Kaged Mindset Review

Soma Analytics founder Jason Mills delivers his verdict on the latest nootropic to hit the market in this Kaged Mindset review. Find out if it works as good as it tastes below…

Kaged Mindset is the first premium brand nootropic to launch in 2023 and I was lucky enough to get my hands on a limited edition bundle box prior to launch. Having tested pretty much every nootropic that we review here at Soma Analytics, I feel pretty well positioned to bring you this impartial Kaged Mindset review – and I am writing it just 30 minutes after taking a dose of the caffeinated version of Mindset.

It’s been two weeks since I took delivery of the beautifully branded and crafted box set, and although the chances are you won’t be able to get your hands on the same bundle as it’s limited edition (I say with smug delight), you can now order one of the two versions of Mindset that is available at launch – Mindset and Mindset + Caffeine.

About Kaged Mindset

Kaged pitches itself as an elite supplement brand – and to be fair, they are. Despite the company’s ultra slick branding, there are few companies in the supplementation world that have products that stack up to their marketing – but Kaged do.

So it is interesting that they have now entered in to the world of nootropics. Most of their focus to date has been on physical fitness and aesthetic improvement of the body – so this shift in to mental health and brain fitness is an interesting pivot – but is one that makes sense.

On the surface, it seems they have applied the same approach to Mindset that they have to their other supplements – with a focus on using top tier ingredients in doses that are backed up by science. Not an easy task though when you consider the lack of research in the field of nootropics compared to supplements associated with bodybuilding for example.

But a quick glance at the ingredients contained in both the caffeinated and non-caffeinated versions of Mindset will have you take note of how much research has gone in to creating a truly great nootropic that is at least equal to, and if not better than, anything that exists on the market currently.

We also applaud Kaged for creating stimulant and stimulant-free versions of Mindset right from the off – meaning that there is an option for everyone. Both versions are plant based, GMO free and free from any banned substances – so are perfectly safe for athletes to take too.

One thing that sets Mindset apart from the competition is that it doesn’t come in pill format. Instead, it comes as a powder that you simply mix with water to create an orange mango flavored drink. More on that in my personal experience section later in this Mindset review…

Kaged Mindset Benefits

Before I get on to my own personal experience of using Kaged Mindset, let’s take a look at the key benefits Kaged themselves promise and how exactly you stand to improve mentally from taking the supplement.

There are five main brain boosting benefits that Kaged promote:

• Long lasting energy
• Increased productivity
• Improved attention
• Boost to focus
• Sharpens memory

These are all pretty common benefits that you would associate with any kind of nootropic, and like most other nootropics, some of these benefits are immediate, whereas others will develop over time.

What cannot be argued is how vital these benefits will be to anyone wanting to function to their full capacity – and that can be applied across a range of areas including those in education, top level professionals, writers, athletes and so on.

I’ll be discussing my own experience and the benefits I enjoyed from taking Mindset right after we look at the ingredients it contains.

Our Kaged Video Review:

Mindset Ingredients

I really like the ingredient profile of Mindset. It is forward thinking, uses some big hitters and includes some new patented ingredients. Everything is well dosed and the fact it comes in a powder format means it is easy to adjust the dose dependent on your tolerance level and experience with using nootropics.

Kaged suggest 1 scoop will give a strong effect, whereas 2 scoops is for the full effect. This will vary from person to person, but as someone who has used nootropics a fair bit, I never felt the need to go past 1 scoop – although I did once just to test it. The point here is that if you are new to nootropics you might want to start off at a lower dose to test it out – and that’s easy to do with Mindset because of the delivery method.

I’ll comment on the doses at 1 scoop here – but the relatively low cost point of Mindset means that for those who do want to double up, you are getting a really potent dose of these ingredients at a reasonable price.

So – let’s take a look at what’s included in Mindset + Caffeine (the standard Mindset is the same just without the caffeine):

Vitamin B Complex

All good nootropics include a good solid vitamin B complex and Mindset is no different. You’ll find 10mg of vitamin B6, 250mcg of vitamin B12 and 15mg of Vitamin B3 (Niacin) in each serving. From this you can expect a range of physical and cognitive benefits that include the repair of neurotransmitters.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a key antioxidant that helps prevent the brain from being negatively impacted by oxidative stress. It is also a key player in helping promote dopamine production. We get 75mg per scoop in Mindset and it also carries with it a range of other physical benefits.

Alpha GPC

Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline is a key nootropic that is responsible for releasing acetylcholine in the brain – this is the most prominent neurotransmitter we have and by increasing production we are increasing the ability of a range of cognitive functions in the brain. Here, we see a very health dose of 600mg per serving.

L-Tyrosine

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that helps us perform well in stressful situations. It helps us produce catecholamines which in turn help us in ‘fight or flight’ situations and is thought to improve focus and motivation. 500mg is a really good daily dose.

Acetyl L-Carnitine

Another amino acid is L-Carnitine and this is an interesting addition as it is an ingredient we often see in fat burning supplements rather than nootropics. That is because it is associated with increasing metabolism. However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that L-Carnitine can boost cognitive energy and that’s why it is included here. 500mg per serving is included in Kaged Mindset.

Huperzine A

5mg of Huperzine A per serving is enough to provide a cognitive boost. Like Alpha GPC, it is thought to prevent the reduction of acetylcholine in the brain and thus it helps the brain to function at full capacity. Not all nootropics include Huperzine A but I always like to see it.

Panax Ginseng Extract

Ginseng has been used in the East for centuries and is another natural ingredient we see used in various supplements. It is thought to help with achieving a state of flow and although this is very difficult to pin down scientifically, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support its inclusion. We get 100mg per scoop which is a well dosed amount.

Phosphatidylserine

We get 50mg of Phosphatidylserine per serving in Mindset and although we can get it from many foods it is almost impossible to consume enough of it in quantities to carry the full benefit we get when we supplement it. This phospholipid helps to maintain healthy nerve cell membranes and is a key component in protecting against age related cognitive decline.

L-phenylalanine

Although Mindset is not too focused on mood regulation, the addition of L-phenylalanine can help regulate mood as it is linked to dopamine production. It helps in the natural creation of tyrosine in the brain and 150mg per scoop is a more than adequate amount to supplement daily.

Mineral Complex

Another patented ingredient here is the mineral complex that is included. We don’t know the exact quantities of each individual mineral, but with 50mg in total of minerals including zinc, calcium, vanadium, copper, iron, boron, chromium and many more, this is a really crucial addition to the blend that sets Mindset apart from the competition. These will have a wide range of physical benefits in the least, with some additional cognitive benefits too.

PurCaf Caffeine

Caffeine is the world’s most popular nootropic. Taken by billions of people daily, the hit of energy you get within 30 minutes of consuming it is depended on as a lifeline for many. The problem is that you often get crashes after taking it. This isn’t so much the case with Mindset + Caffeine thanks to it using organic green coffee beans – which is the cleanest and most efficient form of caffeine you can get. 150mg is equivalent to around 2 cups of coffee and will give you the instant energy hit you need.

Extended Release Caffeine

To help prevent the energy crash associated with standard caffeine, you also get zümXR® Extended Release Caffeine. This is another patented ingredient that works in synergy with the PurCaf fast acting caffeine, and releases its caffeine into the bloodstream for hours – so you feel the benefits long after taking it.

Using Kaged Mindset

As someone who has used a lot of nootropics (usually in capsule format) it was quite refreshing to try Kaged Mindset which is essentially a nootropic drink once mixed with water. It was also great to see such a great range of ingredients used – many of which can even replace your standard multivitamin supplementation – with so many essential minerals and vitamins included.

Upon receiving the bundle box I was blown away by the quality – and although not everyone will be able to get or indeed even want the box bundle, the quality of packaging and the bottle that was included was simply stunning. I don’t often get excited by packaging but I did in this instance.

Aside from that, I started off by testing the standard Mindset (without caffeine) and was impressed by the almost instant impact it had.

I’m used to testing nootropics that take days or sometime weeks for me to feel a benefit. But with Mindset, the feeling was instant – or within 30 minutes at least. On day two I tried the Mindset + Caffeine version and this was perhaps unsurprisingly even more impactful.

With both versions, I felt a big initial focus and energy boost. With the non caffeinated version this lasted for around 90 minutes to 2 hours. The caffeine version though, lasted for around 3-4 hours of high level alertness. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.

I put a lot of that down to the caffeine – especially the slow release caffeine – as I experienced no jitters or crashes whatsoever. To be clear here, I don’t drink coffee. I have the odd pre-workout and drink some tea daily, but my daily caffeine intake is a lot less than 100mg usually – so I’m not used to taking 150mg or more of caffeine.

I wouldn’t say I’m sensitive to caffeine, but neither would I say my body is overly used to it. But there was no negative side effects of taking these relatively high levels of caffeine for me.

Additionally, the other ingredients were clearly playing their part, as when I tested the standard Mindset mix, I felt similar benefits – just for not quite so long.

From my experience of taking other nootropics, some of the ingredients will take weeks to see the benefits, but they are likely all quietly ‘doing their thing’ in the background.

As someone who works from a home office the majority of the time, I found the mixing of the powder with water a great way to take Mindset. It is also great tasting with a good well mixed consistency. The orange mango flavor was the only one available at the time of writing but is delicious. Very fruity and pretty natural tasting. The key thing here is that it mixes well.

For those who are on the move or work away from home, it may be trickier to mix on the go, but of course you can pre-mix and drink on the go with relative ease.

For me, the standard 1 scoop is enough to power me up through the day. The key benefits I felt were higher levels of concentration and focus, more energy that lasted longer than other nootropics and definitely an increase in productivity.

It’s hard for me to assess whether I saw a memory boost but my instinct tells me this is likely to be a longer term benefit that will come about after taking Mindset for months rather than weeks.

It’s very fairly priced when compared to the competition and with our discount code it is even more affordable.

Verdict

I really think Kaged have come up with a fantastic nootropic supplement with Mindset. I preferred the caffeinated version but both worked for me. The long lasting energy and focus it delivers will work wonders for professionals, students, gamers, writers, athletes or anyone who needs to sharpen their cognition.

It’s relatively inexpensive for a month’s supply and most users will see significant benefits from the standard single dose – only needing the double scoop when they need to be hyper focused.

All in all – Kaged Mindset is a triumph and will become a staple in my nootropic locker.