We bring you yet another nootropic “face-off”. This time we checked Neuriva – a popular brain supplement made by Schiff Vitamins, and Ginkgo Biloba – a natural herb with a long history of use as a cognitive enhancer.
We already made a thorough individual review of Neuriva, so if you want to find out more about this supplement, you can check it here.
As far as the comparison between the two goes, let’s check which one is better, should you consider buying them, or there are better options on the market. Let’s find out.
Neuriva vs Ginkgo Biloba SUMMARY:
Neuriva takes the win over the Ginkgo Biloba. It has a more effective formula, but also comes with a much higher price. Despite being the winner, Neuriva is far from the best brain supplement out there. High price, questionable efficacy, and the formula with only two ingredients make Neuriva fall behind the leading brands.
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Neuriva vs Ginkgo Biloba: About the Products
Neuriva and Ginkgo Biloba are both nootropic supplements. What that means is they help you achieve your full cognitive potential – they improve memory, focus, learning speed, and mental clarity.
There are many similar products on the market. What separates them is their formula, doses, and ultimately their efficacy. The same goes for Neuriva and Ginkgo. Although they claim to give you the same benefits, their formula is entirely different.
Neuriva contains 2 active ingredients – Coffee Fruit Extract and Phosphatidylserine. On the other hand, Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient Chinese tree – its leaves contain active compounds which are known to benefit brain health in older people.
We have to state that in this review we are not evaluating a specific Ginkgo Biloba brand. We are evaluating it as a supplement and ingredient in general. This means that individual properties, doses, and amounts of active compounds will vary from brand to brand.
As for the user reviews and popularity goes, Neuriva is one of the best-received nootropics. It has a huge following of happy customers. Ginkgo Biloba is no different. It is a powerful herb that has found its place in many supplements.
To see which one performs better and is more effective for boosting brainpower, let’s take a look at their ingredient list.
Neuriva vs Ginkgo Biloba: Ingredients
Neuriva‘s Ingredients
As you can see, Nuriva’s formula is pretty simple. It contains only two main ingredients – Coffe Fruit Extract and Phosphatdiserine.
Coffee Fruit extract is a relatively new compound. For a long time, coffee fruit’s body was considered a waste. Only the seeds (coffee beans) were used, while the fruit’s body was thrown away.
However, lately, research showed that fruit’s body is also valuable. It contains some powerful nutrients that show brain-boosting benefits. That’s why it found its place in Neuriva.
Although it shows great nootropic potential, not many studies have been done so far. This means we cannot be entirely sure how effective Coffee Fruit extract is and to what degree it boosts cognitive functions. But for now, the data shows promising results. Also, the dose of 100mg (or 200mg, depending on the version of Neuriva) seems like a good dose.
Phosphatidylserine is a well-researched compound. It shows to be effective for cognition, focus, and brain health. Especially for elders. However, the effective doses used in the studies are 2-3x bigger than those in Neuriva. That means that 100mg in Neuriva might not be as effective as we would hope.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is an herb with a long history of use in traditional medicine. Even today, it is one of the most used herbs for brain health. Also, it is a strong antioxidant so it has an anti-inflammatory effect as well.
However, the studies show that the benefits in cognition and memory are noticeable in elders and in those who suffer from cognitive decline. Unfortunately, this means that healthy adults may not notice a drastic improvement in their cognition as it is believed.
Our Opinion on Neuriva’s vs Ginkgo Biloba’s Ingredient Profile
Neuriva is one of the most hyped brain supplements out there. But with only two ingredients – of which one is not well-researched, and the other is underdosed, we are not impressed. We expected much more. Especially since it is one of the more expensive nootropics.
As for the Ginkgo Biloba goes, it is thoroughly researched and its benefits are known. However, besides for the elderly, the evidence shows it is not as effective for otherwise healthy adults. This doesn’t mean Ginkgo is useless and doesn’t offer any health benefits. But as far as cognitive enhancement goes, don’t expect anything drastic.
Neuriva and Ginkgo Biloba both have the same downside – they both miss a lot of key ingredients. With only 1-2 components in their formula, they fall short behind the leading brain supplements.
However, as far as the ingredients between the two go, a slight advantage goes to Neuriva. But overall, their formula is not as good as the current best-rated brain health supplements.
Neuriva vs Ginkgo Biloba: Side Effects
For healthy individuals, both Neuriva and Ginkgo Biloba are unlikely to cause harmful side effects.
In some cases, Ginkgo can cause some minor side effects such as stomach upset, headache, dizziness, and allergic reaction on the skin.
As far as the Neuriva goes, there are indications that high doses of phosphatidylserine can negatively affect your sleep. However, if taken properly, the doses in Neuriva should be safe.
Neuriva vs Ginkgo Biloba: Customer Reviews
As already said, Neuriva is well-received among customers. On Amazon, it got an average rate of 4.3 out 5, with over 13 thousand global ratings. Which is impressive.
There are many different Ginkgo Biloba brands on the market. They all contain different ratios of active compounds, so it’s hard to speak about the general quality and user reviews. But overall, Ginkgo is well-received among customers as well. This also proves the fact that it is part of the industry for such a long time.
Pricing & Availability
Depending on the version of Neuriva you choose (Neuriva Original or Neuriva Plus), the price goes from $32.99-$44.95. What is the difference between the two? Compared to the Neuriva Original, Neuriva Plus contains twice the dose of Coffee Fruit Extract (200mg) and additional B3, B6, and B12 vitamins.
The price of the Ginkgo Biloba depends on the brand, doses, and amount of servings. On Amazon, you can find Ginkgo Biloba supplements as low as $9.99. However, expect the average price to be around $20 or more.
Final Verdict
Between the two, Neuriva takes the win. However, it is far from the market-leading brain supplements. Its formula with only two ingredients, high price, and questionable efficacy leaves us with the impression that there are better choices available.
On the other hand, Ginkgo is a lot cheaper. If you want something to support your long-term health as you get older, it could be a decent option. But if you’re looking for the absolute best brain supplement to enhance multiple aspects of your cognitive function, it’s best to do more research before buying either of these two.
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