Sundown Naturals Mega Energy Review
Tier ⓘ
Tier 4 · Rank 7
Tier 4 · Emerging. A promising mechanism or animal data, with thin human evidence so far. Rank 7 within Tier 4 for Adrenal Support; 21 of 23 overall. Tiers run from 1, the strongest evidence, to 5. How we grade →
Evidence ⓘ
15 /100
How strongly the evidence says this product works: human studies count most, then real reviews, then our biohacker panel.
Biohacker Mentions
0 of 10
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Study, Trial or Testing Result Summary
Members Only32 human studies · 16 improved
32 human studies16 improved9 no effect4,028 people studied
Guarana, at a full dose here, has mixed results for fatigue and mental energy. One review of cancer patients found it reduced fatigue [1], and a trial in breast cancer patients on chemotherapy found less fatigue without worse sleep or mood [2]. Another review found no benefit, with very low quality evidence [3]. Other trials found no benefit [4][5], and one found worse quality of life [6]. Korean ginseng reaches a studied dose at two servings a day. Some trials found it softened the stress hormone response, lowering epinephrine [7][8] or cortisol [9]. Others found no cortisol change [10][11], and a review called its effects on stress hormones unclear [12]. Royal jelly is present only in a trace amount, far below the dose that eased stress and fatigue in small trials [13][14]. For plant sterols, one small trial in ultra-marathon runners found a gentler stress hormone response after the race, but the dose was unclear [15]. The other ingredients have no human evidence for adrenal support. Animal and cell studies are never counted.
See all 32 studies →Hide the studies
- Pooling seven studies of 427 cancer patients, guarana did not reduce cancer-related fatigue compared with placebo in the three breast cancer trials that could be combined, and the evidence quality was very low.The use of guarana (Paullinia cupana) as a dietary supplement for fatigue in cancer patients: a systematic review with a…
- Pooling five studies of 229 cancer patients, guaraná reduced cancer-related fatigue significantly, though the studies differed a lot from one another and larger trials are needed.Natural supplementation to effectively treat cancer-induced fatigue: evidence of a meta-analysis on the use of guaraná.
- A review of eight studies of 932 women with breast cancer found guarana extract was among the supplements that improved fatigue.Dietary supplements and fatigue in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review.
- A review of 22 studies in women with breast cancer found some data that guarana may improve fatigue, but overall evidence was inconclusive.The impact of complementary and alternative medicines on cancer symptoms, treatment side effects, quality of life, and s…
- A review of 52 randomized trials of plant supplements, including Korean ginseng, found their effects on stress hormones such as cortisol unclear, with only ashwagandha showing a consistent morning cortisol-lowering effect.Modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by plants and phytonutrients: a systematic review of human t…
- In 129 healthy young adults, a single dose of a vitamin, mineral and guaraná drink improved speed and accuracy on an attention task and reduced mental fatigue over an hour compared with placebo.Improved cognitive performance and mental fatigue following a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement with added guaraná (P…
- In 93 postmenopausal women given fermented red ginseng or placebo for 2 weeks, the effect on depression worked through cholesterol-related factors rather than through stress hormones such as cortisol.The effect of fermented red ginseng on depression is mediated by lipids.
- In 87 stressed healthy men who completed 8 weeks, Korean Red Ginseng limited the drop in epinephrine versus placebo, and among those whose stress rose it limited the increase in cortisol.The effects of Korean Red Ginseng on stress-related neurotransmitters and gene expression: A randomized, double-blind, p…
- In 75 breast cancer patients on chemotherapy, guarana 50 mg twice daily for 21 days improved fatigue scores compared with placebo without worsening sleep, anxiety or depression.Guarana (Paullinia cupana) improves fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy.
- In 70 children with attention and hyperactivity symptoms, Korean red ginseng extract 2 g daily for 8 weeks improved symptom scores but did not significantly change salivary cortisol or DHEA.Effects of Korean red ginseng extract on behavior in children with symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity…
- In 70 hospitalized COVID-19 patients given a barley-based remedy plus usual care for 5 days, blood oxygen and fatigue improved versus usual care alone, but cough, inflammation (CRP) and lymphocyte count did not change; adrenal function was not measured.Efficacy of the barley-based remedy, a Persian medicine formula, in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalized pat…
- In 64 adults after an ischemic stroke, 1,000 mg of royal jelly daily for 12 weeks improved cognition, stress and appetite compared with placebo, but fatigue, depression and anxiety did not clearly improve.Effects of the royal jelly consumption on post-stroke complications in patients with ischemic stroke: results of a rando…
- In 63 highly stressed people, 6 weeks of Korean Red Ginseng lowered epinephrine levels and improved performance on an attention test compared with placebo.Effect of Korean Red Ginseng in individuals exposed to high stress levels: a 6-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-c…
- In 62 men with metabolic syndrome, red ginseng 3 g daily for 4 weeks lowered serum cortisol and improved mitochondrial function and testosterone compared with placebo.Effects of ginseng on peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA copy number and hormones in men with metabolic syndrome: A rand…
- In 60 head and neck cancer patients having chemoradiotherapy, guarana 50 mg twice daily was associated with worse quality of life after the second cycle than placebo, and the authors concluded it was not beneficial.Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomized Study of a Dry Guarana Extract in Patients with Head and Neck Tumors Underg…
- In 52 cancer patients, 5 mL of processed honey with royal jelly twice daily for 4 weeks reduced fatigue more than pure honey.Effect of Processed Honey and Royal Jelly on Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.
- In 50 people with chronic fatigue, Korean red ginseng 3 g daily for 6 weeks did not differ from placebo in fatigue or secondary measures including salivary cortisol.Efficacy of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) for middle-aged and moderate level of chronic fatigue patients: A randomi…
- In 46 healthy middle-aged Japanese adults, 960 mg of Korean Red Ginseng extract for 3 weeks reduced fatigue scores more than placebo, but blood cortisol and lactic acid did not differ between groups.Anti-fatigue effects of Korean Red Ginseng extract in healthy Japanese adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-contr…
- In 40 patients with solid tumors on chemotherapy, 75 mg a day of purified guarana extract improved or stabilized fatigue in 36 of 40 over 3 weeks, but in the following 3 weeks of randomized comparison (33 patients) there was no significant difference from placebo.Purified dry extract of Paullinia cupana (guaraná) (PC-18) for chemotherapy-related fatigue in patients with solid tumor…
- In 40 active men, a single dose of a vitamin, mineral and guaraná complex before a 30-minute run slightly reduced perceived exertion and improved some memory measures versus placebo, with no effect on mood or fuel use.The Effects of Supplementation with a Vitamin and Mineral Complex with Guaraná Prior to Fasted Exercise on Affect, Exert…
- In 36 women with breast cancer having radiation therapy, 75 mg of guarana a day did not reduce fatigue or depression more than placebo in a crossover trial.Effectiveness of guaraná (Paullinia cupana) for postradiation fatigue and depression: results of a pilot double-blind ra…
- In 33 kidney cancer patients starting targeted drug therapy, royal jelly led to less fatigue and loss of appetite than placebo and longer periods without dose cuts or stopping.Oral Intake of Royal Jelly Has Protective Effects Against Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Induced Toxicity in Patients with Re…
- In 33 kidney cancer patients, royal jelly reduced appetite loss and fatigue, shrank tumors more than placebo and lowered inflammation-related blood factors.Oral intake of royal jelly improves anti-cancer effects and suppresses adverse events of molecular targeted therapy by r…
- In 33 kidney cancer patients on targeted drugs, royal jelly reduced drug-induced appetite loss and fatigue compared with placebo, alongside changes in inflammation-related blood factors.Mechanisms Underlying the Inhibition of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Induced Anorexia and Fatigue by Royal Jelly in Renal C…
- In 20 people given a single 500 mg dose of guarana, thinking performance, mood and heart rate variability were not consistently better than with placebo or 100 mg of caffeine.Effects of Acute Guarana (Paullinia cupana) Ingestion on Mental Performance and Vagal Modulation Compared to a Low Dose …
- In 19 adults, 14 days of fermented ginseng (960 mg high dose or 160 mg low dose) lowered the cortisol response to intense resistance exercise in a dose-dependent way, raised antioxidant activity, and reduced muscle damage at the high dose.The Effects of a Korean Ginseng, GINST15, on Hypo-Pituitary-Adrenal and Oxidative Activity Induced by Intense Work Stres…
- In 17 ultra-marathon runners (9 active, 8 placebo), plant sterol capsules led to smaller rises in white blood cells and neutrophils and a significantly lower cortisol to DHEA sulfate ratio after the race than placebo, suggesting less stress-related immune suppression.The effects of B-sitosterol (BSS) and B-sitosterol glucoside (BSSG) mixture on selected immune parameters of marathon ru…
- In two trials of women with early breast cancer and chemotherapy-related fatigue, purified guarana extract was no better than placebo for fatigue, possibly because placebo capsules contained magnesium silicate.Purified Dry Paullinia cupana (PC-18) Extract for Chemotherapy-Induced Fatigue: Results of Two Double-Blind Randomized C…
- In long COVID patients, a combination supplement containing royal jelly taken for two months lowered inflammation markers and fatigue compared with a placebo period.Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Fatigue Effects of an Oral Food Supplement in Long COVID Patients.
- In 358 people aged 50 to 85 given ginseng-rhizome saponin 150 mg daily for two months, the authors reported better adrenal cortex function, memory and immunity, while 123 people on placebo showed no change.[Antisenility effect of ginseng-rhizome saponin].
- In endurance athletes, 6 weeks of Panax ginseng extract (equal to 2 g of dried root daily) did not significantly change cortisol, testosterone, their ratio, or immune cell counts.The effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng on steroidal hormone indices of stress and lymphocyte subset…
- In a survey of 767 breast cancer survivors, alfalfa users were less likely to report sleep interruption, but the study did not measure adrenal function or adrenal symptoms, so it gives no evidence for adrenal support.Estrogenic botanical supplements, health-related quality of life, fatigue, and hormone-related symptoms in breast cancer…
Review Totals and Summary
Members OnlyWhat buyers say
Extensive customer reviews and qualitative feedback are currently being aggregated for this product. Check back soon for a detailed sentiment analysis.
Biohacker Summary
Members Only0 of 10 recommend it
0 of 10 biohackers on our panel recommend it
Panax ginseng, the main ingredient, drew mixed views from the panel: three of the nine who spoke on it recommend it, two warn, and the rest stay neutral. Those who recommend it cite steadier daytime energy, more nitric oxide, exercise endurance and thinking, stress support, hangover relief with red ginseng, possible heart and kidney benefits, and a possible testosterone boost. Two panelists warn to stop ginseng before surgery, one saying at least a week ahead, because it can thin the blood. The neutral voices mention only small effects on blood sugar, menopause symptoms, and bone markers, with one noting that the dose is not settled and another that the bone finding comes from a single study using 3 grams a day. One panelist pairs it with ashwagandha for stress and anxiety, and parsley is a smaller ingredient in this product that several panelists eat in smoothies or at breakfast.
See all 9 biohackers →Hide the biohackers
Ben Greenfield · Panax Ginseng · warns
- Advises patients to stop ginseng before surgery because it can act as a med or antiplatelet agent.
- Uses Beekeepers Naturals bee pollen almost every day, putting it on smoothies, salads, and casseroles, and even taking a spoonful before bed to curb appetite. He notes it's full of amino acids and boosts the immune system, providing clean energy.
- States that American ginseng helps stabilize daytime energy, reducing late-day stress rebound, influencing biological systems tied to sleep quality.
- Highly recommends bee pollen as a source of nutrients, acknowledging that its quality can be compromised in a post-glyphosate world.
- Tops his raw liver smoothie with bee pollen.
- Has a bee aviary for royal jelly as part of his biohacked home for optimal health.
- Uses American ginseng, as part of IM8 Health, to support balanced energy the next day, which contributes to better sleep.
- Usually adds bee pollen as a topping to his post-training smoothie.
- Notes that some herbal books misinterpret biblical verses to suggest consuming parsley for healing.
- Tops his overnight oats with bee pollen for breakfast.
- Tops his post-workout smoothie with bee pollen.
- Recommends a brain-boosting shot from Beekeepers Naturals that contains Ginkgo biloba, Bacopa monnieri, propolis, and royal jelly extract, specifically for memory.
- Takes HRG80 Red Ginseng chewable tablets on busy days for healthy energy, noting that a study showed over 60% energy increase for people with significant functional drops.
- Ben Greenfield includes red ginseng root in his Vitaboom Heart Health Stack.
Dr. Eric Berg · Panax Ginseng · recommends
- Recommends Panax Ginseng to increase nitric oxide, based on clinical research.
- Recommends cooking with parsley as a habit that slows aging.
- Recommends parsley as an herb that can increase the contraction of the gallbladder.
- Panax ginseng is also helpful for exercise endurance and cognitive function, but ashwagandha is better at dealing with stress-related anxiety, especially when dealing with a chronic problem.
- Recommends parsley as a food that can increase NAD and should be part of a healthy diet for people over 50.
- Mentions parsley as a food that can be consumed, though he personally doesn't like it and might have it as a spice.
- Recommends parsley as the best source of Apigenin.
- Suggests using wheat grass juice powder as a source of chlorophyll, mixed in water and consumed a few times a day on an empty stomach, to help heal the esophagus from silent reflux.
- Recommends Panax ginseng as one of the best natural alternatives to a med for weight loss.
- Recommends Panax Ginseng as one of four herbs that can create effects similar to GLP-1 and GIP agonists for blood sugar control, advising to pick one and try it.
- Recommends Panax ginseng as one of the best natural remedies for weight loss.
- Notes that ginseng, when combined with nattokinase in animal studies, was shown to shrink plaquing in the aorta.
- Recommends local bee pollen as the number one remedy for allergies, suggesting a gradual exposure approach to build tolerance, starting with two or three small grains per day and increasing over time.
- Lists parsley as a food high in glutamine.
Thomas DeLauer · Panax Ginseng · neutral
- Mentions ginseng as an herb that helps absorb sugar out of the bloodstream, linking to a video for more information.
- Recommends royal jelly for improving blood pressure and lipid profiles, highlighting its consistent benefits across trials.
- Recommends parsley for kidney health due to its mild a med properties.
- Recommends bee pollen as a bonus add-on, highlighting its B vitamins, particularly thiamine, which are cofactors for carbohydrate metabolism and can improve efficiency.
- Recommends consuming 2 tablespoons of fresh flat-leaf parsley with a fat-containing meal as a way to get approximately 30 mg of apigenin for anti-aging and longevity benefits.
- Recommends parsley for the kidneys to increase urine production.
- Recommends consuming 2 tablespoons of fresh flat-leaf parsley with a fat-containing meal, closer to the end of the day, to block fat cell formation, inhibit the conversion of testosterone to unhealthy estrogen, and for neuroprotection and longevity.
- Draws comparisons between ginseng and kava, noting that ginseng is a well-known plant medicine and root that has also been misunderstood, and that wars have been fought over land where ginseng grows.
- Recommends bee pollen for its surprising impact on inflammation and insulin resistance, noting that it's an overlooked, almost calorie-free thing.
- Has been using Bee Pollen from Beekeepers Naturals for 6-8 months, finding it to be an awesome way to boost energy after a fast or when low in calories, providing B vitamins and protein.
- Recommends bee pollen as a super good source of B vitamins.
- Highly recommends bee pollen, specifically from Beekeeper's Naturals, for energy, stating that he uses it after fasting to get a big lift of energy without many calories or carbs.
- Recommends ginseng as an adaptogen to balance cortisol levels and help with stress eating, especially when cortisol is heightened at inopportune times during a fast.
- Recommends bee pollen for longer fasts, suggesting it can act as a 'B-pollen extender' to help get through the last few hours or extend the fast, due to its concentrated nutrition and anti-inflammatory effects.
Dr. Mark Hyman · Panax Ginseng · warns
- Recommends avoiding ginseng for at least a week before surgery because it can thin the blood.
- Dr. Mark Hyman designed 'The World's Smartest Smoothie' using organic ingredients, including Organic Parsley.
- Recommends red ginseng, stating it helps acetaldehyde metabolism and can reduce hangover symptoms when taken soon after drinking.
- Suggests adaptogens like rhodiola, ashwagandha, ginseng, and Siberian ginseng can be helpful for actively managing stress.
- Suggests trying vegetable juices using cilantro, celery, ginger, parsley, beets (not too many), and cucumbers, noting that herbs can also be helpful for mobilizing toxins.
- Recommends adaptogens like Ginseng if one has a lot of stress.
- Mentions ginseng as one of many phytochemicals that influence the AMPK pathway and have similar benefits to a med.
- Recommends parsley as a super detoxifying food.
- Mentions ginseng as an herb that contains compounds like quercetin that can activate AMPK and drive metabolic pathways regulating aging.
- Recommends herbs like ginseng and Siberian ginseng to help support adrenal response and make one more stress resilient.
- Says they have been absolutely loving Beekeeper's Natural B.Fueled Bee Pollen.
- Lists Asian ginseng as one of the top adaptogens they use for stress resilience.
- Mentions Asian ginseng as a top adaptogen that is supportive to the adrenal glands and helps with stress resilience.
- States that ginseng can activate AMPK, which drives metabolic pathways regulating aging.
Siim Land · Panax Ginseng · recommends
- States that clinical trials suggest ginseng may have cardiovascular and kidney health benefits, placing it in the 'good tier'.
- Recommends Ginseng, citing clinical trials that suggest it may offer cardiovascular and kidney health benefits.
- Discusses Ginseng as a supplement.
- Mentions that parsley extract is used in a stack to address enzymes involved in NAD metabolism, aiming to increase the NAD pool.
- Mentions Ginseng as an herbal supplement that has been shown to increase testosterone, though not as effectively as TRT.
- Recommends parsley for its anti-glycative effects, especially when cooking at high temperatures.
- States that natural compounds like alfalfa can enhance skin softness and moisture.
- States that their product contains parsley powder because it has high amounts of apigenin, which inhibits CD38 and boosts NAD levels.
- Recommends parsley as one of the best herbs to incorporate.
- Uses parsley when frying foods for its anti-glycation, CD38 inhibition, autophagy regulation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.
- Mentions parsley as something that will have similar anti-inflammatory compounds and higher content of polyphenols that regulate pathways for clearing senescent cells.
- States that ginseng has been found to raise testosterone levels in studies, albeit with a minor effect, and is also good for libido.
- Shifted his focus to Korean ginseng for testosterone optimization after stopping ashwagandha.
- Recommends ginseng as a spice that can raise metabolic rate and body temperature, indirectly boosting heat shock proteins.
Dave Asprey · Panax Ginseng · recommends
- Suggests trying Panax ginseng as an herbal step to optimize testosterone levels.
- Uses alfalfa in her plant stem cell retinol alternative product.
- Created a product with buchi oil, alfalfa, and acai, which was tested against traditional retinol, with 85% of users reporting better results from her product.
- Dave Asprey warns that some brands intentionally include caffeine or guarana extract in their products to make people feel an immediate effect, which doesn't necessarily mean the product is working.
- Mentions that parsley powder contains apigenin, which is used as a CD38 inhibitor, but notes that taking pure apigenin doesn't work like that.
- Notes that ginseng is used in their products and has faced bureaucratic hurdles for approval, despite its long history of use.
- Mentions that he takes American ginseng.
- Mentions that ginseng is added to Flying Embers products during fermentation and acts as an adaptogen to help turn stress responses on and off more effectively.
- Dave Asprey's formulation uses parsley in its natural form because it is one of the highest natural sources of apigenin, which helps boost NAD levels.
- Mentions that he takes American ginseng.
Andrew Huberman · Panax Ginseng · neutral
- Notes that ginseng has been shown to improve L cell differentiation, but the dose has not been settled.
- Lists Ginseng as a supplement.
- States that Panax ginseng can have slight effects of reducing blood glucose.
- States that Panax ginseng has been shown to decrease some menopause symptoms, primarily related to libido, though other effects were unreliable.
- Mentions Ginseng in a list of ingredients.
- He mentions parsley as a vegetable source of glutamine.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick · Panax Ginseng · neutral
- Mentions one study where 3 grams of ginseng per day increased osteocalcin, suggesting it affects bone resorption and formation, but notes it's only one study.
- Dr. Patrick includes eight pieces of parsley in her smoothie, highlighting its luteolin and apigenin content for decreasing inflammation and supporting brain health.
- Lists parsley as a major food source rich in apigenin.
- Dr. Rhonda Patrick includes 8 pieces of parsley in her smoothie, highlighting its luteolin and apigenin content for decreasing inflammation, slowing cognitive decline, and killing cancer cells.
Bryan Johnson · Parsley · uses
- Uses parsley as part of their breakfast.
- Eats parsley for breakfast.
RAL Summary
Members OnlyTier 4 for Adrenal Support
Korean ginseng has some human support for a softer stress hormone response, but the trials disagree [7][11]. There are no counted reviews, so the evidence stays emerging.
Take 2 servings a day (4 tablets) to match the dose that worked in the studies.
- Emerging: not enough evidence to rank higher yet.
Where the evidence disagrees: 9 of the 32 human studies found no effect.
More Details
Members OnlyBody systems · Combine with · Possible side effects
Body systems: Endocrine system, Nervous system
Combine with: Combine with a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Possible side effects: No major side effects were reported in the studies, though one trial of guarana in head and neck cancer patients found worse quality of life than placebo.
Supplement Facts
Guarana Extract 225 mg · Kola Nut Extract 200 mg · Royal Jelly 65 mg
Supplement Facts
Serving Size 2 Tablet(s)
Servings Per Container 30
Amount Per Serving% Daily Value
| Sodium | 5 mg | |
| Guarana Extract | 225 mg | † |
| Kola Nut Extract | 200 mg | † |
| Royal Jelly | 65 mg | † |
| Korean Ginseng extract | 64 mg | † |
| Phytosterols Concentrate | 27 mg | † |
| Gotu Kola Extract | 22 mg | † |
| Octacosanol | 16 mg | † |
| Alfalfa | 16 mg | † |
| Barley Grass | 16 mg | † |
| Bee Pollen | 16 mg | † |
| Inosine Phosphate | 16 mg | † |
| Parsley | 16 mg | † |
| Suma | 16 mg | † |
| Wheat Grass | 16 mg | † |
† Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Whey, Dicalcium Phosphate, Vegetable Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate.
Directions: DIRECTIONS: FOR ADULTS, TAKE TWO (2) TABLETS UP TO FOUR TIMES A DAY. As a reminder, discuss the supplements and medications you take with your health care providers.
Barcode (UPC) 030768611545 · Label source: NIH label database · Report a label change
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Graded November 14, 2026 by the Reverse Age Lab evidence engine, from human studies, real reviews and our biohacker panel. How we grade. Is this medical advice? No. Rala organizes the published evidence; go over any change with your doctor, especially if you take meds.
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