Brain Retain

Background Check

If the name Starrwalker is familiar to you, then you probably need no introduction to Brain Retain, and the numerous other supplements they offer on their website. Starrwalker is a reputable supplement manufacturer, offering a wide arrangement of products from Aloe Vera, to a cardiovascular cleanser, to electrolytes, and even basic multivitamins… and of course, Brain Retain. They have so many supplements available that just looking at their product catalog, you might get lost in there for hours.

Going online, you aren’t going to find a lot of information on their supplements, and you aren’t going to see many out-of-this-world claims either. After all, that would be pretty difficult to do for each and every one of their supplements, but if you click on the “Click for More Information” button near the bottom, you’ll find some descriptions on Brain Retain’s ingredients, as well as a supplement facts label. This was a pleasant sight.

We first heard of Starrwalker when a friend of our very own editor Martin suggested it to us, recommending it highly and reporting a very positive experience with it. Needless to say, we were very intrigued… but even more intrigued when we learned that Brain Retain was actually not a pill, but rather, a tub of powder that you mix into a drink in protein shake fashion. The only reason we believe this might be beneficial is in the speed its ingredients take to be absorbed by the body. And since this is actually the first supplement we’ve come across in powder form, we just had to test it!

Formula Highlights

Supplement Facts:
Vitamin C 400 mg
Calcium 50 mg
Vitamin D3 1000 IU
Vitamin E 200 IU
Vitamin B1 50 mg
Vitamin B2 25 mg
Vitamin B3 200 mg
Vitamin B6 50 mg
Folate 800 mcg
Vitamin B12 1000 mcg
Phosphorous 50 mg
Magnesium 50 mg
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine 300 mg
Phosphatidylserine 200 mg
Acetyl L-Carnitine 800 mg
Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg
Coenzyme Q10 200 mg
Broccoli Seed Extract 273 mg
DHA 50 mg

The first thing you’ll notice with Starrwalker’s Brain Retain is that it is actually quite potent in terms of milligrams… In fact, a lot more potent than what you’d normally see in a smart pill. This is one advantage of using scooped powder over pills – you can fit so much more ingredients in 2 scoops compared to 2 capsules. This is very evident in Brain Retain’s formula.

Higher milligrams does not automatically mean a more potent formula, however. If you take a closer look, you’ll find that only 1/3 of the ingredients used are actually nootropics. The rest are vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients that your body needs. This means that you might be paying a premium price for what may only be 1/3 a brain supplement.

Key Ingredients:

Acetyl L-Carnitine: The “enhanced” version of Carnitine that not only aids in fat burn, but also offers benefits to the brain due to its ability to cross the brain-blood barrier. It aids in the production of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for improving memory, learning, problem-solving ability, and general cognition.

Phosphatidylserine: A nootropic from soy that aids in the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. It aids in improving connectivity between neurons and brain cells, while also protecting the brain against aging and aged-related ailments. It’s shown positive effects for improving memory, reaction times, and clarity of thought.

Broccoli Seed Extract (description from Starrwalker): Broccoli Seed Extract contains the patented form of the phytochemical in broccoli called sulforaphane glucosinolate. Extensive research demonstrates that, when this compound is broken down to sulforaphane (its active form), it safely and effectively upregulates the Nrf-2 system, enhancing the production of important antioxidants such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase and activating vital Phase 2 detoxification enzymes.

Overall, Starrwalker’s formula is pretty good, but we would have liked to have seen more of the nootropic ingredients used in the formula in lieu of the other “filler”. Still, it manages to cope, and even surpass many of the other brain pills out there purely because there was so much to go around in a 2-scoop serving size. We would like to see how potent the formula can become if all of it were just filled with nootropic ingredients though.

Effects and Benefits

A few of us here at the office tested Starrwalker Brain Retain over the course of a month, and they noted that the effects were indeed very hard to miss. The fact that you had to take it in drink form by mixing the powder into water meant that you will feel the effects very quickly after consumption. We felt generally a little more focused, and a few of us noted on how it easily clears brain fog.

Over the few weeks, we tested ourselves in a number of cognitive exercises in Sudoku, Chess, as well as some other real-time strategy games, and we found that Brain Retain does something for response time, most notably when playing games where time is critical (Bullet Chess, for example). In many cases, solving problems would become so much more fluid.

What really blew us away was the Brain Retains great memory enhancing properties. Rarely do you see a supplement with Coenzyme Q10 in it, and when you do it isn’t often as high as 200 mg. CoQ10 is an excellent strengthener of the transmitters that affect our ability to store and retrieve information. (ED – We’ll follow up with a deeper review on this aspect at a later date)

Learning was also affected, but to a much lesser degree. While we can’t say that Bran Retain does wonders for memory, there were a few things to note from our experiences. For one, common things would be so much easier to remember. Things that you’d normally forget like names, phone numbers, and bite-sized information like that would actually stay in.

Potential Side Effects

In our month’s experience with Brain Retain, we did not notice any adverse side effects, although a few of us reported headaches, and there were a couple cases of diarrhea. They’re all nothing too major, but still worth noting. Please keep yourself well- hydrated when taking Starrwalker’s Brain Retain.

The weight-conscious might also be a little disappointed to find out that the 2-scoop serving of Brain Retain will set you back on your daily goals by 150 calories. That’s more than a can of Coke.

If you experience any adverse side effects or allergies, make sure you discontinue Brain Retain from your regimen immediately.

Pricing Options

A tub of Starrwalker Brain Retain costs a $86.23, which is already a little on the expensive side… but it gets even more shocking when you find out that that tub will only last you half a month. At 30 scoops with a 2 scoops a day serving, you might find out that you’ll run out before you even start completely benefiting from all of Brain Retain’s effects.

A tub of Starrwalker Brain Retain costs a $86.23, which is already a little on the expensive side… but it gets even more shocking when you find out that that tub will only last you half a month. At 30 scoops with a 2 scoops a day serving, you might find out that you’ll run out before you even start completely benefiting from all of Brain Retain’s effects.

The price wouldn’t actually be that bad if the formula was just purely nootropics though. But with the fact that more than half of it is just filled with cheaper ingredients that you can find in a $10 multivitamin, we can’t help but feel a little cheated here. But hey – on the plus side, you’ve got the option of Chocolate and Vanilla flavors with your drink.

Online Reviews

While there were definitely a lot of positive reviews on Brain Retain on the web, the vast majority of them kept complaining about the one same thing: Brain Retain’s high price.

User Review by Vincent Lloyd on Brainopinions.com

I decided to try Brain Retain after hearing about it from a colleague of mine who was very satisfied with the results. I purchased a bottle and after two weeks I could definitely see improvements in my memory, concentration, learning capacity and overall alertness. I decided I will buy it again and I recommended the product to everyone who wants a fast solution for improving their mental performance.

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User Review by Mary-Anne on Brainopinions.com

Brain Retain price is indeed high, but I think it is worth the money! This delicious drink helps me stay focused and alert every single day. I take it in the mornings and I enjoy its effects the entire day. I really love it!

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Expert Review by Brainreference.com
3.1/5 Stars

Starr Walker Brain Retain is one of the many nootropics available on the nutritional supplement market. Its particularity is that it comes in a flavored powdered form that makes it a more pleasant alternative to common dietary supplements sold as capsules or tablets harder to ingest. The great disadvantage of the formula is the monthly price. This is one of the most expensive products of its type but this high price is not supported by any scientific data or by consumers.

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Expert Review by Smartpillcomparisons.com

Starr Walker Brain Retain receives our recommendation due to the amount of high quality ingredients found in the formula. However, it is important to note that Starr Walker Brain Retain is the most expensive supplement we have reviewed, coming in at $84.54 for just a 15-day supply. It is also important to note that Starr Walker Brain Retain is sold in powder form, so it may not be best for all people.

RECAP:

Positives

• Fantastic improvements to memory recall and verbal fluidity
• From a reputable company with many different products
• Great source of multivitamins and nutrients
• Good all-round effects on focus, clarity, problem solving ability

Negatives

• Heavy price at $172.46 for a month’s supply (That’s three times as much as most brain pills)
• Mixing drinks every day can be a hassle
• Not as simple as pills/capsules

Our Verdict

It’s always great to order from a supplement manufacturer that already has so many products under its belt. You can be assured that you get a pretty good supplement. We felt confident when ordering Brain Retain, and we have to tip our hats to Starrwalker, because few companies can make us feel confident in buying their products like that. The data they provide in downloadable format is superb.

Brain Retain is a great supplement that focuses more on improving your focus and clarity, but ends up having a profound effect on memory. It also helped with reaction times, and speed in problem solving and we witnesses some moderate effects mood improvement.

The ALCAR may have you needing the toilet and at 800 mg, you may find a little weight loss, so be wary if you are already on a weight loss plan. Consult with your physician with both formulas.

Overall, Brain Retain is a good formula, but we still believe it could have been a lot better. It already had a foot up against brain pills due to the milligrams you can put in two scoops vs. two capsules, but it failed to take advantage of this by stuffing a lot of filler into its formula. On top of that, the fact that it was priced so expensively – three times what most brain pills are priced at – is a little insulting.

Nevertheless, if you can afford it, it’s a great option by Starrwalker, especially if you like Vanilla or Chocolate. Then again, you might be better off getting a few different brain pills, a multivitamin, and a few gallons of milk… after all of that, you’ll still have some change to spare.

Your Complete, Personalized Guide

In such a busy, harried world, people look for all the help they can get.

They’ve got problems remembering things, concentrating in school or focusing on a big work project, or being in the best energy and mood level for family and their personal goals.

Nootropics - also known as “smart pills” and brain enhancement supplements - are designed to help address these cognitive issues and improve memory and learning, focus and concentration, problem solving, and overall energy and vibrancy. These supplements are a potential fit for students (usually college students), professionals and business executives, and the elderly who want to enhance their brain power and performance.

How Do Nootropics Work?

Known by many different names, nootropics act as brain enhancement aids and brain boosters that don’t leave your cognitive wellness to fate.

There are two kinds of nootropics: (1) pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers made up of chemicals believed to have a clear effect on the brain and nervous system, and (2) natural cognitive enhancers, which are mostly herbal or nutrient-based in their composition. Our reviews focus on the second group, which don’t require a prescription, not considered drugs, and thus are allowed to be sold the counter and online via vitamin retail shops like Amazon.

Are natural nootropics actually the savior they’re painted to be?

These plant-based extracts promise improved mental functioning, no less. Their surging popularity, particularly in recent years, can be attributed to their high overall safety value and few and minor side effects compared with their pharmaceutical counterparts.

If you’ve heard of the term “nootropic stack,” it means different herbal or nutrient-based nootropics “stacked” together to achieve your own cognitive targets.

A high-quality nootropic can change your brain wellness and make you limitless in many different ways. These include enhanced memory, increased attention to detail, outrageously good focus, increased alertness, better mental and visual acuity, improved learning and thinking, managed stress, better mood and energy, and a generally renewed sense of life and brain performance.

This is why this product review guide will help you in so many ways to know a nootropic inside and out. From the ABCs of the product formula to the overall verdict, you will have an informed choice of what to choose for your next nootropic bottle or product.

What Should You Look For In A Top-Rated Nootropic?

1. Offers essential vitamins and nutrients - Your brain gobbles up an unbelievable amount of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and nutrients for it to properly function for life’s everyday demands. The nootropic you deserve provides these crucial components and more. Ginkgo biloba, Bacopa monnieri, Panax ginseng, and more - the list is endless, but only a few good ones deserve your attention. Click here for the top-rated ingredient list for a smart pill.

2. Backed by clinical data and experts - The best nootropics have a solid scientific basis through independent, third-party research data on their effectiveness and benefits.

   There’s no reason for a credible health care expert not to endorse a well-created supplement for brain enhancement.

3. Superior manufacturing standards - It’s not just about the ingredients, but also creating the product with the highest standards of production. The best supplements are manufactured in the United States, in a laboratory registered by the FDA. The manufacturer should be GMP certified as well!

4. Independent reviews (Not just Amazon!) - Reviews can be bought and unverified, so keep an eye out for them. Our reviews, for instance, maintain their independence through a circle of product testers that really get to the bottom of things and assess individual product performance and quality.

What Should You Avoid In A Brain Enhancement Supplement?

Let’s combine your due diligence in research and our honest, in-your-face product reviews that won’t leave you guessing and wanting more information.

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