You may have noticed that, as you age, you seem to experience fatigue just a little bit more. Or that your brain fog is a little bit thicker than before. Your ability to focus on day-to-day tasks might be a little helter skelter and off track.
Having just started a new job, I realized that my memory performance and mental clarity weren’t exactly as sharp as they were 20 years ago. Personally I chalk that up to teenage boys; however, it’s scientifically a proven fact that our memory and mental clarity do diminish with age. The aging process creates stress on our cells (they get tired too you know!) and that lowers their ability to help us perform our day-to-day tasks productively and efficiently. Natural extracts help boost the performance of our brain cells to enhance our lagging memory, mental sharpness and focus.
So what to do about it? There are many products claiming to do many things, but for this article, let’s take a look at a nootropic called BrainTonus.
What is a Nootropic?
No that’s not a misspelling. A nootropic describes a drug or supplement that is used to enhance memory or other cognitive functions in HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS. It is actually an umbrella term for a class of chemicals – some that occur naturally and others that are manmade – that provide cognitive benefits to the human brain. Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea is credited with coining the term nootropic and he set five criteria that a substance must possess in order to be considered a nootropic. They are:
1) Enhance memory and the ability to learn
2) Help the brain function under disruptive conditions (such as lack of oxygen or shock)
3) Protect the brain from chemical and physical toxins like anticholinergic drugs and barbituates
4) Increase the efficacy of neuronal firing control mechanisms in cortical and sub-cortical regions of the brain
5) Possess few or no side effects and be virtually non-toxic
Do Nootropics Really Work?
There is no doubt that nootropics work; however, opinions vary across the board how well they work. There have been decades of clinical studies and independent consumer reviews and user comments that show improvement in many areas. As with all supplements though, it depends on the person and the specific nootropic.
BrainTonus is one of the more powerful nootropics containing ten natural ingredients that individually have been proven to boost brain power. The per capsule formulation contains plant extracts that fuel your brain, increase clarity, memory, focus, mood and your general overall health.
One of the benefits that sets BrainTonus apart is that you can take it when you need to be most productive. You can use it to kick start your mornings, to give you a midday boost, prior to meetings or class – anytime of the day when you need extra focus. You basically are giving your brain the nourishment that your brain cells need to work at peak performance and amplify your day-to-day function and performance.
What’s in BrainTonus and How Does it Work?
We’re glad you asked! Most of you will already be familiar with some, if not all, of the ingredients in BrainTonus and their benefits individually.
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf
Native to Asia, the Ginkgo tree is one of the world’s longest living tree species. It’s leaf extracts have been used for centuries, dating back to 2600BC. Ginkgo is a natural supplement used to bring vital nutrients and oxygen to the brain and is known for improving blood circulation. The leaf extract can have positive effects on memory function, problems with focusing, depression and energy levels as well.
St. John’s Wort
The St. John’s Wort plant has been used as a supplement for thousands of years due to two active components – hypercin and hyperforin. These are two natural chemicals found in the flowers and leaves of the plant which increase the activity of brain chemicals that heighten moods. This extract has also been known to to help the symptoms of mild to moderate depression.
Bacopa Monnieri Leaf Extract
The aquatic bacopa monnieri plant originates in southeast Asia and is known for its ability to help brain cells grow. Natural compounds in the leaf extract enhance the ability to learn and form memories. When acting as an adaptogen, bacopa monnieri can decrease stress and anxiety.
Phosphatidylserine
A natural chemical that is produced by the body and in important in maintaining healthy brain cells. It has also been linked to decreasing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline in older adults, and depression. It can also improve thinking skills and general overall health.
N-Acetyl L-Carnitine HCI
Designed to produce energy in the body (and who can’t use an energy boost throughout the day!) N0Acetyl L-Carnitine HCI is actually an amino acid that is naturally produced by the liver. It is considered a first class antioxidant and protects the brain from damage and can also act to enhance function and memory abilities as well as being used to decrease the effects of age-related cognitive decline.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is closely linked to cognitive enhancement. By keeping your brain cells healthy, B12 can have effects on clarity, memory, focus, moods and your general overall health.
L-Glutamine
The most abundant of amino acids in the body, L-glutamine is linked to enhancing essential processes in the body. In other words – its the stuff that keeps your motor running. It is also effective in increasing focus and can be used to treat ADHD and is used to improve general health, moods and exercise.
Huperzine-A
Purified from a Chinese plant, this has been used in Chinese practices for centuries. It stimulates the chemicals in your brain, and the extract can lead to optimum brain function. Commonly used to improve cognitive abilities like learning and memory and can also aid in slowing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Vitamin B6
B6 is found in a variety of foods and is also used as a supplement for cognitive enhancement. Due to its positive effects on brain cells (your brain does the happy dance when you feed it some B6) it helps with focus, clarity, memory and mental strength.
Here are a few FAQs from the BrainTonus website.
How many capsules should I take per serving?
Only take one to two capsules PER DAY with a meal for three months.
Why take it for three months?
We recommend taking BrainTonus for 3 months to experience the optimal effects. You should start to notice some immediate effects however in the first couple of days.
How is BrainTonus regulated?
According to their website, BrainTonus is manufactured in a GMP-certified lab with strict FDA requirements. The FDA does not approve or certify facilities or dietary supplment products. Companies are expected to comply, by law, with CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) regulations. Again, there is no official “certification” however. (source – https://www.opss.org/faqs/does-cgmp-or-gmp-seal-or-certification-mean-dietary-supplement-product-safe-or-approved)
Are there any side effects?
Each ingredient in BrainTonus has been specifically chosen because it does not have negative side effects which means you should not experience side effects from taking this supplement. However, all consumers are urged to talk with their licensed professional regarding how specific ingredients may effect you directly.
Is BrainTonus vegetarian? Does it contain allergens?
No, it is not a vegetarian supplement. The gelatin capsules are aquired from beef. FOOD ALLERGEN WARNING – BrainTonus does contain soy (lecithin).
What should I expect from BrainTonus?
It is designed to enhance brain function by improving cognitive abilities and increasing energy. While I would love to tell you those claims are true, I cannot. The fact is, there just is not available information from consumer reviews who have used the product to make a conclusive decision.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
I have been unable to find the product sold on any third party sites such as Amazon. The sale of BrainTonus is done exclusively thru their website, and there are no reviews or feedback available on their site. This is of importance to note because the field of nootropic supplements is particularly broad and prominent and to not have any customer reviews or feedback is not a great asset for the product.
Our Final Thoughts
BrainTonus may be able to provide you with a certain amount of benefits simply due to the ingredients, which are found in a range of other nootropics as well, and are known for their advantages on an individual basis.
However, it is important to note that there are no supplemental facts provided on their website to inform consumers how much of each ingredient is contained in a serving and the daily recommended values. This information is usually readily available for other products on their websites. The product has also failed to receive ANY feedback from consumers who have used the product – which does not help us make a definitive conclusion on the benefits or effectiveness of the product. We have searched the Internet extensively for consumer reviews of the product and have not found any.
This supplement, on the surface, seems like the whole package – but our honest recommendation would be to take the matter up with your family physician and discuss if this is really the best option for you.
Disclosure
This is a subjective assessment based on the information available to us. This information is provided for general information purposes only. No medical claims are implied and this information is not intended to be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment of any condition. As always, consult with your physician before taking any medications or supplements to ensure that they are the best option for you.
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