In today's fast-paced world, more and more people are becoming interested in the quest for healthy brain function. Many turn to supplementation to enhance their cognitive abilities, but with so many options on the market, how do you choose the right brain supplement for you?

1. Identify your needs

There’s a lot of brain supplements on the market and you should be clear on what functions you want to target. There are three broad categories these fall under:

• Memory
• Focus
• Brain Health

If you’re looking to improve your memory, lion’s mane mushroom is a common choice. Similarly, if you’re struggling with focus and ‘brain fog’, ingredients like L-Theanine (an amino acid found in green tea) can help. Brain health is the last, and in our opinion most important, goal. If your brain is healthy, your memory and focus will follow. While you might not feel dramatic changes in the short-term, proper supplementation is essential for long-term cognitive health.

2. Avoid caffeine and other stimulants

While stimulants like caffeine or racetams can make you feel more alert, they can also cause jitters, dependency, and poor sleep. Taking a daily supplement with stimulants has the risk of fostering addiction and withdrawal symptoms, so when you don’t take it, you feel even more tired than before. Stimulants can also lead to difficulty sleeping, interrupting the crucial memory and learning processes your brain undergoes at night.

3. Check for quality

When choosing a supplement, it’s important to pick one that’s reputably sourced and manufactured. Here’s a few things to look out for:

• Be cautious of supplements claiming FDA approval - the FDA does not review or approve of any claims made by supplements
• Look for products made in a cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) facility
• Make sure finished products are 3rd-party tested for quality and safety
• Read the ingredients list – check for allergens, artificial preservatives, and filler ingredients

 4. See if there's a product guarantee

Supplements affect different people in different ways – every body is different. If you’re on the fence and you’ve made sure it’s a safe, high-quality product, see if the seller offers some sort of guarantee. Many reputable brands will offer some sort of trial or money-back guarantee and you can try it out to see if it works for you.