These drinks promise enhanced performance in a bottle

These drinks promise enhanced performance in a bottle

I know I’m not alone in starting my day with coffee and (usually) ending my day with wine. These beverages have become mainstays at specific times, first to get me going in the morning and then helping me survive homework/dinner/bedtime and wind down after a seemingly endless day. While my coffee and wine certainly get their respective jobs done, I decided to try a few different ways to boost my energy—and neither of them involved caffeine.

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First up was BrainGear, which promises "immediate focus, clarity and concentration within 15-30 minutes of consumption.” In fact, I’m on it right now and I’m banging out this article like nobody’s business. Rather than caffeine and other stimulants, this mind-fueling formula contains a blend of vitamins (various Bs, D and E) and other supplements you’ve probably heard of like acetyl-L-carnitine, tyrosine, green tea extract, DMAE and more. Best consumed cold and on an empty stomach, I didn’t really like the pineapple mango flavor at first but now I have no problem with it. I’m not kidding when I say this stuff works—and helps me blow through my to-do list. I’m also psyched it’s available through Thrive Market so I can stock up when I order the only pasta sauce my son will eat. (Don’t ask.)

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With my brain operating at maximum capacity, I figure my body could use a little boost, too. Enter HTWO Hydrogen Water. Yes, two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom are the building blocks of any water, but this purified water is infused with extra molecular hydrogen gas (but there are no bubbles). Why would you want more hydrogen? When you drink it before a workout, apparently it increases endurance, reduces fatigue and minimizes lactic acid buildup that leads to post-exercise soreness. I drank a pouch before three Pilates classes, and even though I didn’t notice a difference during or after my workoust, let’s be honest, I wasn’t exactly pushing my body to its physical limits. However, there are clinical studies that prove hydrogen delivers these benefits, and professional athletes drink the stuff by the gallon, so who am I to judge?

The way I see it, we spend so much money on stuff that’s potentially bad for us, so why not invest in products that are more likely to do good? Maybe that’s the BrainGear talking… Regardless, excuse me while I go find the cure for cancer before I go crush it at my 10:30 Pilates class—or at least wrap up a few articles that I’ve been meaning to finish.

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