Brain Boosters (Nootropics)

The Ten Best Brain-Boosting Supplements

You might spend a lot of time worrying about your physical health, but brain health and function are equally important. You can learn, remember, communicate, solve problems, and make decisions when your brain is healthy.

Cognitive decline can begin as early as your 30s. As a result, maintaining your brain health requires standard healthy behaviors such as eating a balanced diet, getting regular physical activity, and avoiding smoking.

But what about nutritional supplements?

For centuries, herbs like gingko biloba have been used to improve mental alertness and thinking ability. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that supplements have a direct impact on brain health.

Still, if you think your brain could use some TLC and you're interested in trying supplements, do your research and consult a healthcare professional first.

We've compiled a list of the top 10 brain-boosting supplements to save you time.

How we Made our Decision

• Vetting: All of the included products and brands have been vetted to ensure that they meet Healthline's medical and business standards.

• Ingredients: The products listed below are made with high-quality, evidence-based ingredients.

• Quality and testing: We selected products made by reputable brands and tested during the manufacturing process, preferably by third-party labs.

• Cost: We included products in a variety of price ranges.

• User feedback: The importance of the user experience cannot be overstated. The products included have received mostly positive online feedback.

What are Brain Boosters (Nootropics)?

Brain Boosters also known as ‘Nootropics’ are supplements that improve people’s cognitive function. As a result, these supplements can improve intelligence, memory, creativity, motivation, mental alertness, and concentration, as well as boost energy levels.

All of the ingredients in these supplements are natural, like plants, herbal extracts, vitamins, and minerals, and they have been tested to see if they can improve cognitive function. Whether you’re an older adult, work in a competitive environment, are an athlete, a college student, an entrepreneur, or anyone else looking to gain an advantage in life’s pursuits, Brain Booster (Nootropic) supplements have been shown to help.

Below are our picks for the 10 Best Brain Boosters (Nootropics) available on the market today!

10 Best Brain Boosters (Nootropics)

What are the Benefits of Brain Boosters (Nootropics)?

These are the best benefits you can expect to experience by taking Brain Booster (Nootropic) supplements.

1. Memory Improvement

Since it is one of the traditional brainpower boosters for adults, it is no surprise that Brain Boosters (Nootropics) improve memory. In particular, those who are experiencing memory problems because of aging.

But unlike other memory boosters, this best nootropic benefit is only for improving memory. The memory boost provided by Brain Boosters (Nootropics) includes performance, orientation, memory function, aging memory issues, and more.

2. More Energy

When considering the benefits of Brain Boosters (Nootropics) or any other cognitive brain-boosting supplement, consider energy as well. There is no need for stimulants in this case because the energy boost is natural and has no negative side effects. Energy advantages include:

• Optimal blood flow to the brain for improved oxygen and glucose levels

• Optimization of mitochondria in brain cells for increased energy efficiency

• Improved alpha frequency for a more energized but relaxing experience

• Resistance to stress and decreased feelings of exhaustion

Did you know that your brain consumes roughly 20% of your body's total energy? Maintaining proper brain function can help you keep your energy levels high. More brain energy equates to better brain health. This is unquestionably a benefit worth contemplating.

3. Improved Mental State

When it comes to living a happy life, one's mental state can be tricky. As a result, the best nootropic benefit that many people enjoy is improved mental health. Stress, anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues can all be reduced by having a better mental state.

And guess what else? Brain function is linked to one's mental state. You can change the low brain energy, poor stress resistance, and unbalanced brain chemicals if you improve your mental state with a brain function booster. You can feel much better mentally if those mental state issues are suppressed.

4. Increased Concentration

Who couldn't benefit from more focus on a daily basis? When using brain function boosters such as Brain Boosters (Nootropics), this is where attention and focus improve. Because of the increased number of distractions, focusing is even more important today.

You can focus like a laser on your tasks instead of being distracted by your phone, social media, current events, and other things. This can increase your productivity and efficiency while also giving you more time in the day to complete other tasks.

5. Enhance Your Sleep

One of the most important aspects of your life is sleep. You will feel foggy, tired, irritable, and have less energy during the day if you do not get enough healthy sleep. A good night's sleep is all that is required for your brain to function optimally.

Brain function supplements can have a long-term impact on your sleep and cognition. For example, you may feel calmer and more relaxed, allowing you to fall asleep more quickly. This can transform your sleep-deprived mind into a well-rested, high-performing mind.

6. Improve Anti-Aging

Do you want to feel and look younger? That is, after all, one of the best nootropic benefits that many people enjoy. You can now improve your cognitive performance while slowing the aging process.

You will feel younger because the anti-aging effects of reducing memory impairment and decline in cognitive performance caused by aging will make you feel younger. Instead of appearing stressed-out, you will appear relaxed and physically better.

7. Brain Regeneration Is a Real Possibility

When it comes to supplements that can improve brain function and cognitive performance, this is one of the most important advantages to consider. You can now obtain regenerative, healthy brain cell membranes that function perfectly. Improving the growth of new brain cell membranes and creating ones that are all about learning and experience can help your cognitive function.

Final Thoughts

While several supplements may be beneficial to brain health, keep in mind that research on these products is limited and inconclusive.

If you decide to try a supplement, choose one that has ingredients that have been shown to work in therapeutic doses. Choose a supplement that has been tested by a third-party lab to make sure it is pure and effective.

Finally, while supplements can help with brain health, it's also important to address other aspects of your life that contribute to brain health, such as diet, exercise, stress, sleep, and smoking.

15 Brain Foods for Improved Focus and Memory

While we've always known that what we eat affects our bodies and how we look, scientists are now discovering that what we eat has a significant impact on the health of our brains. Yes, eating plenty of brain foods is important for staying mentally sharp and focused, especially for our gray matter.

The gut and the brain are inextricably linked, and when we focus on providing our bodies with whole, nutritious foods, we help to care for both.

What are the best foods for your brain? Fruits, vegetables, oils, and even chocolate (yes, chocolate!) are among the top brain-healthy foods. There's something for everyone!

What Exactly Is a Brain Food?

Brain foods are high in antioxidants, good fats, vitamins, and minerals. They provide energy to your brain and aid in the protection of brain cells, which helps prevent the development of brain diseases.

How do healthy foods for brain function help with mental health? One method is to promote healthy gut function and the inflammatory response.

The gut makes a number of important hormones and neurotransmitters, which can then travel to the brain and change things like memory and the ability to understand and process new information. This means that a healthy gut is critical for sending the brain the chemical signals that keep us functioning at our best.

A poor-quality diet can cause our bodies to produce more inflammatory cytokines, which, according to research, can contribute to inflammation that can harm the brain.

While inflammation helps protect us from illnesses and heals the body when we do things like cut ourselves, chronic inflammation is a different story. It's been linked to a variety of mental and cognitive conditions, including dementia, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease, among others.

The 15 Best Brain Foods

What are the best foods for the brain? The following are foods for brain health that experts recommend including in your diet on a regular basis to help prevent age-related cognitive decline:

1. Avocados

While avocados often get a bad rap for their high fat content, it's important to remember that these green powerhouses are high in monounsaturated fats, or the "good" kind, which have been shown to reduce cognitive decline and keep blood sugar levels stable.

Avocados, which contain both vitamin K and folate, help prevent blood clots in the brain (protecting against stroke) and improve brain functions related to memory and concentration.

They're also high in vitamins B and C, which aren't stored in your body and must be replenished on a daily basis. They also have the most protein and the least sugar of any fruit. Not bad at all!

Avocados' creamy texture makes them an excellent addition to smoothies and a fat replacement in baked goods; alternatively, try these brain foods in one of these 50 amazing and simple avocado recipes.

2. Beets

Beets are root vegetables that are high in cancer-fighting antioxidants and help rid your blood of toxins, making them some of the most nutritious foods for the brain you can eat.

Beets' natural nitrates actually increase blood flow to the brain, which aids mental performance. Beets also help boost energy and performance levels during strenuous workouts. Make this borscht with them.

3. Blueberries plus Other Berries

Blueberries and other berries (such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and so on) are fruits that experts recommend eating on a daily basis. That's because they provide numerous health benefits while tasting like all-natural candy!

To begin with, blueberries are one of the most antioxidant-rich foods known to man, containing vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber. Blueberries are particularly effective at protecting our brains from degeneration, cognitive decline, and stress due to their high levels of gallic acid.

Get your brain berry fix with an omega blueberry smoothie or a healthy blueberry cobbler.

4. Bone Broth

Bone broth is the ultimate food for gut healing, which aids in brain healing. This ancient food has numerous health benefits, including boosting your immune system, healing leaky gut, improving joint health, and overcoming food allergies.

Its high collagen content aids in the reduction of intestinal inflammation, and healing amino acids such as proline and glycine keep your immune system functioning properly and aid in the improvement of memory.

I frequently recommend bone broth to my patients because it truly helps heal your body from the inside out. You'll be surprised at how easy and inexpensive it is to make at home using my beef bone broth recipe.

5. Broccoli and Other Cruciferous Vegetables

When she told you to eat your broccoli, your mother was correct. Broccoli, along with related vegetables such as cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts, is one of the best brain-healthy foods available due to its high levels of vitamin K and choline, which can help keep your memory sharp.

It's also high in vitamin C, with just one cup providing 150 percent of your daily requirements. It also contains a variety of phytonutrients that protect brain cells from oxidative stress.

Broccoli is also high in fiber, so you'll feel full quickly. If you've only eaten overcooked, flavorless broccoli, you'll love my crockpot beef and broccoli, creamy broccoli soup, and broccoli pesto dip — they'll quickly turn you into a broccoli lover!

6. Celery

Celery has a lot of benefits for a vegetable with so few calories (only 16 per cup!). Its high levels of antioxidants and polysaccharides act as natural anti-inflammatories, helping to alleviate inflammation-related symptoms such as joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome.

It's a great snack option if you're trying to lose weight because it's high in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients while being low in calories. While we frequently consume celery stalks, don't overlook the seeds and leaves. Both provide additional benefits and taste delicious in stir fries and soups.

Not sure where to begin when it comes to eating more celery? Try my simple ants on a log or super hydrator juice recipes.

7. Virgin Coconut Oil

With so many coconut oil applications, there is almost nothing that coconut oil cannot help with. When it comes to the brain, it can help suppress cells that cause inflammation. It may also help with memory loss as you get older and fight bad bacteria in your gut.

Coconut oil and related MTC oil are also two of the most popular fats for people following the ketogenic diet, which according to research may offer benefits such as reduced Alzheimer's risk due to ketone bodies having a neuroprotective effect on aging brain cells.

This coconut crust pizza is high in coconut oil. Real coconut milk and coconut flakes also provide healthy fats and fiber for gut health.

8. Dark Chocolate

All chocolate is not created equal. In fact, dark chocolate can be very beneficial to your health!

Flavonols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, are abundant in chocolate. Cocoa has been shown in studies to increase cerebral blood flow and oxygenation, as well as lower blood pressure and oxidative stress in the brain and heart.

But don't go crazy eating Hershey's Kisses just yet. Most chocolate on supermarket shelves is highly processed and is not considered a good brain food.

The rule of thumb is that the darker the chocolate, the more benefits it provides.

Avoid milk and white chocolates in favor of a minimally processed dark chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa. This ensures you get your cocoa fix as well as the brain benefits!

Dark chocolate almond butter cookies or chocolate-covered berries will satisfy your sweet tooth.

9. Egg Whites

Egg yolks, who have spent years on the nutritional naughty list, are now getting their due. The yolk is on you if you've been eating only egg whites.

Large amounts of choline found in eggs aid in the development of the fetus's brain in pregnant women. Additionally, it degrades bethane, a substance that creates hormones linked to feelings of well-being.

There is good news if you have avoided eating whole eggs due to cholesterol concerns. According to studies, eating eggs typically has no impact on a healthy adult's cholesterol levels and may even help raise levels of good cholesterol.

It's also one of the least expensive protein sources available. Make sure to only purchase organic, free-range eggs.

Looking for some egg-spiration? I adore this baked salmon, spinach, and egg bake for breakfast. Try cooking up one of these delectable egg recipes for more inspiration.

10. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Since it contains both beneficial monounsaturated fats and potent antioxidants known as polyphenols, real extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is one of the top foods for the brain. It is a key component of the MIND diet, which is related to the Mediterranean diet, and both eating regimens have been linked in studies to improved cognition in older adults.

By consuming EVOO, you may reverse the effects of aging and disease as well as enhance learning and memory. The oil also aids in the fight against ADDLs, which are toxic proteins that cause Alzheimer's disease in the brain.

Even though extra virgin olive oil is fantastic, keep in mind that high temperatures cause it to hydrogenate and start breaking down, making it a poor choice for cooking. It is best to consume it cold or at room temperature to get your fill.

I adore adding extra virgin olive oil to quinoa tabouli salad and zucchini noodles with marinara sauce.

11. Green Leafy Vegetables

In the end, Popeye's obsession with spinach proved to be wise. According to recent research, eating plenty of leafy greens like kale, Swiss chard, and romaine lettuce can help prevent dementia.

In the study, which assessed the eating behaviors and cognitive abilities of more than 950 older adults over the course of an average of five years, those who consumed one or two servings of leafy green vegetables daily showed slower mental decline than those who did not, even after accounting for age, education level, and a history of dementia in the family.

Greens ought to be on your plate (and cover a sizable portion of it) at every meal if you want to increase your mental capacity.

Greens with leaves make a great base. According to psychiatrist Drew Ramsey, MD, author of The Happiness Diet and Eat Complete: The 21 Nutrients That Fuel Brainpower, Boost Weight Loss, and Transform Your Health, "you swap out a lot of the empty carbohydrates you get from things like pastas or breads, and you can use some leafy greens." Just a lot of nutrient density, once more.

Green leafy vegetables are also a great source of vitamins A and K, which help reduce inflammation and maintain strong bones (just one cup of kale has more than 684 percent of your recommended daily serving!). Benefit from these foods for the brain by eating kale chips or a mango walnut spinach salad.

12. Rosemary and Other Herbs

Did you know that rosemary herb also has a number of advantages that rosemary oil does?

One of the main components of rosemary, carnosic acid, aids in preventing neurodegeneration in the brain. It achieves this by shielding the brain from chemical free radicals, which have been linked to neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and ordinary brain aging.

Due to its high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, it also helps prevent vision loss. Basil, peppermint, sage, parsley, and cilantro are additional herbs with comparable antioxidant concentrations.

With these sweet potato rosemary fries and maple-glazed rosemary carrots, you can get your daily serving of fresh rosemary.

13. Salmon and Other Fish Oils

Get excited if you enjoy fish because one of the best foods for your brain is salmon! You can say good-bye to brain fog thanks to its abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, which also help to improve memory.

Oily fish, like sardines or trout, can help children focus better, which can help prevent ADHD in children. Not bad for a four-ounce serving of fish, these same fatty acids may also help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia.

Please be aware that these advantages only apply to salmon that has been wild-caught in Alaska; other wild-caught fish, including those raised in farms, may contain toxins and mercury. Enjoy it in these salmon cakes or a sushi bowl made with homemade smoked salmon.

14. Curcumin

Isn't it wonderful when a modest spice has remarkable advantages? This is the case with turmeric, an old root that has long been valued for its therapeutic properties.

Turmeric is actually one of the most potent (and natural) anti-inflammatory foods thanks to the chemical compound curcumin.

Additionally, turmeric helps maintain healthy immune function and antioxidant levels while enhancing brain oxygen uptake to keep you alert and able to process information. Speaking of a super spice!

Consume turmeric eggs and tea to fuel your brain as you begin the day. Combine turmeric with other spices like ginger and cinnamon for support of the digestive and metabolic systems as well as with black pepper to aid in absorption for even more advantages.

15. Nuts, including Walnuts

Walnuts actually have the ability to prevent you from going insane. Simply snacking on a few walnuts each day could help you become more cognitively healthy.

Their high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants also increase mental clarity. These nuts contain vitamin E, which may help safeguard brain tissue and prevent Alzheimer's.

Conclusion

• What foods actually nourish the brain? Oily fish, eggs, nuts, leafy greens, berries, broccoli, and other vegetables, avocado, and olive or coconut oil are a few of the best foods for maintaining brain health.

• By offering antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, these nutrient-rich brain foods fight disease and safeguard brain cells. They can also improve memory, concentration, mood, and the "gut-brain connection."

• In addition to helping your immune and digestive systems, most foods that help your brain may also lower your risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia, depression, and other mental illnesses.