Can Nootropic Coffee Really Boost Your Mental Performance?

A Data-Driven Exploration with Reflect and BeElevated

The intersection of self-quantification and biohacking has never been more accessible, thanks to tools like Reflect and science backed products such as BeElevated coffee. In a recent self-experiment, David Anekstein, a co-founder and active user of Reflect and a dedicated coffee enthusiast, explored the impact of BeElevated’s nootropic coffee blend on various cognitive and physiological metrics. His findings offer compelling insights into how subtle changes can be detected through data. 

The Experiment: A Structured Approach

David’s study followed a well-defined experimental structure:

• Baseline Period: A week of tracking his usual coffee consumption (Groundwork Light Roast from Whole Foods).
  
  

• Intervention Period: A month of consuming BeElevated coffee, which contains organic Arabic coffee, Cordyceps Militaris, Rhodiola Rosea, Taurine, and L-Theanine.
  
  

• Return to Baseline (Control Condition): Another month back on his usual coffee for comparative analysis.

Reflect, the self-tracking app co-founded by David, played a crucial role in documenting his experience by allowing David to track subjective metrics such as mood, focus, agitation, and work enjoyment, alongside objective metrics from WHOOP and Oura, including heart rate variability (HRV), sleep efficiency, and workout strain.In addition, a wonderful feature of Reflect, for those interested in more than the surface level, is the use of statistics to separate noise from true effects. So, what true effects resulted from BeElvated?

Key Findings: The Impact of BeElevated

After analyzing the data, several statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) emerged when comparing BeElevated’s formula against the control condition (coffee alone):

• Agitation: Decreased by 34% (p = 0.0015), indicating a more relaxed state throughout the day.
  
  

• Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Increased by 13% (p = 0.0041), suggesting improved autonomic nervous system function and recovery.

• Flow State (Tunnel Effect): Increased by 18% (p = 0.0257), hinting at a greater ability to engage deeply in tasks.

• Work Enjoyment: Increased by 15% (p = 0.0172), reinforcing the cognitive benefits of nootropic-enhanced coffee.

• Working Memory: Improved by 10% (p = 0.0323), an essential component for productivity and problem-solving.

Interpreting the Results

Among the most compelling findings were the - not just statistically, but - real-world significant improvements in agitation when using BeElevated. This finding squares well with the literature on multiple ingredients unique to BeElvated - rhodiola rosea and l-theanine. In fact, studies indicate rhodiola rosea reduces stress, burn out, and improves mood stability [1][2]. L-theanine, in relation to improved memory and mental sharpness, has also been consistently linked, when paired with caffeine, to improve all these measures [3]. 

David’s experiment underscores the importance of tracking changes quantitatively rather than relying on perception alone. Without Reflect’s data-driven approach, these benefits might have gone unnoticed.

Future Directions

While the study yielded promising results, David identified potential refinements for future iterations, which we agree would be necessary for more rigorous assessment of BeElevated’s effectiveness:

• Blinded Testing: David knew which coffee he was consuming in each instance, so this could contribute to an inherent (although appreciated!) bias in favor of BeElvated. A more rigorous methodology would be to not know which condition one is consuming, so the data reflects (see what we did there?...) a truly unbiased assessment - although, to David’s credit, he was as objective as possible, given the methodology limitations.

• Extended Study Duration: A longer, alternating A/B/A/B/A/B/A schedule could provide more conclusive evidence as more data and cross-over effects (the effect of one intervention bleeding into the other) could be better controlled.

• Objective Cognitive Measures: Incorporating standardized tests such as the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), which is ubiquitous across the literature for assessing cognitive function. Alternatively, more sensitive tests like the Wechsler Memory Scale or the N-Back Task to assess memory directly. 

Final Thoughts: The Synergy of Reflect and BeElevated

David’s experience highlights the power of combining self-quantification with functional nutrition. BeElevated coffee, with its blend of adaptogens and nootropics, appears to enhance cognitive performance while reducing agitation. Meanwhile, Reflect provided an invaluable framework for objectively measuring these effects.

For those looking to optimize their daily routines and gain deeper insights into their own physiology, leveraging a combination of self-tracking and targeted supplementation might just be the key to unlocking peak performance.

As David continues his journey with Reflect and BeElevated, the potential for further discoveries remains vast. One thing is clear: with the right tools and a data-driven mindset, meaningful self-improvement is within reach.

Research Roundup

[1] Olsson EM, von Schéele B, Panossian AG. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue. Planta Med. 2009;75(2):105-112. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1088346

[2] Darbinyan V, Aslanyan G, Amroyan E, Gabrielyan E, Malmström C, Panossian A. Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression [published correction appears in Nord J Psychiatry. 2007;61(6):503]. Nord J Psychiatry. 2007;61(5):343-348. doi:10.1080/08039480701643290

[3] Anas Sohail A, Ortiz F, Varghese T, et al. The Cognitive-Enhancing Outcomes of Caffeine and L-theanine: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2021;13(12):e20828. Published 2021 Dec 30. doi:10.7759/cureus.20828