Can a snack bar do more than simply keep hunger at bay? INDI’s new Brain Bar combines 16 plant-based ingredients, more than 6g of fibre and a blend of functional ingredients in a chocolate-and-berry snack designed with brain health, focus and everyday energy in mind.
As our understanding of the relationship between nutrition, the gut and the brain continues to grow, functional foods are moving beyond protein and energy to target more specific areas of everyday wellbeing. The latest launch from plant-based nutrition brand INDI taps into this trend with its new Brain Bar, a nutrient-dense snack created to bring together whole-food nutrition, fibre and ingredients commonly associated with cognitive wellbeing.
Launching this October, the raw snack bar contains 16 different plant foods and more than 6g of fibre, alongside ingredients including lion’s mane mushroom, haskap berry, rhodiola rosea and guarana.
What is the INDI Brain Bar?
The INDI Brain Bar takes the brand’s existing MIND superfood powder blend and turns it into an easy-to-carry snack.
Rather than creating another conventional protein or energy bar, INDI has focused on a combination of plant diversity, fibre and functional ingredients. The bar has a chewy almond butter and date base with chopped walnuts, flax seeds and puffed quinoa, while cranberry, blueberry and haskap berry add natural sweetness and complement its rich chocolate flavour.
Each bar contains just under 4g of naturally occurring sugar, with no added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
For those trying to increase the variety of plants in their diet, the inclusion of 16 plant-based ingredients in a single bar is particularly interesting. INDI positions this diversity as a convenient way to contribute towards the often-discussed goal of eating around 30 different plant foods each week.
What ingredients are in the INDI Brain Bar?
Among its combination of whole foods and botanicals, several ingredients have been selected specifically with mental performance and wellbeing in mind.
Lion’s mane mushroom has become an increasingly popular functional mushroom and is being studied for its potential relationship with cognitive and neurological health. While research is still developing, its inclusion reflects the growing interest in nootropics and food-based approaches to supporting brain health.
Haskap berries are naturally rich in anthocyanins and other polyphenols. These deeply coloured berries are valued for their antioxidant content and are increasingly appearing in functional foods.
Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogenic herb traditionally used to help the body cope with periods of stress and fatigue, while guarana is a natural source of caffeine and other plant compounds. Because guarana contains caffeine, anyone who is sensitive to stimulants may want to take this into consideration, particularly when eating the bar later in the day.
Walnuts, flax seeds, berries, quinoa, dates and almonds add further plant diversity, fibre and micronutrients.
A High-Fibre Plant-Based Snack
While the more unusual functional ingredients may attract attention, one of the Brain Bar’s more straightforward nutritional benefits is its fibre content.
Each bar provides more than 6g of fibre, making it a useful option for people looking to increase their dietary fibre intake. Fibre contributes to digestive health and helps make foods more satisfying, while eating a varied range of plant foods can also support greater diversity within the diet.
The Brain Bar is 100% plant-based and gluten-free, with no added sugars, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavourings, emulsifiers or preservatives.
Helen Snook, Co-Founder of INDI, explains:
“Following the success of our Gut Bar, we’ve been hard at work to bring all the goodness of our MIND supplement into one tasty snack. Combining great taste, nutrient-dense ingredients and targeted nutritional benefits, our new Brain Bar supports everyday wellness and delivers big on plant diversity, really helping you hit that 30-plants-a-week goal.”
She adds that the chocolate-and-berry bar has been formulated around ingredients selected to support focus and mental energy while maintaining INDI’s emphasis on whole-food nutrition.
“Each bar contains 16 diverse superfoods which are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, has more than 6g of gut-friendly fibre and has just 3.9g of naturally occurring sugars, with no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, synthetic flavours or unnecessary additives.”
Can Food Help Support Brain Health?
There is no single food or supplement that can guarantee better concentration or cognitive health. Brain wellbeing is influenced by a much wider combination of nutrition, sleep, physical activity, stress, social connection and overall lifestyle.
However, the growing functional-food category reflects an interesting change in how we think about snacking. Rather than viewing snacks simply as something to bridge the gap between meals, products are increasingly being developed around fibre, plant diversity and ingredients selected for specific nutritional purposes.
Dr Linda Patel PhD, INDI’s Chief Nutritionist, says the aim is to make supporting everyday nutrition easier:
“It’s more than just supplementation; it’s a smarter, more intentional way to support overall well-being. This new Brain Bar is a great example — it nourishes your brain with the nutrients it needs to stay sharp, without caffeine jitters or afternoon crashes.”
It is worth noting that the bar contains guarana, which is naturally a source of caffeine, so individual responses will vary.
Who Is Behind INDI?
INDI was launched in 2020 by husband-and-wife founders Chris and Helen Snook, who set out to create convenient plant-based snacks and supplements focused on everyday nutritional needs.
The company combines whole-food ingredients with nutrition-led formulations, with products designed around common areas of wellbeing. The arrival of Brain Bar takes the INDI collection of plant-based snacks and supplements to four products.
For consumers increasingly interested in what sits between conventional snacking and supplementation, the Brain Bar is an interesting addition. It brings together the convenience and enjoyment of a chocolate-and-berry snack with fibre, plant diversity and some of the functional ingredients currently generating considerable interest in the world of nutrition and cognitive wellbeing.
INDI Brain Bar launches this October.
Find out more from INDI and follow @indisupplements for the latest product news.
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