Good Sleep Can Improve Concentration and Productivity!

Sleep very important for various aspects of brain function.

This includes cognition, concentration, productivity and performance (1).

All of these are negatively affected by sleep deprivation. A study on medical interns provides a good example. Interns on a traditional schedule with extended work hours of more than 24 hours made 36% more serious medical errors than interns on a schedule that allowed more sleep (2).

Another study found that short sleep can negatively impact some aspects of brain function to a similar degree as alcohol intoxication (3).

On the other hand, good sleep has been shown to improve problem-solving skills and enhance memory performance of both children and adults (4, 5, 6).

Good sleep can maximize problem-solving skills and enhance memory. Poor sleep has been shown to impair brain function.

The Growing Use of Adderall On College Campuses

Midterms. Final exams. Late night study sessions. These are all common realities of living a college lifestyle. “Pulling all-nighters” has become the new normal across campuses, as students drive to succeed and take advantage of the opportunities that have been presented to them.

But, in a fast-paced, technologically enhanced society, the competition among educational institutions and more importantly, its students, continues. The pressure college students face on a daily basis from inside and outside the classroom, has led many to identify and recognize that they may need to address issues like anxiety, depression, and even cognitive enhancement.

On college campuses across the U.S., students are finding ways to deal with these stresses, by acquiring prescription medications like Adderall, which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”), and narcolepsy, without actually having a prescription, or going through a licensed, medical professional.

One student in particular, Andrew Kozlovski, a senior at the University of Southern California, and CEO of BrainzPower, has identified with this issue, and has set out on a path to ensure that the market is incentivized to provide safer alternatives for individuals who may not have prescriptions for Adderall, or similar prescription drugs.

Like his classmates around him, Kozlovski found himself stretched thin, pulling all-nighters and stressing over midterms and final exams. He came to the realization that he needed a way to enhance his focus and attentiveness, but going about it the right way. So, he came up with a solution to help guide college students in the right direction and encourage them not to abuse medication and substances they weren’t familiar with.

While there are a plethora of companies out there which provide supplements and wellness products for those who seek to enhance cognitive function, Kozlovski’s venture couldn’t be more timely, as both a senior ready to graduate, and a key member of the demographic for which this market relates.

“During my freshman year, I noticed many students were taking Adderall during midterms and final exams period to enhance their focus and mitigate symptoms of ADHD. Recognizing that I had my own issues with focus and attentiveness, I wanted to see if I could find out more information about being prescribed it. She asked me whether I had ADHD—I had no idea what she was talking about.So, I did some research on the drug and discovered it was an amphetamine, and highly addictive to the body, if abused. It was at that point in time I understood this behavior on campus to be a serious issue, especially where kids all around me were exchanging it like money.”

–Andrew Kozlovski, on starting up BrainzPower

 

 

It’s not uncommon for college students or even graduate students, to throw around symptoms to a medical professional, and ultimately ending up with a prescription for a diagnosis or condition they may or may not have. According to a national survey on drug use, sponsored by The National Institute on Drug Abuse, 38.5% percent of college-age individuals (ages 18-22 years old), reported using ADHD stimulants, such as Adderall, for non-medical reasons.

Unfortunately, the positive effects of Adderall are often negated when people misuse or abuse it. Studies have explored the trends of college students abusing Adderall to enhance their concentration, providing them with the ability to stay awake for longer periods of time, thus allowing them to pull those “all-nighters.”

“Today, it’s very easy to walk into a doctor’s office and “fake symptoms,” said Kozlovski. For instance, I know a good number of people at school, and I’ve been told that anyone can get this prescription, if you say certain

 

Rise, Grind, and Educate

Currently, the U.S. has been dealing with the deadly opioid epidemic, which has largely spared college campuses, but experts are still cautioning administrators to pay closer attention to.

“This is a time when young adults have more access to substances than ever before and have more economic leverage and legal protections,” said Dr. Joseph Lee, medical director for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Youth Continuum in Minnesota.

Kozlovski told me that from a student’s perspective, students aren’t educated on these types of substances. “We just know about it from friends and classmates; that it allows us to more school work in a more focused manner,” said the USC senior.

But, at the end of the day, people don’t understand how bad it is to misuse substances that aren’t prescribed to you by a licensed medical professional.

“So, I did my research, compiled all the ingredients known to assist with cognitive focus, mental health, and stress relief,” said Kozlovski. I then took my list and traveled to labs across the U.S., asking for chemists who could create a product, that contained many of these ingredients, which would help those college students who may not be ADHD or meet the criteria for being prescribed Adderall, focus and stay attentive throughout their collegiate education.

 

Kozlovski indicated to me that initially, his family was against the idea of him starting up his own business because they didn’t understand how someone could sell a product like that on Instagram, let alone, manage a business while undergoing college.

In terms of capitalizing on the market, Kozlovski took to the one spot he knew almost all college kids were drawn to—social media.

Sending The Message To College Brains Across The Country

While initially averaging $10,000 per month in sales of his product, BrainzPower brings in almost $30,000 per month in sales, strictly through the content pushed through social media.

Kozlovski emphasized that when it comes to running a business aimed at college students or millennials, the content is by far the most important factor. “It’s not the labels, hashtags, or effects you can add to your content,” added the entrepreneur, “it’s someone whose passionate about an idea, and elaborating on that idea for over 60 seconds, which is much more engaging and valuable than simply posting a picture or a simple message.”

 

“It’s about connecting, the sales come after,” said Kozlovski. When it comes to e-commerce, platforms like Amazon and other e-shops, have to market in new, innovative ways. With the younger demographic, it’s social media. The USC senior lended his support to platforms like Instagram, who in its time of updates and features, is doing a great job and allowing for businesses and brands to become more seamless.

Social media can be a great tool for spreading awareness about issues like Adderall abuse and the opioid epidemic plaguing our nation. It’s just a matter of education, and maybe some entrepreneurship thrown in the mix.

SEE FULL FEATURE HERE: 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewrossow/2018/04/08/how-21-year-old-usc-entrepreneur-andrew-kozlovski-turned-instagram-into-a-10000month-business/#2eb4c494297a

Krill oil is a supplement that is rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to fish oil.

It is made from krill, a type of small crustacean consumed by whales, penguins and other sea creatures.

On the other hand, a large portion of the omega-3 fats in krill oil can be found in the form of molecules called phospholipids, which may be easier to absorb into the bloodstream (1).

A few studies found that krill oil was more effective than fish oil at raising omega-3 levels, and hypothesized that their differing forms of omega-3 fats might be why (2, 3).

A study of 25 people with slightly raised blood fat levels found that taking 1,000-mg supplements of krill oil daily improved a marker of inflammation even more effectively than a 2,000-mg daily supplement of purified omega-3s (4).

If you would like to get the best Krill Oil available, with proper sourcing and in the correct amount please click the following link to buy Brainz Krill Oil.

For more information on the studies on Krill Oil please see links below:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24304605 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26328782

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Brainz Power – what should we know?
My company specializes in brain nutrition. Being an extremely ambitious individual myself I always looked for an edge, for a great book, but never did I look into properly nourishing our most important tool for success, the brain!

My company, Brainz Power, was founded on one single product the Original Brainz Power Nootropic which was a combination of eight ingredients that worked together to support memory, focus, and productivity, but we have since shifted from a single product to a full brain health company by adding the Brainz Box which is a subscription brain nutrition box that delivers four ingredients that truly give you everything you need to operate at peak levels.

What sets us apart from others is our attention to detail. We take the data, we take customer feedback, and we take studies and put them together to give people the absolute best product possible. For example, our Lions Mane nootropic mushroom we just introduced has been a hot product in Mushroom Coffee for real advanced biohackers, have been overpaying for 500mg of the ingredient, studies recommend 1,500mg of the nootropic for best effects, and that is exactly what we provide.

The same thing with Krill Oil, major brands give you 350mg of the oil when you need 1000mg, so we take pride in our attention to detail because I believe if you have the BEST product you will always have a successful business.

See full article HERE

Thanks for sharing your story with us Andrew. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I started Brainz Power my freshman year at USC when I witnessed first hand the abuse of a prescribed focus medication called Adderall. As a freshman, it seemed whenever anyone feeds to finish an essay overnight or had three exams the next day they all found a way to get this drug. The problem though is it’s a harmful and addictive drug that can ruin people lives but the short term thinking of students to simply go from an A to a B leaves them to act without thinking about the long term ramifications of their actions.

So here’s where my story begins, I see this in college and saw no natural alternatives being made nor advertised to the people that need it most, college students. I quickly did research, got in touch with labs, and came to the conclusion that a safe and natural alternative can be made, so I did. I then designed and tailored the bottle and label to appeal to college students and then advertised where I knew all college students attention was… Instagram!

Within a year, I grew my brands following to over 100k, generated six-figure sales, and by the time I was a senior at USC I was already featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Entrepreneur Magazine and many more for the business I built while being a full-time college student.

See full article HERE

MCT oil is a supplement often added to smoothies, butter coffee, and salad dressings.

As the name suggests, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil contains medium-length chains of fats called triglycerides. Due to their shorter length, MCTs are easily digested and many health benefits are linked to the way your body processes these fats.

MCT Oil has been made famous for being an "Instant Source of Energy That Can Also Be Used to Fuel Your Brain". 

MCT oil has been dubbed a super fuel since your body absorbs MCTs more rapidly than long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which contain more carbons in their fatty acid chains. (1)

Due to their shorter chain length, MCTs travel straight from the gut to the liver and do not require bile to break down like longer-chain fats do (2).

In the liver, the fats are broken down to be either used as fuel or stored as body fat.

Since MCTs easily enter your cells without being broken down, they can be used as an immediate source of energy (3).

For more information and studies done on MCT Oil and its effects on the brain please see links below, and if you're interested in fueling the brain today you can also shop Brainz Power's Organic Coconut MCT Oil HERE

Studies on MCT Oil:

1. https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nyas.12999

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15123336