MOSH is a brain-health protein bar brand co-founded in 2021 by Maria Shriver and her son, Patrick Schwarzenegger. The company name stands for "Maria Owings Shriver Health," and the bars are marketed as a functional food for brain health.
But do MOSH Bars contain research-backed doses of nootropics? Do they contain any unhealthy ingredients? Why do we have concerns with some of the brand's marketing claims? And is MOSH better or worse than popular nootropic foods like Neuro Gum?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in MOSH Bars to give our take on whether or not they're likely to be effective for supporting brain health, and whether or not they're healthy overall.
We'll also share concerns about some of the brand's marketing claims, and compare MOSH to other popular nootropic food brands to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Nootropic ingredients included in proprietary blend
- Some inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy
- We do not currently recommend MOSH Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in the MOSH Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar are shown below:
image source: https://moshlife.com/
Protein Blend provides 20 grams (g) of protein per serving, which is an effective dose for muscle building according to clinical research.
Some of the nootropic ingredients have research backing.
Cognizin is a form of citicoline that's clinically shown to improve memory and attention.
KSM-66 ashwagandha is a standardized ashwagandha root extract that's clinically shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and serum cortisol at a 600 mg daily dose.
However, all of these nootropic active ingredients are in a proprietary "Brain Blend" without individual doses listed, notably including the creatine they so aggressively highlight in their marketing.
As we documented in our Vitaae review article, it's nearly impossible to determine whether or not a bioactive ingredient will be effective if its dose isn't published.
Allulose and cane sugar are refined sweeteners.
Natural flavor is a broad descriptor that may encompass undisclosed synthetic solvents and preservatives, according to a medical review published in the Food and Chemical Toxicology journal.
Overall, we do not recommend MOSH Bars because we're unable to identify any effectively-dosed nootropic ingredients, and because they contain several inactive ingredients we consider to be unhealthy.
Questionable Health Claims
Jonathan Jarry, M.Sc., a science communicator at McGill University's Office for Science and Society, published a 2024 critique of MOSH bars titled "MOSH Bars Are Starved of Good Science."
The critique flagged Maria Shriver's public marketing language, in which she has referred to the bars as a "partner in delaying Alzheimer's," as unfounded.
Alzheimer's-prevention claims are not permissible under FDA structure-function rules for dietary supplements, and no clinical evidence has established that any consumer product delays Alzheimer's.
The McGill critique also called out lion's mane, ashwagandha, and omega-3s as ingredients with a thinner human evidence base than the brand's marketing implies.
The reviewer concluded that MOSH bars use "magical ingredients du jour" designed to "soothe our anxieties about getting old."
We agree with the McGill critique that the brand's Alzheimer's-adjacent marketing language is not supported by evidence, and we consider it a material transparency concern.
MOSH vs. Nootropic Functional Foods
Here's how MOSH Bars compare to other popular brain-support functional foods in terms of formulation quality, in our opinion:
Auri Mushroom Gummies
Auri Mushroom Gummies is a brain-support gummy brand that features lion's mane alongside Alpha-GPC, which is clinically shown to be associated with increased stroke risk over a 10-year period.
Auri also contains 3 grams of glucose syrup as its top inactive ingredient, which the brand's own labeling makes clear is 21 times more added sugar than the total active-ingredient content. MOSH does not contain Alpha-GPC.
MOSH is the winner from a health perspective.
Winner: MOSH
Neuro Gum
Neuro Gum is a functional chewing gum that combines caffeine and L-theanine. As we documented in our Neuro Gum review article, the product contains sucralose, an artificial sweetener that may negatively affect insulin function.
MOSH avoids sucralose entirely and uses stevia and monk fruit alongside its refined sugars. Its cognitive-active stack (Cognizin, KSM-66, lion's mane, creatine) is also broader and more research-backed than Neuro Gum's caffeine-plus-L-theanine formulation.
MOSH is the winner from both a potential efficacy and a health perspective.
Winner: MOSH
Noobru
Noobru is a powdered nootropic drink built around choline bitartrate, N-acetyl tyrosine, Alpha-GPC, and phosphatidylserine. Noobru contains Alpha-GPC as well as sucralose, citric acid, and natural flavors.
MOSH contains none of Noobru's most concerning inactives (no Alpha-GPC, no sucralose, no citric acid).
MOSH is the winner from both a potential efficacy and a health perspective.
Winner: MOSH
MOSH Bars Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Research-backed cognitive actives (Cognizin, KSM-66 ashwagandha, creatine)
- Complete-protein blend
- Whole-food base (almonds, rolled oats, cocoa butter)
- No artificial sweeteners
- Healthier than competitors
Cons:
- Contains cane sugar
- Contains natural flavor
- Nootropic ingredients in prop blend
- Brand marketing implies Alzheimer's-related benefits without evidence
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested as a finished product
