In today’s hectic, fast-paced world, our brains are asked to do more than perhaps ever before. Yet many people struggle with brain fog, fatigue, and other brain issues that negatively affect cognitive function and performance.
And if you want to perform at your best, it’s critical that you find a way to make these issues a thing of the past.
To do so, we always recommend the basics like eating a nutrient-dense diet, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and taking steps to manage stress.
But beyond that, there are nootropic supplements out there that can possibly give you the extra boost you need for energy, focus, and total cognitive performance.
And in this article, you’ll discover what the best energy and focus supplements are so you can make sure that you pick one that can truly optimize your brain performance and cognitive function.
Let’s get to it!
Best Energy & Focus Supplements
There are dozens of energy and focus supplements out there, with varying degrees of effectiveness. We here at Fitness Clone have reviewed many of these and have determined our top three to be:
- Alpha Brain Black Label
- Mind Lab Pro
- Natural Stacks Smart Caffeine
Keep reading below to learn more about these supplements and what benefits they may offer.
Alpha Brain Black Label
Best Overall
We listed three supplements. But if we had to pick the best one overall, it’s Alpha Brain Black Label. This supplement is advertised as the premier product within Onnit’s Alpha Brain Line. It includes a mild dose of caffeine alongside theanine for relaxed energy and alertness, without the jitters.
Plus, there are several other nootropics for energy, focus, and flow state activation, such as Cognizin, lion’s mane, Huperzia serrata, and SerinAid phosphatidylserine.
Alpha Brain Black Label is also made in a cGMP, FDA-registered facility, without any gluten, dairy, or soy.
Mind Lab Pro
Best Caffeine-Free
If you’re looking for a boost in energy and focus without caffeine, Mind Lab Pro is our top choice. This supplement is filled with 11 different nootropics, such as citicoline, bacopa, theanine, tyrosine, and B-complex vitamins, to naturally support many areas of cognitive function and brain performance.
Mind Lab Pro is also one of the only brain supplements to have its exact formula scientifically researched, with clinically proven benefits for information processing and memory. And it’s also third-party tested, vegan, cGMP, non-GMO, and free from artificial colors, preservatives, and additives.
Natural Stacks Smart Caffeine
Best Value
Natural Stacks Smart Caffeine is a great choice if you’re just looking for a basic energy and focus supplement at a super-low price. This supplement contains a 2:1 ratio of theanine to caffeine to give you a boost in energy, focus, and brain performance, with a decreased risk of jitters or anxiety.
The regular price for their 60-serving bottle is only $19.95. But they even offer bulk and subscription savings, with the lowest possible price of only $15.96 per bottle. Plus, Natural Stacks Smart Caffeine is third-party tested, GMP-certified, and all-natural.
What are Energy & Focus Supplements?
Energy and focus supplements are a subgroup of supplements within the nootropics category. They typically contain a variety of ingredients that enhance not only energy and focus, but also general cognitive performance and brain function. Some of the top compounds you’ll see in these products are theanine, caffeine, choline, bacopa, lion’s mane, phosphatidylserine, and tyrosine.
These supplements are often taken by people who want to maximize energy, mental performance, and productivity.
We typically don’t recommend them as a replacement for a healthy lifestyle but rather as an add-on to a healthy lifestyle to give you an extra boost. This is especially true if you have a particularly stressful job, busy week, and/or demanding lifestyle in general.
With that said, these supplements are also often used when people have disruptions to their healthy lifestyle, such as lack of sleep, limited dietary choices when on the run, or when traveling. In these cases, energy and focus supplements may provide the jumpstart you need to get back to “normal” so you can maintain your regular performance.
Benefits of Energy & Focus Supplements
Energy and focus supplements can provide a variety of possible benefits, including not only energy and focus but also improved alertness, concentration, productivity, and overall mental performance.
Enhanced Energy & Alertness
Oftentimes, these supplements include a variety of nootropic compounds that offer stimulatory effects on the nervous system, such as caffeine and tyrosine. These can increase dopamine, noradrenaline, and other brain chemicals that result in decreased fatigue and enhanced mental energy, as well as improved mood and motivation.
Improved Focus & Concentration
You’ll also find a variety of focus-boosters in these supplements, such as citicoline, bacopa, and huperzia serrata. This can lead to increased acetylcholine, which may lead to improved focus and mental clarity.
Not to mention theanine is often used to induce alpha-brain wave states, which provide a feeling of calm focus. And this often pairs very well with caffeine to enhance cognition without causing jitters or anxiety.
Better Productivity
Given the benefits of these supplements on energy, focus, alertness, and concentration, they may also be able to enhance productivity and mental performance. By elevating brain chemicals involved in mental tasks, they may help you to become more efficient and check off your daily tasks more easily.
Not to mention you probably won’t be as easily fatigued, and will likely be able to maintain more motivation to get stuff done.
Better General Brain Health
Lastly, energy and focus supplements may benefit general brain health. Oftentimes, these products contain a variety of herbs and other compounds that can protect the brain from damage while supporting overall mental function. Especially lion’s mane, phosphatidylserine, bacopa, and Huperzine A.
How to Choose the Right Supplement for Energy & Focus
There are a lot of nootropic supplements out there for energy and focus. And while they all claim to have the same benefits, the fact is that only a handful are actually worth buying.
In order to choose the right supplement, it’s important to look at several important criteria. These especially are:
- The use of research-backed ingredients
- Optimal doses (or close to it)
- Full label transparency
- Third-party testing
- High brand reputation
- Manufactured in a cGMP, FDA-registered facility
Also, you have to consider your exact goals and preferences. For example, do you want a high-stimulant product or perhaps one that’s caffeine-free? Or maybe you have certain allergies or dietary restrictions that prevent you from consuming certain ingredients.
In addition, you also want to consider how complex of a formula you desire. These energy and focus supplements can contain anywhere from just one or two ingredients all the way up to 10 or more sometimes. So, it depends on the number of benefits you’re looking for and how many ingredients you want.
As you can see from the list above, Mind Lab Pro is an example of a more comprehensive and complex supplement whereas Natural Stacks Smart Caffeine is one of the more basic supplements. Neither one is inherently “better” than the other; but they can certainly be “better” for you depending on what you prefer.
Additional Information (FAQ)
If you’re looking for even more information on energy and focus supplements, down below we’ve covered most of the frequently asked questions to ensure that you can make the best decision possible.
Do energy and focus supplements really work?
First, we always want to note that individual results will vary. But in general, these supplements definitely seem to be able to enhance energy, focus, and general brain performance. Especially the ones that are actually well-formulated.
They’re not going to suddenly turn you into a superhuman with 24/7 energy and productivity. But they may be able to give you a decent boost in energy, productivity, and performance. Many of the ingredients are well-researched and proven to enhance brain chemicals that lead to better cognitive function, as well as other aspects in the brain and nervous system.
How long does it take for these supplements to work?
What’s nice about the nature of energy and focus supplements is that they typically start to work the first time you take them. Rather than some supplements that require weeks or months for optimal benefits, nootropics can start working immediately.
Of course, the best benefits still come from consistent and regular use. But these don’t necessarily need to be taken every day and can be taken on an as-needed basis.
Who should use energy and focus supplements?
Energy and focus supplements should ideally be used by people who already have a healthy diet and lifestyle but are also looking for an additional boost to further enhance mental energy and performance.
With that said, these supplements can also be used in instances where brain performance is compromised, such as after a poor night’s sleep or when you can’t eat a healthy diet. Of course, we recommend getting back to your healthy routine as quickly as possible and believe that these supplements shouldn’t be used as a long-term replacement to make up for a poor lifestyle.
Are there side effects?
Yes. There are always possible side effects with supplements. Often, these products contain caffeine and other stimulants which may cause anxiety, jitters, or insomnia. This is true even when paired with theanine, although the risk is lowered.
Other possible side effects, depending on the formula, include headache, mood changes, dizziness, allergic reactions, upset stomach, and other digestive symptoms.
Who should avoid energy and focus supplements?
You may want to avoid certain energy and focus supplements that contain high amounts of caffeine and stimulants, if you are very sensitive to stimulants.
Also, always talk with your doctor before taking any supplement, especially if you have a chronic medical condition and/or take prescription medications.
Furthermore, be cautious if you already drink coffee or other energy drinks. Combining this with energy supplements can be potentially dangerous.