If you haven’t heard of nootropics, then chances are that you will soon. Nootropics, also known as ‘smart drugs,’ can be broadly defined as natural or synthetic substances that improve mental skills. While the nootropics market was valued at $1.96 billion in 2018, it is expected to reach $5.32 billion in 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13.2%. Public interest in supplements that may improve energy, cognition, mood, and focus is on the rise, and many supplement brands have taken notice.
With so many nootropic supplements to choose from, it’s important to take a close look at the quality of a brand before you purchase a product. We compare Avantera’s popular Elevate nootropic with Brilliance, a doctor-formulated supplement from MyPEAK. Both products are vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free, but there are several important differences between the two products that may help you to decide which one is right for you.
You May Also Like:
How To Find The Best Lion’s Mane Supplement
5 Great Ways To Reduce Stress And Elevate Mood Without Alcohol
Elevate nootropic vs MyPEAK Brilliance:
Focus and energy
Elevate nootropic contains certain key ingredients like Bacopa Monnieri, green tea, and CDP choline that should raise acetylcholine and dopamine levels for increased energy and focus. In addition, these ingredients increase blood flow to the brain for an overall boost to energy and cognitive function. Elevate also contains Lion’s Mane, which is well-known for its positive effects on cognition, and this ingredient even supports the maintenance and repair of nerve cells.
Elevate lists CDP choline (a generic form of this important compound) on the label, while MyPEAK has formulated Brilliance with Cognizin CDP citicoline (a patented, proven form CDP choline). While each dose of Elevate contains 45 mg of caffeine, Brilliance achieves its effects through a subtle caffeine alternative called Teacrine. Caffeine increases alertness and energy in the short term, but it may lead to energy crashes and dependency in the long term. In contrast, Teacrine boosts cognition and fights fatigue for a full eight hours without the negative effects that come with caffeine. You may experience better focus and a more sustained energy boost with Brilliance.
Elevate nootropic vs MyPEAK Brillance:
Mood
The dopamine-boosting ingredients in Elevate nootropic should improve mood and increase feelings of well-being. Lion’s Mane may help alleviate depression by supporting serotonin and dopamine production. Similarly, Bacopa Monnieri may improve mood as it boosts levels of these important neurotransmitters. In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of ingredients like green tea, turmeric, and Bacopa Monnieri should reduce the risk of depression over time, as a healthier brain is also a happier one.
Aside from Teacrine and Cognizin citicoline, Brilliance contains Rhodiola rosea, Ginkgo biloba, Huperzine A, and B vitamins to fight fatigue and stress, boost memory, increase brain blood flow, and improve mood. Of these ingredients, vitamins B9 and B12 are the primary mood boosters listed on the product label, and they work by increasing the activity of serotonin in the brain. Rhodiola rosea may also help to alleviate depression, and Ginkgo biloba has anti-inflammatory properties. While it promises a potent cognitive boost, the main ingredients listed in MyPEAK’s Brilliance aren’t as broadly focused on mood as those in Avantera’s Elevate.
Elevate nootropic vs MyPEAK Brilliance:
Gut health
Scientific interest in the human gut-brain connection has grown rapidly in recent years, and we now know that changes to the gut microbiome can affect mood and cognition. Avantera is on top of this trend as Elevate is formulated with ingredients like Lion’s Mane and turmeric that support gut health. Turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory properties that support overall brain health while it improves the health of your gut. In contrast, MyPEAK’s Brilliance does not promise any benefits to gut health.
Elevate nootropic vs MyPEAK Brilliance:
Potency
Unfortunately, Avantera does not list the individual quantities of all its ingredients on each Elevate label. Instead, it lists the quantities of proprietary blends containing multiple ingredients. For example, the label states 355 mg of the ‘mood and gut health blend,’ containing turmeric, Lion’s Mane, and Bioperine. Similarly, the ‘focus and energy blend’ listed at a total of 295 mg contains CDP choline, green tea extract, and L-theanine.
While Bioperine has been added to improve the bioavailability and efficiency of the other ingredients, this supplement may not contain enough of each one to create the desired effect. For example, the average person must consume 500-2,000 mg of turmeric in order to reap the rewards of this ingredient, but this figure is well above the quantity of the entire ‘mood and gut health blend.’
Brilliance is less of a mystery, as MyPEAK has listed the quantities of every ingredient on the label. Brilliance contains 250 mg of Cognizin Citicoline, which is recognized as an effective dose. It also lists 120 mg of ginkgo biloba and 80 mg of Rhodiola rosea, and both are effective quantities of these ingredients. The 200 mg dose of Teacrine in Brilliance is also enough to deliver a sustained energy boost. Like Elevate, this supplement contains Bioprene to maximize absorption. In short, MyPEAK’s Brilliance provides more transparency, and this supplement contains healthy quantities of each brain-boosting ingredient for maximum potency.
Elevate nootropic vs MyPEAK Brilliance:
Cost
A one-month supply of Elevate nootropic sells for $64.95, for a cost of about $2.16 per serving. The brand offers a subscription cost of $49.95, which works out to about $1.67 per serving. This sounds like a lot, but it works out to be less than you would pay for a morning latte. MyPEAK’s Brilliance is slightly less expensive at $38.00 for a one-month supply, for an average of about $1.27 per serving. MyPEAK offers a special subscription price of $35.15, which brings the cost down to $1.17 per serving. While Elevate nootropic and Brilliance fall into a similar price range, MyPEAK’s Brilliance offers more bang for your buck when you are factoring in potency and results.
Elevate nootropic vs MyPEAK Brilliance:
The final verdict
Elevate nootropic is right on trend with ingredients that should support gut health in the right quantities; however, this product cannot promise enough potency to deliver. Similarly, we can’t be sure that Elevate contains adequate quantities of its other ingredients. (Aside from Bacopa Monnieri, which is listed at 300 mg per serving.) Elevate is also conspicuously missing B vitamins, which are staples in many other popular nootropics for their capacity to support healthy energy levels and cognitive function.
In contrast, MyPEAK’s Brilliance offers multiple potent ingredients in the standard quantities that guarantee their effectiveness. Brilliance also promises a sustained energy boost without caffeine or the associated crashes and dependency. This supplement can deliver improvements to focus, memory, productivity, and mood while reducing fatigue and stress. MyPEAK’s Brilliance delivers the best value for your money, and this doctor-formulated nootropic supplement is the best bet if you hope to give yourself an extra edge.
Further reading:
Discover Magazine: 7 Best Nootropic Stacks
GQ: Best nootropic supplements to improve productivity
Time: Nootropics, or ‘Smart Drugs,’ Are Gaining Popularity. But Should You Take Them?
Important Note: The information contained in this article (Elevate Nootropic vs MyPEAK Brilliance) is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
