The best online fitness resource you'll ever need. We filter out the BS to ensure you meet your health and fitness goals!
Focus Factor: Your Ultimate Guide
Focus Factor supply dietary supplements that may be something of a miracle drug, if such a thing exists.
If you’ve ever wanted to improve your cognitive ability and health, memory, and focus, either in general of throughout a specific period, they might be a good place to start.
They sell nootropic supplements, so called ‘brain pills’, designed to do exactly this.
The scientific evidence is quite patchy and, therefore, there is no scientific consensus on their efficacy. Many in the scientific community passionately dispute Focus Factor’s claims.
Their products also contain a lot of ingredients, so it’s hard to know which are effective, if any, and which ones any individual best responds to.
However, there is also a lot of testimonial evidence speaking to their efficacy, and Focus Factor have run their own double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to back up their claims (though their findings will inevitably be biased).
Either way, many people swear by them – they claim that these kinds of brain pills can drastically improve your quality of life and productivity.
Focus Factor
No matter your circumstances, there is a strong chance that you would benefit from improved focus and a better memory. Who wouldn’t?
Well, this is exactly what Focus Factor offer will all of their products. Their formulas can deliver improvements in just six weeks, giving you greater mental clarity, a sense of grounding and a lack of any kind of brain fog, such as we all get from time to time.
Focus Factor are a US based company who specialize in vitamin and nutritional supplements to improve mental cognition, focus, and memory.
Though there is a lack of scientific consensus on these kinds of supplements, Focus Factor tries to lean on scientific evidence for their products; they tend only to use ingredients that have been tested and recognized by the scientific community
Nootropics
The word nootropics, or ‘smart drugs’ or ‘brain pills’, is a catch all term for several natural and/or synthetic drugs and supplements purported to improve mental focus and memory.
Some are widely available, everyday drugs that have been well tested, like caffeine and taurine, both of which can assist with short-term memory, learning and mental clarity.
Others, such as creatine monohydrate, are less common and well tested, though the data suggests they do indeed improve cognitive function. Then there are some that are very new and experimental.
Focus Factor use a laundry list of these kinds of ingredients.
How Does Focus Factor Work?
Their proprietary blend of different nootropic compounds in their formulas lend Focus Factors their efficacy.
Individually, many of the ingredients they use have proven effective in aiding and improving cognition and mental performance.
The variety of ingredients used in Focus Factor’s supplements may be seen as a positive at first glance. After all, what’s better than a few nootropics? Answer: many.
However, many in the nootropic community caution against using such a large variety.
Their flagship product, Focus Factor Original (see below) uses over ten individually identified nootropic compounds, with dozens of additional vitamins and minerals.
We are all individual. We all respond to different drugs and compounds differently. Using so many all in one go will make it very hard to figure out which compound you respond best to.
However, their products are widely regarded as being very efficacious, so this may be a moot point. It depends on how much freedom you want to explore nootropics, and to know what exactly is working for you.
The Focus Factor ingredients list is epic. It includes 23 different vitamins and minerals alongside a 692 mg proprietary formula. If nothing else, regularly taking this wide array of vitamins and minerals can have serious long-term health benefits.
Many of them are used quite widely in supplements geared towards improved energy and well-being, such as vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6. Vitamin C is a popular vitamin for immunity, whilst B vitamins are great for improving energy levels.
There are a few interesting ingredients to be found in the proprietary formula, too. The first of note is DMAE (Dimethylethanolamine bitartrate), a chemical usually used therapeutically in the treatment of attention and motion disorders (as well as in anti-wrinkle treatment!) This is strong stuff to be bringing to an over the counter formula and may go a long way towards explaining Focus Factor’s alleged efficacy.
Other active ingredients include stalwarts such as L-Glutamine (a fantastic supplement, though I’m not sure what it’s doing here…), bacopin, fish oil, L-pyroglutamic acid, choline, phosphatidylserine, N-acetyl tyrosine, and huperzine. These latter are staples of many nootropic supplements and have a wide range of evidence to suggest their efficacy in improving concentration, cognition and energy levels.
The omega-3 fatty acids from the fish oil contained in Focus Factor’s formula is particularly interesting – and useful. Omega-3 fatty acids can play a significant role in healthy brain development, maintenance and function.
DHA, meanwhile, is generally recognised as being very useful for improving brain function and memory.
How to Take Focus Factor
You should take up to four tablets daily with food. However, if you are particularly active or have a higher BMI, up to eight tablets daily may be more appropriate.
It is not recommended that anybody takes more than eight tablets daily.
How Long Does Focus Factor Take to Work?
Some people feel a difference nearly instantly, but for other people, they notice the most effects after taking Focus Factor for several months consistently.
Focus Factor’s own study suggests that results can be found after six weeks, which is a pretty decent rule of thumb.
If you’re feeling no effects after a two to three months, Focus Factor probably isn’t for you.
Is Focus Factor Safe: Does Focus Factor Have Side Effects?
There should be no side effects from Focus Factor, especially if you follow the dosing instructions.
Where there are side effects, they are minimal. Some users have reported gastrointestinal upset such as nausea.
However, it may be a good idea to begin on lower doses and work your way up over time. Always take it with food and consider consulting your medical provider beforehand.
Does Focus Factor Work Like Adderall?
Focus Factor’s Kid’s range claims to be able to support memory, concentration and focus, which drugs like Adderall are designed to do.
Many users and parents report similar effects to prescription stimulants such as Ritalin in mitigating the symptoms of ADHD.
However, it is no replacement. Consult your healthcare professional if you think Adderall might be appropriate for you or your children, and follow their advice. Focus Factor is a supplement, not a medicine.
What are the Main Ingredients in Focus Factor?
This leads us on nicely to a discussion on Focus Factor’s ingredients. Here, we will be talking about Focus Factor Original.
Their other supplements are all variations on this main product, to larger or smaller degrees, so will contain similar compounds.
Focus Factor Original has a quite startling array of ingredients, as mentioned above.
Each one will have a different effect on cognition and mental health. Each one will also influence individuals to greater or lesser degrees.
Though their ingredients list is far too exhaustive to go through in depth, there are a few that stand worthy of special mention. These include:
- B-complex vitamins, for the efficient metabolization of glucose, allowing the brain to more easily use it as energy.
- Bacopin, a plant extract of Bacopa monnieri, used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as a potent nootropic.
- Choline, which works in the brain’s acetylcholine system, an important component of memory formation and function.
- Vinpocetine, a nootropic supplement used to improve working memory and memory recall
What Products Do Focus Factor Offer?
Focus Factor have a range of products available. They are all specialised for different people with different needs.
They are also quite flexible in their ordering options. You can customise bottle size by number of capsules included, and you can also bulk buy for a decent discount.
Their products include:
Focus Factor Original
This is their first and most popular product, as detailed above. It’s actually quite rigorously tested for a nootropic supplement.
This is only a single double-blind, placebo-controlled study, but it’s far more than many nootropic supplements are subjected to.
Participants in the study reported that six weeks of using Focus Factor Original gave them improved concentration and attention levels and improved memory function.
Those that used Focus Factor Original for six weeks scored an average of 44% higher on a memory recall test than people in the placebo group.
Brain and vision
Focus Factor’s Brain and Vision is a potent blend of cognitive boosting compounds, as found in their Original formula, with added nutrients for eye and vision health, delivering an effective two in one supplement. It includes lutein and zeaxanthin.
Extra Strength
As you may have guessed, this is a version of the Original formula dialled up to eleven. It includes higher doses of some of the key ingredients and compounds found in Original, including:
- DMAE bitartrate
- Ginkgo biloba extract
- L-glutamine
- N-acetyl tyrosine
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid
Alongside these main supplements, Focus Factor also sell a range of chewable and gummies, a children’s range, and a range of energy shots, all aimed at boosting cognitive function and immune health.
Does Focus Factor Actually Work?
There is no easy answer to this question.
Focus Factor’s ingredients lists run to more than 40 vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other compounds. Many of these, especially vitamins C, D, E, and B vitamins, are arguably very effective, but are also found in any multivitamin bottle for around a dollar per month.
Focus Factor can set you back as much as eighty dollars per month.
On top of these cheaper ingredients, Focus Factor lists a ‘synergistic’ proprietary blend that includes omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. There is little to no evidence that these aid cognitive function (though they are undoubtedly good for wider health). They are also all readily available in a healthy diet, though supplementation to a degree is often still worthwhile (perhaps not to the tune of 80 dollars, though…)
There is, however, a small amount of evidence that some of their other ingredients offer cognitive benefits. For instance, Phosphatidylserine and huperzine A, have been proven to temporarily improve memory and mental function in people with dementia.
The botanical ingredient bacopa, meanwhile, has been shown to boost learning and memory in healthy adults.
None of the ingredients in Focus Factor are present in large enough quantities to be judged individually. Any tests run on them individually use much higher doses, which are impractical in a supplement containing so many disparate ingredients. Nor have they been clinically tested together.
However, many of the proprietary blend ingredients that Focus Factor use have some research to back up their claims to have health benefits – in particular, that they have cognitive benefits.
They have been proven to improve brain function, mood, memory and overall cognition. Focus Factor can help to improve blood flow – and thus oxygen – to the brain, which will be invaluable in itself in granting improved energy and focus.
As Focus Fitness have arguably shown, in concert, their ingredients, and thus their wider supplements, can boost memory and learning potential. Anecdotal evidence suggests that they can boost energy and mental clarity, too.
Online reviews on trusted sites are full of happy customers who report positive mental and cognitive benefits, from increased happiness to improved memory and energy levels.
Their products clearly do work well for many people. Just go in with a cynical eye and be prepared to resort to dollar bottles of multivitamins and the odd cup of coffee if needed.
Is Focus Factor a Good Brain Supplement?
This leads us to the big question – is it any good?
As far as nootropic brain supplements go, Focus Factor is a good product. Many of its ingredients have been far better scientifically investigated than many nootropic drugs.
As a whole, Focus Factor Original has been tested and, though only small scale and subject to bias, the results are promising.
More research is needed.
However, similar results may be achieved far more cheaply with select use of the individual compounds, ingredients and vitamins included in their formula.
A simple multivitamin, combined with cod liver oil and some antioxidants, finished off with a morning coffee, may be as effective as Focus Factor. It will certainly be effective, for a fraction of the cost.
It all hinges on whether you think nootropic supplements are worthwhile, and on what your budget is.
If you like nootropics, have had success with them in the past, or would like to try them out, and want this kind of product, then Focus Factor seem like a good bet.
You can buy Focus Factor from all the usual suspects… Amazon stockists sell it, Focus Factor have their own online store, and many local supplement shops will stock their products.