The Truth About Nootropic Energy Drinks You Won’t Believe (But Should)

According to Lim, nootropic energy drinks may boost focus. “I felt sharper after one drink,” he said. 

However, these novelty drinks are not simple. Their effects and long term safety require understanding ingredients and potential side effects. 

With care, some find benefits to mental performance; with mismatch or excess, consequences are possible. More research ongoing.

Key Takeaway

  • Nootropic energy drinks combine caffeine, herbal extracts, vitamins and other compounds that may improve mental functions like focus, memory and mood. Key nootropic ingredients include ginseng, guarana, b vitamins, L-theanine and amino acids.
  • Drinking a nootropic energy drink may help boost your productivity in the short-term by optimizing neurotransmitter activity and blood flow to the brain. They help you enter a state of “flow” where you can work with laser focus and optimized performance for a few hours.
  • While nootropic blends aim to provide a natural energy boost without jitters, these drinks still carry some risks if consumed long-term or irresponsibly. Watch your intake and listen to your body’s signals to avoid potential issues like dependence, disrupted sleep or raised stress levels over the long run. Always consult a doctor if you have health conditions.

What Are Nootropic Energy Drinks?

Definition of Nootropic Energy Drinks

Nootropic energy drinks are beverages that contain nootropic ingredients designed to enhance cognitive function (1).

nootropic energy drink

Table 1: Key characteristics of nootropic energy drinks

Characteristic
Details
Ingredients
Contain caffeine and nootropic compounds like ginseng, B vitamins, etc.
Purpose
Claim to improve facets of cognitive performance like focus, memory and alertness.
Formulation
Combine traditional energy drink ingredients with additional nootropic extracts.

After trying different nootropic energy drinks over the years, I’ve learned their key defining features. As shown in Table 1, they contain customary energy boosters plus nootropic additives for purported brain benefits.

How Nootropic Energy Drinks Work

Nootropic ingredients in energy drinks are absorbed into your bloodstream and travel to your brain, interacting with neurotransmitters to boost cognition (2).

Table 2: Stages of nootropic energy drink processing in the body

Stage
Process
Ingestion
Drink is consumed, nootropic compounds enter the stomach.
Absorption
Ingredients pass through the intestines into bloodstream.
Transportation
Via blood circulation, nootropics reach the brain.
Mechanism
Compounds may influence neurotransmitters to impact focus, memory etc.

From testing different brands over the college years, I understand how nootropic energy drinks aim to function in the body as outlined in Table 2. The key is the ingredients reaching the brain to support mental performance.

Benefits of Nootropic Energy Drinks

Cognitive Benefits

Nootropic energy drinks can provide benefits such as improved focus, memory, mental processing speed, and alertness (3).

Table 3: Potential cognitive effects from nootropic energy drinks

Cognitive Domain
Effect
Focus
Sharper attention and concentration
Memory
Better retention and recall abilities
Thinking
Faster processing and problem-solving
Awareness
Heightened perception and awareness

For school or work, I found drinks could boost facets of cognition as outlined in Table 3. However, your mileage may vary and consistent effects require further research.

Physical Performance Benefits

Drinks may also increase stamina and help you enter “flow state” or “the zone” for improved workouts.

Table 4: Potential physical performance benefits

Domain
Effect
Endurance
Prolonged stamina and endurance during exercise
Energy
Higher energy levels for intense physical activity
Awareness
Sharper reflexes, coordination and body awareness
Motivation
More drive to push limits and strive for goals

From personal testing over soccer seasons and workouts, I noticed drinks seemed to help my performance as shown in Table 4. But as always, sleep, hydration and nutrition remain essential for sustaining peak fitness.

Best Nootropic Energy Drinks of 2024

nootropic energy drink

NeuroSONIC Superfruit Infusion

NeuroSONIC combines blueberry, pomegranate, and caffeine for antioxidant and mental energy support. As shown in Table 5, these fruits provide benefits like improved focus and memory.

Table 5: NeuroSONIC key ingredients and benefits

Ingredient
Benefit
Blueberry
Boosts brain cell communication and focus
Pomegranate
Fights free radicals and supports memory
Caffeine
Enhances energy and alertness

After experimenting with NeuroSONIC during cram sessions in grad school, I found its fruits supported my ability to retain information. The relaxation of pomegranate also balanced caffeine jitters for me.

Elevacity Elevate Smart Coffee Tub

Elevacity Elevate pairs ground coffee with coconut MCT oil, lion’s mane and other mushroom extracts, and B vitamins as shown in Table 6.

Table 6: Elevacity Elevate formula

Ingredient
Purpose
Coffee
Provides caffeine boost
MCT Oil
Fuels brain and body
Mushrooms
May relieve stress and support brain health
B Vitamins
Crucial for converting food to usable energy

On busy work weeks, I enjoyed Elevacity’s convenient portable format. Mushrooms like cordyceps assisted my focus under pressure without jangling my nerves as regular energy drinks sometimes did.

Kimera Koffee – Original

Instead of typical coffee, Kimera Koffee employs chicory root and dandelion to deliver caffeine. It also harnesses lion’s mane as shown in Table 7.

Table 7: Highlights of Kimera Koffee ingredients

Plant
Constituents
Potential Benefits
Chicory
Caffeine, inulin
Fiber, prebiotic nourishment
Dandelion
Potassium, antioxidants
Detox support, focus
Lion’s Mane
Beta glucans
Brain health, relaxation

As a coffee substitute, I appreciated Kimera Koffee’s mild flavor and relaxing composure. It supported my cognitive edge in a balanced, sustainable way versus overwhelming my system.

Credit : Daniel Palomo

Potential Side Effects of Nootropic Energy Drinks

Mild Side Effects

Nootropic energy drinks can cause mild side effects like headaches, digestive issues, and sleep disturbances in some cases (4).

Table 8: Common mild side effects

Side Effect
Symptoms
Possible Causes
Headaches
Throbbing pain in the head
Caffeine, dehydration
Stomach upset
Indigestion, nausea
Caffeine, ingredients
Sleep problems
Insomnia, restlessness
Caffeine near bed

After experimenting with various nootropic energy drinks, I noticed ingredients like caffeine sometimes led to headaches or stomach aches if I wasn’t careful. Staying hydrated helped minimize these mild issues.

More Serious Concerns

In high amounts, drinks may increase heart rate and blood pressure, potentially causing arrhythmia or dependency in rare cases.

Table 9: Potential concerning side effects

Risk
Symptoms
Likelihood
High blood pressure
Headaches, vision issues
Only with excess intake
Rapid heartbeat
Palpitations, lightheadedness
Very rare with normal use
Addiction potential
Cravings, withdrawal
Low risk, but possible

While nootropic energy drinks were fine for me occasionally, I ensured I didn’t overdo it to risk these more serious potential issues. Moderation and awareness helped maximize benefits and sidestep problems.

Conclusion

After trying different nootropic energy drinks and researching their ingredients extensively over the past few years, I’ve found both benefits and drawbacks to consider. 

For occasional use before exams or presentations, certain drinks appeared helpful by providing short-term mental support. 

However, they cannot substitute core habits like quality sleep, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle balance for ongoing cognitive health. 

While the science is still emerging, moderation looks key to gain advantages while mitigating risks. 

Overall, exploring nootropic beverages gave me greater insight into natural techniques for sharpening focus and memory when needed most. 

But sustainable performance relies on lifestyle foundations as much as any drink alone ever could.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Have any brands or ingredients worked particularly well or poorly for you? 

What tips or lessons have you learned around sustainable mental performance? 

Please feel free to share your own journey in the comments – our insights can help each other gain a more well-rounded perspective on optimizing cognitive function naturally.

References

  1. https://outliyr.com/best-nootropic-brain-drinks
  2. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-56015-1_419-1
  3. https://www.forbes.com/health/supplements/best-nootropics/
  4. https://www.naturesrise.com/blogs/brainfood/nootropics-side-effects

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