Created by Bulletproof, Brain Octane Softgels is a dietary supplement marketed as a way to improve cognitive function and support healthy digestion. We have reviewed the product to help you decide whether it is an effective option for you or you should look elsewhere for help.
An offering of Bulletproof, Brain Octane Softgels is a relatively new product, which is made with C8 MCTs. These medium-chain triglycerides metabolise efficiently into ketone energy as compared to long-chain fatty acids. By making more energy available, it helps improve your brain function and boost overall health. The company has already introduced their Brain Octane Oil, which contains the same Caprylic acid triglycerides as in Softgels. If you are not a fan of their Oil, you are probably going to find Brain Octane Softgels quite ineffective too.
The company has not highlighted any side effects of using Brain Octane Softgels. By looking at customers’ reviews, you will realise that the product is not free of side effects with some of the most common being stomach ache and loose stools, especially when you take it on an empty stomach. Check out more in our ‘Side Effects’ Section.
There are 60 softgels in every bottle and you can buy it for $16.95 from the official website.
Marketed as a product 18 times stronger than regular coconut oil at delivering Caprylic acid to the brain, it is not what they say it is. The benefits of coconut oil do not come only from its Caprylic acid content, but it is the combination of antimicrobial lipids, capric acid, luric acid, and Caprylic acid that delivers impressive results.
Many people believe that Brain Octane Softgels is a better choice as compared to Brain Octane Oil because they can take it with them wherever they go. However, other people are of the view that Softgels are not a good idea if you want to add the oil to food or liquid to get some mental boost.
It costs you a lot, and does not guarantee results, which is why it is always better to avoid it and look for other ways to improve your health. Regular meditation in the morning costs you nothing and may actually work better than Brain Octane Softgels to boost your concentration and cognitive function – and it has no side effects.
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Brain Octane Oil was never a hit, and you do not have to be a rocket scientist to tell if Brain Octane Softgels, which uses the same quality of Caprylic acid, is going to work or not. The only aspect that actually makes Softgels a better option is that you do not have to pour it the way you do with Brain Octane Oil. It is impossible to get oil out of the bottle without spilling it all over the place. If the difficulty of using the Oil was a deal breaker for you, you may consider switching to Brain Octane Softgels. But even then, do not expect ‘bulletproof’ results!
The biggest reason why this product fails to deliver results is that it is nothing compared to coconut oil. It uses coconut oil to extract medium-chain Caprylic acid, but you cannot find anything else in the product, other than some potentially harmful ingredients that we will talk about in a while. The manufacturer says that the product has antibacterial properties mainly because the presence of Caprylic acid, but unfortunately, there is little scientific evidence that Caprylic acid is effective against bacterial infections in humans.
They also claim that Brain Octane Softgels is a beneficial product for your cardiovascular system, mainly because it contains medium-chain Caprylic acid, but there is not enough scientific research to prove that it actually helps lower blood pressure or cholesterol. Coconut oil is actually a better option, as it contains about 50% lauric acid, which is likely to prevent heart problems like hypertension and high cholesterol. The combination of fatty acids in coconut oil, which is not there in Brain Octane Softgels, is the reason why it proves beneficial for the heart.
Similarly, Brain Octane Softgels is promoted as a product that helps lower weight because it contains medium-chain fatty acids. Again, this is not the case, and coconut oil works better, as it contains both short- and medium-chain fatty acids, which may help to reduce abdominal obesity by improving digestion and regulating the function of endocrine and thyroid system.
The so-called immune-boosting properties of Brain Octane Softgels come from its Caprylic acid content, but you have to understand that coconut oil strengthens immune system because it contains antimicrobial lipids, capric acid, lauric acid, and Caprylic acid, which are missing in Brain Octane Softgels. There is scientific evidence that your body converts lauric acid into monolurin, which improves your immunity against diseases, like influenza, cytomegalovirus, herpes, and even HIV. Therefore, with no availability of lauric acid in Brain Octane Softgels, you cannot really trust its immune-boosting claims.
You have to take 2 softgels a day. There will be 60 softgels in a bottle, so you get a 30-day supply.
Even when compared to Brain Octane Oil, there are certain issues. The biggest issue is that you cannot mix Softgels with foods and beverages, such as salad dressings, smoothies, or other recipes. The oil could be used as cooking oil for recipes that do not require temperature higher than 320F. No such benefit comes with Brain Octane Softgels.
A very important thing to bear in mind is that Brain Octane Softgels contains Bovine Gelatin. The presence of gelatin is another reason why you would be better off using pure coconut oil instead of opting for a supplement that promises to provide you with the benefits of coconut oil. Gelatin can cause problems like heartburn, unpleasant taste, and belching. Because of gelatin, the supplement is not suitable for vegetarians. In fact, you do not know if gelatin used was prepared using safe manufacturing practices. If that is not the case, there is always a risk of contamination of gelatin products with diseased animal tissues.
There is another reason why you may not want to buy Softgels and that is its price. Brain Octane Softgels is nothing different from Brain Octane Oil – you just get the oil in the form of softgels for ease of use. However, if you are fine with the idea of using it in the oil form, there is no reason to spend more money to get softgels. When buying Brain Octane Oil, you have to pay $1.07/ounce, whereas the price is $3.78/ounce for Brain Octane capsules. Therefore, it is not always a sensible thing to put your money on Brain Octane Softgels just to get the same oil in different form. Keep in mind that they do offer a money-back guarantee, but you cannot get a refund if you have used the product and have not seen any results.
Overall, we believe that you may not want to use Brain Octane Oil and Brain Octane Softgels, especially when you can get better results by using pure coconut oil, which is actually going to cost you less than both these dietary supplements. Or, look for a supplement that contains a combination of ingredients and has a scientifically proven formula to improve digestion and cognitive function.
Although breast milk and coconut oil are considered only significant sources of medium-chain fatty acids, Brain Octane Softgels claims to provide you with the same to deliver great results. Here are some of its ‘claimed’ benefits:
The simple answer is no, especially if you start taking it with high hopes of getting benefits like improved digestion and increased cognitive function. Caprylic acid alone cannot produce impressive results, which is why this dietary supplement fails to beat coconut oil that contains lauric acid, capric acid, Caprylic acid, and other short- and medium-chain fatty acids. Why would you want to waste so much money on getting a supplement that may or may not work, especially when there are cheaper and more effective ways to boost cognitive function, like taking pure coconut oil?
One big reason why it is never a good idea to spend so much money to include Brain Octane Softgels in your diet is that you can get the same fatty acids along with other beneficial compounds at a much lower price from pure coconut oil. The only active ingredient in Brain Octane Softgels is 8-carbon Medium-Chain Triglycerides, obtained from refined coconut oil. It also contains bovine gelatin, glycerine, and purified water.
There is no mention of side effects on the official website, but you can pinpoint certain side effects after reading customer reviews and some research about the ingredients found in Brain Octane Softgels.
While its Caprylic acid content is supposed to provide digestive and cognitive support, it may also lead to certain side effects. You may want to avoid it if you already have a liver disease, and that is mainly because your liver has to break down Caprylic acid to make it useable for the body. There is no research about the way Caprylic acid supplements work for pregnant and breastfeeding women, so it is better to avoid during pregnancy.
People with medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency should avoid Caprylic acid supplements because this can increase levels of Caprylic acid in the blood and put them at an increased risk of coma.
Bovine gelatin is another ingredient found in Brain Octane Softgels, which makes it inappropriate for vegetarians. It may also cause problems like bloating, heaviness in the stomach, unpleasant taste, heartburn, and allergy symptoms. It is better to avoid products that contain collagen when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Glycerine is also present in Brain Octane Softgels, but there is no mention of how much or what type. Glycerol is the most common type, but it can cause side effects, such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, bloating, thirst, and diarrhoea.
Caution:
Caprylic acid supplements may interact with blood pressure medication, NSAIDs, warfarin, and herbs and supplements that may lower blood pressure such as coenzyme Q10, andrographis, fish oil, and L-arginine. If you have risk of kidney stones, consult with your physician before using this product.
Most customers say that Brain Octane Softgels is not effective, and they are concerned about its price too.
I am using the softgels as instructed to do. I have used 2 daily for a month now. I really do not see much help.
Waste of money. Probably good for someone, but really did not perform for me as advertised. Same for butter coffee.
They have a money-back guarantee, but you cannot get a refund if you have used it and not seen any benefits. You can return it only when it is unopened.
You can buy it directly from the official website or order it from third-party retailers.
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