Ever had one of those days where you wished your brain had a turbo boost button?
Well, I sure have, and that’s why I’m here to spill the beans on something called Neuriva.
It’s like a little brain magician promising to unlock your cognitive potential. But, hold on to your thinking caps because I’m about to dive deep into this brain-boosting wonderland.
From what’s inside the bottle to whether it’s all sunshine and rainbows or has a few dark clouds of side effects – I’m going to uncover it all.
So, fasten your seatbelts, because I’m about to take a wild ride through the Neuriva universe!
NEURIVA REVIEW AT A GLANCE:
- Claimed to enhance learning, retention, focus, and cognitive function
- Contains 30 capsules per bottle (costing $32.99)
- Contains 2 natural active ingredients – Coffee Fruit Extract and Phosphatidylserine
- The manufacturer doesn’t say which part of the coffee fruit was extracted, so I can’t tell if it’s effective at doing what they claim
- The other ingredient, Phosphatidylserine, is a great choice for long-term brain protection
- The formula is incomplete – it lacks more proven ingredients to have a noticeable effect on cognition, memory and other aspects of brain function
- Lightly dosed ingredients means the risk of side effects is very low
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About Neuriva
Neuriva is a highly popular brain performance supplement from Schiff Vitamins. This big supplement company is best known for their multivitamins and general health formulas, but they’ve recently decided to enter the nootropics market which is growing in demand each year.
There are currently two versions of Neuriva available; Neuriva and Neuriva Plus. I already reviewed the latter – you can see our review here.
This review will focus on Neuriva Original; I will check the claims behind this supplement to see if they reflect the evidence and effectiveness of its ingredients.
According to Schiff Vitamins, Neuriva will give you the following benefits:
- Improved focus and learning
- Enhanced memory function
- Better accuracy
- Elevated concentration
Neuriva is a supplement focused on making you learn and retain information better, along with improving your daily focus and productivity.
These are typical benefits that I’d expect from a nootropic. Some nootropic supplements obviously go a step further, offering mood enhancement, brain sell support, and long-term brain protection. But only the very best nootropics cover all of these areas.
Neuriva sounds like a good comprehensive brain supplement.
But does it really do what it claims? Is Neuriva safe? Can it give you negative side effects? How does it compare to other natural nootropics? I share our thoughts below!
How to use Neuriva – Dosage Directions
The official instructions for using Neuriva are to take 1 capsule per day with one of your meals. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Since the exact amount of caffeine in Neuriva is unknown, it’s best to avoid taking it too close to bedtime to not cause insomnia.
Neuriva Ingredients
Neuriva contains only two active ingredients, they are;
- Coffee Fruit Extract (Coffea Arabica) (100mg)
- Phosphatidlyserine (100mg)
If you’re going to use just 2 ingredients, you need to make sure those ingredients work really well for your users.
Here’s a closer look at what Coffee Fruit Extract and Phosphatidylserine can – and can’t do – for your cognitive performance and brain function. Please comment below if you have any questions.
Coffee Fruit Extract
Coffee fruit extract is a relatively new ingredient in nootropic supplements. Neuriva’s manufacturer claim that compounds in coffee fruit will increase your Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is involved in growth of your brain cells (and cells in your spinal cord, as well).
Higher BDNF levels equals faster neuron growth, improved neuron protection, and creation of new neurons.
Needless to say, increasing BDNF levels is a powerful way to boost your cognitive function. With more neurons – and more resilient, efficient neurons at that – you have more raw brain power at your disposal.
The study that Neuriva’s makers draw on is this particular study, in which scientists found a 140% increase in BDNF in people who supplemented Whole Coffee Fruit Concentrate.
However, there’s an issue. Neuriva doesn’t have Whole Coffee Fruit Concentrate, but coffee fruit extract. This extract might be from the part of the coffee fruit plant that has none of the active ingredients that make WCFC boost BDNF. Additionally, the claims I have about coffee fruit concentrate all come from a single study.
Coffee Fruit Extract can be anything. Any substance in coffee can be processed and extracted – caffeine, water, fiber, vitamins, or anything else.
Until I have more human evidence and until Neuriva’s manufacturers show us specifically which part of the coffee fruit they’re using, I can’t recommend this ingredient as a safe and reliable long-term choice.
Phosphatidlyserine
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a fat found in high amounts in your brain. As a phospholipid, it plays a vital role in keeping your brain healthy and working optimally.
PS is mostly found in your brain cell membranes. This is why there’s so much of it in the human brain – it makes up a massive chunk of your brain’s physical structure. Having a good amount of phosphatidylserine is crucial if you want to keep your neurons healthy.
Another role of PS is a cell signaller. When a brain cell dies, Phosphatidylserine moves from the inside of the brain cell membrane to the outside. This signals to your immune cells to destroy the cell. The name of this process is Apoptosis (programed cell death) – it is essential for maintaining normal cognitive health.
Your PS levels naturally go down as you age. As a result, supplementation is a smart idea if you want to ward off the negative effects of aging on your cognition for as long as possible. Some short-term benefits are also possible from PS supplementation, such as a reduction in stress levels.
I do get some Phosphatidylserine in our diet, especially in animal foods, so supplementation may not always be beneficial. The 100mg in Neuriva is enough to cover your foundations, although you can’t actually be deficient in PS.
My Thoughts on the Ingredients in Neuriva
That’s as good as it gets!
There are just 2 ingredients in Neuriva – one a substance for supporting brain cell health over the years and decades, the other an unproven ingredient.
Considering the brand reputation and track record of Schiff Vitamins, I expected more from Neuriva. In terms of providing you with improved memory, focus, concentration, and mood, Neuriva doesn’t come close to what many other supplements do.
There’s no way to know if the coffee fruit extract in Neuriva has the same substances as those that are in the Whole Coffee Fruit Concentrate from the study.
An “Extract” is a single substance that has been selected and extracted, with the remaining substances getting left over. Whole fruit concentrate is something entirely different – it provides you a significant dose of everything in the coffee fruit.
That said, I only have one study showing that whole coffee fruit concentrate will boost your BDNF levels. This study only used a handful of volunteers, and didn’t last long. Until there’s more strong evidence, I won’t be recommending this ingredient as one of the best nootropics around.
As for the other ingredient in Neuriva, Phosphatidylserine, it’s a great choice. As I said, it helps support your brain cell formation and apoptosis over the long-term. But you won’t notice much of an effect from phosphatidylserine by itself – there are a lot of ingredients missing in Neuriva to give you a mental boost.
TO SUMMARIZE NEURIVA’S INGREDIENTS:
The formula didn’t blow us away. Despite the hype, Neuriva isn’t a powerful brain supplement. It’s not even in the same category as the kind of nootropics which currently dominate the market. Neuriva doesn’t contain anything that would improve learning, focus, and even the long-term benefits are lackluster.
If your goal is to support your brain from all angles – including the short-term and long-term benefits – there are more effective products available for the price.
[RELATED]: The 3 Best Brain Supplements of This Year
Neuriva Reviews and Complaints
Neuriva consumer reports look decent, with an average score of 4.2/5 out of several thousands reviews on Amazon.
Most users are happy about how safe and gentle Neuriva is. Most people didn’t notice any negative effects from it, even though some were disappointed by the lack of any effects.
That being said, there are some users who say they noticed an improvement in their cognitive function from using Neuriva. Even if was a placebo, it’s good to see that some customers were happy with the safety of the product.
Here’s what some of them said;
“Someone told me this is the best but so far since I’ve been using it, not much change. I bought it so I can study for exam. I’ll try it a little longer to see what happens.” – Barbara Guevara
“I want to take this for a longer period of time before I actually decide if they help. I think the have helped with my memory but want more proof.” – Patricia Malchiodi
“I didn’t notice any impact at all. On the other hand, it didn’t make me ill, either. So, it’s a wash. Because of the lack of effect, I won’t be buying any more for now.” – Anonymous Amazon Customer
Side Effects of Neuriva – Is it Safe?
The big upside to Neuriva is that it appeas to be extremely safe. The low dose of coffee fruit extract and Phosphatidylserine in Neuriva means it shouldn’t cause you any side effects. The reviews and user testimonials look positive as well, with very few reports of adverse reactions emerging.
Overall, Neuriva is unlikely to give a person any side effects. Both ingredients in it are lightly dosed – and one of them, Phosphatidylserine, has been used in robust clinical trials without any issues. Coffee Fruit extract is 100mg per serving, and even if all of that was caffeine, this dose is nothing to be worried about.
I doubt that caffeine is the main substance in the coffee fruit extract anyway (even though there’s no way to know for sure).
Of course, people are different. Your biochemistry is unique and so are your particular circumstances. With that in mind, it’s best to talk to your doctor if you have any conditions before taking any supplement.
Neuriva Gummies Reviews – Better than Capsules?
Neuriva gummies vs capsules: which are better? The most obvious difference is the flavor. Neuriva gummies come in a few different versions, including the strawberry and grape flavors. Most customers say they like how they taste; they’re naturally sweetened so you won’t be experiencing an artificial aftertaste.
As far as effectiveness for brain health goes, Neuriva Gummies have the same ingredient profile as Neuriva capsules. Therefore, it doesn’t matter which one you pick as their effects (or lack thereof) will be the same. Unfortunately, neither Neuriva gummies nor capsules contain a formula that’s strong enough to give you any kind of noticeable effects. That said, both Neuriva capsules and gummies contain Phosphatidylserine, which is an ingredient that’s been linked to improved brain health over the long term.
Neuriva Price and Where to Buy?
Neuriva costs $32.99 per bottle (30 servings) on the official website. Neuriva gummies are a bit cheaper at $29.99 per bottle. You can also buy Neuriva on Amazon and GNC, as well as at Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. At this moment in time, Neuriva isn’t available in Costco.
In terms of availability in different countries, you can buy Neuriva in the UK, Canada, South Africa, and pretty much any other country around the world.
Pros and Cons of Neuriva
Pros
- Phosphatidylserine aids long-term brain function
- Coffee Fruit Extract may contain some caffeine which boosts mental alertness and energy
- Contains only 2 ingredients, both of which are lightly dosed, so the risk of side effects is very low
Cons
- Lack of more proven nootropics, such as B vitamins, Lion’s Mane Mushroom, Choline, Bacopa, L-Tyrosine and others
- Only 2 ingredients aren’t enough to produce significant results
- The first ingredient is Coffee Fruit Extract which isn’t proven to work, and the second ingredient is Phosphatidylservine which is beneficial for long-term brain health, but doesn’t have many short-term benefits
- $32.99 per bottle is pricey for such a simple formula
Conclusion to Neuriva Review
Neuriva is a brain supplement that claims to improve your memory, focus, and other aspects of your brain function using just 2 ingredients.
However, one of the ingredients it uses – Coffee Fruit Extract – contains unknown active substances and therefore it’s unclear what effects it will have on your brain; if any. The study which Neuriva’s manufacturers draw upon for their claims used Coffee Fruit Concentrate which is an entirely different ingredient than an extract.
The other ingredient in Neuriva – Phosphatidylserine – is a great choice, but it can’t do all the heavy lifting alone. You’d want to include more proven ingredients in the formula to see more significant results in terms of memory, mood, learning, and long-term cognition.
For the price of $32.99 per bottle, they could’ve made it a much more effective formula, and a better value for money.
What’s Better?
I do independent analysis on 30+ nootropic stacks every year, searching for the highest quality, clinically researched ingredient profile on sale.
In order to pass our tests, the product must meet these criteria:
- Must support brain function naturally and safely
- 100% clean, extensively researched formula
- Long-term and short-term brain support
- Memory, focus, mood and mental energy
- Company trust
- Value for money
For each of these categories I have subsections that I use for deeper analysis and to separate the good from the very best. All of which can be seen on our “top 3″ brain supplements page:
