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Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 Review

David Tomen
Author:
David Tomen
12 minute read


If you routinely stop at Starbucks® for a Grande, or the corner store for an energy drink to avoid that mid-afternoon crash – this Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 review is for you.

We love caffeine because it provides a boost in alertness, concentration, better athletic performance, and less physical and mental fatigue.

Performance Lab Caffeine 2And this love affair with caffeine now goes far beyond getting your dose from a cup of coffee. You’ll find it in carbonated sodas, energy drinks and shots, fruit-flavored drinks, and in many pre-formulated nootropic energy stacks.

But the problem with most of these caffeine-delivery methods is they contain megadoses of caffeine. Resulting in feelings of jitteriness and ending in long-term exhaustion.

Supplement manufacturers noticed and added L-Theanine to caffeine to produce a more balanced stimulant experience. You get the cognitive benefits of caffeine with the calming effects of L-Theanine.

The problem with this stimulant solution is it’s not complete. And some of the side effects of using caffeine as a nootropic are not addressed.

Performance Lab® saw an opportunity. And redesigned this most basic of stimulant nootropic stacks.

Resulting in the most advanced caffeine + L-Theanine formula around. A stimulant stack that works.

This is my Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 review …

My Stimulant Supplement Stack Criteria

Caffeine on its own is an effective nootropic. It’s an adenosine antagonist which prevents us from getting sleepy.[i]

Stimulant supplements that workBut this action also influences acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin and boosts the use of dopamine. Which provides a stimulant effect.[ii]

Regular use of caffeine on the other hand ends up depleting these critical neurotransmitters. Stimulating your adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. Raising blood pressure and depleting water-soluble B-Vitamins.

To safely get and experience all the benefits caffeine has to offer as a nootropic, I need something to counterbalance these negatives.

This nootropic stimulant stack needs to:

  • Replace the dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine affected by caffeine use
  • Replace the B-Vitamins lost due to caffeine’s diuretic effect
  • Maintain normal blood pressure and heart rate
  • Increase Alpha brain waves suppressed by caffeine
  • Use the same amount and ratio of L-Theanine + caffeine as the most successful human clinical studies
  • Be natural and legal, safe to use every day
  • Use verifiable and pure compounds, no synthetics

I’ve used coffee and green tea for the caffeine, and L-Theanine as a natural stimulant for years.

And naturally, I have been aware of various pre-formulated caffeine + L-Theanine stacks offered by several supplement manufacturers.

But not a single company produced a stimulant stack using quality ingredients in the same ratio and amounts as I knew worked. Both from personal experience and the data supplied by human clinical studies.

Until now …

Discovering Performance Lab®

I use a lot of nootropic supplements every day. The list has grown as I learn more about how my body and brain work. And research has revealed what it takes for me to perform at the levels I want to live life.

But there came a point when I wondered if there was some way I could consolidate my daily supplement regimen. And take fewer capsules to maintain the way I feel and perform.

Then I discovered a new supplement line created and produced by the same people who make my favorite pre-formulated nootropic stack; Mind Lab Pro®.

Who Makes Performance Lab®?

Performance Lab® is a new line of supplements and sister company to Mind Lab Pro®.

I’ve been using Mind Lab Pro for over 5 years and have come to trust the company. And the quality of their supplements.

Performance Lab® is based in the U.K. and manufactures all their supplements in the USA.

Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi is the foundation of their new supplement line.

The company’s multivitamin for men and women supplies the essential vitamins and minerals required for overall health. Nutrients that may be missing from your diet.

Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 extends the benefits of the universal cognitive enhancer I use – Mind Lab Pro®.

Mind Lab Pro supports brain energy from a cellular level, boosts neurotransmitters, increases blood flow and brain waves, provides neuroprotection and helps neuronal regeneration.

Adding Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 to Mind Lab Pro provides a boost in energized alertness right when I need it most. It’s a clean, clear focus that feels pure. And avoids the need for a coffee or energy drink.

get Performance Lab® Caffeine 2

crash-free caffeine pill

Performance Lab® Caffeine  2 Ingredients

Performance Lab Caffeine 2 ingredients

 

Natural Caffeine 50 mg (from Coffea Robusta seeds)

Caffeine used in moderation helps improve reaction time, alertness, memory and mood.

Adenosine levels rise during the day as a byproduct of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is produced by your mitochondria and used as cellular fuel. As an inhibitory neurotransmitter, increases in adenosine decreases your wakefulness state. Eventually leading to sleep.

Caffeine acts by blocking adenosine receptor subtypes A1 and A2A which in turn increases wakefulness. Instead of becoming sleepy, you are more alert.[iii]

This action on adenosine also influences acetylcholine, epinephrine, serotonin and boosts the use of dopamine. Providing the stimulant effect experienced when consuming caffeine.[iv]

But caffeine stimulation also puts demands on your endocrine system and blood flow.

When caffeine boosts norepinephrine and epinephrine it activates your adrenal glands which in turn release the stress hormone cortisol.[v]

And the diuretic effects of caffeine consumption increase the excretion of water-soluble B-Vitamins.[vi] Which are required for neurotransmitter synthesis, myelin synthesis, gene expression and cellular metabolism.

The genius of this stack and what makes it superior to any other caffeine + L-Theanine stack I’ve found is how it counterbalances the negative effects of caffeine.

Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 uses the rest of the ingredients in this stack to support the use of caffeine as a stimulant while reducing its side effects.

L-Theanine 100 mg

L-Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea that increases Alpha brain waves (8-14 Hz). Increased Alpha waves promote stimulant supplements redditalert relaxation.[vii] This alert calmness is associated with super-learning, flow states and joy.

L-Theanine boosts the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and GABA in your brain. As well as increasing Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).[viii]

Helping to relieve the stress of excess cortisol, improving memory, boosting mood and increasing cognitive function.

A study done at Unilever in the UK looked at the combined effects of L-Theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. 27 volunteers participated in the study.

They compared 50 mg of caffeine with and without 100 mg of L-Theanine. The same dosage used in Performance Lab® Caffeine 2.

The research team took measurements for word recognition, rapid visual information processing, critical flicker fusion threshold, attention switching and mood.

The researchers concluded, “L-Theanine and caffeine in combination are beneficial for improving performance on cognitively demanding tasks”.[ix]

L-Tyrosine 250 mg

Caffeine works by inhibiting adenosine which naturally increases during your day. Suppressing feelings of sleepiness and fatigue also initiates a cascade of excitatory neurotransmitters.

Caffeine’s stimulant effect is produced in part by increases in the release of the catecholamines dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine.

This demand on increased catecholamines can result in attention problems, mood imbalances, energy crashes and long-term feelings of exhaustion.

The addition of L-Tyrosine in this formula helps replace the neurotransmitters that are impacted by caffeine. Resulting in better working memory, quicker thinking even under pressure, a boost in multitasking performance, stress resistance and no crash.

NutriGenesis® B-Complex

Caffeine consumption causes a diuretic effect which accelerates the excretion of important water-soluble B-Vitamins. And a rise in homocysteine which causes brain fog and memory problems.

Studies show reductions in Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine, P-5-P), Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin).[x]

Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 counterbalances this vitamin depletion caused by caffeine by including bioidentical NutriGenesis® Vitamins B2, B6, B9 and B12.

get Performance Lab® Caffeine 2

Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 Dosage

Recommended dosage of Performance Lab® Caffeine+ is 1-capsule as needed for stimulation.

You can safely use up to 5-capsules per 24-hour period.

How Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 Works in Real Life

The combination of supplements in Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 quickly provides a feeling of pure alert stimulation. Without the jitters normally associated with caffeine use.

Users report feeling more energized with less fatigue within minutes of using Performance Lab® Caffeine 2. Thinking is clearer and quicker.

Many report increased mental performance, better memory, and mood.

Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 is Good Value

You may have found like me that nootropic supplements can put a real dent in your monthly budget. Even getting your Performance Lab Caffeine 2 bottlestimulant effects from a daily Red Bull® or Starbucks® daily can be expensive.

Using Performance Lab’s Caffeine 2 supplement as an alternative may save you some money.

For example, here are some of the prices you’d pay for the ingredients in this stack if you purchased them as individual supplements.

Natural Caffeine 50 mg – This one is difficult to estimate because so many different things can be used as a source of caffeine. A 24-pack of 8.4 Oz. Red Bull is about $34 on Amazon. It’s more if you buy the cans individually from a local store.

A coffee from Starbucks can run up to $5 or more for a single cup. That’s $150 per month.

And trying to find a ‘natural caffeine’ supplement is next to impossible because most on the market come in minimum 250 mg of caffeine capsules. Far too high in my opinion for a single, safe dose of caffeine.

L-Theanine 100 mg – a high quality L-Theanine  supplement on Amazon sells from $10 – $25 per bottle for a month supply.

L-Tyrosine 250 mg Several trustworthy supplement companies offer L-Tyrosine in 500 mg veggie capsules from $10 – $25 per bottle. But unfortunately most major supplement manufacturers insists on including unwanted other toxic ingredients such as “magnesium stearate” and/or “silicon dioxide” in each of their capsules.

B-Complex – One of the very few bio-identical B-Complex supplements is sold by Life Extension. It’s a quality bio-active formula at $12 for a month supply.

As you can see, it’s difficult to come up with a direct comparison cost for a combination of individual supplements to match that in the Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 stack.

The caffeine component in this stimulant stack is the wild card. Which puts the cost of a comparison Caffeine 2 stack from about $50 all the way up to $200 per month depending on your caffeine source.

Performance Lab® sells the Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 supplement bottle of 30 capsules for only $44.

get Performance Lab® Caffeine 2

Pros & Cons of Performance Lab® Caffeine 2

Most caffeine + L-Theanine supplements on the market are just that – caffeine stacked with L-Theanine. With no consideration for how caffeine works in your body and brain.

And dosages are generally too high for both caffeine and L-Theanine.

This stimulant stack by Performance Lab® is brilliant in my opinion. It’s clear the design of this stack is well-thought out. With every angle covered to ensure you get the most of stacking caffeine with L-Theanine.

Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 provides a cleaner, calmer stimulant action than any other stim supplement on the market. And is a far better choice than an energy drink or coffee.

Now, let’s look at what I think are the pros and cons of this premium stimulant supplement.

Pros

  • Full disclosure on the amount of each ingredient
  • High quality and tested ingredients including their own patented NutriGenesis® bio-identical B-Vitamins
  • Precisely measured dosages of each ingredient backed by science
  • No added ingredients
  • No World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned substances
  • Vegan-friendly NutriCaps® capsules
  • Tested prior to encapsulation for allergens, GMOs, microbes, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other contaminants
  • Tested again to confirm potency, purity, and activity after encapsulation
  • Competitively priced
  • Empty bottle, money-back guarantee (less shipping)
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons

  • Only available on their website

I honestly can’t think of any other cons for this stimulant supplement. It works for me and I truly hope it works as well for you.

Nootropics Expert Recommendation

Nootropics Expert Tested and ApprovedI recommend the use of Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 as a natural stimulant nootropic stack.

Pricing of Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 is competitive for what you get. Buying these supplements separately can cost much more depending on where you get them. And your caffeine source.

The biggest advantage with Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 is clear, clean energy on demand. A state of calm clarity without sedation, enhanced creativity, less anxiety and a more balanced mood.

Performance Lab® Caffeine+ pairs well with the company’s Energy, Mind, and Vision formulas.

Performance Lab® Energy works on a cellular level while Caffeine 2 adds a clean, balanced power surge when you need it. Stacking Caffeine+ with Performance Lab® Mind or Mind Lab Pro® provides added energized alertness to a great cognitive enhancer.

And Stim stacked with Performance Lab® Vision is particularly brilliant in my opinion. You get better visual reaction time, motion detection and dark adaptation with Vision. And Stim adds a calm alertness, and quicker reaction time to sharp eyesight.

Performance Lab® only offers their Performance Lab® products including their Stim formula on their website. You will not find it on Amazon or other online retailers.

Performance Lab® goes the extra mile by using top-notch ingredients in this formula. Including tested and science-backed sources of L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine and the NutriGenesis® B-vitamins.

The company uses vegan NutriCaps® capsules to ensure quick absorption. And testing before and after encapsulation of each batch of product.

And Performance Lab® also offers a risk-free, “empty bottle”, money-back guarantee if you are not happy with their product.

So if your get-up-and-go has got up and gone, and you’ve tried energy drinks and endless cups of coffee for a stimulant boost – I recommend giving Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 a try.

If you’d like to try Performance Lab® Caffeine 2, or learn more about this exceptional line of supplements, please go to their website and have a look around. And while you’re there, get Performance Lab® Caffeine 2

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may also contain other affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

[i] Penetar D., McCann U., Thorne D., Kamimori G., Galinski C., Sing H., Thomas M., Belenky G. “Caffeine reversal of sleep deprivation effects on alertness and mood.” Psychopharmacology (Berlin). 1993;112(2-3):359-65. (source)

[ii] Walker J., Rohm B., Lang R., Pariza M.W., Hofmann T., Somoza V. “Identification of coffee components that stimulate dopamine release from pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12).” Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2012 Feb;50(2):390-8 (source)

[iii] Gjorness T.E., Greene R.W. “Adenosine and Sleep” Current Neuropharmacology. 2009 Sep; 7(3): 238–245. (source)

[iv] Fredholm B.B., Bättig K., Holmén J., Nehlig A., Zvartau E.E. “Actions of Caffeine in the Brain with Special Reference to Factors That Contribute to Its Widespread Use” Pharmacological Reviews March 1999, 51 (1) 83-133 (source)

[v] Lovallo W.R., Whitsett T.L., al’Absi M., Sung B.H., Vincent A.S., Wilson M.F. “Caffeine Stimulation of Cortisol Secretion Across the Waking Hours in Relation to Caffeine Intake Levels” Psychosomatic Medicine. 2005; 67(5): 734–739. (source)

[vi] Maughan R.J., Griffin J. “Caffeine ingestion and fluid balance: a review.” Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2003 Dec;16(6):411-20. (source)

[vii] Mason R. “200 mg of Zen” Alternative and Complementary Therapies. July 2004, 7(2): 91-95. (source)

[viii] Yamada T., Terashima T., Wada K., Ueda S., Ito M., Okubo T., Juneja L.R., Yokogoshi H. “Theanine, r-glutamylethylamide, increases neurotransmission concentrations and neurotrophin mRNA levels in the brain during lactation.” Life Sciences. 2007 Sep 29;81(16):1247-55. (source)

[ix] Owen G.N., Parnell H., De Bruin E.A., Rycroft J.A. “The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood.” Nutritional Neuroscience. 2008 Aug;11(4):193-8. (source)

[x] Ulvik A., Vollset S.E., Hoff G., Ueland P.M. “Coffee Consumption and Circulating B-Vitamins in Healthy Middle-Aged Men and Women” Clinical Chemistry Sep 2008, 54 (9) 1489-1496. (source)

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Join The Discussion - 10 comments

Aaron
August 29, 2024

you could use this 5 times in a day wouldn’t that make you drowsy from all the L theanine? my understanding is above 200 mg is the drowsiness threshold.
Thanks

    David Tomen
    August 29, 2024

    Aaron, you can “safely” use up to 5-capsules per 24-hour period. That does not mean you should use 5-capsules per day. I never do. The most I ever use is two capsules as needed. And maybe a couple times a week at most. It all depends on what you can tolerant and what works for you.

Marcie Webber
May 19, 2022

Can you take PL caffeine together with MLP in empty stomach first thing in the morning?

I read in Energy drinks not to take with empty stomach as caffeine irritates the lining of the stomach. It seems opposite as people drinks coffee first thing in the morning.

In conclusion MLP and PL caffeine can be taken together. Right?

Thank you again for not forsaking me and all the answers you provided above with my troubled mind seeking ways to feel normal again and alive loving life. David you are so precious to me. God bless!

    David Tomen
    May 20, 2022

    Marcie, I’ve never taken them together so cannot share my experience on how that would work. Let me know if you try it!

Marcie Webber
May 18, 2022

Caffeine causing addiction tolerance, and much more…very complex in physiology!

What are your thoughts about Energy drinks like Celsius that has 2oomg caffeine in each can of 12 oz and has Taurine 1.81g it says?

is this a healthy drink? Has Green tea component also standardized. Is the Theanine here sufficient to counteracts negative side of caffeine?

Is the formulation safe to use daily as needed or does it need to add other nootropics as you design in Caffeine comments about recycling for Caffeine tolerance? Luckily it has B vitamins.

Endless thanks for your kind assistance and generosity sharing your expertise.

    David Tomen
    May 20, 2022

    Marcie, the ratio of caffeine/L-Theanine that seems to work best is 1 part caffeine to 2 parts L-Theanine. The maximum recommended dose of caffeine is 400 mg per day. But I do not suggest taking 400 mg in one dose!

    The problem with the majority of ‘energy’ drinks are the added sugars and other toxic ingredients. And often are not balanced out with the other nootropic ingredients like is used in the supplement I reviewed above.

    I have not come across a purely ‘healthy’ energy drink yet. But I am working with another company who are about to release their first ‘healthy energy drink’. So stay tuned …

Marcia
May 9, 2022

Hi David! I take over 15 suplements for ATP, adenosine is a byproduct of atp production right? So the more I take ATP suplements in the morning, the more adenosine I would have later in the day???

So should I reach for more adenosine antagonists than one cofee at 8am? Is my understanding correct?

Thank you!

    David Tomen
    May 9, 2022

    Marcia, there is a limit on how much ATP your mitochondria can produce. And 4 – 5 supplements should be enough. PQQ is one option because it can help produce more mitochondria so you’ll have more ATP manufacturing sites. But that has its limits as well.

    Caffeine is arguably the best adenosine antagonist available. So adding another will not likely benefit you.

Marcie Webber
April 11, 2022

Hi Dave! It’s me again. I just got my supply to try as I am still feeling low.
I am glad you have made this review. I will check the website how to use it.
Is it fat soluble too? i should have restarted PL Energy too. Just too much on the pocket of a retired person for now.

My 2 best I can’t part: MLP and PL vision .
Then comes my Alcar, centrophenoxine, Carnosine; but when I got better these 3 combo I went daily from BID.
Same with Vinpocetine 10mg TID became daily.
Sulbutamine BID became daily. NAC, R-ALA daily unchanged.
Ginkgo was BID and became daily when I upgrade to no fillers and was only available the 120mg.
Pine Bark I added this month.
Then I came across PL caffeine somewhat cheaper than PL Energy decided to experiment. I need a boosts to establish an exercise routine with pleasure and upbeat tune. The spirit is willing but physically no pep.
Thanks for all that you do. Will update.

    David Tomen
    April 11, 2022

    Marcie, PL Caffeine+ ingredients are all water soluble.

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