Mind-Max is a herbal dietary supplement for focus, energy, memory, and clarity. The formula is made by Nature’s Sunshine, an American supplement manufacturer known for its many all-natural, herb-based supplements.
The supplement is based on a relatively simple formula that includes a 1,100 mg proprietary blend of Magnesium L-Threonate (a highly absorbable magnesium form) and three popular herbal extracts – Gotu Kola, Ginkgo Biloba, and Bacopa Monnieri.
What is Mind-Max?
According to Nature’s Sunshine, the supplement is designed to support brain, memory, concentration, help with cognitive function, and improve circulation and oxygen to the brain.
Please read our full Mind-Max review below for an in-depth analysis of all the key features of this focus and energy supplement.
Our in-depth review will provide you with helpful insights on the company behind the product, claimed benefits, who should take the supplement, core active ingredients, price per serving, customers’ take on the product, where to buy it from at discounted price, potential adverse effects, and our take on whether you should consider trying the product or not.
About Nature’s Sunshine
Founded in 1972 by Kristine and Gene Hughes, Nature’s Sunshine is a manufacturer and multi-level marketer (MLM) of dietary supplements, including minerals, vitamins, herbs, and personal care products.
The company’s products are primarily sold to the consumer by independent distributors who receive fees based on sign-up bonuses and their sales and commissions based upon the sales of any distributors they may have recruited.
Nature’s Sunshine is based in Lehi, Utah, with a manufacturing facility in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Some of its best-selling supplements include Chlorophyll Liquid ES, Nutri-Calm, Stress-J, AnxiousLess, Mind-Max, and HistaBlock.
How to contact Nature’s Sunshine:
- Address: 2901 W Blue Grass Blvd., Lehi, UT 84043
- Website: naturessunshine.com
- Phone: 1 (800) 223-8225 Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM MST
Ingredients
Nature’s Sunshine Mind-Max contains the following active ingredients:
- Magnesium 70 mg
- Mind-Max Proprietary Blend [Magnesium L-Threonate (Magtein), Gotu Kola aerial parts (Centella Asiatica), Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract, and Bacopa Monnieri leaf extract] 1,100 mg
Other inactive ingredients include gelatin, water, cellulose (plant), and magnesium stearate (vegetable).
Health benefits
In this next part of our Nature’s Sunshine Mind-Max review, we will discuss some of the core ingredients in the formulation, analyzing how these ingredients can benefit your cognitive health.
Magnesium (70 mg)
Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in your body. It’s linked to more than 300 metabolic reactions essential for human health, including blood pressure regulation, energy production, muscle contraction, and nerve signal transmission.
Interestingly, low Magnesium levels are associated with various illnesses, such as mood disorders, type 2 diabetes, migraines, and heart disease.
Although Magnesium can be obtained from many whole foods like green leafy vegetables, seeds, legumes, and nuts, up to 60% of the people in the Western world don’t meet their Magnesium needs with diet alone.
Magnesium L-Threonate
Magnesium L-Threonate is the salt formed from combining Threonic Acid (a water-soluble substance derived from the metabolic breakdown of Vitamin C) and Magnesium.
This new form is better assimilated. Animal research notes that it may be the most efficient type for boosting brain cells’ magnesium concentrations.
Magnesium L-Threonate is frequently used for its inherent brain benefits and may help manage brain disorders, such as age-related memory loss and depression.
Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) is a perennial plant indigenous to Southeast Asia’s tropical wetlands, commonly used as juice, tea, or green leafy vegetables.
Gotu Kola has a long history of use in Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Alternative practitioners believe Gotu Kola to have antidiabetic, memory-enhancing, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antimicrobial properties.
Gotu Kola is a common ingredient in many brain supplements, and it is available in capsule, powder, tincture, and tablet formulations.
Today, Gotu Kola extracts can be found in many brain supplements, where it is used to support memory and treat stress and anxiety. Although data from research and clinical studies are mixed, there is evidence of some direct and indirect benefits.
For instance, a 2017 review of studies published in Scientific Reports found that Gotu Kola extracts may directly enhance cognition and improve memory.
However, it seemed to increase attention and relieve stress and anxiety only within an hour of consumption.
Gotu Kola is believed to reduce anxiety by regulating neurotransmitters’ activity known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Asiatic acid is the primary compound in Gotu Kola assumed to trigger this effect.
By influencing how the brain absorbs GABA, Gotu Kola may relieve anxiety without the sedative effect of traditional GABA agonist drugs like barbiturates and Ambien (Zolpidem).
It may also play a role in treating chronic fatigue, insomnia, and depression.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is an antioxidant-rich herb used to enhance brain health and treat various conditions. However, while Ginkgo Biloba seeds are regularly used for healing purposes in Traditional Chinese Medicine, most brain supplements use extracts of the plant’s leaves.
Clinical research showed that a Ginkgo Biloba extract might improve mental processing and support memory in healthy older adults when taken daily for six weeks.
Taking Ginkgo Biloba before a highly stressful task also decreases cortisol levels and reduces stress-related high blood pressure.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri is widely promoted to treat epilepsy, thyroid health, memory disorders, focus, attention, stress, and anxiety. However, not all of these benefits are supported by scientific evidence.
On the other hand, Ayurveda sees Bacopa Monnieri as having intellect-enhancing properties. Due to this, many people call Bacopa a “nootropic,” meaning it may support healthy brain and nervous system function.
Bacopa contains saponin compounds (known as bacosides), which may inhibit inflammation in the brain and support brain chemicals’ communication associated with memory, cognition, and learning.
A 3-months study in 46 healthy adults noted that taking 300 mg of Bacopa Monnieri daily significantly enhanced memory, learning rate, and the speed of visual processing information compared with the placebo treatment.
Researchers asserted that Bacopa Monnieri might improve cognition, but well-designed trials comparing the supplement to medication are needed to better understand this plant’s potential benefits.
In a 2016 study of 60 college students, scientists discovered that six weeks of twice-daily therapy with Bacopa Monnieri (at a dose of 300 mg per day) induced improvements in tests relating to cognitive function.
Price
One bottle of Mind-Max (90 capsules / 30 servings) costs $47.30.
A “Subscribe and Save” autoship program is available on Nature’s Sunshine’s official website. The program offers automatic deliveries (every 30, 60, 90, or 180 days), free shipping, and a 25% discount.
Where to buy Mind-Max?
You can buy Mind-Max from the official Nature’s Sunshine store or various online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, or eBay.
Mind-Max review – Claimed benefits
Pros
Cons
User reviews
It is tough to judge because there is not an instant change. I do seem to recall names and events quicker than I could before taking the capsules. I am going to continue taking. […] Read full review
I had high hopes for this as I am a huge fan of the brand. I didn’t notice any difference after taking these very expensive pills. […] Read full review
We have a significantly inattentive child. I had heard of this from another parent, so we tried it. My son was more alert, more conversational, and completed his school work with a less apparent effort from the first few days. He also appeared to have more energy and was less stressed. I’m menopausal and plan to try it myself. […] Read full review
Recommendations, adverse effects, and warnings
Given the ingredients available in Nature’s Sunshine Mind-Max, some individuals may experience mild to moderate adverse effects, typically due to their bodies adjusting to the supplement.
Mind-Max side effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Bloating
- Sweating
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Stomach cramps
This herbal supplement contains Ginkgo Biloba, Gotu Kola, and Bacopa Monnieri. The existing research indicates that herbal extracts are more likely to cause side effects and unwanted interactions with certain medications when continuously taken for more than 30-40 days.
We strongly suggest cycling the product regularly, taking one week off every four weeks as a minimum. Longer breaks may be required after repeated cycles.
Pregnant mothers shouldn’t avoid Bacopa since there are no studies regarding the safety of this plant during pregnancy. Furthermore, animal studies suggest that Bacopa Monnieri may reduce fertility.
Nature’s Sunshine Mind-Max also contains Ginkgo Biloba, a plant that may interact with some prescriptions.
Directions
As a dietary supplement, take three (3) capsules before breakfast and three (3) capsules before bed.
Before using this product, it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider first to ensure its safety for you.
How Mind-Max compares to alternatives
Before we conclude our Mind-Max review, let’s take a quick look over several other focus and energy supplements that may represent good alternatives for those not convinced by this formulation’s benefits.
Energy + Focus made by Zhou Nutrition – This caffeine + L-Theanine supplement claims to offer long-lasting energy without the harsh side effects of other caffeinated products.
It is also worth mentioning that all Zhou Nutrition products are made with high-quality ingredients in GMP facilities in the United States. The company also has a Utah lab where they test each batch of products for purity and potency.
Energy + Focus costs just under $19.00 for a 60-capsules bottle (60 servings at a recommended dose of just one capsule per day).
Neuro-Peak made by Zhou Nutrition – Neuro-Peak is one of the most popular and highly regarded nootropics available now. The formula combines the benefits of several potent ingredients such as Vitamin B12, Bacopa Monnieri, Rhodiola Rosea, and Ginkgo Biloba.
One bottle of Neuro-Peak costs $18.99 (30 servings at a recommended serving of one capsule daily).
neuroIgnite made by Havasu Nutrition – This is another popular nootropic supplement for clarity, focus, and memory. Its formula includes 130 mg of St. John’s Wort, 300 mg of Bacopa Monnieri, and 50 mg of DMAE, alongside other ingredients for cognitive support.
neuroIgnite is caffeine-free and is priced at about $21.00 for a 30-capsule bottle (30 servings at a recommended dose of one capsule per day).
Do we recommend Mind-Max?
Nature’s Sunshine initially launched Mind-Max in 1994, but the company reintroduced a more potent version of this formula – with Magnesium L-Threonate – about a decade ago. However, the new and improved formula also came with a much greater price per serving.
We like the Magnesium L-Threonate in Nature’s Sunshine Mind-Max, as it is one of the best forms of Magnesium available today. And Magnesium has many benefits for brain health and proper cognitive function.
The formula also contains several herbal extracts with some benefits for memory, attention, focus, clarity, stress, and anxiety. Still, we recommend cycling the supplement regularly because of how herbal extracts work, taking one week off every three weeks as a minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
At OneBrainReviews, we only use primary references for our articles, including peer-reviewed medical journals or well-respected academic institutions.
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