Awaken Review

What if you could get a nootropic stack that extends your brain performance and improves your focus while steering clear from the negative effects of caffeine (or other exogenous stimulants)? Word on the street is that Awaken from Awakened Alchemy is one of the formulations that are meant to straddle this fine line.

The product comprises at least 10 ingredients among them nootropic compounds, multi-vitamins, adaptogenic herbs, and amino acids.

And as you would expect, the manufacturer claims that all these are clinically-studied and confirmed to provide the nutrition your mind needs to function optimally.

But is there an ounce of truth in all these claims? We decided to conduct an in-depth and unbiased Awakened Alchemy review to see if this product is worth your time and money or not.

Inside The Awaken Dietary Supplement

The first time you set your eyes on it, you’re likely to notice that this is not your average nootropic compound. Everything from its packaging to presentation speaks volumes of the manufacturer’s desire to attract a quality-conscious market base.

But look even closer and you’re likely to discover a few of its major claims – some of which may seem too good to be true until you look even closer. Basically, this product is claimed to perform 4 functions in the body (as follows).

1. Accelerate Learning

The stack apparently contains elements that increase neuroplasticity by boosting the availability of NGF and BDNF. Those two are the key components of new neurons and, therefore, a boost in their production also increases your chances of producing new neurons.

And because neurons are involved in the transfer of stimuli across the body, any development on this front would also increase the quality of your neural connections. Ultimately, this would accelerate the speed at which you learn new information while also boosting your fluid intelligence.

2. Improve Memory

It’s one thing to be intelligent and sharp but another one altogether to be in a position to recall things. The good thing here is that this nootropic supplement works by boosting the secretion of essential neurotransmitters that are involved in short-term and long-term memory.

Well, that may sound like a bit of an overstatement, but as we shall explain later, there are components of your brain that tend to decline over time. And, therefore, by preventing such kind of cognitive decline, it’s possible to reverse memory loss problems.

3. Enhancing Focus & Clarity

Brain fog and fatigue are just but a few of the issues that can easily contribute to the loss of focus and mental clarity. Whether you’re a student or in a career that entails critical thinking, mental clarity is really something you can’t underestimate.

Fortunately, Awaken is claimed to contribute to clarity by providing the building blocks you need to think clearly. On top of that, this product is believed to come with ingredients that help fight anxiety and reduce stress.

You don’t need rocket science to know that stress and anxiety can easily lead to a loss of focus. And, therefore, by warding them off, you’re also bound to notice your thinking becoming much more enhanced over time.

4. Intensifying Drive

Has the loss of motivation either at work or school been slowing you down? Maybe you are having challenges remaining committed to your objectives or have even become a serial procrastinator of late.

The good guys behind Awaken claim that this product can help you overcome that mental block today. Within this product are ingredients that have been scientifically proven to lead to positive thinking and motivation building.

Whew, those 4 are some pretty major claims. But how can a single stack with 10 ingredients provide all those? The answer to that question lies with the latest scientific breakthroughs.

Does Awaken Work?

Going by the old saying “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” we’d like to closely examine each one of this product's ingredients. What do scientists think about the ingredients? That’s the only way to confirm if this product works or it’s merely a collection of ineffective fillers.

1. Phenylethylamine

A serving of Awaken contains 400mg of Phenylethylamine or PEA. The company claims that this ingredient is a “neuro-amplifier” which uplifts mood, alertness, and creativity among other things.

In an article appearing on Science Direct, scientists described PEA as a dopamine booster. They further singled it out as a potential mind-booster all thanks to its “hormone-like” effects.

2. PQQ

Also known as Pyrroloquinoline Quinone, Awakened Alchemy claims that this 10mg per serving ingredient is meant to improve the central nervous system functions. The company also believes that PQQ improves the growth of new mitochondria.

So, what do the scientists think about these claims? In a 2012 study appearing on the Journal of Neurotrauma, Dr. Zhang Lili and his team of researchers simply describe PQQ as an element with neuroprotective effects meaning that it prevents further degeneration of the CNS system and also promotes the recovery of worn out neurons.

As far as the production of new mitochondria goes, a 2018 study appearing on PubMed simply refers to PQQ as an element capable of promoting mitochondria biogenesis.

3. L-Theanine

Best known for being a naturally occurring amino acid commonly found in green tea, L-theanine has been cited as a great stimulant. 150mg of it are found per serving of Awaken.

In a 2008 study, L-theanine was described as “a component with significant effects on mental alertness and arousal.” However, the study recommends the ingestion of a minimum of 50mg per serving.

4. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine

A cool 150mg of N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine is found within this product. The manufacturer believes that the inclusion of this component can improve mental performance even in sleep-deprived conditions.

Scientists, however, seem to be a bit cautious when drawing a conclusion on these ingredients effects in the brain. In animal-based studies, though, scientists concluded that 400mg of tyrosine would have beneficial effects in stressed organisms.

So, we think that the levels of N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine might be a bit too low and, therefore, its effects overhyped.

5. KSM-66

This is a patented form of the Ashwagandha extract. At 200mg, Awaken provides you with a high concentration of this extract with the objective of increasing neuroplasticity and improving memory. 

So far, scientists seem to view Ashwagandha mainly as an anti-stress and anti-anxiety agent. By relieving strain and tension, KSM-66 has been observed to improve mental performance and clarity.

6. CDP Choline

Choline has become quite popular of late especially for stimulating products where no caffeine is involved. So, it’s no surprise that this manufacturer included 250mg of it in this package.

Scientists recommend an optimal intake of 261mg of choline per day. It’s, therefore, encouraging to note that this product meets that threshold.

7. Uridine 5 Monophosphate

Uridine 5 Monophosphate is commonly referred to by scientists as a nutritional modifier of an aging brain. It works by improving the ability to transfer and store information. With 150mg of it found within this product, there’s no doubt that this package can significantly improve your brain health and reverse any negative effects that might be slowing you down.

8. Other Ingredients

The three remaining ingredients are Phosphatidylserine (125mg), Methylcobalamin (500mcg), and Bioperine (5mg) all of which were able to independently verify as potent brain health supplements.

Phosphatidylserine protects your brain cells, Methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) encourages brain cell multiplication while Bioperine improves the absorption or bioavailability of the entire Awaken stack.

Who Takes Awaken?

As we have seen above, it’s no coincidence that this product is so popular. But judging from its list of ingredients and packaging, we think it’s targeted at the new age-y biohackers.

These are not your ordinary biohackers but rather individuals who are also conscious about their health and also folks who are picky on product-quality.

Side Effects

This product doesn’t seem to have any major side effects unless you overdose on it. Some of the likely side effects may include:

• Gastrointestinal distress
• Nausea
• Insomnia

However, 99% of the time, the effects of taking Awaken or any of its ingredients are generally well-tolerated in typical dosages.

Dosage

Talking about dosage, what’s the correct dosage for this product? You might be wondering. And well, the manufacturer recommends taking 2 capsules in the morning.

There is an exception, though, for advanced users who the company suggests may consider taking an additional capsule in the evening for an afternoon or mid-morning boost.

Awaken Effects

Unfortunately, the effects of this supplement are not felt instantly which is probably because it doesn’t contain caffeine. So, instead, the effects tend to build up over time which is typically within several weeks of daily use.

Pros & Cons