As I’m writing this I’m experiencing my daily 4pm post-lunch slump. Like clockwork, every single working day, my brain switches off at this time and I struggle to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard if you will).
I’m a morning person and if you catch me in the early hours or until I’ve stuffed my face at 1pm on the dot, the words fly off the page but as my contracted hours mean I need to continue on through to the early evening, I need to bring in reinforcements.
The easy option is to grab an energy drink and our office vending machine is full of highly sugary, highly caffeinated variations, but that’s not ideal. From their saccharine taste to the fact that it takes around five hours on average for a healthy person to metabolise just half our caffeine consumption (according to the Pharmacology of Caffeine report), I’d rather not spend the night tossing and turning with aching teeth and regret.
There is another option. Nootropic drinks are an emerging category that is experiencing a boom. The market is filled with beverages like herbal teas, mushroom-infused hydration, CBD-based beverages and natural energy drinks aiming to improve cognitive function and mental performance – including memory, focus and brain health.
Harnessing natural ingredients that are packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids, the formulations were created to target neurotransmitters and brain pathways to increase blood flow and the production of dopamine and acetylcholine, protect against oxidative stress and encourage the brain to form new associations aka enhancing neuroplasticity.
We reached out to Specialist Dietitian Pooja Dhir (BSc, RD) to find out more.
What are nootropic drinks?
“Nootropic drinks are beverages designed to boost cognitive functions such as memory, focus, creativity and motivation”, she reveals. “These drinks usually contain a mix of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbal extracts thought to support brain health and cognitive performance”.
Any there any dangers of nootropic drinks?
Dhir warns that “Consumers should approach nootropic drinks with caution, be aware of potential side effects, and consult healthcare professionals, especially if they have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications. More research is needed to fully understand the efficacy and safety of these products”.
She breaks down the side effects below:
- Overstimulation: High levels of caffeine or other stimulants can lead to anxiety, jitteriness and insomnia.
- Interactions with medications: Some ingredients can interact with blood thinners and other medications and would not be considered safe to have.
- Unregulated ingredients: The supplement industry is not as tightly regulated as pharmaceuticals, which can lead to issues with ingredient quality and dosage accuracy.
- Long-term effects: The long-term safety of many nootropic compounds is not well-studied, and prolonged use could have unforeseen consequences. However, more research is needed to understand what effect there may be.
What ingredients should you look out for in nootropic drinks?
“When selecting a nootropic drink”, the dietician begins, “consider ingredients with some scientific support”. These include:
- Caffeine: Known to improve alertness and concentration. However, can cause side effects such as headaches and bowel discomfort.
- L-Theanine: An amino acid found in tea that can enhance the effects of caffeine and promote relaxation without drowsiness. L-theanine has shown potential in some studies to improve attention and may benefit working memory and executive function. However, recent literature reviews highlight limitations in existing research, including small sample sizes and confounding factors. L-theanine can be consumed naturally in tea or as a supplement in capsule or beverage form, and preliminary research suggests it works best when paired with caffeine.
- Vitamins B6, B9 and B12: These are linked with better cognitive performance and improved memory recall.
She concludes, “It is important to note the research for the above is at times, based in specific population groups, has small sample sizes and can have confounding factors. As always, a healthy balanced diet is recommended”.
Shop the best nootropic drinks below
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Trip Blood Orange Rosemary Mindful Blend x 24
Packing a powerful blend of magnesium, lion’s mane, ashwagandha and L-theanine – viral ingredients that have amassed over 3.5 billion searches on TikTok, no less – Mindful Blend by Trip is the trendiest functional drink to try right now.
Offering a new way to find calm, Blood Orange Rosemary is our favourite flavour, featuring tangy bloody orange, warming ginger and lime, plus lemon balm and rosemary. Beautifully balanced.
Buy now £31.20, Trip
Goodrays CBD Infused Sparkling Elderflower & Yuzu 6 x 250ml Cans
As the strongest CBD carbonated drink on the market with 30mg of Colorado-grown CBD per can, Goodrays is our go-to for a hit without the high, while each drink is also packed with loads of vitamin D. Elderflower & Yuzu is our preferred pick with a refreshing and vibrant taste.
Buy now £11.25, Amazon
Brite Starter Pack Nootropic Drinks
Using neuroscience, Brite has formulated its nootropic drinks collection in which there are four flavours to choose from. In the starter pack, you have the opportunity to sample the three sparkling beverages that include pineapple mango, lemon-lime and raspberry mint.
The nootropics are derived from natural ingredients so you will find slow-releasing caffeine from functional plants and seeds that acts as a stimulant and energy boost. There is also the amino acid L-theanine that has been selected for its ability to calm anxiety, encourage balance and as a counterpart to prevent the jitters often associated with caffeine.
Buy now £18.00, Brite Drinks
Virtue Clean Energy
Virtue is the model of clean energy drinks. They have two products, each in two different flavours, and all of which are free from sugar, calories and chemicals.
The clean energy variety comes in tropical or berries flavour, both of which are vegan and contain 80mg of caffeine (the same amount as a cup of coffee and other leading energy drinks) which is sourced from green coffee beans.
If that doesn’t tick your box, they also have a yerba mate range in strawberry and lime and peach and raspberry. Yerba mate, an energising leaf from South America, has more antioxidants than green tea and is stuffed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids – it isn’t called the drink of the gods for nothing.
But that’s not all, each can of Virtue sold contributes to conservation in the rainforests so you can feel good while also doing good. Now that’s what I call plant power.
Price for 12.
Buy now £10.80, Amazon
Nocco Blood Orange Del Sol
Yoga bunnies and fitness warriors listen up, this one’s for you. Nocco’s drinks were developed by the Swedish health and exercise enterprise No Carbs Company. As such, their sugar-free energy drinks are the perfect thing for post-workout rehydration and their extensive range of flavours means there’s sure to be one to suit every taste bud.
Looking to get that great summer vibe? Try the blood orange, passion or limón del sol. Want to escape to a tropical paradise? The Miami or Caribbean have your name on.
Or, for a drink that really gives as good as it gets, the BCAA+ (branch chain amino acids) variety comes in a tantalising apple or citrus/elderflower flavour to give you a little bit more than the average energy drink.
Price for 12.
Buy now £21.84, Amazon
Medahuman Cranberry & Lime CBD Energy Drink
Medahuman steps things up a notch with a line of CBD drinks that each work a little differently. While the core element remains the same, the brand cleverly incorporates differing ingredients to encourage different effects. The result? A line of drinks that works for every occasion.
Looking for a gentle burst of energy? Choose the brand's Cranberry and Lime made with Vitamin B & C, natural caffeine and ginseng. Searching for the opposite? The Ginger, Blood Orange and Turmeric CBD Recover drink is ideal post-workout or later in the afternoon when you're thinking about winding down for the day.
Buy a 12-pack for £27.
Buy now £27.00, Amazon
Tenzing Energy Drink Pineapple & Passion Fruit - Pack of 24
Energy drinks might get a bad rep but you don’t have to chug a Red Bull at 9am to reap their benefits. Tenzing Energy Drink Pineapple & Passion Fruit is an all-natural energy drink crafted with a blend of caffeine, electrolytes, and vitamins that offers a gentle boost of energy without any kind of shakes involved.
It contains no artificial sweeteners, preservatives or flavours, making it a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks, and its delicious (but subtle) flavour makes it a lot more palatable, too.
Buy now £39.49, Amazon
Ancient + Brave Coffee + Collagen
Whether you like to start your day with an ice-cold coffee or a piping hot brew, you can step it up a notch with the addition of Ancient + Brave’s Coffee + Collagen powder supplement.
The superfood-rich contents include adaptogenic ashwagandha selected to enhance energy and focus. Collagen is also in the mix that has benefits for your complexion, bones, joints and cartilage as a building block that depletes as you get older. It is also a source of fibre and protein.
Buy now £21.60, Ancient + Brave
Raise & Replenish Plug Me In Superfood Latte Blend 210g
Swap out your morning cuppa for this caffeine-free alternative and get the energy boost that you are looking for without the associated heart rate rising, jitters or possible insomnia. Raise & Replenish is a vegan latte label that leaves the nervous system stimulant out of the equation in favour of hyped-about superfoods like matcha, ginseng, and Lion’s Mane.
Plug Me In is a powered matcha mix brimming with vitamin B12, a mineral that can be lacking from those following a plant-based diet and is associated with fighting fatigue and yielding energy. The taste comes from the inclusion of cinnamon, lemon balm and coconut milk for a smooth, sweet flavour.
Buy now £42.00, Holland & Barrett
Mission Perform Teabags
Your 3 o’clock tea break will never be the same again once you’ve incorporated Mission into your brew. Post-lunch slump be gone as the teabags are filled with yerba mate and green tea. The former is hugely popular in South America and has been linked to improved physical and mental performance and cognitive function.
It is high in caffeine but offers a slow release as opposed to spikes (and inevitable crashes) from coffee or sugar-filled energy drinks. Instead, the Perform Teabags bring a reviving twist with spearmint and lemongrass.
Buy now £13.04, Healf
C4 Smart Energy Drinks Red Berry Yuzu
C4 is one of the leading energy drinks brands on the market, a partner of WWE and is favoured by athletes to enhance mental and physical performance. The science-backed range includes energy shots designed to be consumed pre-workout and even a collaboration with legendary sweet brand Millions to incorporate the brand’s bubblegum or strawberry flavours.
The Smart Energy drinks incorporate what the brand refers to as Brain Berry, a trademarked component that is natural caffeine and was chosen to enhance cognitive function. It comes in three flavours; Mango, Watermelon Burst and Red Berry Yuzu, which are all zero calories.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
Acti-Vit Sparkling Flavoured Vitamin Water Cans
When you’re looking for your fizzy drink fix, reach for Acti-Vit over your traditional Coke and you’ll get an alphabet’s worth of vitamins with every sip. The can contains B, C and D as well as zinc, magnesium and all with a zesty lemon, lime and orange flavouring (or blackcurrant, apple and raspberry or mango, pineapple and passion fruit).
The taste is derived from natural ingredients and there are no calories, sugar or caffeine but you still get an invigorated feeling when drinking.
Buy now £12.42, Amazon
