10 Foods & Supplements to Boost Brain Health

Our day to day brain health is dependent on a variety of factors, including a proper balance of neurotransmitters fuelled by amino acids, and lifestyle factors including exercise, sleep and our dietary choices. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies contribute towards poor memory, poor mental function and a general decline in our brain health. Our expert nutritionists share the best foods, nutrients and supplements for improving your brain health so your focus, concentration and memory are at their best.

Best Foods for Brain health

Your diet is always the most important starting point for improving your health, and none more so than your brain health. Your diet really can fuel your memory, focus and concentration, and help combat and overcome brain fog and fatigue. Here are four of the best vegan foods to reach for to fuel your brain health.

1. Nuts and Seeds

Nuts are nutrition power houses! Nuts contain an abundance of healthy omega 3 fats and proteins needed for the production of neurotransmitters which are essential for the structure and function of the brain.

The best nut for brain health is walnuts. Walnuts are the only nuts that contain a significant level of omega 3 fats. Try to ensure walnuts are added to your nut mix to balance out fat ratios. Have you also noticed how walnuts look like a brain? 

60% of our brain is made up of fat, and around half of that is omega 3 fatty acids - learn more in 'What is Omega 3 good for'. As well as nuts, long-chain omega 3 fatty acids are found in oily fish including salmon, mackerel and sardines. If your diet doesn't include these on a regular basis, taking a high quality Omega 3 supplement is recommended to avoid any deficiency in this vital nutrient for you mental health. 

2. Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts

Broccoli and Brussels sprouts contain 'choline'. The body uses choline to make a substance called 'acetylcholine'. Acetylcholine is a critical neurotransmitter which is heavily involved in the function of the brain and body. Without enough acetylcholine, our memory and body's movement are severely impacted. 

Choline is found in eggs, meat and dairy, and while it is found in some vegetables, it's a lot harder to gain sufficient levels of choline on a low-meat or plant-based diet. You may also enjoy 'Mistakes to avoid on a plant-based diet'.

If you have a low meat diet, make a conscious effort to consume lots of choline-rich foods including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chickpeas, lentils, and soya milk. Choline supplementation, or supplements with 'Phosphatidylserine', which is a superior form of Choline, provides daily support for your brain health. You can learn more in 'The benefits of choline and where to find it'.

3. Berries and Cherries

Berries and cherries are rich in antioxidants which help to protect our brain cells from free radical damage. 'Free radicals' are molecules in our body that build up in cells and cause damage to our DNA, lipids and proteins and lead to multiple health conditions, from poor gut health and diabetes and heart disease to cancer. You may enjoy reading about the 'Symptoms of high and low blood sugar'.

The brain is rich in fats which can easily become damaged in the presence of excess free radicals. This damage contributes towards low-grade inflammation, which in turn affects our brain function and moods. Have you read the best foods to improve your mood?.

Try our fabulous Raspberry Smoothie Bowl (Ve) recipe.

4. Dark Chocolate

Cocoa in dark chocolate contains 'flavanones' which promote the health of blood vessels and blood flow to the brain. Flavanones are plant substances which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

These properties help to protect the blood vessels from oxidative damage, promoting good blood flow. Dark chocolate may also be beneficial in the short term as the caffeine content helps to boost brain power and function. You might enjoy our Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe!

You may be interested in exploring the worst foods for memory and brain fog.

Best Supplements for Brain Health

In addition to these foods and a healthy, varied diet, you can supplement your diet with vital nutrients to fuel your memory and brain power. Here are 5 supplements to reach for. 

Omega 3

Omega 3 fats are essential for the function of the brain in several ways. Omega 3 from plant sources usually comes in the form of ALA. ALA is found in flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts. 

ALA gets converted in our body into EPA and DHA. DHA is one of the main structural fats in the brain. When DHA is in chronically low supply, the brain shrinks in size and its function becomes impaired. EPA is needed for the brain cell surfaces and helps with communication between brain cells.

Omega 3 fats also contribute towards the production of anti-inflammatory hormones. Excess inflammation in the body can contribute towards depression and other mental health symptoms. 

Unfortunately, the body is not very efficient at converting ALA into EPA and DHA - it's estimated that around only 10% of ALA is converted into these active forms, which is why an Omega 3 supplement is commonly recommended for anyone looking to improve their brain's performance. 

Vegan Omega 3 algae oil is rich in DHA and EPA and is the ethical and sustainable choice instead of Omega 3 sourced from fish. A common question is how much omega 3 is needed for brain health? The minimum recommended level of EPA and DHA is 250mg per day, and DR.VEGAN's Vegan Omega 3 provides 1000mg of Omega 3 oil with 300mg of DHA and 150mg of EPA.

Brain Fuel^®

Brain Fuel^®, is the #1 nootropic formula for supporting your brain health. A survey of customers taking Brain Fuel^® daily for 3 months showed they enjoyed:

It combines clinically studied active ingredients that improve your focus, concentration, memory recall and retention. Here we explain some of the vital ingredients in Brain Fuel^® and how they work.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is an acclaimed herb for promoting blood flow to the brain by enabling the blood vessels to open, and by helping your blood to become less sticky.

Increased blood flow increases nutrient delivery and uptake by the brain cells, allowing them to function to their full potential. Ginkgo biloba also has a high level of antioxidant activity which helps to protect brain cells from free radical damage.

Phosphatidylserine 

Phosphatidylserine is a 'phospholipid' (part of the cell membrane) and is very similar to choline. It helps our body's cell communication, particularly brain cell communication, which is important for our cognition and our working memory. You may also enjoy reading about the benefits of choline and where to find it in your diet.

B Vitamins

B Vitamins play an essential role in creating neurotransmitters which control our brain function and emotions. B vitamins are also needed for the outer coating of nerves and brain cells called the 'myelin'. The myelin in our cells helps to control the speed of nerve and brain cell communications which in turn helps to regulate our brain activity.

As a result, ensuring you have sufficient B vitamins in your diet is vital, and in particular Vitamin B12 which is a common deficiency if you're on a plant-based diet or eat little meat. Learn more about the 5 signs you may be low in Vitamin B12.

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa has potent antioxidant properties which helps to protect brain cells from free radical damage. Studies show Bacopa may increase the length of 'dendrites' which are a part of the nerve and brain cells linked to learning and memory, and may also improve the speed of processing visual information and our rate of learning.

BacoMind^® is the patented and acclaimed form of Bacopa Monnieri, shown in clinical studies to improve memory processing and recall by 24% among adults. It has also been shown to help treat symptoms of ADHD by 'enhancing self-control and attention while reducing restlessness'. Learn more about why BacoMind^® is good for memory retention in 'Why BacoMind^® will enhance your productivity'.

Best Things to Do for Brain Health

Aside from diet and supplements, there are other important ways to improve your brain function and performance. 

Exercise and Brain Health

Exercise is great for brain health for a few reasons. First, it induces feel good endorphins which create a sense of well-being. Second, exercise triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, both of which help to regulate our mood.  Third, exercise is often recommended by doctors to help improve symptoms of depression. Three good reasons to exercise! 

Meditation

Meditation has long been used as a technique to re-wire the brain for more positive emotions, and it improves the way in which the body deals with stress and emotions.

Use Your Brain

Using your brain is important! Learning a new skill or engaging your brain in new or complex tasks frequently helps to build connections, improving overall brain health.

Summary

Taking supplements containing essential vitamins and minerals that your brain needs to function properly alongside a varied diet is a great way to ensure that you are getting the nutrients you need to support your memory, concentration and overall brain health.

Try Brain Fuel^®, our advanced vegan formula of clinically proven ingredients to combat brain fog and improve your memory, focus and cognitive performance.

You may also be interested in reading 'Nootropics: Everything you need to know' and 'Mushrooms and brain health'.

*Based on a UK 3 month survey asking user ratings each month, conducted by DR.VEGAN^® of 40 customers, nationally representative, during January 2024. All survey findings reflect our own research efforts and have not been influenced or verified by any external organisations or third-party entities.

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