Plus 6 safe ways to revive mental energy
It’s only halfway through the day, and your brain already wants to shut down.
But you have a paper to write… a PowerPoint presentation to finish… two meetings to sit through. And you need your brain in overdrive, not out to lunch.
Your first instinct might be to grab an energy drink or two to supply the jolt you need to keep going.
Unfortunately, that might actually end up doing more harm than good—especially over the long run. And it definitely won’t sustain your brain the way you’re hoping for.
Luckily, you can get sustainable mental energy back on track without risking any harmful effects.
But first…
The Downside of Energy Drinks
The U.S. energy drink industry is swimming in profits, racking up around $20 billion in sales—and more than $60 billion worldwide. And that’s not really surprising.
Energy drinks like 5-Hour Energy, Celsius, and Red Bull make you feel awake, alert, and attentive. The sweetness and the brain boost can be deliciously addictive. And millions of people believe they’re healthier than soda because they may contain vitamins and herbs.
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But a growing pile of research shines a light on the very dark and dangerous side of energy drinks and the serious health problems they can cause.
Studies show that regular energy drink consumption can lead to:[1,2,3]
- hypertension
- irregular heartbeat
- heart attack
- heart disease
- liver disease
- pancreatic disease
- manic episodes
- paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions
- seizures
- brain bleeds
- kidney failure
- stroke
- death
One of the common contributing factors across energy drinks is excessive caffeine, more than a human body can handle.
That’s why you want to support your brain the right way for sustained mental energy with no crushing crash afterward.
Crossing the Line with Caffeine
Caffeine is one of nature’s quickest brain boosters, but too much of it at once can cost your mind and body more than you realize. Small amounts of caffeine give your brain a safe, gentle nudge of mental energy and inspiration. But overload yourself and the story changes quickly.[4,5]
Consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine—about 4 or 5 cups of coffee—in one day can cause harmful effects. And the caffeine in energy drinks can add up quickly, sometimes much faster than you realize.
Excess caffeine can cause serious health issues, especially affecting your cardiovascular and nervous systems. It might start with feeling anxious and jittery… progress to a frighteningly rapid heartbeat… and lead to overwhelming dizziness and chest pain.
That’s why it’s so important to keep caffeine in the safety zone. The space where it’s just enough to spark your brain and stave off afternoon sleepiness without jeopardizing your health.
Many energy drinks don’t mention exactly how much caffeine they contain—and they don’t have to. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find out. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) reveals exactly what’s inside some of the most popular energy drinks[6]:
| Energy Drink | Size | How Much Caffeine? |
| Redline Xtreme | 8 oz | 316 mg |
| A Shoc | 16 oz | 300 mg |
| Bang | 16 oz | 300 mg |
| 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength | 1.9 oz | 230 mg |
| Celsius | 12 oz | 200 mg |
| Full Throttle | 16 oz | 160 mg |
| Monster Energy | 16 oz | 160 mg |
| Rockstar Original | 16 oz | 160 mg |
| Venom Energy | 16 oz | 160 mg |
| Red Bull | 8.4 oz | 80 mg |
Source: https://www.cspinet.org/caffeine-chart#energy_drink
Beware of Counterfeit Energy Drinks
Legit energy drinks can be bad for your health… but counterfeit energy drinks are even worse. You don’t know what you’re getting, and it might be much more dangerous than you’d ever expect.
The Amazon marketplace is flooded with counterfeit products, energy drinks that look exactly the same as the real deal but aren’t. Amazon is well aware of the problem and has taken steps to address it, but they just aren’t catching everyone… and both sides know it.
Amazon seized more than 7 million counterfeit products in 2023, but that’s just a drop in the global bucket. And these fake energy drinks may contain some truly dodgy ingredients—like toxins, contaminants, and drugs—regardless of what’s on their labels.
Between the dangers of real-deal energy drinks and the extra dangers of counterfeit products (which aren’t just limited to Amazon by the way), it’s best to avoid them all together.
But that doesn’t mean you have to feel sluggish, foggy, tired, and dull.
Why Your Brain Feels Slow
Your brain is on-call 24/7, even when you’re asleep. It uses tons of energy, and it’s easily depleted by everyday life. And while something handy and quick like an energy drink can feel like the right idea, it’s a temporary fix at best… and almost sure to lead to a crash when it wears off. That jumpstart and crash cycle can leave your brain feeling even more worn out.
Giving your brain the right kind of support means knowing what’s tiring it out. Common brain drains include:[7,8,9,10,11]
- stress
- information overload
- burnout
- nutrient deficiencies – including vitamins B12 and D
- free radicals
So addressing these issues can help keep your brain on the right track all day, every day.
6 Safe, Surefire Ways to Spark Your Brain
You want to feel sharp, clear, and brimming with ideas. That means you need to give your brain the right supplies so it has enough energy to do all of that while still doing all the background tasks necessary to keep you alive and well.
Luckily, nature provides a bounty of options to support mental energy, focus, clarity, and memory. From essential nutrients to ancient botanicals, you can safely unlock your full brain power with these 6 proven natural compounds.
1. Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 plays a huge role in brain cell health and overall brain power. It’s a key ingredient in neurotransmitter production, chemicals that keep your brain cells communicating and creating. B12 deficiencies can lead to slowed thinking, memory lapses, and trouble paying attention.[12] When your brain gets enough B12, though, your mind stays calm, focused, and sharp.
2. Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 helps maintain your brain cell health and preserves your cognitive power. It’s needed to help your brain perform its natural plaque-removing tasks, manage the production of neurotransmitters, and maintain healthy cognitive function.[13]
3. Citicoline
Citicoline, also known as CDP-choline, has been used for decades in the medical community to promote peak brain power. This nutrient has been shown to help:[14,15,16]
- Increase oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain
- Produce acetylcholine, a crucial chemical necessary for learning and memory
- Protect brain cell integrity
- Increase dopamine levels needed for memory formation
- Provide strong antioxidant protection
4. CognatiQ®
CognatiQ® is a stimulant-free compound extracted from coffee fruit. It elevates levels of a special brain protein called BDNF that helps new brain cells grow, form, and thrive.
BDNF also promotes new brain cell growth and connectivity, both essential for clear thinking, information retention, and laser focus.[17,18] Research shows that a single 100 mg dose of CognatiQ® can increase BDNF by 143%[19], and taking it for 28 days can lead to improvements in attention, accuracy, and processing speed.[20]
5. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha has been used as an adaptogen for thousands of years, helping people keep their systems in healthy balance. This prized herb helps manage the body’s stress response and cortisol levels, shielding the brain against the ravages of stress.[21,22] It’s also a potent antioxidant, fighting free radicals that could otherwise harm brain cells.
6. Lion's Mane Mushroom
Lion’s Mane is a brain superfood, rich in unique compounds called hericenones and erinacines that promote brain cell growth and healthy survival. Research shows that lion’s mane mushroom improves mental performance speed, reduces stress levels, and improves mood in healthy adults.[23,24]
All of these safe, natural brain boosters stimulate brain function without overstimulating your brain… provide clear, focused mental energy without jitters… and keep your brain feeling fresh and vital all day, crash-free.
Just Thrive Brain Health Products
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- CognatiQ® coffee fruit extract
- Citicoline
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D3
- KSM-66® Ashwagandha root extract
- Lion’s Mane
- And just a touch of caffeine – only 40 mg, less than half a cup of coffee
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Sources
- Wassef B, Kohansieh M, Makaryus AN. Effects of energy drinks on the cardiovascular system. World J Cardiol. 2017 Nov 26;9(11):796-806. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v9.i11.796. PMID: 29225735; PMCID: PMC5714807.
- Costantino A, Maiese A, Lazzari J, Casula C, Turillazzi E, Frati P, Fineschi V. The Dark Side of Energy Drinks: A Comprehensive Review of Their Impact on the Human Body. Nutrients. 2023 Sep 9;15(18):3922. doi: 10.3390/nu15183922. PMID: 37764707; PMCID: PMC10535526.
- Avcı S., Sarıkaya R., Büyükcam F. Death of a young man after overuse of energy drink. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 2013;31 doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2013.06.031.
- Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA. The Safety of Ingested Caffeine: A Comprehensive Review. Front Psychiatry. 2017 May 26;8:80. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080. PMID: 28603504; PMCID: PMC5445139.
- Rodak K, Kokot I, Kratz EM. Caffeine as a Factor Influencing the Functioning of the Human Body-Friend or Foe? Nutrients. 2021 Sep 2;13(9):3088. doi: 10.3390/nu13093088. PMID: 34578966; PMCID: PMC8467199.
- Center for Science in the Public Interest. Caffeine chart. Updated July 2023. Accessed July 24, 2024. Available from: https://www.cspinet.org/caffeine-chart#energy_drink.
- Khan MA, Al-Jahdali H. The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2023 Apr;28(2):91-99. doi: 10.17712/nsj.2023.2.20220108. PMID: 37045455; PMCID: PMC10155483.
- Koutsimani P, Montgomery A, Masoura E, Panagopoulou E. Burnout and Cognitive Performance. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 22;18(4):2145. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042145. PMID: 33671754; PMCID: PMC7926785.
- Markun S, Gravestock I, Jäger L, Rosemann T, Pichierri G, Burgstaller JM. Effects of Vitamin B12 Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Depressive Symptoms, and Fatigue: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 12;13(3):923.
- Sultan S, Taimuri U, Basnan SA, Ai-Orabi WK, Awadallah A, Almowald F, Hazazi A. Low Vitamin D and Its Association with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. J Aging Res. 2020 Apr 30;2020:6097820.
- Kandlur A, Satyamoorthy K, Gangadharan G. Oxidative Stress in Cognitive and Epigenetic Aging: A Retrospective Glance. Front Mol Neurosci. 2020 Mar 18;13:41.
- Mathew AR, Di Matteo G, La Rosa P, Barbati SA, Mannina L, Moreno S, Tata AM, Cavallucci V, Fidaleo M. Vitamin B12 Deficiency and the Nervous System: Beyond Metabolic Decompensation—Comparing Biological Models and Gaining New Insights into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25(1):590.
- Anjum I, Jaffery SS, Fayyaz M, Samoo Z, Anjum S. The Role of Vitamin D in Brain Health: A Mini Literature Review. Cureus. 2018 Jul 10;10(7):e2960. doi: 10.7759/cureus.2960. PMID: 30214848; PMCID: PMC6132681.
- Świątkiewicz M, Grieb P. Citicoline for Supporting Memory in Aging Humans. Aging Dis. 2023 Aug 1;14(4):1184-1195.
- Jasielski P, Piędel F, Piwek M, Rocka A, Petit V, Rejdak K. Application of Citicoline in Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 12;12(10):3113.
- Kansakar U, Trimarco V, Mone P, Varzideh F, Lombardi A, Santulli G. Choline supplements: An update. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Mar 7;14:1148166.
- Bathina S, Das UN. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its clinical implications. Arch Med Sci. 2015 Dec 10;11(6):1164-78. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2015.56342. Epub 2015 Dec 11. PMID: 26788077; PMCID: PMC4697050.
- Nicastri CM, McFeeley BM, Simon SS, Ledreux A, Håkansson K, Granholm AC, Mohammed AH, Daffner KR. BDNF mediates improvement in cognitive performance after computerized cognitive training in healthy older adults. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2022 Aug 30;8(1):e12337.
- Reyes-Izquierdo T, Nemzer B, Shu C, Huynh L, Argumedo R, Keller R, Pietrzkowski Z. Modulatory effect of coffee fruit extract on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects. Br J Nutr. 2013 Aug 28;110(3):420-5.
- Robinson JL, Hunter JM, Reyes-Izquierdo T, Argumedo R, Brizuela-Bastien J, Keller R, Pietrzkowski ZJ. Cognitive short- and long-term effects of coffee cherry extract in older adults with mild cognitive decline. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2020 Nov;27(6):918-934.
- Remenapp A, Coyle K, Orange T, Lynch T, Hooper D, Hooper S, Conway K, Hausenblas HA. Efficacy of Withania somnifera supplementation on adult's cognition and mood. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2022 Apr-Jun;13(2):100510.
- Gopukumar K, Thanawala S, Somepalli V, Rao TSS, Thamatam VB, Chauhan S. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract on Cognitive Functions in Healthy, Stressed Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Nov 30;2021:8254344.
- Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF. The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2023 Nov 20;15(22):4842.
- Cha S, Bell L, Shukitt-Hale B, Williams CM. A review of the effects of mushrooms on mood and neurocognitive health across the lifespan. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2024 Mar;158:105548.