Which one is right for you?
Start with the B vitamins
This is the least glamorous shelf in the shop and the one with the most solid ground under it. B vitamins are water-soluble, so the body does not store them in any useful quantity and daily intake actually matters. Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and B12 all contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism, and niacin, B6, B12, riboflavin and pantothenic acid contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Those are EU-authorised claims, not our opinion. Vitamin B Complex carries all eight in one daily tablet, which is the straightforward route. If you eat little or no animal food, B12 on its own is the one to watch, since it is found almost exclusively in animal-derived foods.
Magnesium, for the daytime
Magnesium also contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and Irish soil depletion means plenty of us get less of it than the food tables suggest. MagTech combines three well-absorbed forms - L-threonate, taurate and glycinate - with no oxide, which is the form that barely absorbs at all. Zen Magnesium Gummies are the easier format at 200mg with ashwagandha and L-theanine. Both also sit in our sleep and relaxation range, because magnesium is not a daytime-only mineral, but if it is flatness rather than sleeplessness you are chasing, this is the right shelf for it.
Shilajit
The one people either swear by or have never heard of. Ours is harvested from the Altai ranges in Mongolia rather than the Himalayas, independently assayed by Eurofins, and guaranteed above 85% fulvic acid - our current batch tests at 88.9%. The resin is the traditional format, dissolved in something warm. The capsules are for anyone who has met the taste and would rather not meet it again. There is more on both in our shilajit range, and if you want to know how to tell real from fake before you buy anywhere, we wrote that up here.
NMN, if you are coming at this from the longevity side
NAD+ is the coenzyme your cells use to turn food into usable energy, and levels fall with age. NMN is one of the precursors used to raise it. A placebo-controlled trial in thirty healthy adults found oral NMN raised blood NAD+ levels over six weeks and was well tolerated. Our NMN pairs it with astaxanthin. It sits here and in longevity and anti-aging, and if you are weighing it against NR, we compared the two here.
The mushroom end
Dual-extracted liquids, taken traditionally rather than sold on a claim. Cordyceps Militaris is the one with the long history in endurance and altitude traditions. Chaga is full fruiting body, and one of the highest-antioxidant foods going by ORAC score. Tremella is the least familiar of the three and has been used in Chinese tradition for centuries. All three sit in our functional mushrooms range too.
Not sure where to start?
Vitamin B Complex if you want the authorised, unglamorous, actually-works answer. MagTech if you suspect your magnesium is low, which it probably is. Shilajit if you would rather take one traditional thing and know exactly what it is. NMN if you are already reading about NAD+. Ring us on +353 (0)1 539 0000 or email info@powerful.ie and we will point you the right way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually has an authorised energy claim?
B vitamins and magnesium. Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin C, magnesium, iron and copper all carry EU-authorised claims for normal energy-yielding metabolism, and several of the same ones carry a claim for reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Shilajit, NMN and the mushrooms do not, which is why we describe those by what they are and how they have traditionally been used rather than by what they will do for you.
Is this the same as a pre-workout or an energy drink?
No. Nothing on this shelf is a stimulant. There is no caffeine in any of it. This is about correcting a shortfall or supporting the metabolic machinery, which is slower and less dramatic than a hit of caffeine and works on a different problem.
Magnesium is in your sleep range too. Which is it?
Both, and that is not a fudge. Magnesium carries authorised claims for energy-yielding metabolism and for reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and separately for normal nervous system and psychological function. It appears on both shelves because it is genuinely relevant to both. There is no authorised claim linking magnesium to sleep itself.
How long before I notice anything?
Depends what you are correcting. If your B12 or magnesium intake was genuinely low, people commonly report a difference within a couple of weeks. If it was not low, topping it up further does less. NMN was studied over six weeks. Shilajit is traditionally taken daily and consistently rather than as a one-off.