Any mother will tell you that “mom brain” is a very real condition. In fact, science confirms it.

Once Bazooka was born and sleep deprivation coupled with hormone-induced anxiety became the norm, my mom brain was here to stay. It became an even bigger problem when I returned to work and struggled to stay focused!

How fitting then, that I was contacted a few weeks ago to review a product called truBrain.

I almost passed on the request since energy drinks and “cognition enhancers” are not something I usually stand behind or consume.

Nevertheless my curiosity was piqued, so I did a bit of research.

truBrain, which was developed by a team of neuroscientists at UCLA, is different than other products of its type because it contains active nootropics.

I’d never heard this term, but simply put, nootropics are chemicals that improve mental function.

truBrain products are also vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO.

Despite my skepticism, the idea of improving my focus and energy—with mostly “natural” ingredients—appealed to me. I figured if truBrain didn’t work—or if it made me feel uncomfortable—I would simply discontinue use.

There are 3 products offered by truBrain: drinks, capsules, and a coffee kit. I chose their most popular option—a case of 30 1-oz “shots” (22 original, 8 boost).

Like many 8-5 workers I often feel like shutting down after my lunch, so for one week I drank one serving of original in the afternoons. On the weekends when I felt my energy/focus tanking, I drank a serving of boost.

First impressions

The original tasted fruity but extremely bitter, and the boost had even more of a bitter bite. Needless to say, I quickly chugged and mixed subsequent drinks with water to conceal the taste.

Did it work?

Since I received this product for free, I really wanted to be pleasantly surprised.

The taste wasn’t a big issue after I mixed the packets with water, but I didn’t experience a significant boost in my mood, focus, or energy.

I guess there were a couple of afternoons when I didn’t feel quite as lethargic as usual, but I’m not sure if that’s due to sleeping better the night before, feeling invigorated after my lunchtime walk, or from the truBrain.

The good news? I never felt jittery or uncomfortable while taking truBrain (which was not the case when I drank another popular energy drink years ago!). Perhaps I didn’t give it enough time to “build up” in my system, so I have no idea if others would have a better experience. It’s also possible that the capsules and coffee kit are more effective.

I do respect the fact that truBrain donates a portion of their proceeds to the Brain Research Institute at UCLA. There are studies suggesting that nootropics can be beneficial to individuals with Alzheimer’s and degenerative brain injuries or illness, so that’s pretty promising for the neuroscience community.

If you’re trying to improve your energy or focus, I’d suggest truBrain over other popular energy drinks. There isn’t a ton of scientific research on the regular consumption of nootropics, but in my opinion, truBrain seems safer than the alternatives.

If you’d like to try truBrain products yourself, you can receive a 15% discount by using the special code: TBLAC632.

Since I’ve experienced no ill effects from truBrain, I’m going to finish the remaining drinks. If my focus and energy suddenly improve, I’ll be sure to come back and let you guys know.

**I received samples of truBrain free of charge in exchange for a review. I was not compensated for this blog post, and all opinions are my own.**