right words and form sentences better.
- Sharper memory – Have trouble remembering things? Alpha Brain can help.
- Stronger motivation – Feel inspired to pursue and accomplish your goals.
The producers also claim that Alpha Brain has ingredients which help you with:
- Mood – Alpha Brain raises your serotonin and dopamine levels, enhancing your wellness and well-being.
- Creativity – Come up with new ideas more easily.
- Resilience to stress – Maintain peak mental performance while dealing with life’s challenges and stressors.
Sounds promising! But is it really all it’s claimed to be? We look at everything from the formula and science behind the ingredients to company reputation and user reviews to help you decide if it’s the right nootropic for you.
Pros and Cons
When you look at the overall package, it’s no surprise that Onnit Alpha Brain is one of the most popular nootropics out there.
The ingredients are all safe, effective, and high-quality. Benefits you’ll experience include enhanced focus, drive, and mental sharpness.
While Alpha Brain isn’t without its downsides (some customers might find the price a little high). It remains one of the best – if not the best nootropic money can buy you.
Who Makes Alpha Brain?
Alpha Brain is made by Onnit, a supplement company founded by Aubrey Marcus.
Onnit sells everything from fitness supplements and nootropics to general health and wellness products.
Joe Rogan, a famous comedian and TV show host personally backed Alpha Brain, saying:
“It seems to fire up your brain at a higher RPM level… I feel like it helps me form sentences better.” – Joe Rogan
But will it work for you?
Sit tight – that’s exactly what this Onnit Alpha Brain review aims to find out.
Who is Alpha Brain For?
If you’re a student, parent, athlete, or a busy professional, Alpha Brain is ideal for you. It’s specifically designed for the modern person in mind. It helps you tackle challenges and deal better with the stresses of life.
If you’re a high-level performer, Alpha Brain will give you the edge in your shows or competitions. Alpha Brain is also effective for people with mood swings, social anxiety, brain fog, or poor memory. And if you deal with sluggishness, mental fatigue, or poor verbal fluency, Alpha Brain will help you with those things too.
In short, Alpha Brain is for anyone who wants to turn their mental clarity and overall brain performance up a notch.
How Alpha Brain Works
Nootropics like Alpha Brain work by boosting certain aspects of your brain function.
This is precisely why they’re called “smart drugs,” or cognitive enhancers.
Alpha Brain promotes:
- Verbal fluency – Can’t find the right thing to say? Plenty of thoughts in the background but can’t put them into the right words? Nootropics can help you with that.
- Memory – Remember things better.
- Cognition & Neurotransmitters – By boosting dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and other brain chemicals, nootropics improve not just your mood but critical thinking too.
Nootropics can help you meet your deadline on time, finish a school project faster, and be wittier with words when talking to people. Nootropics can even improve your workouts.
Since your brain governs the quality of all aspects of your life, nootropics like Alpha Brain can have a profound impact on almost everything you do.
Sounds cool?
Let’s crack on with this Onnit Alpha Brain review to find out if it will work for you.
Benefits of Onnit Alpha Brain
Alpha Brain is an all-around brain enhancer. This means that it doesn’t just target one aspect of your mental performance – it boosts them all.
However, while it does promote brain function across all boards, Alpha Brain is particularly good at enhancing:
- Focus – Enter deep states of flow and concentration.
- Memory and word recall – No more, “where are my keys?”
- Mood – Feel better and more confident in social situations.
- Motivation – Have more energy and drive to achieve your goals.
- Thought Processing – Think faster, clearer, and sharper.
- Alertness – Experience more mental clarity and less brain fog.
Sounds promising. But we’ve seen similar claims many times with other nootropics.
We’ll need to check the science behind Alpha Brain’s ingredients to see if it can walk its walk.
Ingredients
Alpha Brain is vegan-friendly and stimulant-free. It’s also non-GMO and is free of gluten and any harmful chemicals.
It boasts a range of ingredients, each one focusing on a unique aspect of your mental performance.
Ingredients in Alpha Brain include:
- Huperzine A
- Bacopa Monnieri
- Alpha GPC
- Oat Straw Extract
- Cat’s Claw
- L-Tyrosine
- Vinpocetine
- L-Leucine
- L-Theanine
- Pterostilbene
The inclusion of proprietary blends might be a thorn in the side of some users. Based on our research in this Onnit Alpha Brain review, though, the ingredients are all high-quality. And the overall dosages of blends in Alpha Brain are perfect.
Before we make any judgments, let’s take a closer look at the ingredient formula:
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is one of those foundational ingredients in any nootropic. It’s a cofactor for numerous enzymatic processes in the body. The most important one being neurotransmitter production.
See, your body needs vitamin B6 to turn l-tryptophan to serotonin. Serotonin is also called the ‘happy molecule’ because, well, it makes you feel happy. Not only that, your body needs serotonin to regulate appetite, sleep, and movement.
A deficiency in B6 can lead to anxiety and panic attacks linked to low serotonin levels. That’s how important it is for your brain health. (3)
Onnit Flow Blend
The flow blend is one of two proprietary blends in Onnit. Its primary focus is on improving your mood, motivation, and creativity.
The Flow Blend contains:
- L-Tyrosine
Tyrosine is a precursor to dopamine, which is your brain’s reward and pleasure neurotransmitter. If you have trouble getting up from bed in the morning or staying focused on your tasks, chances are you could use some extra dopamine. Which Tyrosine can provide for you. (4)
- L-Theanine
Theanine is a natural part of green tea, which helps balance your neurotransmitters like GABA, along with calming the mind. Theanine is most famous for inducing alpha-wave states in the brain. These link to feelings of peace, meditative states, calm focus, and overall positive mood. What’s best about it, is that it doesn’t sedate you or make you drowsy. It’s kind of like when you’re meditating; you’re both alert and peaceful at the same time. (5)
- Oat Straw Extract
Oat Straw is a natural ingredient that improves your attention, motivation, focus, and ability to deal with stress. It’s shown to inhibit the MAO-B enzyme, which is responsible for destroying dopamine in your brain. As a result, oat extract helps to maintain higher dopamine levels, leading to better mood and productivity. (6)
- Phosphatidylserine (PS)
PS is a phospholipid found in your brain cells. It’s critical for a healthy memory, thought fluidity, and creativity. The fact that PS makes up 15% of your brain’s total phospholipid pool speaks volumes about its importance. (7)
Cat’s Claw (Bark) Extract
It’s true – you might scratch yourself when touching its claw-like thorns. Worry not, though. Cat’s Claw is not only harmless in its powdered form; it’s, in fact, good for your brain.
See, Cat’s Claw is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient. It fights oxidative stress linked to cognitive impairment and mood disorders. (8)
Keeping inflammation at bay is critical for maintaining a youthful and vibrant brain. When there’s too much inflammation in the brain, it can mess up your dopamine and serotonin receptors, which leads to mood issues. Cat’s Claw’s job is to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Onnit Focus Blend
As the name of the blend suggests, it improves your ability to concentrate and focus on tasks.
- Alpha GPC
Alpha GPC is a choline source naturally found in the brain. It’s critical for memory formation, neuron repair, and cognition. The bad news is, your brain can’t make it on its own. So you need to make sure you’re getting enough choline every day – either through food or supplements. Alpha GPC is a highly bioavailable source of choline that crosses the blood-brain barrier to fuel your brain cells directly. (9)
- Bacopa Extract
Bacopa Monnieri is an ancient herb that promotes your memory and mood. It’s also a powerful antioxidant; studies show it can protect your brain cells from damage and aging. Be aware, however, that Bacopa isn’t one of those things you’ll feel working immediately. It takes anywhere from 4-12 weeks for Bacopa to put your brain into high gear. (10)
- Huperzine A
Not to get too deep into the science, Huperzine A is an ingredient that increases your alertness. In some cases, it’s even shown to treat memory impairment. It’s a powerful nootropic, but it can cause slight side effects in some people. Such as mild nausea or stomach upset. That’s why it’s best to take it with food. (11)
Onnit Fuel Blend
This blend helps to energize your brain cells and fuel them with nutrients and oxygen.
- L-Leucine
It’s one of the three BCAAs, essential amino acids that bodybuilders often supplement to speed up muscle growth and repair. But it’s not just good for your muscles; it also supports your brain energy and metabolism. (12)
- Vinpocetine
Vinpocetine is one of the most potent nootropics when it comes to increasing your hippocampal blood flow. More blood to your brain = more nutrients & oxygen for peak performance. (13)
- Pterostilbene
Pterostilbene is a natural antioxidant found in grapes and berries. It’s similar to resveratrol; in fact, it may be even stronger. Pterostilbene fights inflammation, free radicals, and toxins that link to cognitive decline and other issues in the brain. It also boosts blood supply to your brain cells. (14)
The Research
Alpha Brain is one of the few nootropics that have reputable scientific studies backing their benefits.
This is rare to see in a supplement world. In fact, it’s the main reason why Alpha Brain caught our eye in the first place.
So, what do studies say about Onnit Alpha Brain?
See for yourself:
Study 1: Alpha Brain Improves Verbal Memory and Executive Function
A 2015 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study led by Todd M. Solomon, Ph.D. recruited 63 naïve individuals. (1)
Before testing the effects of Alpha Brain vs. placebo on the study participants, the researchers completed a placebo run-in for 2 weeks. Following the placebo run-in, participants completed a series of cognitive and memory tests to asses their baseline mental performance.
The researchers then split these people into two groups:
- The first group took a placebo for six weeks
- The second group took Alpa Brain for six weeks
After six weeks, these people went through the same tests again.
In the end, the study found significant memory and executive improvements in those that took Alpha Brain, but not those that took a placebo.
Specifically, people from the study that took Alpha Brain had:
- 12% greater results in verbal recall compared to placebo
- Finished executive function tests 21% faster compared to the placebo group
What’s more, the study showed that Alpha Brain was just as safe and tolerated by participants as a placebo.
Study 2: Alpha Brain Increases Processing Speed and Alpha Brain Waves
Led by Jarrett D. Leech, a study tested Alpha Brain’s effect on people’s brainwaves, focus, and processing speed time. (2)
The researchers used EEG to find out what happened in these people’s brains when they took Alpha Brain.
To keep it short and sweet, here’s what the study found:
- A single dose of Alpha Brain increased processing speed in test subjects compared to a placebo.
- EEG tests showed that Alpha Brain increased peak alpha brain wave frequencies, which link to a state of focus and deep concentration.
It turns out that Alpha Brain might help if you struggle with ADHD. Keeping an unwavering focus in today’s hectic world where everything and everyone’s vying for your attention is hard. Alpha Brain makes it a little easier.
How to Take (Dosage)
According to the Alpha Brain label, you should take 2 capsules once per day.
Even though the label doesn’t say it anywhere, some people experiment with just 1 capsule, split into two servings per day.
However, we always recommend following what the label says for the best results.
Side Effects of Onnit Alpha Brain
As there are no stimulants in Alpha Brain, you should be perfectly fine from taking it.
Onnit Alpha is one of those rare nootropics that have clinical studies to back their safety. You should be able to take it every day long-term without any side effects whatsoever.
That said, sensitive users can experience nausea, mild stomach discomfort, or other similar gastrointestinal issues. If you do experience side effects, talk with your doctor to make sure you’re okay to continue taking the product.
Does Alpha Brain Work? Facts vs. Rumors
Many nootropics have a lot of hype going for them, but when it comes to actual results, they fail to deliver.
What separates Alpha Brain from the majority of other brain boosters is that it has studies to back its claims.
It’s not your run-of-the-mill nootropic with a bunch of benefits written on the shiny bottle. But when it comes to actual results, they’re nowhere to be seen. Alpha Brain delivers on its claims, which is commendable and rare among supplements nowadays.
So yes, Alpha Brain works. However, if you’ve read the ingredient section of this Onnit Alpha Brain review, you likely noticed that some ingredients take time to work. For example, Bacopa Monnieri takes 4-12 weeks to show you its full flair.
Some users are disappointed with Alpha Brain because they took it for a week or two, and it didn’t work straight away for them. For some, it works immediately, and for others, it may take a bit longer. That’s completely natural: every one of us is different.
If there’s one thing you should take from this Onnit Alpha Brain review, it’s to be patient with this nootropic.
Once it starts working, you will feel it.
Where to Buy Onnit Alpha Brain?
You can buy Alpha Brain on its official website.
Price
One bottle of Alpha Brain has 90 capsules, and it costs between $60-79, depending on where you buy it.
The official site currently runs an offer where it saves you $11.99 per bottle of Alpha Brain.
The producers of Alpha Brain say they’re confident you’ll love their product. However, if it doesn’t work for you, they offer a 90-day money-back guarantee. You don’t even need to return the product; just email them, say why it wasn’t a fit, and they’ll give you your money back.
Is Onnit Alpha Brain Good Value For Money?
Some users wonder if Alpha Brain is worth it. After all, it’s no cheap supplement. You want to know you’re investing your money into something that works.
Here’s the thing:
If you’re a first time customer of Alpha Brain, then it’s an excellent value for money. As I said, they offer you a 90-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like the product, contact their team, and they’ll give you a full refund without you having to send Alpha Brain back. There’s no risk involved.
If you’re wondering what’s our experience with Alpha Brain been, our team has nothing but words of praise for it. The mental clarity and mood boost it gives you makes the price look like a bargain.
Conclusion
So that brings us to the end of this Onnit Alpha Brain review.
It’s a nootropic that packs a punch. The ingredients are superb, dosages perfect, and most importantly, this nootropic is backed by clinical evidence to work.
Not only it enhances your focus, but it also improves your mood, creativity, and memory at the same time. If you’re under stress often, a nootropic like Alpha Brain is a must-have. Stress can sometimes make your brain blank out, but Alpha Brain works to prevent that.
If you look around, you’ll find heaps of positive user reviews. However, remember that it probably won’t work right away. You should start noticing changes in how you feel and perform after a few weeks of taking it.
Although it comes at a premium price tag, Alpha Brain offers you a 90-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t work for you, then simply email them and get a full refund.
We recommend Onnit Alpha Brain as our top nootropic. It will help you perform better across all boards, and you’ll feel it.
Top Questions About Alpha Brain
Can you take Alpha Brain every day?
Alpha Brain was made so you can take it safely every day. If you wish, you can take a break, but that’s optional.
Can Alpha Brain cause anxiety?
Alpha Brain shouldn’t cause anxiety. If anything, it works to achieve the opposite; helping you to ease and relieve anxious thoughts while improving your overall mood and wellness.
How long does it take for Alpha Brain to work?
Some of the ingredients in Alpha Brainwork right away. Others can take up to 8 weeks to show their full effects. For example, L-tyrosine will give you that motivation and focus boost immediately. Bacopa, on the other hand, gradually builds up in your brain – enhancing your memory and mood over time.
Is Alpha Brain safe and legit?
Alpha Brain is perfectly safe and legit. The ingredients in Onnit’s Alpha Brain went through rigorous tests for safety and efficacy.
Is Alpha Brain FDA approved?
Alpha Brain isn’t FDA approved, nor isn’t any other nootropic formula for that matter. However, Alpha Brain is produced in an FDA-approved facility. The producer’s high-quality standards and production processes ensure that you get the safest and most effective nootropic possible.
Does Alpha Brain break a fast?
Alpha Brain doesn’t contain any calories, so it should not break your fast. However, we’d recommend taking Alpha Brain with a meal since some of its compounds are fat-soluble.
Does Alpha Brain contain caffeine?
If you’ve read this Onnit Alpha Brain review carefully, then you know there’s no caffeine in it. It’s a stimulant-free formula that you can take at any time of the day (or night, if that’s what you prefer).
References
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A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, efficacy study of alpha BRAIN® administered orally. (source)
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Effects of the nootropic compound alpha brain® on erp and eeg measures of cognitive performance. (source)
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Low serum concentrations of vitamin B6 and iron are related to panic attack and hyperventilation attack. (source)
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L-Tyrosine. (source)
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L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state. (source)
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Chronic Effects of a Wild Green Oat Extract Supplementation on Cognitive Performance in Older Adults: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial. (source)
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Phosphatidylserine. (source)
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Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis) are independent of their alkaloid content. (source)
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Alpha-GPC. (source)
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Bacopa Monnieri. (source)
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Huperzine-A capsules enhance memory and learning performance in 34 pairs of matched adolescent students. (source)
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Reviewing the Effects of l-Leucine Supplementation in the Regulation of Food Intake, Energy Balance, and Glucose Homeostasis. (source)
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Vinpocetine. (source)
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Pterostilbene. (source)