Why Traditional Supplements Suck & How Adaptogens Build Resilient Energy

We live in a world where chronic stress isn’t optional; it’s ambient. In corporate jargon, “chronic unease” is a constant reality for pretty much all of us. Between busy days and sleepless nights, parents, students, professionals — literally everyone is looking for a solution to the imbalances caused by ever-present stress. But energy drinks, sedatives, and most supplements don’t help, let alone even do what they say. Luckily, nature’s already provided what we need to bio-hack ourselves back into balance; we just need to look at energy and stress from a new lens — one of resilience.

Recently, MTE Co-Founder Jeff Boyd appeared on "The Human Upgrade Podcast" with host Dave Asprey, a heavyweight in the world of biohacking, to discuss the science behind adaptogens and nootropics in an episode titled “Why 85% of Supplements DON’T Work”. They covered problems like why supplements fail, faulty formulations, and what actually works to regulate your nervous system, support cell function, and promote balanced mood and energy:

Why Most Supplements Are Really Just Snake Oil

The simple truth about traditional energy supplements is they’re all smoke and mirrors. When you rely on stimulants to energize you, you’re forcing artificial energy-producing chemical activity while stifling the natural calming chemical activity that’s meant to balance it. The only thing stimulants stimulate is a stress response. And it’s the other side of the same coin with sedatives; you’re unbalancing those up and down chemical regulators even more than they already are, which is why you sleep, sure — but you don’t wake up easily or feeling well-rested.

As Jeff explains in the episode, modern life constantly throws us biological curveballs. Long work days, overstimulation, blue light, processed food — we’re chronically poked with things that throw us off kilter, ruin our sleep, hurt our ability to emotionally regulate, and weaken our immune system. Does a caffeinated energy supplement help any of that? No. It’s not a sustainable solution. As Jeff sees it, wellness drinks and energy drink powders shouldn’t be about boosting perceived energy levels, but about boosting resilience to our overdriven reality.

Rediscovering Adaptogens: Cold War Research in Russia

This is where adaptogens come in, which are a rare class of bioactive plants believed to fortify our mind and body against environmental stress. But adaptogens aren’t downers. As Dave explains it, adaptogens have been historically used to promote balance — to adapt to stress in a productive way. In fact, for millennia adaptogens like ashwagandha have been used for immune function, strength and endurance, and fertility, too. 

It was in the 20th century that modern clinical research met ancient pharmacology. During the Cold War, Russian scientists were looking for performance enhancers for their soldiers. They researched adaptogens and nootropics like rhodiola rosea and eleuthero, exploring a tool that would give soldiers a leg up on the battlefield cognitively and physically. Because energy isn’t just physical — it’s emotional, mental, and social, too.

Biohacking Better Vibes: How Adaptogens Works in the Body

Part of the big deal with adaptogens and nootropics for energy and stress is that, with the right formulation, you can actually feel a clean wellness supplement working, which is something chemical and sugar-laden supplements can’t say. And that’s because the bioactive compounds in these nature-sourced ingredients are the definition of functional: 

• Adaptogens have a broad range of effects, which is likely a result of their ability to modulate and protect function in the HPA axis, which controls everything from stress response to mood, memory, and muscle recovery.
• Nootropics often have more targeted effects, likely a result of their ability to stimulate certain neurochemical function and production of signalers involved in mood, focus, learning, energy, and stamina.

A formulation centered around bioactivity related to stress, energy, mood, and recovery can transform the daily grind with a supplement that actually works! Jeff is the co-founder of MTE, a feel-good drink formulated for vitality without the stimulants, sedatives, sugars, or other crap. This carefully (read: obsessively) researched adaptogenic herb blend is paired with a nootropic stack and rounded out with superfoods for nutrition that spurs the bioactivity of the adaptogens and nootropics.

MTE contains compounds that act on:

• The HPA axis to modulate cortisol and stress response
• Neurotransmitters like dopamine and GABA to boost cognition and calm
• Protein-production processes to protect mitochondrial function
• Blood flow and oxygenation to enhance performance and energy levels
• Antioxidant activity and free-radical scavenging to boost immunity and cognition

As Dave points out, if you’re just blocking cortisol activity, that’s not an adaptogen — it’s a sedative. Adaptogens teach your body to effectively respond to stress — bouncing between stress and recovery efficiently — without the intervention of stimulants or sedatives. This plays a role at the gym, in the office, and at home. Too much stress hinders adaptation, but the right amount, and the tools to respond to it, can drive strength, growth, and focus.

Another common misconception is that adaptogens will blunt your stress response so much that it will hurt fitness gains. But as Dave explained, adaptogens help adaptation — the stress from working out is still there, but the recovery is more effective, and your ability to push yourself without burnout is optimized. It’s about intensity and recovery, not length of time muscles are stressed — adaptogens support both.

Nervous System Regulation & Benefits for Parents

Today’s hyperstimulating environments don’t just leave adults on edge; kids feel it, too. Social media adds awareness and pressures that, frankly, kids don’t need and have trouble processing. Any parent knows that a bunch of exhausted people living in the same house results in feedback loops of negative energy. Your kids are on edge, and you’re on edge; they’re ready to snap and so are you. Not a great vibe.

You’re not hiding your stress: kids can feel it, just like you can feel theirs in every silly outburst and apathetic eye roll. So retraining how your family views energy, mood, and health should be a household activity. At Jeff’s house, they dim the lights in the evenings, have regular conversations about nervous system health, and don’t allow phones at school. 

As both men put it, sleep is the ultimate biohack. It repairs the brain, rebuilds energy reserves, and regulates hormones. Removing sleep disruptors like blue light, bright light, and emotional stress can revamp your sleep health. That will spark the energy you need to revamp everything else. It sounds old-fashioned to force kids off the phone or disallow them at school, and Jeff admits that he does get those eye rolls, but eventually the kids are on board because they see the benefits. 

Just the same, they help him be a better parent as well. And MTE is the perfect companion for the healthy habits he’s presenting to his kids, because it helps him supplement patience, focus, and adaptability, which he can pass on to the kids through example. Suddenly, that negative feedback loop of overstimulated fatigue and bad moods turns into good vibes — happier kids and parents that have the resources to show up for them in a real way.

Bioactivity, Productivity, & Peace: Real Energy is Resilience

There is a noisy sea of supplements on the market, most of which do almost nothing, some of which are straight up fake, and others that mean well but have a formula that fails to truly deliver the bioactivity they claim to. With MTE, Jeff wanted people to feel it on day one, which is why he chose the specific adaptogens and nootropics that provide an immediately-in-the-zone boost while promoting long-term wellness when taken daily. 

That’s the key with real bioactivity: you can actually feel it. MTE’s energy is about resilience. You get a noticeable lift in mood, energy, and focus in the moment, with long-term support for those things plus recovery, sleep, immunity, gut health, and more. Small changes lead to big changes.

Somehow we’ve gotten to this place where productivity determines our worth, and “productivity” just means output, product, money. But being productive isn’t about hustling the most; it’s about continuing to show up for the people and priorities that matter the most. For that, you’ve got to take care of yourself, biologically — keeping the nervous system regulated unlocks the door to your best self. But it takes healthy habits and the right tools:

• Use a daily adaptogen stack with nootropics for energy and focus to support performance, mood, and resilience.
• Prioritize quality sleep by controlling the sleep environment and having a consistent wind-down routine.
• Regulate your nervous system daily with a healthy exercise routine and balanced nutrition.
• Teach your kids by example — you’ll get less eye rolls than a lecture.

Energy isn’t about output and burnout; it’s about balance and resilience. Adaptogens can help you deal with the stresses of daily life; nootropics can help you stay sharp through it; superfoods give your cells the nourishment they need to keep going without breaking down. An endless ping-pong of stimulants and sedatives isn’t going to help you fully show up for your life, but developing a biohacking toolkit with a daily wellness supplement that supports your biology will. 

Want to get even more in-depth with the science behind adaptogens? Watch the full discussion between these two disruptors in the health and wellness space: