We live in stressful times with climate change, endless extreme weather occurrences, devastating wildfires, political divisiveness, social activism, work-life balance issues, and health concerns. People are anxious and feel the effects of the stress response both physically and mentally. Tightness in the chest, nervousness, lack of focus, fatigue, and mental errors are stress-related reactions. We’ve all heard that stress is the silent killer, yet most of us have no desire to be prescribed Prozac or Paxil or any other anxiety prescription medication.
Oli Walsh and Josh LeVine, the co-founders of California-based ASYSTEM, have an impressive track record of creating and scaling consumer brands. As serial entrepreneurs, married with young families, they encountered their share of stress and were disappointed with the drugs (over-medicalized) and natural products (ineffective) designed to address the issue. Although ASYSTEM was created as a men’s supplement and skincare regimen, they challenged their Scientific Advisory Board, a team of nutritionists, doctors, and performance experts to develop the most efficacious, all-natural anti-anxiety solution on the market today. With that comes ASYSTEM Complete Calm.
ASYSTEM Complete Calm De-Stress Gummies are designed to provide relief from anxiety, better mood, heightened focus, and increased relaxation. Can they really do it all? We’re here to find out. We’ll take a closer look at this gummy supplement, its ingredients, its benefits, and more in this thorough ASYSTEM Complete Calm review!
A Unique Product Development Strategy
Walsh and Levine crafted a product development strategy (their Functional by Design Methodology) that features trademarked and patented ingredients with structure-function claims supported by clinical trials. Their cutting-edge formulations are science-based and use the best ingredients nature has to offer. Their anti-anxiety solution comprises two products, Complete Calm Sleep Gummies, and Complete Calm De-Stress Gummies, the subject of this review. They refer to the “system” as The Complete Calm System, available online at $130.00.
ASYSTEM Corporate Strategies
We love companies in the supplement and natural product space that embrace transparency. ASYSTEM is open about their ownership, their Advisory Board members, their packaging, and formulations. Most ASYSTEM products feature full transparency on their supplement panels, although De-Stress Gummies has two proprietary blends, which we review in detail in the Key Ingredients segment.
The company markets supplements, topicals, and apparel, almost exclusively on their ASYSTEM.com website. Although many of the products are designed for men, such as their Superhuman Supplements, several products, including the Total Calm System, ASYSTEM Sleep Gummies, and their Productivity Gummies, are gender-neutral. All the supplements are manufactured in the U.S. under FDA cGMP guidelines and are subjected to rigorous third-party testing.
Their digital marketing is slick, typically with a unique product positioning, something they refer to as being rooted in behavioral psychology yet avoids overpromising on their product’s effectiveness claims. Specific structure-function claims are quoted as proven in the patented ingredients’ clinical tests. Trademarked ingredients are dosed at the precise levels used in the trials, something we validate to avoid the “fairy dusting” tactic used by some companies.
ASYSTEM Complete Calm De-Stress Gummies
De-Stress Gummies are a perfect example of the ASYSTEM product development strategy in practice:
- The “hero ingredient” is the award-winning Safr’Inside (Finalist in the Nutra Ingredients Awards 2021) from the Bordeaux, France-based food-tech ingredient manufacturer Activ’Inside. Safr’Inside, supported by multiple clinical trials, is an encapsulated saffron extract delivering the highest concentration of pure safranal. Supported claims include an ability to reduce anxiety and elevate mood naturally.
- Their “climate positive claim” is one example of their unique product positioning. ASYSTEM partners with Sea Trees (an organization that helps regenerate coastal ecosystems), with a brand goal of removing more CO2 than the product emits.
- Another “socially conscious feature” of De-Stress is that they come in low impact, reusable, recyclable, non-plastic, compostable packaging.
- In addition to being tasty, the Gummies delivery format is more bioavailable than pills and capsules.
- Complete Calm products are vegan, gluten-free, and do not use any artificial flavors or coloring.
Finally, the benefits claims are supported by clinical trials and not hyped or overstated:
- Improve your ability to handle stress and anxiety within two weeks.
- With consistent use, De-Stress reduces anxiety, elevates mood, and sharpens focus.
- Tastes delicious.
- Zero side effects.
ASYSTEM Complete Calm Ingredients
ASYSTEM Complete Calm includes a variety of ingredients within its formula. Below, we will take a closer look at each ingredient.
Safr’Inside – 30 mg is the precise dosage Activ’Inside used in the company’s clinical trials. Extracted from the most bioavailable compound of Persian saffron, Safr’Inside is proven to naturally support emotional health, lowering stress levels, with reduced anxiety and improved mood. The ingredient is medical grade with zero side effects and starts to work within two weeks.
Clinical trial results support that 77% of participants were more optimistic, and three out of four felt their emotional balance had improved.
Panax Ginseng – 50 mg – is a popular ingredient in the nutritional supplement space, used in energy, mood, and male support products. Used in traditional Chinese medicine for eons, Ginseng is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that improves focus and memory.
ASYSTEM Complete Calm Blend – 60 mg – the first of two proprietary blends in De-Stress. Although we know the blend consists of 60 mg and three ingredients, we could not determine the exact ratios. However, we do know the ingredients must be listed in descending order.
- Rhodiola Extract – Rhodiola Rosea is frequently used to reduce stress and fatigue while supporting physical and mental fitness.
- Lemon Balm Extract – A lemon-scented herb used as a sleep aid and sometimes in digestive health. As an essential oil, lemon balm is thought to relieve stress and promote a feeling of calm.
- Lion’s Mane Extract – Lion’s mane mushrooms are large, white mushrooms that resemble a lion’s mane as they grow. Research indicates Lion’s Mane may reduce the symptoms of anxiety and the risk of dementia. This extract also has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Day Terpene Blend – 1 mg, the second proprietary blend in De-Stress, is of less concern given its tiny dosage of three ingredients, 1 mg in total. Terpenes are naturally occurring aromatic compounds found in plants and herbs, providing their aroma, flavor, and even colors. They are gaining in popularity in cannabis products for their pharmacological potential. In supplements, terpenes are thought to work in much the same way as aromatherapy, helping relieve stress, elevate mood, and calm the mind.
- Limonene
- Alpha Pinene
- Beta-Caryophyllene
We typically do not address the “Other Ingredients” in our reviews; however, the inclusion of one ingredient intrigued us.
Other Ingredients: Organic Tapioca Syrup, Water, Organic Cane Sugar, Pectin, Citric Acid, Cayenne Pepper Powder, Natural Flavors, and Carnauba Wax.
Carnauba wax – Being familiar with carnauba as car wax, finding it in this product was interesting. When manufacturing gummies, it is common to use carnauba to keep them from sticking together and give them their shine. Now we all know.
ASYSTEM Complete Calm Benefits
ASYSTEM believes, and we concur, that Complete Calm is a superior formulation clinically supported as an anti-anxiety supplement to reduce stress, elevate mood, and improve focus. In addition, due to the inclusion of Safr’Inside, the product starts to work within two weeks, and benefits magnify over time. Here is what consumers experience, per the website:
- 1-4 Weeks: Improved mood. You’ll feel more optimistic.
- 4-8 Weeks: Improved ability to deal with stressful situations.
- 8 Weeks +: Noticeable changes in response to anxiety. Improved sleep and emotional balance.
A carbon-free footprint and reusable, attractive packaging are additional benefits for the socially aware consumer.
ASYSTEM Complete Calm Recommended Dosage
Take one serving, one gummy each day. Each serving contains 40 calories, 2 grams of Carbohydrates, and 2 grams of Sugars. Several testimonials mention the difficulty of limiting themselves to one serving per day due to the great taste of the natural fruit flavorings. At the cost of more than $2.00 per gummy, these are not candies.
Is ASYSTEM Complete Calm Safe?
The Activ’Inside clinical studies on Safr-Inside found no negative side effects, nor were any adverse reactions reported to ASYSTEM. Most adult individuals should well tolerate the ingredients in ASYSTEM. We suggest you talk to your healthcare provider before adding any supplement to your regimen for those with pre-existing conditions or on prescription meds.
The website, exhibiting their marketing department’s creativity, states, “No side effects were reported. In fact, the ingredients in Complete Calm often come with what we call “side benefits” such as better sleep, focus, energy, and mood.”
How Do ASYSTEM Complete Calm Gummies Perform?
Based on the Safr’Inside clinical studies, an overwhelming percentage, 77% of participants, felt more optimistic, with a 60% reduction in the feelings of stress. Three of four participants in the clinicals felt an improved emotional balance, and 80% were satisfied with the results. Given that ASYSTEM Complete Calm uses the clinical dosage of Saf’Inside, plus other efficacious ingredients, we are confident in the product’s ability to reduce stress and anxiety and enhance mood.
Many reviewers mentioned the great taste of the Complete Calm De-Stress Gummies. Socially aware consumers will also appreciate the packaging and Sea Trees initiative.
ASYSTEM Complete Calm Pricing
ASYSTEM Complete Calm is available directly on the ASYSTEM official website.
Quality ingredients, particularly patented and trademarked ingredients, are more expensive than their generic extract counterparts. A comprehensive formula, attractive and superior packaging, and a pledge to be climate positive through the Sea Trees organization each incur added expense. As such, ASYSTEM Complete Calm is expensive.
Individual purchases, $69.00 for 32 Gummies or $39.00 for 16 Gummies, compute to well over $2.00 per serving. A monthly subscription will save you 15%, 32 Gummies for $65.00. A month’s supply of the Total Complete System, Complete Sleep, and De-Stress is $130.00. Sleep Gummies separately are $39.00. There is free shipping with orders of $45.00 or more.
The company advises there are no guarantees or returns due to the nature of their products.
In Summary: ASYSTEM Complete Calm De-Stress Gummies
Through their Functional by Design Methodology, ASYSTEM does a superior job of creating high-quality, science-backed products. Their marketing and product development teams consistently identify unique positionings to increase the value and differentiate ASYSTEM products. Even their PR efforts are stellar, as the brand and its co-founders are featured in Forbes, US Magazine, Huckberry, and UncoverLA. In addition, their commitment to using patented and trademarked ingredients allows them to quote substantiated claims for their products, which they seemingly intentionally understate.
The only downside to ASYSTEM seems to be their cost per serving, particularly in the De-Stress and Total Calm System. However, if you can afford it, we highly recommend ASYSTEM.