Laurence Lee

January 24, 2023 in Supplements

Cognitive enhancers, also known as nootropics, are specially designed supplements that affect brain health. The supplements can contain either natural or synthetic components and are often used to accelerate mental processing to elevate cognitive abilities. These aids also affect physical capabilities, helping users take on more strenuous tasks and activities. With more and more studies solidifying the effectiveness of these substances, it's no surprise that the market is filled with nootropic supplements.

This makes navigating toward the right choice difficult, so I've pinned up two popular brain supplements—Mind Lab Pro and Adderall against each other to identify which supplement best supports brain functionality:

Mind Lab Pro

Mind Lab Pro is made by the world-renowned manufacturer Opti-Nutra Limited, a company that specializes in natural supplement development. Mind Lab is considered one of the most effective nootropic aids on the market due to its uniquely structured third-party tested formula.

The formula contains 11 natural scientifically-backed ingredients that are effective in cognitive enhancement and restoration.

The 100% plant-based Nutri-Capsules are filled with large clinically approved doses to deliver significant nootropic effects to users for maximum potency. 

The stimulant-free supplement was created to optimize brain functioning to promote mental energy, clarity, creativity, attention, motivation, verbal fluidity, focus, and memory. The product also increases cerebral blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain, encouraging the organ to perform at peak levels. It also increases specific neurotransmitter activity and stimulates nerve growth, promoting thinking/working memory and neuron communication. The product has an excellent safety profile due to its clean formula and has neuroprotective properties, which protect the brain from external and internal damage/injury.

Adderall

Manufactured by Shire Pharmaceuticals, Adderall is a CNS (central nervous system) stimulant used to elevate and stabilize mental processes. Shire, who are experts in creating synthetic formulas that address different disorders, specifically created Adderall to manage the symptoms of ADHD.

However, it was later released to the mainstream market as a nootropic aid due to its ability to rapidly improve cognitive performance.

The supplement uses a combination of synthetic stimulant-based ingredients (mixed amphetamine salts—MAS) to push the brain into peak functioning. 

Its concentrated effect increases the presence of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, which controls behavioral responses, reducing impulsivity while improving mental energy, focus, and attention. This allows users to efficiently handle mental strain. The synthetic blend also improves clarity which supports better decision-making skills, information retention/sharing, and communication. The promotion of mental processing/functioning also affects physical capabilities, allowing users to take on a more strenuous/intense physical load.

Key Features

Mind Lab Pro

- Stabilizes moods and emotional responses

- Promotes focus, memory, clarity

- Fully supports brain health

Adderall

- Supports the thinking process

- Reduces mental fatigue

- Promotes focus

Unique ingredients

Mind Lab Pro and Adderall both have a unique formula that contains several ingredients that can affect cognitive function. Although these ingredients essentially support the same brain processes, they use different approaches to execute their function. Let's on some of these components to find out what their role is in mental elevation:

Mind Lab Pro

  • Citicoline: This ingredient energizes brain cells and improves neural impulses, which support mental performance. It also supports brain regeneration and enhances brain cell membrane formation by 26%.
  • Phosphatidylserine (Sunflower Lecithin): Phosphatidylserine provides fluidity, enhances receptor, and neurotransmitter function in the brain. This nootropic agent supports glucose metabolism, increasing brain cell energy and producing nerve growth factor (NGF). This process aids brain cell formation, and repair, allowing better transmission of brain chemicals while slowing down cognitive function.
  • Bacopa Monnieri: Bacopa Monnieri enhances antioxidant activity in the brain and promotes better brain chemistry. It also promotes GABA, acetylcholine, and serotonin, which help maintain focus and clarity. The agent promotes blood flow to the brain, increases brain chemical synthesis, promotes mood balance and overall brain health.
  • Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom: This ingredient boosts NGF production, which sustains brain plasticity. This helps the brain with memories and assists brain cell formation/function.
  • Maritime Pine Bark Extract: Maritime supplies the brain with a protective antioxidant complex that promotes better blood flow, enhanced memory, attention, mental energy, learning, and neural health.
  • L-Tyrosine: L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that improves moods and mental processing. It also stimulates the production of other neurotransmitters, improving nerve cell communication. This nootropic agent also helps synthesize depleted neurotransmitters during problem-solving and high-pressure thinking.
  • L-Theanine: L-Theanine promotes alpha brainwaves responsible for creativity and wakeful relaxation. It supports the function of calming neurotransmitters while modulating the attention circuitry in the brain. The ingredient also provides neuroprotection and maintains mental clarity during aging.
  • Rhodiola Rosea: Rhodiola Rosea stimulates, transports, and sustains neurotransmitters along the blood-brain barrier. It also reduces cognitive decline and stops the unnecessary release of stress hormones. This helps users build mental resistance.
  • Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 supports the creation of neurotransmitters and helps regulate brain energy.
  • Vitamin B9: Vitamin B9, also known as Folic Acid, accelerates brain performance. It helps produce both DNA and RNA while preventing memory loss.
  • Vitamin B12: This ingredient plays a role in creating red blood cells, DNA, and nerves. It also decreases the chance of neuron loss.

Adderall

  • Dextroamphetamine saccharate: This agent works by changing the number of natural chemicals in the brain to support specific functions such as attention and focus.
  • Amphetamine aspartateThis synthetic stimulant prevents the reabsorption of norepinephrine and dopamine. This promotes focus and wakefulness.
  • Amphetamine sulfate: This ingredient targets certain brain receptors that promote the function/presence of norepinephrine and dopamine, along with other neurotransmitters. This provides users with focus and drives to complete tasks.
  • Dextroamphetamine sulfate: Dextroamphetamine is a stimulant that corrects imbalances of certain brain chemicals. This increases your ability to be attentive and focused.

The unique ingredients mentioned above each play an integral part in elevating brain functionality. However, they have opposing origins. The ingredients used to create the Mind Lab formula are derived from nature/natural sources, while all the components used to create Adderall are synthetic (man/lab-made).

Although both sets of ingredients effectively promote brain health, I found that the ingredients in Mind Lab Pro have a more profound effect on different brain processes. The natural base also has a better safety profile than Adderall, whose synthetic ingredients pose several risk factors when taken long or short-term.

Side Effects

Mind Lab and Adderall have different profiles when it comes to side effects. Mind Lab has a low side effect profile, while Adderall has a high one. The contrasting profiles are due to the composition of these aids. Mind Lab contains 100% natural ingredients which do not negatively affect body processes as it works synergistically to produce cognitive effects. According to studies and reviews, Mind Lab Pro is side effects free, which means it can be safely used in any circumstance. However, experts advise users to check their allergies against Mind Lab's ingredient list to ensure that they do not have any conflicting allergies. 

Adderall, on the other hand, is made using synthetic components, which carry a higher side effect rate because it triggers a series of processes that do not normally occur in the body/mind. The supplement also has high stimulant content, adversely affecting both mental and physical processes. Adderall use comes with the possibility of the following side effects:

  • Loss of appetite, dry mouth
  • Fever, nervousness, insomnia
  • Nausea/vomiting, dizziness, headache
  • Weight loss, stomach upset/pain, diarrhea

Due to the possibility of these side effects, Mind Lab Pro seems to be a more reliable choice that can help users reach desired mental goals safely and efficiently.

Prices and Offers

Mind Lab Pro

60 pills - 30 days

$69.99/bottle

- Discount on bulk orders
- Fast and free shipping
- 30-day money-back guarantee

Adderall

60 pills - 30 days

$120.00/bottle

- No discounts available
- No fee shipping
- No money-back guarantee

In my opinion, Mind Lab provides users with a better set of buying benefits with discounts, shipping, and a money-back guarantee. It is also much cheaper than Adderall, which proves their loyalty to consumer affordability and health care. Accumulatively, Mind Lab's effects and pricing structure make it an ideal choice.

Pros and Cons

Mind Lab Pro

Pros

  • Improves brain health/protection from chemical or physical injuries
  • Supports focus/concentration/alertness and reaction speeds
  • It contains 100% natural, clinically researched ingredients
  • Enhances memory and learning capacity
  • Stabilizes moods and emotions
  • Promotes mental energy

Cons

  • Use of the supplement has to be cycled
  • Some ingredients in the formula are not present in clinical doses

Adderall

Pros

  • Reduces irrational behavior and thoughts
  • Supports greater thinking capacities
  • Improves focus, concentration, clarity
  • Reduces mental fatigue

Cons

  • Very high stimulant content—a high probability of side effects
  • High possibility of mental crashes

Final Verdict

At first glance, these supplements may seem like they are the same as they have similar potency levels and aim to provide the same set of benefits and effects. However, upon closer inspection, I found a few defining factors that set them apart. Adderall has a synthetic, stimulant-filled base which plays an integral role in its instability as a nootropic aid as use comes with possible risks. Research shows that the supplement has a host of side effects linked to its use.

Adderall's effects also become a bit unpredictable when used long-term. In contrast, Mind Lab has a 100% natural stimulant-free base with a confirmed side-effect-free status. Its natural formula provides users with safe brain elevation effects that do not hinder or affect normal mental processes. The supplement also provides users with a more comprehensive/holistic set of benefits that affect mental and physical abilities. This, of course, makes Mind Lab the preferred choice.

Best Nootropic: Mind Lab Pro

Price

Ingredients

Effectiveness

Overall

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3933742/

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882550/

3. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/638109

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24266378/

5. https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2015/01/21/Pine-bark-extract-shows-memory-focus-and-decision-making-benefits

6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6084775/

7. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/nogeikagaku1924/72/2/72_2_153/_article

8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/rhodiola-rosea

9. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-b6/

10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257642/

11. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/vitamin-b9-folic-acid#:~:text=Folic%20acid%20is%20crucial%20for,infancy%2C%20adolescence%2C%20and%20pregnancy.

12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10944409/

13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8063758/

14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6513464/

15. https://link.springer.com/10.1007%2F978-0-387-79948-3_1423#:~:text=Verbal%20fluency%20is%20a%20cognitive,generation%2C%20and%20self%2Dmonitoring.

16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207727/

17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4606453/

About the author 

Laurence Lee

Lee is a neuroscientist who has dedicated his career to understanding the inner workings of the brain. He has seen firsthand the power of these supplements in improving cognitive function and believes that more people should be aware of their benefits. In his articles, Lee shares his extensive knowledge on the subject and provides unbiased reviews of different products.

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