I may receive a commission for purchases made through product links on this page, but I always stand by my opinions and endorsements!
Trying to pick between 2 supplements?
There’s a ton to consider, including pros, cons, price and more.
So I’ve gone and summarized all of that info so you don’t have to!
No need to thank me 😉
Our Supplement Comparison Series continues with Bacopa Monnieri vs Rhodiola.
Let’s get started.
What is Bacopa Monnieri?
Bacopa Monnieri, aka Brahmi, is a health promoting herb that’s native to India.
In Hindu, the word Brahmi loosely translates to the energy of the universal consciousness, which shows just how highly rated this herb is.
A lot of the benefits that Bacopa Monnieri has to offer are credited to compounds called bacosides.
What is Rhodiola?
Rhodiola (Rhodiola Rosea) is a popular herb that’s been used for its health promoting properties for many years.
In fact, it’s believed that the Vikings used Rhodiola to boost physical and mental endurance.
Rhodiola grows in many countries including France, Iceland, and Sweden, and is still widely used today for its health benefits.
Benefits
Benefits of Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri is rich in antioxidants
A build up of free radicals can lead to oxidative stress, which is thought to play an important role in aging and many serious diseases.
Antioxidants are powerful molecules which can help neutralize free radicals, resulting in less oxidative stress and a healthier, vibrant you.
As mentioned earlier, Bacopa Monnieri contains compounds called bacosides, which have been shown to neutralize free radicals and prevent lipid peroxidation. (Source)
Bacopa Monnieri may help reduce inflammation
Chronic inflammation is linked to various health conditions, including:
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Leaky gut
- Heart disease
So, a great way to reduce your risk of these nasty diseases is to reduce your levels of inflammation.
In test tube studies, Bacopa Monnieri has been shown to inhibit the release of TNF-alpha and IL-6.
These are both pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are molecules that induce an inflammatory response from the immune system.
Bacopa Monnieri may improve ADHD symptoms
ADHD is a mental disorder that’s characterized by symptoms like impulsivity, restfulness, and inability to focus.
Well, according to research, Bacopa Monnieri may help improve ADHD symptoms.
In a study of 120 children with ADHD, those who took a herbal mixture containing Bacopa Monnieri had bigger improvements in attention, cognition, and impulsivity than the placebo group.
In another study, 31 children with ADHD took 225mg of Bacopa Monnieri each day for 6 months.
By the end of the study, 85% of the children had improved attention, 89% of the children had improved self-control, and 93% of the children had improved restfulness.
Bacopa Monnieri may enhance cognitive function
Many people turn towards natural herbs, like Bacopa Monnieri, to boost their mental function.
In one study, 60 elderly subjects took either 300mg of Bacopa Monnieri, 600mg of Bacopa Monnieri, or a placebo every day for 12 weeks.
By the end of the study, the Bacopa Monnieri groups had bigger improvements in memory and attention than the placebo group.
In another study, the subjects took either 300mg of Bacopa Monnieri or a placebo every day for 12 weeks.
After the 12 weeks, the Bacopa Monnieri group had bigger improvements in memory, learning rate and speed of visual information processing than the placebo group.
Benefits of Rhodiola
Rhodiola may help improve exercise performance
According to research, Rhodiola may help boost exercise performance.
In one study, subjects took either 200mg of Rhodiola or a placebo 2 hours before a cycle test.
Those in the Rhodiola group could cycle for 24 seconds longer than the placebo group on average.
In another study, the subjects took either Rhodiola or a placebo before a 6-mile time trial cycle race.
Those in the Rhodiola group finished the race significantly faster than the placebo group.
Rhodiola may help relieve stress
Thanks to its adaptogenic properties, Rhodiola helps your body deal with stress.
In one study, the subjects (who suffered from stress) took 400mg of daily Rhodiola for 4 weeks.
After only 3 days of taking Rhodiola, the subjects reported improved stress-related symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and exhaustion.
Another study looked at the effects of Rhodiola on stress-related burnout.
The subjects who took Rhodiola reported improved stress and depression.
Rhodiola may help improve mental function
Like Bacopa Monnieri, many people use Rhodiola as a nootropic.
In one study, 56 night-shift staff took either 170mg of Rhodiola or a placebo each day for 2 weeks.
According to the results, the Rhodiola takers had bigger improvements in performance and less mental fatigue than the placebo takers.
Another study looked at the effects of Rhodiola on mental performance in students.
After taking Rhodiola for 20 days, the students reported better sleep, more motivation and less mental fatigue.
Rhodiola may help reduce fatigue
Research suggests that Rhodiola may help fight fatigue.
In one study, 100 subjects with fatigue took either 400mg of Rhodiola or a placebo each day for 8 weeks.
After the 8 weeks, the Rhodiola group experienced significant improvements in fatigue, mood, concentration, and quality of life.
In another study, 60 subjects with fatigue took either 576mg of Rhodiola or a placebo each day for 4 weeks.
By the end of the study, the Rhodiola group had significant improvements in fatigue levels compared to the placebo group.
Cost
Bacopa Monnieri Cost
Bacopa Monnieri is typically sold as a powder or in capsules.
Here are some standard prices for these:
- Powder: $7 for 100g
- Capsules: $18 for 100
Rhodiola Cost
Rhodiola is usually sold in capsules.
For a mid-range supplement, you can expect to pay around $18 for 60 capsules.
Side Effects
Bacopa Monnieri Side Effects
Most healthy adults can tolerate Bacopa Monnieri with little trouble.
But the following side effects have been reported in some instances:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach upset
Bacopa Monnieri may interact with certain medications, so please speak to a doctor before using it if you’re taking any medications.
Also, due to a lack of studies on its safety, pregnant women should avoid Bacopa Monnieri.
Rhodiola Side Effects
Like Bacopa Monnieri, Rhodiola is usually safe to supplement with although some people have reported the following side effects:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
The following people SHOULD NOT take Rhodiola:
- Nursing women
- Pregnant women
- People taking MAOIs
Recommendations
My Bacopa Monnieri Recommendation: Banyan Botanicals Bacopa Powder
Overview
Organic? Check.
High-quality? Check.
Trusted brand? Check.
Banyan Botanicals Bacopa Powder is the real deal.
What I like about it
I love that it’s a pure organic powder, so there’s no nasty additives, pesticides, chemicals, or preservatives you need to be cautious of.
Just 100% real Bacopa goodness.
Another good feature is the fact that it’s powdered, so you can chop and change the dosage to meet your needs.
(Some of you will see better results from a lower dose and others from a higher dose.)
Also, just quick glance at the epic reviews shows that this is an effective supplement that many people have used with fab results.
Potential Drawbacks
While I love powdered supplements, some people may find capsules more convenient.
If that’s you, then I’d probably look elsewhere.
Check price and read more reviews of Banyan Botanicals Bacopa Powder on Amazon.
My Rhodiola Recommendation: Gaia Herbs Rhodiola
Overview
Gaia Herbs Rhodiola is the Rolls-Royce of Rhodiola supplements.
It’s highly-absorbable, premium quality with a premium price.
What I like about it
An awesome feature is that Gaia Herbs use liquid phyto-caps for their Rhodiola.
In other words, they convert their Rhodiola into a liquid extract before putting it in capsules.
This makes it much more absorbable for your body, boosting the effectiveness of the supplement.
Also, I’m a massive fan of Gaia Herbs.
They’re one of the few supplement brands who provide full traceability of all their products.
So when you buy a supplement from Gaia Herbs, you can find out exactly how pure it is, how it was grown and where it originated.
Pretty cool, huh?
They also check each of their supplements for microbes, pesticides, and heavy metals to ensure you get a clean supplement that’s free from any nasties.
Potential Drawbacks
Unfortunately, Rolls-Royces don’t come cheap.
And neither do their supplement equivalents.
So if you’re on a budget, then you may want to look elsewhere.
Check price and read more reviews of Gaia Herbs Rhodiola on Amazon.
Bacopa Monnieri vs Rhodiola: The Verdict
My goal for this Bacopa Monnieri vs Rhodiola comparison guide was to help you pick which of the 2 suits you best.
So hopefully, you have a clear idea of which one you’re going to take.
If not?
Then here’s a high-level guide to help you pick:
You might prefer Bacopa Monnieri if:
- You suffer from ADHD
- You want to reduce inflammation
- You want to boost your antioxidant intake
You might prefer Rhodiola if:
- You suffer from stress
- You suffer from fatigue
- You want to improve your physical endurance
Hope this helped!
Leave a Reply