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Nello Supercalm is a powdered drink mix that claims to reduce stress, ease anxiety, and boost cognitive function. But how well does it really work? Let’s take a closer look at its ingredients and see if the science backs up these claims.
Ingredients of Nello Supercalm
Each serving of Nello Supercalm is packaged as a convenient daily dose. We’ll break down what’s inside, the amounts used, and whether there’s any real evidence that these ingredients can help with stress and anxiety.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is known for supporting overall health, but its role in managing anxiety is less clear.
In one study, people with generalized anxiety disorder who took 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly, along with their regular medication, saw slight improvements in their anxiety compared to those who only took medication. Another study found that people who were deficient in vitamin D experienced reduced anxiety when their levels were replenished, but there was no improvement in their depression symptoms.
So, while high doses of Vitamin D or supplementation for those who are deficient may provide mild relief from anxiety, the regular doses in Nello Supercalm are unlikely to make a noticeable difference unless you already have low levels.
Magnesium
Magnesium is widely used to manage stress, anxiety, and even improve sleep quality. It works by calming the body’s stress response and supporting neurotransmitters like GABA, which promote relaxation.
However, magnesium’s effectiveness largely depends on whether you’re deficient. Studies show that it can significantly help with anxiety, stress, and sleep issues if your magnesium levels are low. For healthy individuals who aren’t deficient, the research is less convincing, often showing weaker or inconsistent results.
What’s interesting is that stress and anxiety can actually cause magnesium levels to drop, which might explain why supplementing with magnesium seems to help some people. But it’s important to remember that magnesium isn’t a quick fix—it won’t act like a sedative or instantly calm you down. If you’re under high stress and have a magnesium deficiency, restoring those levels could help relieve some of your symptoms over time.
L-Theanine
L-theanine, a compound found in green tea, is well-known for its calming properties. Research suggests that taking 200-400 mg of L-theanine daily can help reduce stress and anxiety, especially in stressful situations.
One study even discovered that L-theanine may prevent spikes in blood pressure caused by psychological stress. Additionally, other research shows it can improve cognitive functions, making you feel more alert and focused, particularly in healthy adults. L-theanine is often studied together with caffeine for its brain-boosting benefits, but its effects are typically milder compared to caffeine alone.
If you’re looking for a natural way to stay calm and focused, L-theanine could be a helpful addition to your routine.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is one of the most well-researched herbs when it comes to managing stress and anxiety. Numerous studies show that taking 300-600 mg per day can significantly reduce stress levels, especially when paired with healthy lifestyle changes like dietary improvements and relaxation techniques such as deep breathing.
For those already on SSRIs (a common medication for anxiety), adding ashwagandha has been shown to enhance symptom relief. One of its standout benefits is its ability to lower cortisol, a stress hormone, which means it may help not only with psychological stress but also with hormonal balance. Interestingly, some research also suggests that ashwagandha might help prevent stress-related weight gain—people taking it regularly reported less weight gain than those taking a placebo.
This makes ashwagandha a versatile supplement for stress relief. It’s even recommended in clinical guidelines, such as those from the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry and the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments, as a potential treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Ashwagandha might also support better sleep, particularly for people dealing with insomnia. A small meta-analysis found that using ashwagandha for 6-12 weeks improved sleep quality, especially in older adults who also reported feeling better overall with regular use.
However, not all research is entirely positive. Some studies, particularly those conducted outside of India and Iran, found little to no effect. For example, a study on young adults using a specific extract called NooGandha showed no significant improvement in anxiety, stress, or depression compared to a placebo. Similarly, another study revealed that ashwagandha did not reduce perceived stress more than a placebo, especially in college students.
So, what does this all mean? Most studies lean toward ashwagandha being effective for stress, but there’s a pattern: research in India and Iran shows stronger results, while studies in the U.S. and Australia show weaker or no effects. This difference might come down to various factors, like traditional diets in those regions that could complement the herb better, differences in the quality of ashwagandha, or even genetic variations that influence how well people respond to it. Keeping these factors in mind is important when considering ashwagandha for stress relief.
Is Nello Supercalm Effective?
Overall, there’s good reason to believe that Nello Supercalm can help manage stress and anxiety. Ashwagandha, the star ingredient, has the strongest evidence backing its effectiveness, though it may work better for those in certain regions like India and the Middle East. L-theanine also offers benefits, not only for easing stress but also for boosting cognitive function. However, the effects of Vitamin D and magnesium are likely to be more noticeable only if you’re deficient in these nutrients.
Overall rating
Rating Nello Supercalm by effectiveness for improving anxiety or stress, I’m giving it a B. There is moderate evidence that it can help, particularly for people in India or the Middle East.
Rating it by cost, I’m giving it a C. It can be easily replicated at a cheaper cost.
Rating it for safety, I’m giving it a B. The ingredients and doses used are unlikely to be of much cause for concern.
Overall rating, I’m giving a B. If you’re looking for a calming drink to ease anxiety or stress, it might be a decent option, though it is a bit pricey in my opinion.
Top alternatives to Nello Supercalm
- Ashwagandha – 1 cap / day
- L-Theanine – 2 to 4 lozenge / day
- Magnesium Citrate – 1 to 4 caps / day
- Magnesium Glycinate – 1 to 4 caps / day
- Magnesium Malate – 2 to 6 caps / day
- Magnesium Threonate – 3 to 6 caps / day
- Vitamin D (caps) – 1 to 2 caps / day
- Vitamin D (drops) – 1 to 2 drops / day
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Citations
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Boyle NB, Lawton C, Dye L. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress-A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2017;9(5):429. Published 2017 Apr 26. doi:10.3390/nu9050429
Camfield DA, Stough C, Farrimond J, Scholey AB. Acute effects of tea constituents L-theanine, caffeine, and epigallocatechin gallate on cognitive function and mood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2014;72(8):507-522. doi:10.1111/nure.12120
Cuciureanu MD, Vink R. Magnesium and stress. In: Vink R, Nechifor M, eds. Magnesium in the Central Nervous System. Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2011.
Eid A, Khoja S, AlGhamdi S, et al. Vitamin D supplementation ameliorates severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Metab Brain Dis. 2019;34(6):1781-1786. doi:10.1007/s11011-019-00486-1
Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2362. Published 2019 Oct 3. doi:10.3390/nu11102362
Pickering G, Mazur A, Trousselard M, et al. Magnesium Status and Stress: The Vicious Circle Concept Revisited. Nutrients. 2020;12(12):3672. Published 2020 Nov 28. doi:10.3390/nu12123672
Rawji A, Peltier MR, Mourtzanakis K, et al. Examining the Effects of Supplemental Magnesium on Self-Reported Anxiety and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2024;16(4):e59317. Published 2024 Apr 29. doi:10.7759/cureus.59317
Williams JL, Everett JM, D’Cunha NM, et al. The Effects of Green Tea Amino Acid L-Theanine Consumption on the Ability to Manage Stress and Anxiety Levels: a Systematic Review. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2020;75(1):12-23. doi:10.1007/s11130-019-00771-5
Yoto A, Motoki M, Murao S, Yokogoshi H. Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31(1):28. Published 2012 Oct 29. doi:10.1186/1880-6805-31-28
Zhu C, Zhang Y, Wang T, et al. Vitamin D supplementation improves anxiety but not depression symptoms in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Brain Behav. 2020;10(11):e01760. doi:10.1002/brb3.1760
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