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Q: Why Do We Need Supplements for Focus and Concentration?

Many people are deficient in vitamins and minerals important for brain health, such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. So, even if we had all the nutrients we needed (which we don’t), many people would struggle to focus on their daily tasks, which is why many use vitamin supplements for concentration.

Q: How do we pick the right supplements for Concentration?

Brain health is directly linked to nutrition, and you should focus on supplementing with vitamins or minerals that are lacking in your diet, such as B vitamins and choline. Additionally, look for supplements that have gone through 3rd party testing and contain plenty of active ingredients to ensure you’re getting trustworthy vitamin supplements for concentration.

Published by Isabella on October 25, 2022

What Supplements Should I Take to Concentrate?

While dietary supplements aren’t a magic cure for declining focus, they may help you stay focussed throughout, and they’re almost definitely healthier than drinking five cups of coffee a day. The following vitamins, minerals and natural extracts have been proven to support cognitive function, including memory, creative thinking and concentration:

Vitamin D

D vitamins are some of the best things you can take if you’re trying to find vitamin supplements for concentration, as they support healthy nerve function and overall brain health. Furthermore, low vitamin D levels are linked to impaired brain function, and most Americans suffer from low vitamin D levels, so it’s a good place to start supplementing.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is incredibly important for brain health, as it helps to maintain nerve cells in your brain and may boost your mental energy levels, as it is vital for your body’s energy production. In contrast, low levels of vitamin B12 have been linked to lower cognive performance and memory loss in older age, so an adequate intake of this vitamin is vital for your long-term brain health.

RELATED: Learn more about the eight B vitamins and their benefits here.

Choline

Although it technically isn’t a vitamin, choline is a water-soluble essential nutrient that supports brain development and nerve function, making it a worthy addition to any list of vitamin supplements for concentration. Choline is related to other important vitamins like folate and the B vitamin family, and while it has many common food sources, most Americans are choline deficient, according to the choline information council.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for brain function and development, and low levels of omega-3s are linked to accelerated brain aging, poor short-term memory and mental health issues. While omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines, most Americans don’t get enough to meet the recommended daily amounts, so we recommend fish oil supplements whether you need vitamin supplements for concentration or not.

RELATED: Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in various supplements like fish oil and cod liver oil – read more about their pros and cons here.

Herbal Supplements (nootropics)

The term “nootropics” refers to substances that boost your cognitive performance (by improving energy, concentration, memory, etc.) and is used to refer to a variety of herbal extracts that may boost your brain power. These herbal supplements have been proven to improve cognitive function and support brain health and include:

RELATED: Learn more about the brain-boosting benefits of herbal supplements here.

Ginseng

Panax ginseng (ginseng for short) is a root that resembles ginger and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. A 2010 study found that supplementing with ginseng improved calmness and ability to do math in participants, making it as effective as any other vitamin supplements for concentration.

MCTs

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are more bioavailable than common long-chain triglycerides (LCT) and offer many brain-health benefits, especially in people with Alzheimer’s. Studies show that MCT supplements increase brain energy and can even provide energy to dying brain cells, promoting concentration and supporting brain health as you age.

L-theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid found in black and green tea that helps to improve attention and brain function by increasing the formation of alpha waves and neurotransmitters like GABA and dopamine in the brain. You can easily incorporate l-theanine into your daily routine by drinking a couple of cups of green tea – with an average of 25-60mg of l-theanine per cup – and you may not need to take vitamin supplements for concentration as well.

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola is an herb native to cold, mountainous regions of Europe and Asia with adaptogenic properties, meaning it helps your body adapt to stress. A 2012 study found that supplementing with 400mg of rhodiola rosea per day significantly improved symptoms of stress like fatigue and anxiety, improving cognitive function.

Maca Root

Maca root is believed to be a superfood with some nootropic benefits, as it works directly on two regions of the brain (the pituitary gland and hypothalamus) to help boost concentration. Some studies show that maca root can improve mood and energy, making it a good herbal equivalent to vitamin supplements for concentration.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba is a popular herbal supplement with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, but it may also help boost your cognitive ability. Ginkgo biloba is known to improve circulation – an important factor for brain health – but there are limited studies showing it can directly improve cognitive function.

Ginger

Widely used in traditional medicine and Asian cuisine, ginger contains 14 unique bioactive compounds with various health benefits, including antioxidant effects. The compounds in ginger have been found to improve cognitive function and maintain brain health, so you should consider taking ginger alongside vitamin supplements for concentration.

Turmeric

Like ginger, turmeric is tasty and good for you, as the bioactive compound in turmeric – curcumin – may help to treat anxiety, depression and more. Furthermore, these health benefits are present in all forms of turmeric, whether you prefer to eat it fresh, cook with turmeric powder or use turmeric supplements.

Why Do We Need Supplements for Focus and Concentration?

While modern living has given us unprecedented wealth and luxury, it also brings constant stimulation and distractions that drain our focus and concentration. Our brains weren’t designed to handle social media and near-limitless entertainment in the palm of our hands, leaving you overwhelmed and less able to focus on the important things in life

Furthermore, many people are deficient in vitamins and minerals important for brain health, such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. So, even if we had all the nutrients we needed (which we don’t), many people would struggle to focus on their daily tasks, which is why many use vitamin supplements for concentration.

How do we pick the right supplements for Concentration?

If you find your mind wandering at work or struggle to focus during conversations, you may benefit from taking a supplement for concentration. However, finding the right supplement for your needs can be tough, as each ingredient in the list above has unique health benefits.

Because your brain health is directly linked to nutrition, you should focus on supplementing with vitamins or minerals that are lacking in your diet, such as B vitamins and choline. Additionally, look for supplements that have gone through 3^rd party testing and contain plenty of active ingredients to ensure you’re getting trustworthy vitamin supplements for concentration.

How Can I Increase My Concentration and Focus?

Concentration is defined as the ability to direct your attention whilst excluding unrelated thoughts and ideas, but many people struggle to stay on task when a dozen other things are fighting for their attention. While it’s not possible to eliminate all distractions from our lives, we can increase our concentration and focus with some simple lifestyle changes, including:

Reducing Distractions

It’s easier to focus when we’re not bombarded with information, so try blocking out an hour or so to focus on a specific task, go somewhere quiet and hide or turn off your phone to eliminate distractions.

Tackling One Task at a Time

While multitasking can make us feel more productive, it divides focus across multiple tasks, and can interfere with our working memory, so taking things one step at a time might help you more than some vitamin supplements for concentration.

Getting more sleep

Sleep is vital for letting your mind and body recharge, so make sure you get the recommended 7-9 hours of shuteye by sticking to a set bed-time and avoiding screen time before bed to give your brain the rest it needs to function well.

Taking a break

When you focus on a single task for a long time, your concentration may begin to wane, so try taking a small break by switching tasks, taking a short walk or chat to a friend or colleague to recharge your focus.

Exercise

Regular exercise is great for general health, and can even improve your cognitive performance: Studies show that exercise releases chemicals that are key for memory and concentration, and subjects performend better on cognitive tests after exercise, so a jog may be better for you than vitamin supplements for concentration.

Best Vitamin Supplements For Concentration

Your brain health and concentration are directly linked to your lifestyle, so eating a balanced diet exercising regularly and getting plenty of sleep are the best ways to improve your concentration and focus. However, many people struggle to get enough vitamins and minerals from their diet alone, so dietary supplements are a great way to ensure you give your brain the nutrients it needs.

However, not all supplements are created equal, so here are our recommendations for supplements that are proven to improve your cognitive performance and concentration: