Every student knows the struggle. You’re trying to study as diligently as you can. But, it’s becoming increasingly hard to focus, your productivity keeps going down, and all you feel is exhaustion.
Enter nootropics, supplements that are designed to give your brain a much-needed boost. These cognition enhancers can help you stay focused on your studies without getting distracted and also make it easier for you to remember and recall information.
However, not all nootropic supplements are created equally and some are more effective for studying than others. So, to help you choose the right nootropic, I analyzed the ingredients, proposed benefits, and scientific evidence of the most popular options. Here are the ones that stood out above the rest.
Feedamind
Best overall
Overall Rating: 5/5
✔️ 13 powerful ingredients that have been researched extensively.
✔️ Improves productivity from multiple angles - Ideal for students.
✔️ Boosts cognitive performance, memory, and energy
Noocube
good for performance
Overall Rating: 4.7/5
✔️ Wide range of ingredients for cognition
✔️ Improves recall memory for exams and essays
✔️ Reduces stress-related symptoms for improved focus
Vyvamind
good for mental fatigue
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
✔️ Good for eliminating mental fatigue
✔️ Boosts neurotransmitter production to improve mood and motivation.
✔️ Contains caffeine to increase energy and alertness
1. Feedamind
Feedamind emerged onto the nootropic scene fairly recently and has already captured the hearts of its users, including mine as I am always studying. It is an especially good option for students as it improves their productivity from multiple angles.
For example, the Chocamine in its formula increases blood flow to your brain. This boosts the amount of oxygen reaching your brain — improving cognitive performance as a whole. Similarly, L-Theanine in its formula is a well-known cognitive enhancer. It can boost your memory — making it easier for you to remember critical information and recall it efficiently during exams.
However, what’s the benefit of having a good memory if you don’t have the energy to study in the first place?
This is why Feedamind also includes Dynamine; a stimulant with similar properties to Caffeine. It can give you the physical and mental energy to keep going, even when you’re exhausted after early morning classes or your part-time job.
In addition to these cognitive benefits, Feedamind also contains ingredients that promote the physical health of your brain and eyes — ensuring consistent study performance in the future.
If you want to read more about Feedamind, visit our Full Review here.
Ingredients
Chocamine® | 500 mg
Bacopa Monnieri | 250 mg
L-Tyrosine | 250 mg
Alpha-GPC | 100 mg
Dynamine | 50 mg
Biotin | 50 mg
L-Theanine | 50 mg
Pterostilbene | 47 mg
Avena Sativa (Oat Straw) | 20 mg
Cat’s Claw | 20 mg
Resveratrol | 14 mg
Lutein–from Marigold Extract | 6 mg
Vitamin B12 | 2.5 mg
Vitamin B6 | 1.5 mg
Vitamin B1 | 1.1 mg
Pros
Cons
2. Noocube
The strength of Noocube lies in its wide cast of ingredients, each one of which provides a direct benefit for your cognition and studying ability.
Take its most abundant ingredient — Bacopa Monnieri — for example. It is an active cognitive enhancer that boosts your mental performance. It also improves your recall memory, something that comes in very handy when taking exams and writing essays. Other key aspects of your cognition that Noocube tackles are stress and anxiety. To be fair, stress can be a great motivator in the short term — helping you get past procrastination. But, it is not good for your focus, memory, or general cognitive health in the long run.
So, to combat the negative effects, Noocube utilizes the help of L-Theanine. It significantly reduces the impact of stress-related symptoms on your cognitive performance. This allows you to stay calm and make rational decisions, even when you’re faced with a stressful situation, like an approaching deadline.
If you want to read more about Noocube, visit our Full Review here.
Ingredients
Bacopa Monnieri | 250 mg
L-Tyrosine | 250 mg
Cat’s Claw | 175 mg
Avena Sativa (Oat Straw) | 150 mg
L-Theanine | 100 mg
Alpha-GPC | 50 mg
Huperzia Serrata | 20 mg
Lutemax | 20 mg
Resveratrol | 14 mg
Pterostilbene | 140 mcg
Vitamin B1 | 1.1 mg
Vitamin B7 | 50 mcg
Vitamin B12 | 2.5 mcg
Pros
Cons
3. Vyvamind
Vyvamind secured the #2 spot on my list due to its focus on eliminating mental fatigue, and I know about mental fatigue, having experienced it firsthand more than once.
To summarize, fatigue is a natural counter to productive studying. It acts like a fog on your brain that prevents you from staying focused and also makes it harder to memorize information. The good news is that Vyvamind’s formulation is perfectly suited to tackle this major hurdle.
For starters, it contains a healthy dose of Caffeine, the same substance found in coffee, tea, and many energy drinks. It’s a stimulant that increases your energy levels, boosts your alertness, and reduces the impact of exhaustion on your system.
Not to mention the fact that you can experience these results as little as 15 minutes after taking Vyvamind.
Vyvamind also increases the production of neurotransmitters — like dopamine and serotonin — in your system. These “happy hormones” improve your mood and make you feel more motivated to study. This also has the side benefit of increasing your focus and alertness.
If you want to read more about Vyvamind, visit our Full Review here.
Ingredients
L-Tyrosine | 300 mg
Citicoline | 200 mg
L-Theanine | 150 mg
Caffeine Anhydrous | 75 mg
Vitamin B12 | 2.5 mg
Vitamin B6 | 1.5 mg
Pros
Cons
4. Mind Lab Pro
Not only does Mind Lab Pro boost your study performance, but it also does so with a fully natural formula that’s backed by science.
Taking Mind Lab Pro can boost your ability to stay focused on studying without getting distracted by external stimuli. The N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine also increases the synthesis of adrenaline, which — in turn boosts your memorization skills.
What’s even more impressive is that these benefits are also proven by proper scientific research.
While the scientific evidence for most supplements is based on the benefits of their individual ingredients, Mind Lab Pro takes a more thorough approach. In short, Leeds University in the UK performed an independent study on this nootropic supplement, and the results match Mind Lab Pro’s claims.
This — combined with its plethora of positive customer reviews — leaves no doubt in mind about the effectiveness of Mind Lab Pro for studying.
If you want to read more about Mind Lab Pro, visit our Full Review here.
Ingredients
Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom | 500 mg
Citicoline | 250 mg
L-Tyrosine | 175 mg
Bacopa Monnieri | 150 mg
Sunflower Lecithin (phosphatidylserine) | 100 mg
L-Theanine | 100 mg
Rhodiola Rosea | 50 mg
Maritime Bark Extract | 50 mg
Vitamin B6 | 2.5 mg
Vitamin B9 | 100 mcg
Vitamin B12 | 7.5 mcg
Pros
Cons
5. Alpha Brain
Alpha Brain is one of the most unique nootropic supplements on the market. In addition to offering normal cognitive benefits — like improved focus and memory — Alpha Brain also increases the production of alpha brain waves with its L-Theanine content.
But, how does that help you with studying?
Put simply, alpha brain waves are a pattern of electrical activity created in your brain. These brain waves have a strong correlation with meditation and relaxation.
So, by increasing the production of these waves, the Alpha Brain supplement can help you stay calm under stressful situations like ongoing exams.
These waves can also increase your creativity which is a precious resource for students in creative fields like arts, architecture, and literature. Not to mention their role in helping you enter the “flow state.” Once you are in this state, it becomes noticeably easier to focus on your studies and avoid distractions.
If you want to read more about Alpha Brain, visit our Full Review here.
Ingredients
Onnit Flow Blend: L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine, Oat Straw, Phossphatidylsenine | 650 mg (combined)
Cat’s Claw | 350 mg
Onnit Focus Blend: Alpha-GPC, Bacopa Monnieri, Huperzia Serrata | 240 mg (combined)
Onnit Fuel Blend: L-Leucine and Pterostilbene | 60 mg (combined)
Vitamin B6 | 10 mg
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
There are so many mental roadblocks that can halt a student’s productivity, many of which — like fatigue and stress — are tough to deal with. Fortunately, nootropic supplements are a scientifically-proven method of overcoming these hurdles, so you can study to your full potential.
If you’re dealing with issues like lack of focus, low motivation, and exhaustion, all of the five nootropics I recommended would work well for you. That said, almost all of them offer some unique benefits for their users.
In short, know your requirements as a student when considering each option to find the one that best fits your needs.
Editor's Choice: Feedamind
Quality
INGREDIENTS
cost
FAQs
No, nootropics are only suitable for students that are over the age of 18 and aren’t taking prescribed medication for a major illness.
Most nootropics have their own recommendations about when to take the supplements. But, in my experience, it’s a good idea to take them while studying to get the best results.
No, you do not need a proper prescription to purchase nootropic supplements. Though, it can be a good idea to consult your doctor before making a purchase.