What Are The Best Brain Supplements?
Discover the top 5 best brain supplements on the market today to boost your cognitive performance
Reviewed and fact-checked by certified nutritionists.
In this guide:
- Can brain supplements really make a difference in your cognitive performance?
- What are the safest and most effective brain supplements
- The top 5 best brain supplements on the market today, according to nutritionists and performance specialists
The brain is the most important organ in your body – it controls everything. It controls your reading speed, your creativity, your mood, your behavior, your reasoning skills, your emotions… everything!
Given its central importance, taking great care of your brain is one of the healthiest things you can do. That means feeding it with the right nutrients every day so that it has the necessary fuel to perform at its very best.
“Your brain is always on. It takes care of everything from your thoughts to your movement to your mood to your breathing to your sight and other senses, so it’s working really hard,” says Perri Halperin, M.S., R.D., clinical nutrition coordinator at Mount Sinai Health System. “And that means your brain requires a constant supply of fuel and that fuel comes from the foods that you eat.”
That said, it’s not always easy to get the perfect amount of nutrients to make your brain function at full capacity. That’s where brain supplements come in… These supplements can allegedly provide many cognitive benefits, including improved memory, faster processing speed, greater focus and better mood, among others.
But are these benefits real? Can brain supplements really make that big of a difference in your brain power, or are their effects mild at best? Are there any risks to taking these supplements? That’s what we’re going to see in this article.
In this guide, you will learn about the safest and most effective brain supplements to boost your brain power and function at your peak whenever you need it. At the end of the article, we also present a selection of several brain supplements known for their efficacy and safety. Our guide has been carefully reviewed by professional nutritionists and dieticians, to ensure high-quality and accurate information.
What are the key benefits of taking brain supplements, according to science*
*All these key benefits have been documented by clinical studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Improved focus and attention: Several studies have found that certain brain supplements can improve the quality of our focus, especially during lengthy work-related tasks. They can help us stay sharper, more alert, and more focused during the day – which may in turn improve our productivity.
- Enhanced mental clarity: certain ingredients contained in brain supplements are also known to be very effective at clearing “brain fog”. Many people who take brain supplements (especially those infused with nootropics like panax ginseng or rhodiola) report having a clearer mind and an improved ability to think straight. This can be explained by the several brain-boosting hormones that these active ingredients are capable of stimulating, including serotonin and dopamine.
- Improved cognitive function: Some brain supplements show promise in enhancing overall brain function, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Improved memory: Studies also indicate that certain brain supplements may improve both short-term and long-term memory, allowing people to retain information faster and longer.
- Neuroprotection: Antioxidants in certain supplements may protect the brain from age-related damage and cognitive decline.
- Improve mood: Evidence suggests that some specific brain supplements may help to balance mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Increased mental energy: According to studies, some brain supplements have been found to significantly reduce mental fatigue and boost mental energy and vitality. They can keep our brain sharper and more energetic throughout the day.
How big of a difference brain supplements can realistically make on your cognitive abilities?
The truth is that brain supplements won’t magically turn you into a genius. It’s important to have realistic expectations before taking any brain-optimizing supplements.
With that said, a large body of clinical evidence shows that some brain supplement ingredients can make a significant difference in your cognitive abilities, enabling you to think faster and clearer, improve your problem solving skills, and boost your focus, among others.
Cognitive-boosting ingredient #1: Panax Ginseng
A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study published in 2019 found that consuming panax ginseng caused a 259% improvement in visual memory compared to placebo.
The study concluded that:
“Our results provide clinical evidence of Panax ginseng as a cognition-enhancing medicine.”
Another study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that panax ginseng could produce a significant improvement in brain function, on several parameters.
These findings indicate that ginseng may be an effective natural solution to reduce fatigue and promote healthy energy levels during daytime.
During an ANT Test (a cognitive test measuring executive function and attention), volunteers who took panax ginseng showed a 95% task accuracy compared to only 92% for the placebo group. Reaction time was also reduced by 4.5%, meaning that panax ginseng enabled participants to make faster mental decisions.
Researchers also found that 4 hours after ginseng consumption, volunteers were able to switch tasks 5% faster (750 ms reaction time for the ginseng group vs 810 ms for the placebo group).
In another placebo-controlled study evaluating the potential benefits of ginseng on fatigue, ginseng was found to significantly decrease fatigue perception compared to placebo.
These findings indicate that ginseng may be an effective natural solution to reduce fatigue and promote healthy energy levels during daytime.
Cognitive-boosting ingredient #2: Ginger root extract
Ginger root extract is another ingredient that can make a big difference in cognitive function. Several studies found that ginger root could: increase focus and attention, increase numeric and spatial memory, and increase the speed of working memory, among others.
In a placebo-controlled study led on 60 middle-aged volunteers, researchers gave a dose of 800 mg of ginger root to evaluate its potential cognitive benefits on participants.
During a Delayed Word Recognition test (a test where volunteers have to recognize recurring words in a series of words), ginger root was able to cause a 11.7% decrease in reaction time, compared to placebo. This faster reaction time led to a significant improvement in performance during the test
Volunteers who took ginger root also showed a significantly higher accuracy in numerical tests: people who took the ginger extract showed a 85% task accuracy, compared to 74.7% for the placebo group. Researchers concluded that ginger root could significantly increase numeric working memory.
Cognitive-boosting ingredient #3: T-Tyrosine
L-Tyrosine, another ingredient commonly found in brain-enhancing supplements, has been clinically found to improve cognitive performance. For example, a large clinical review recently published found that tyrosine can “effectively enhance cognitive performance, particularly in short-term stressful and/or cognitively demanding situations.”
Researchers concluded that tyrosine was “an effective enhancer of cognition.
In another placebo-controlled study evaluating the effect of L-Tyrosine on cognitive flexibility, participants showed 91% mental accuracy during an n-back test, compared to 87% for placebo.
In a placebo-controlled study the effect of L-Tyrosine on cognitive flexibility, participants showed 91% mental accuracy during an n-back task, compared to 87% for placebo.
Volunteers who took tyrosine also showed a decrease in reaction time during an n-back test, meaning they were able to make cognitively demanding decisions faster.
Other clinically proven brain-boosting ingredients include:
- L-theanine
- L-carnitine
- Curcumin
- Vitamin B (B6, B9, B12)
- Caffeine
Do you really need supplements, or is a healthy diet enough?
Before we consider taking brain supplements, we need to ask: are these supplements even needed to make your brain sharp? Can’t the same brain-boosting benefits be achieved with the food you eat?
That’s a legitimate question. The truth is: it’s entirely possible to give your brain a significant boost by eating foods that contain the right nutrients. The challenge is that to get the same benefits as brain supplements, you would typically need to eat absurdly large quantities of food…
For instance, to get a dose of 1,000mg of L-tyrosine (a dose typically contained in brain-boosting supplements), you would need to eat several pounds of chicken per day, which can be impractical.
Some supplements contain about 500mg of gingerol – the active cognitive boosting ingredient present in ginger root extract. To match this, you would need to consume about 50 grams of raw ginger per day, which is practically impossible given the sour taste of ginger.
“The main benefit of brain supplements is that they typically contain high doses of active ingredients to boost brain function. Realistically, it would be challenging to obtain the same ingredient doses via our diet. Supplements specifically designed to improve cognitive function tend to use the clinically optimal dose of each ingredient to produce a clearly noticeable effect in mental clarity, focus, and problem-solving skills.
Who wants to eat 2 kilos of chicken per day when you could get the same brain-boosting benefits by taking a pill with 1,000 mg of L-Tyrosine? Convenience and efficacy contribute to explain why these supplements are so popular among corporate executives, creative people, athletes, and other top-performers.”
Dr. Marcin Korff
Neuropharmacologist and Lead Researcher at the Center for Cognitive Enhancement and Nootropic Studies.
What are the main types of brain supplements?
Pills/Capsules:
Brain supplements come in various formats, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages
pros
- Convenient and portable
- Precise dosing of active ingredients
- Often have a long shelf-life
cons
- Can be difficult for some people to swallow
- The absorption rate can be affected by various factors, including stomach contents and individual metabolism
Powders:
Brain-boosting powders need to be mixed with a liquid before consumption and can offer custom dosing.
pros
- Can be more cost-effective per dose
- Allows for flexibility in dosing
- Faster absorption in some cases
cons
- Less convenient to transport
- Requires preparation time
- Taste can be unpleasant
Energy Drinks:
These beverages are infused with brain-enhancing compounds alongside other energy-boosting ingredients like caffeine.
pros
- Quick and convenient to consume
- Typically contain high-dose ingredients, for higher efficacy
- Tasty
- Often includes a blend of ingredients for compounded effects
cons
- May contain high levels of caffeine and sugar (unless healthier options are chosen)
- Relative lack of regulations
What are the key things to look for in a brain supplement?
- Must use a sufficiently high dose of each ingredient. Low doses are unlikely to work. Many brain supplements use low doses of cognitive-enhancing ingredients to reduce production costs. This can be a problem as low doses are unlikely to produce any noticeable effects on brain cognition.
- Only use natural brain-boosting ingredients that have been clinically studied. There are plenty of commercialized brain supplements that don’t use clinically proven ingredients, or the ingredients they use are backed by very little clinical evidence. To feel a strong and healthy cognitive boost, it’s important to choose supplements that only contain ingredients with clinically proven cognitive benefits. These well-studied brain-boosting ingredients include: L-theanine, ginger root, panax ginseng, caffeine, theobromine, L-tyrosine, among others.
- Produce a significant and long-lasting cognitive boost. Many brain enhancing supplements on the market produce a mild cognitive boost, especially if they contain low-dose ingredients. If you’re looking to boost your cognitive performance, it’s better to choose supplements that create strong and long-lasting brain-boosting effects, using high-dose natural ingredients. Certain brain supplements can produce a major, clearly perceptible cognitive boost for several hours in a row (we present some of these below)
- Moderate dose of caffeine to prevent risk of crashes Caffeine is a powerful natural brain stimulant. And its cognitive benefits are very well studied. However, consuming excess caffeine can cause unpleasant jitters and energy crashes. If you want to benefit from the brain-boosting effect of caffeine without its unpleasant effects, experts recommend choosing a supplement that contains less than 150 mg of caffeine per serving. 100mg is already more than enough to produce a clear improvement in focus and mental speed, and this dose is unlikely to cause a major energy crash (although it can be the case for people who are very sensitive to caffeine).
- Free of any major side effects. To get the benefits without the bad side (jitters, energy crashes, anxiety), only choose supplements that cause no to minimal side effects. In general, supplements made of natural and clinically tested ingredients such as L-theanine or ginseng are very safe and free of side effects. That means they can be taken every day without causing any issues. It’s however always advised to consult with a health specialist before taking health supplements.
- Doesn’t contain any harmful synthetic substances, Unhealthy artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or acesulfame potassium (often used as sweeteners in nootropic supplements, specifically drinks) should be avoided. These chemicals can destroy gut health and have bad long-term consequences on your body.
The Top 5 Best Brain Supplements On The Market Today, According To Nutritionists
To help you choose a supplement that helps you perform at your peak while feeling your best, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 best brain supplements on the market. This list was carefully curated in partnership with certified nutritionists, and takes several factors into consideration, including: ingredients quality, health impact, taste, value for money, and verified customer reviews.
01 Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy Booster
Cognitive boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS
- Provides a strong, sustained cognitive boost a few minutes after consumption
- Uses natural brain-enhancing ingredients in high and safe doses
- Only uses clinically proven ingredients
- Improves mood and well-being thanks to a natural blend of dopamine boosters
- Very well tolerated, no reported side effects
- Low on calories and sugar
- No ace-K or aspartame
- Great taste, according to users
- Uses pure Alpine water with high-quality plant-based ingredients
CONS:
- Expensive
- Frequently out of stock due to limited production
THE BOTTOM LINE
Alpine Bliss is a premium, fast-growing Swiss brand of flavored sparkling water offering functional health benefits, using clinically studied nootropic ingredients. The Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy Booster is a fruity brain-enhancing energy drink that is specifically designed to boost cognitive function and performance.
One of the key benefits of this cognitive energy drink is its ability to provide a strong, sustained cognitive boost for several hours, without causing unpleasant crashes. Users report a clearly perceptible improvement in mental clarity and focus within a few minutes of consumption.
This is achieved through a unique blend of high-dose natural nootropic ingredients, including 70 mg of caffeine from natural source, 350 mg L-tyrosine (significantly higher than the average), 400 mg of panax ginseng, a high dose of phenylalanine, and high-purity ginger root extract (present in high dose too).
At least four of these ingredients have been clinically proven to improve cognitive performance due to their brain-enhancing properties (L-tyrosine, caffeine, ginger root and panax ginseng).
The drink is also reported to create a distinct feeling of relaxation and well-being a few minutes after consumption, due to the presence of dopamine-boosting ingredients. Many users report feeling better in their body within 30 minutes of consumption.
From a nutrition standpoint, the drink is also scoring pretty well. The formula contains zero added sugar, just 25 calories per can, and only 5 grams of natural sugar from wild berries. It doesn’t contain any harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame or ace-K. The drink is also a rich source of vitamin B6 and B12 – two vitamins that promote a healthy metabolism.
Beyond its functional health benefits, the Alpine Bliss formula also performs well on taste, according to consumers. Users praise its fruity wild berries flavor and refreshing fine bubbles. It strikes a delicate balance of sweetness and freshness, and delivers an enjoyable drinking experience.
On the minus side, we note that the drink is quite expensive ($3.95 per can) – which can be explained by the “fancy” ingredients that it contains, including extracts of saffron and ginger roots (some of the most expensive spices in the world). We also note that the drink is frequently out of stock, because it’s produced in limited batches as of now.
Taking all of this into consideration puts Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy booster in our #1 spot in our top 5 brain supplements.
02 NeuroGuard
Cognitive boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS
- Quality nootropic supplement
- Ingredients proven to stimulate dopamine production
- Rich in vitamins
- Supports memory and focus
CONS:
- Expensive
- Lacks some key nootropics that would make the supplement stronger
- May produce only mild effects for some users
THE BOTTOM LINE
NeuroGuard is a nootropic supplement that is meant to make a lot of different parts of cognitive function better.
Six important ingredients are used in its recipe: L-Tyrosine, Vitamins B6 and B12, L-Theanine, Caffeine Anhydrous, and Citicoline. These all have been shown to be good for brain health.
L-Tyrosine is a key ingredient that is known to help the production of dopamine, which is needed for mental clarity and stable mood. The addition of B vitamins, especially B6 and B12, helps the brain work better and makes you feel less tired.
L-Theanine, which is found in tea leaves, is known for its calming effects, which help balance out the stimulating effects of caffeine. This is especially helpful because caffeine anhydrous gives you a strong energy boost that makes you more alert and focused.
People who took NeuroGuard said they were able to concentrate better, had more mental energy, and felt less stressed and anxious. Because of these benefits, it’s a good choice for people who want to improve their mental performance when they are under a lot of stress at work, school, or in their daily lives.
It may be a bad thing that NeuroGuard costs more and has a stronger caffeine amount. The supplement works, but it lacks some nootropics that other products have, like ginger root or phenylalanine. This is to be expected, given how much it costs. This might make it less appealing to people who want a more complete nootropic profile.
03 Onnit Alpha Brain Focus Shot
Cognitive boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS
- Compact and easy to drink
- May improve cognitive function such as memory and focus
- Contains several brain-enhancing ingredients in good doses
- Reputable brand
- Quality ingredients
CONS:
- Lack of ingredient transparency
- Dosage may be inappropriate
- Mixed reviews, results may vary
- Expensive compared to other more effective, better-rated supplements
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Onnit Alpha Brain Focus Shot is a compact, on-the-go beverage designed to improve cognitive functions, including memory, mental speed, and focus. It’s a popular product from Onnit, a Texas-based supplement manufacturer known for its commitment to providing high-quality health and fitness products.
The Focus Shot is available in two flavors: Tropical and Peach, both of which have been praised for their refreshing and pleasant taste.
One of the key advantages of the Alpha Brain Focus Shot is its unique blend of ingredients. It contains high-quality brain-boosting components such as lion’s mane, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, theanine, KSM-66 ashwagandha, Cognizin citicoline, and InnovaTea natural caffeine.
Some of these ingredients are known to support cognitive functions thanks to their proven nootropic properties, including tyrosine, theanine, and natural caffeine.
That said, this supplement also comes with a few flaws. First, the product lacks transparency about the specific doses of each ingredient. This could be a concern for individuals who want to know exactly what they’re consuming.
Further, several customer reviews say that the product didn’t work for them, which may be due to inappropriate ingredient dosage. Compared to other dopamine supplements, this one has slightly less favorable reviews, although reviews are still positive overall.
Additionally, while it’s slightly cheaper than the capsule version of Alpha Brain, it’s still somewhat expensive compared to other similar products on the market.
04 Zevia Energy Drink
Cognitive boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS
- Strong energy boost
- Healthier option than mainstream energy drinks
- No sugar, carbs, or fat
- Sweetened with stevia leaf extract
CONS:
- Caffeine content may be slightly too high for some people (120 mg). May cause jitters
- Mixed reviews on the taste. Some find it overly sweet and chemical-tasting
THE BOTTOM LINE
Zevia Zero Calorie Energy Drink, with flavours including Raspberry Lime and Pineapple Coconut, is a good option for people looking for a healthier energy boost.
The drink contains no sugar, no carbs, no sodium, no fat, and it is suitable for a variety of diets including vegan, kosher, Paleo, and Keto. Sweetened with stevia leaf extract, this makes it an appropriate option for those who are on a diet but who still want to drink energy beverages for the energy kick they provide.
The primary source of energy is 120 milligrammes of caffeine per can, which comes from green tea leaves.
While this provides a large energy boost, moderation is essential due to the potential negative consequences of excessive caffeine consumption. We note that this dose of caffeine is slightly more than what is needed to provide a sustainable energy boost without side effects.
Such doses of caffeine may cause jitters and crashes for certain people who are sensitive to caffeine.
While most users appear to be satisfied with this drink, the taste of Zevia is not for everyone. The drink obtained mixed reviews on its taste, with some consumers finding it overly sweet and a bit too chemical in taste.
It does remain a strong option in the field of healthier, better-for-you energy drinks.
05 Mind Lab Pro
Cognitive boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS
- May improve brain health and mental function by boosting dopamine
- Designed for busy professionals, students and athletes
- Rich blend of quality brain-boosting ingredients
- Well tolerated formula
CONS:
- Very expensive
- Mixed reviews
- Limited efficacy
THE BOTTOM LINE
Mind Lab Pro is a dietary brain supplement made to improve brain health and mental function. It is aimed at athletes, students, and busy workers who want to improve their mental sharpness.
Mind Lab Pro is a mix of 11 different ingredients that are good for the brain and can help improve brain function and overall health. The product doesn’t contain any drugs and uses more than one method to improve brain function. It is made by a company in the United Kingdom called Opti-Nutra Advanced Nutraceuticals, which was founded in 2015.
Mind Lab Pro costs $69 for one bottle with 60 pills. If you take the usual dose of two capsules per day, one bottle will last one month.
On the plus side, we note that the formulation is very clean and uses well tolerated ingredients.
On the other hand, the price of $69 per bottle may be a bit high for some people. Further, we note that many users reported feeling minor to no improvement at all in clarity and focus, and reviews are mixed, despite the quality of formulation. This may be due to a limited concentration of dopamine-boosting active ingredients.
Like any supplement, results may change from person to person, and it might not work for everyone.