If you’ve never been introduced to the world of nootropics, there’s a good chance your cognitive abilities are not at their full potential. It’s not necessarily your fault, and there’s likely something you can do about it!
Nootropics, also called “smart drugs” are specific supplements that promote better cognitive function — also known as your mental ability. There is a wide range of nootropics that perform different functions, including nootropics for memory, nootropics for energy, nootropics for focus, and more. But the overall idea is that these supplements are designed to enhance brain health and cognitive performance.
It is no wonder these supplements are so popular today, as many people want to get these benefits, from top-level CEOs all the way down to everyday office Joe’s.
Of course, there are many different nootropics out there today, and the choice of picking the right nootropic can be a challenging one. So, this article is simply going to detail one nootropic supplement called Hunter Focus to see if it really can give you that mental edge.
After all, Hunter Focus has been receiving quite a bit of attention as of late, but is it really worth all the hype? Continue reading this Hunter Focus review where we talk about every aspect of this supplement, including the ingredients, effectiveness, quality, and more.
Without further ado, let’s dive right into this Hunter Focus review!Benefits | Better Focus, Improved Memory, Enhanced Energy |
Ingredients | Lion’s Mane, Ashwagandha, Bacopa Monnieri, and more |
Pricing | $75/bottle |
Company | Hunter |
About Hunter Focus
Hunter Focus is a premium nootropic supplement designed to enhance numerous cognitive functions and optimize mental performance, all while keeping your brain healthy. The makers of Hunter Focus state that they only use safe, 100% natural, and effective ingredients, all of which are backed up by scientific research.
Hunter Focus is advertised to contain only the most potent doses of nootropic ingredients, such as key vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts, along with other special substances.
All in all, the goal of Hunter Focus is to supercharge your brain so you can be at your best; at work, at home, and anywhere else.
Hunter Focus Benefits
Specifically, Hunter Focus claims to provide six major benefits:
- Improved Memory
- Better Focus
- Elevated Mood
- More Energy
- Enhanced Creativity
- Optimized Learning
Improved Memory
One of the main benefits of Hunter Focus is improved memory. A number of ingredients in it, such as bacopa and citicoline, are supposed to support critical areas of the brain and prevent cognitive decline which is all-too-common in middle-aged and older people.
Better Focus
Various ingredients in Hunter Focus are also designed to get you into that peak flow state filled with optimal concentration, attentiveness, and focus. Ingredients in here (e.g. maritime pine bark extract) are advertised to improve various brain functions and enhance mental energy, keeping you at the top of your game with full cognitive power.
Elevated Mood
The natural ingredients in Hunter Focus are also designed to reduce stress and anxiety, which could also lead to improved mood. Hunter Focus is also designed to improve in a direct manner with substances such as l-theanine, tyrosine, and phosphatidylserine.
More Energy
Hunter Focus is also advertised to improve mental energy so you can be at your best the entire day. It contains only a small amount of caffeine along with many natural ingredients designed to support the body’s energy production pathways, such as lion’s mane mushroom, Rhodiola, and B-complex vitamins.
Enhanced Creativity
You’re also supposed to get a boost in creativity and problem-solving skills, which could be of major importance if you’re a high-performing worker who needs to solve complex problems on a daily basis.
Optimized Learning
Finally, Hunter Focus claims to optimize learning by supporting the brain’s ability to process, store, and remember information. Again we see citicoline and bacopa as proposed ingredients, with others at play.
Clearly, there are many proposed benefits; enough to make any nootropic enthusiast’s heart beat a little faster. But will Hunter Focus work as a nootropic? Let’s continue on to find out.
Hunter Focus Ingredients
When looking at the Hunter Focus formula, Hunter Focus keeps it relatively simple and sticks to the ingredients that have a wide range of evidence supporting them. There are eight featured ingredients, which are split up into three different groups — the Memory Matrix, the Concentration Activation, and the Mood Amplification.
It’s also worth noting that Hunter Focus includes a very transparent formula label. Unlike other options, such as Focus Fast, there are no blends; meaning you know exactly how much of each ingredient you’re getting in Hunter Focus.
But Hunter Focus actually has 20 ingredients in total, so we’ll go over all of them, with an emphasis on the 8 major ones.
Let’s take a look at each group in Hunter Focus and examine the different ingredients included within them.
Memory Matrix
The Memory Matrix is a blend of 3 ingredients designed to — you guessed it — boost your memory. It claims to prevent brain fog and aid recall throughout the day. It contains Bacopa monnieri, maritime pine bark, and lion’s mane mushroom.
- Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri is a plant that was commonly used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Several centuries later, the plant is still being used for its cognitive-enhancing abilities. Research shows that active compounds in Bacopa are known to offer neuroprotective effects and improve memory.
Furthermore, Bacopa fights against inflammation and oxidative stress, which improves brain health. And some research even shows that Bacopa may be able to increase acetylcholine, as well as GABA and dopamine, which could reduce anxiety and depression.
Recommended Dose: 350-400mg per day
- Maritime Pine Bark
Maritime Pine Bark has been the subject of a wide range of studies to review its benefits on the human body. In multiple studies, Maritime Pine Bark extract was shown to increase cerebral blood flow (blood flow to the brain), which can help enhance brain function. Furthermore, compounds in the bark can cross the blood-brain barrier and offer antioxidant effects, which protect the brain and can help prevent cognitive decline. Supplementation with a specific form of maritime pine bark extract known as pycnogenol has been shown to increase attention, improve memory functions, and even lift mood.
Recommended Dose: 150-200mg per day
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Another ingredient that has been around for a while is Lion’s Mane Mushroom, which has long been touted in traditional and complementary medicine for its memory-enhancing capabilities. It contains hericenones and erinacines, which help the brain produce nerve growth factor. As a result, nerves and neural pathways in the brain can be adequately strengthened and repaired.
It also offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which make it effective for protecting against neurodegenerative disorders. Lastly, it is well-known for improving memory as some research shows it has positive effects on both short- and long-term memory.
Recommended Dose: 100-250mg per day
Concentration Activation
Now that we know what’s inside the Memory Matrix, it’s time to shift our focus to the Concentration Activation. Again, there are three ingredients in this matrix: citicoline, tyrosine, and theanine.
- Citicoline
Citicoline is a very important chemical for the brain. The body will break it down into choline and cytidine, which will further get converted into acetylcholine and uridine, respectively. Acetylcholine is responsible for strengthening the signals between neurons, which improve attention and memory. In fact, acetylcholine is one of the main neurotransmitters to help enhance focus.
Also, uridine is responsible for repairing and protecting brain cells, which could be beneficial for long-term brain health. Essentially, you get a one-two punch of focus and brain health from citicoline.
Recommended Dose: 200-300mg per day
- N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine is a highly effective amino acid that helps spark the production of dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine — three neurotransmitters known to improve focus, memory, and mood. More specifically, studies have proven it to be beneficial when multitasking.
And tyrosine supplementation also appears to improve cognitive performance in people who are under a lot of stress and/or who are deficient in the neurotransmitters mentioned.
Overall, it likely increases your brain’s performance, but not necessarily if you have adequate levels of tyrosine and neurotransmitters.
Recommended Dose: 300-400mg per day
- L-Theanine
This amino acid might sound similar to the previous one, but L-Theanine is known for its relaxing and soothing properties. It’s found in tea and it may very well be one of the reasons you feel all nice and calm when sipping it! It increases GABA, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain, which aid in improving mood and reducing stress.
Plus, theanine increases alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with calm alertness or calm focus, so one can see how it may be particularly beneficial for cognitive performance when under stress. Theanine also has some research showing it can improve sleep quality, likely due to anxiety reduction.
Recommended Dose: 200mg per day
Mood Amplification
The final blend we have in Hunter Focus is the Mood Amplification, which consists of two ingredients: phosphatidylserine and ashwagandha.
- Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is special because it’s regarded as one of the most effective nootropic ingredients studied today. In fact, it’s an amino acid derivative that has more quality studies surrounding it than most nootropics. It helps boost glucose metabolism, regulate levels of nerve growth factor, and helps repair neurons in the brain.
Furthermore, research shows that phosphatidylserine supplementation enhances memory in a number of ways, such as the ability to form short-term memories and retrieve long-term memories. It is also shown to improve focus, learning capacity, concentration, and problem-solving.
Finally, phosphatidylserine is able to blunt cortisol in stressful situations, which may help you to sleep better and improve your mood and overall mental health.
Recommended Dose: 150-200mg per day
- Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an ancient herb that has been used for thousands of years in traditional Ayurveda medicine. It’s best known as a stress-reliever, energy-booster, and focus-enhancer, all of which stem from its ability to act on the central nervous system and HPA-axis.
It also helps boost the levels of choline in the brain, repair axons and dendrites in the brain, and reduce cortisol levels — a major stress hormone. Basically, its ability to reduce stress leads to its many benefits for mental performance, such as increased attention, better reaction time, better memory, and overall enhanced cognitive function.
Moreover, ashwagandha supplementation is associated with decreased anxiety, depression, and stress. And it is a key player in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.
Recommended Dose: 350-400mg per day
Other Ingredients
Of course, there are 11 more natural ingredients in Hunter Focus that need to be touched on at least a little bit. These include various vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and other substances.
B-Complex Vitamins
Hunter Focus also included vitamin B6, vitamin B9, and vitamin B12, all of which play numerous roles in the brain. All of these b-vitamins play a role in energy production, so they’re vital for helping you to have enough mental energy. Deficiencies in these are often associated with cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, stress, and brain fog, among others. Supplementation with these 3, in particular, seems to be effective for improving cognitive function in people with cognitive impairment, but not necessarily healthy people.
Vitamin C
Also included is vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant and therefore can reduce oxidative stress on the brain, which in theory would help cognitive function.
Vitamin D3
Yet another vitamin included in Hunter Focus is vitamin D3, which is really a hormone based on how it acts in the body. Low vitamin D levels are a risk factor for impaired cognition, but there isn’t great evidence to show that supplementation specifically improves any aspect of cognitive function.
Vitamin K2
Next, we have vitamin K2, a fat-soluble vitamin, which appears to be able to decrease inflammation. And it also is involved in the production and survival of brain cells, with some research showing it has promise for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. As for enhancing focus and cognition in healthy people, the jury is still out.
Acetyl-L Carnitine
Another ingredient is acetyl-L-carnitine, which is an amino acid derivative that’s crucial for processing fats and for energy production. And some research shows it can help in cognitive disorders, possibly by enhancing energy production in the brain. Yet, any research showing benefits as a nootropic in healthy individuals is currently sparse.
Other Herbs: Ginkgo, Rhodiola, Ginseng, and Sage
Also included in Hunter Focus are ginkgo biloba, Rhodiola, Panax ginseng, and Spanish sage, all of which are herbal extracts. While the effects of these herbs differ slightly, the general picture is that all of them can slightly improve cognitive function and may be useful for cognitive impairments. Some of the mechanisms behind this are increased cerebral blood flow, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, acetylcholine and other neurotransmitter enhancement, and reduced stress and anxiety.
Caffeine Anhydrous
Finally, we have caffeine anhydrous. Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant, which results in an increase of many neurotransmitters (e.g. dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine), which can lead to improvements in mood, alertness, concentration, attention, and other aspects of mental and cognitive function. Caffeine is arguably the most-researched compound out there too, so the evidence is substantial.
Does Hunter Focus Work?
Overall, Hunter Focus should be able to enhance cognition and keep your brain healthy as a potent nootropic supplement. The many ingredients in here are well-researched for the most part, especially the 8 listed under their three different complexes.
Also, the dosages of some of the key ingredients are on par with research, such as lion’s mane, citicoline, l-theanine, and tyrosine. There are also some ingredients with amounts slightly lower than what’s optimal, but still pretty effective, especially when considering that they’re paired together. Such ingredients include ashwagandha, bacopa, and phosphatidylserine.
There are some concerns about the other ingredients, however. For example, a lot of the vitamins (e.g. C,D, K2) and carnitine are decent for overall health, but might not have specific benefits for cognition in healthy people.
And some of the other herbs and other substances are more beneficial for mitigating cognitive decline rather than promoting optimal cognitive function.
But as a whole, Hunter Focus should be a solid cognitive-enhancer and should be able to improve attention, alertness, focus, mood, energy, and memory. But these effects will likely be mild to moderate.
Claims vs. Reality
Relatedly, it’s always interesting (and beneficial) to see how the expected results of Hunter Focus compare to the claims made.
Earlier in this review, we listed the six major claims made by Hunter Focus, which were:
- Improved Memory
- Better Focus
- Elevated Mood
- More Energy
- Enhanced Creativity
- Optimized Learning
And after breaking down the ingredients, Hunter Focus may definitely lead to these benefits, but I wouldn’t expect any major improvements. It is more likely that Hunter Focus will lead to mild to moderate improvements in these domains.
Plus, if you plan to take Hunter Focus, be aware that the ingredients take time to work. While you may notice significant results in just a few weeks, it will likely take a few months before the full effects kick in. (The makers themselves even mention this).
The degree to which Hunter Focus benefits you depends on your current cognitive function and overall brain health, meaning that people with lower overall functioning will probably benefit the most. That’s why it’s unlikely that Hunter Focus will make anyone a “cognitive superhuman”.
Sure, it’ll benefit even healthy people, but likely only a little bit. But that extra edge may be all that you need.
You can buy Hunter Focus on the Hunter Evolve website at this product link. With its sleek, black, and blue design, it will definitely appeal to the men in the crowd. (Of course, the inside is what counts the most).
Each bottle contains 30 servings (180 capsules). You can either buy, 1,2, or 4 bottles at a time.
The Hunter Focus website lists pricing as follows:
- One Bottle – $80 + delivery
- Two Bottles – $160 (free USA and UK delivery)
- Four Bottles – $240 (free Worldwide delivery) (You technically buy three bottles and get the fourth one free).
Evidently, if you choose to take Hunter Focus, it’ll set you back quite a bit. At a minimum of two dollars per serving, Hunter Focus is pretty expensive. But you could also play around with the dosage since the serving size is 6 capsules, which leaves some room for lower doses if desired.
Hunter Focus Pros vs. Cons
It doesn’t matter what nootropic supplement you’re looking at; there’s bound to be a combination of pros and cons involved. Things aren’t any different with Hunter Focus, though I must say the pros will definitely outweigh the cons.
Let’s break down the various benefits and pitfalls with Hunter Focus.
Pros
- All major ingredients have scientific evidence supporting them
- The ingredients target the root of the problem, allowing your body to receive a natural boost
- Only includes natural ingredients that are generally safe
- Positively affects the three main components of a nootropic — mood, memory, and focus
- Properly lists the dosage of each ingredient on the label
- Since each serving size is 6 capsules, you can easily play around with smaller dosages
Cons
- Have to take 6 capsules per day for a full serving
- Pretty expensive, especially the options without the deals
- Might not be necessary for some cognitively healthy people
- Likely won’t produce massive benefits
There are also various reviews on their website- with everyone from athletes, business professionals, partiers, gamers, and reading enthusiasts- detailing generally positive results.
Final Verdict For Hunter Focus
In terms of nootropics on the market today, this product is right up there with the best. They don’t waste their time with ingredients that aren’t proven, aren’t necessary, or are harmful to the human body. They accurately detail what they’re giving you and how it’s going to affect your body, leaving you with no questions left to ask.
While some of the ingredients lack scientific evidence and/or effective dosages, the majority of the ingredients are well-researched and proven to do their job, leading to the benefits advertised by Hunter Focus.
Overall, Hunter Focus is one of the best nootropics I’ve come across thus far and it is definitely made by an elite company. The basic formula is a must for any beginner, but also more than enough for any seasoned nootropic enthusiast.