10 Natural Supplements for Focus and Concentration

It's no secret that people today are struggling with focus and concentration, perhaps more than ever before. Fortunately, you also have access to more focus-boosting supplements than ever before. 

Let’s cover the 10 best options to help you stay focused and keep your brain healthy.

Key Takeaways

• Many supplements can help you boost your focus, memory, and overall brain performance.
• We’ve compiled ten of the best, science-backed supplements for focus and brain health.
• Caffeine is one of the most popular natural supplements for focus in the world, and research shows it can help combat the cognitive decline that comes from being tired or bored.
• Methylene blue is another great supplement that can help protect the brain from oxidative stress.
• You might know CBD for its potential to reduce anxiety, but it’s also a great option for anyone looking to improve their focus and protect their brain from inflammation.
• B vitamins are one of the most important nutrients for brain health; each of the eight vitamins in this group have different benefits, so you can choose to take a few or the whole set.

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What Are Brain Health Supplements?

Few organs are as important as the brain. After all, our brains are responsible for so much of what we do! 

Therefore, the consequences of a decline in brain function can be quite serious. You've likely heard of the most extreme examples, which include specific diseases like Alzheimer's disease. But cognitive decline can come in far more subtle forms, which you might not even notice — at least, not at first.

If you've ever felt like your mental performance was lower than it should be, or your memory function was struggling a little, then you might benefit from brain health supplements.

Brain Health vs. Natural Focus Supplements

First, it's important to distinguish between supplements believed to support cognitive health and supplements that people use to boost focus. While these outcomes might overlap, they don't always. 

That is, certain supplements might help boost your focus, but won't necessarily improve overall cognitive function in the long-term. Other supplements, meanwhile, might be great for overall brain health, but you probably won't feel any more focused in the short-term.

You might call this splitting hairs. But it's important to understand this difference so you can choose the right supplements for you. 

After all, there's no shortage of options out there. While many supplements are supported by scientific research, plenty of them, including some popular supplements, are not. You don't want to waste your time taking expensive supplements that aren't actually doing anything!

To help you, we've compiled the ten best supplements for focus and concentration.

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The 10 Best Brain Supplements for Focus and Concentration

#1 Caffeine

Perhaps the most famous and widely used natural supplement, caffeine is well-known for its ability to provide energy and boost focus. Perhaps that's why it's consumed by over four-fifths of U.S. adults!

Multiple studies have confirmed that caffeine can reduce the decline in performance that comes from tiredness and boredom. For example, a systematic review from 2016 concluded that low and moderate doses of caffeine improve cognition.

There are plenty of ways to consume caffeine. Coffee and tea are perhaps the most widely used. For a quicker, targeted dose of caffeine, consider our Brain Boost & Focus Nootropic, which packs 25mg of caffeine in a single serving.

#2 Methylene Blue

A far less famous focus booster, Methylene Blue also features in our Brain Boost & Focus Nootropic. Used for centuries as a dye, studies suggest this compound can improve memory function and protect brain cells from oxidative stress.

#3 CBD

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is used for a wide range of potential health benefits. Most of the benefits of CBD are therapeutic, such as reducing anxiety, inflammation, pain, seizures, and so on.

But research shows that CBD has a significant impact on the brain. Multiple preclinical studies on animal models, for example, suggest that CBD can improve or even restore memory impairments. It could theoretically do this by protecting brain cells from oxidative stress and inflammation. 

Another study, this one from 2020, found that CBD increased blood flow to the hippocampus. Why's that important? Well, the hippocampus is where your brain processes memories.

By boosting memory and reducing anxiety, CBD might be able to help you focus — especially in situations where you might be stressed. 

That's why we offer Energy & Focus CBD Gummies. Each gummy includes 10mg of organic, broad-spectrum hemp extract for a fast-acting and stable energy boost. Broad-spectrum means there is absolutely no THC present to help you perform at your best. If you want something a bit more powerful and euphoric, try our Delta 9 THC Gummies or a versatile oil with THC.  

#4 B Vitamins

B vitamins are some of the most important nutrients for maintaining your brain’s health. That’s not just our opinion, either — it’s what multiple studies suggest, and what Harvard-trained nutritionists advise.

There are eight vitamins in the “B” group, each with its own alternative name:

• B1, also known as thiamin. 
• B2, or riboflavin.
• B3, or niacin.
• B5, or pantothenic acid.
• B6, or pyridoxine.
• B7, or biotin.
• B9, or folate.
• B12, or cobalamin.

You might have heard of some of these individual B vitamins. They each have their own specific benefits. For example, research suggests that deficiencies of B12, B6, and B9 can cause brain fog, memory issues, and other cognitive problems.

While you could certainly take individual B vitamins, one study from 2016 suggests the best option is to try and get all of them. Ideally, this would be through a healthy diet, but could also be achieved through supplements.

#5 Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba, colloquially known as ginkgo, is a tree native to China. It's been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. 

Why? Well, it's packed full of antioxidants, which protect the brain from oxidative stress. Multiple animal studies suggest Ginkgo biloba extract can improve short-term memory and protect from age-related changes to the brain. 

#6 Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)

Fish oil supplements are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, one of the more famous brain supplements available. According to research, supplements with omega-3 fatty acids can improve blood circulation in the brain, which could help improve mental performance.

#7 L-Theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves and some mushrooms. It's thought to help improve mental performance, something it does especially well when combined with another brain supplement on our list, caffeine. That's good news, because green tea contains both!

In one study, from 2021, healthy older adult participants who took a single dose of L-theanine had lower reaction times when completing certain tasks. They also answered more questions correctly and made fewer mistakes on a working memory task. 

#8 Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica, otherwise known as Gotu kola, is a plant native to parts of Asia and Australia. Like ginkgo, Gotu Kola has been used by local medicinal practitioners for centuries. It's even known as the "herb of longevity."

That name comes in part from Gotu kola's potential to improve cognitive function. Early research suggests it might help reverse some of the cognitive decline that comes after incidents like stroke, and it has shown promising potential in treating Alzheimer's disease in animals.

In one study, Gotu kola was shown to be effective at improving memory in stroke victims. 

#9 Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine is a compound derived from an amino acid of the same name. It's involved in energy metabolism within the body.

But research also suggests that it could help improve working memory, which is the short-term memory we use to complete tasks, such as making a decision or solving a problem. It could also help improve episodic memory, which refers to our ability to remember specific things from the past.

#10 Rhodiola Rosea

Colloquially known as golden root, Rhodiola Rosea is a plant that grows in cold regions across Europe and Asia. Research suggests it can help improve memory and learning. 

Dietary Supplements Complement a Healthy Diet

The brain supplements on this list are all great options for people looking for natural focus-boosters and brain-health-enhancers. Remember, though, that dietary supplements are just that — supplementary. They should be taken in addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle, not as a replacement.

Getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet that includes sufficient vitamins and nutrients, and staying active are crucial for maintaining brain health. Brain supplements can help, but they can only do so much.

Fortunately, many of the supplements on this list can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. CBD, for example, is widely used to improve sleep, which is why we offer Sleep & Soothe CBD Gummies.

Conclusion

All kinds of supplements claim to offer cognitive support. All the supplements listed above have at least some research backing their potential benefits, which include improving memory and focus in healthy adults.

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