Supplements for Work in South Africa
A long work day has three parts. Here is what we make for each, what is in it and what it costs per serving. Tap a product to see it.
Your Day, Three Settings
MORNING BOOST
Start the work day with WorkMode ON: 90mg caffeine and 250mg L-theanine per serving, with lion's mane, in cold water.
About R 12.67 per servingSECOND WIND
For the afternoon stretch: one Power Hour tablet with 130mg caffeine and 180mg L-theanine, and no sugar.
R 10.00 per tabletWIND DOWN
Switch off with WorkMode OFF: no caffeine, with magnesium and chamomile, 30 minutes before bed.
About R 12.67 per servingHappy Heroes
Questions people ask
- What should I look for on a supplement label? The ingredients and the amount of each per serving, the serving size, the caffeine per serving, sugar and sweeteners, and on South African labels the %NRV column and the SAHPRA notice. More in our guide to the best supplements for a busy work day.
- How much caffeine is too much in a day? The FDA cites 400mg a day for most adults as an amount not generally associated with negative effects, and says sensitivity varies widely. WorkMode ON has 90mg per serving and Power Hour 130mg per tablet. Our guide to natural energy boosters counts the caffeine in coffee and tea too.
- What is lion's mane? An edible mushroom, sold dried, as a powder or as an extract. WorkMode ON contains 200mg per serving. Our lion's mane guide covers what the research does and doesn't show.
- What is in an evening drink? WorkMode OFF has no caffeine and no melatonin; it lists magnesium, 5-HTP, L-theanine, chamomile, rooibos and passionflower. Our guides to what is in sleep supplements and magnesium explain each ingredient and how to read the label.
- What do people take after work or training? Very different products are sold as "recovery". Our recovery supplements guide sorts them out.
Want more than one part of the day covered? The bundles put the products together for less than buying them separately.
Before you add anything
- Count your caffeine: ON (90mg) and Power Hour (130mg) add to your coffee, tea and fizzy drinks.
- Count your magnesium: ON has 100mg and OFF 125mg per serving, so the two add together.
- Check your medicines: OFF contains 5-HTP, which Memorial Sloan Kettering says may interact with medicines that affect serotonin, such as some antidepressants. If you take any medicine, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are sensitive to caffeine, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
We stick to what is on our labels: this page describes what is in each product and how to take it, not what it will do for you. Ordering and delivery questions are answered in our FAQ.
Our Guides
Natural energy boosters for a long work day: habits, food and caffeine
Read MoreThe most dependable natural energy boosters for a work day are ordinary ones: regular meals and snacks, a short walk, enough water and a steady sleep routine. None of them is a promise, and they will not suit everyone, but they are what the NHS and other health sources point to first.
Recovery supplements: what people take after training and after work
Read MoreRecovery supplements is a loose label, and no single product earns it. Shops use it for sports drinks, electrolyte sachets, protein, creatine and more, and sports bodies describe all of these as a small part of the picture next to food, sleep and rest.
Best supplements for a busy work day: how to choose what fits your routine
Read MoreThere is no single best supplement. What suits you depends on what you already eat and drink, when in the day you would take something, and whether a health professional thinks you need anything at all. The NHS says most people should get all the nutrients they need from a varied and balanced diet, although some people may need extra supplements. The FDA's advice is to talk with a health care professional before taking one, because they can help you decide which supplements, if any, are right for you.
What is in sleep supplements and how to read the label
Read MoreSleep supplements usually combine a few familiar ingredients: a mineral such as magnesium, an amino acid such as L-theanine, herbs such as chamomile and passionflower, and sometimes 5-HTP or melatonin. The label tells you which ones, and how much of each is in a serving.
Lion's mane mushroom explained: what it is, how people take it and what to check first
Read MoreLion's mane mushroom is an edible fungus (Hericium erinaceus) that people eat fresh or buy as a powder or capsule. It does not get you high, and research on what it does in the human body is still early and mixed.
The magnesium supplement in WorkMode OFF, and how to use it in the evening
Read MoreWorkMode OFF is an evening drink with magnesium, 5-HTP and chamomile, so it works as a magnesium supplement you stir into water rather than swallow. The magnesium is bisglycinate, and one 5g scoop goes into 250ml of hot or cold water. Here is what is in it, how to take it, and what the NHS and NIH say about limits and medicines.