All recipes and information on this page are based on proven scientific evidence.  The aim of this New Brain Nutrition website is to educate you about the role nutrition and lifestyle can play in your mental health.  We take our mission seriously, and are conducting clinical trials and epidemiological research to make connections between a healthier lifestyle and healthier brain function. 

The recipes in the Cooking for your Brain videos below are based on the traditional Mediterranean diet. This diet is associated with many general health benefits, such as protection against cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. Evidence seems to indicate that the Mediterranean diet is linked with good mental health, for instance a lower risk of Alzheimers or depression. See also our downloadable tipsheets which include information on the the Mediterranean diet and the association between the Mediterranean diet and depression.

The Mediterranean diet contains a lot of plant-based foods (fruit, vegetables, nuts and cereals) and virgin olive oil. It also contains moderate amounts of fish and poultry and low amounts of dairy products (mainly cheese and yoghurt) and red meat. Another important aspect of this diet is to eat together with friends or family, as eating with others is associated with higher food quality and better eating habits.

In addition to conducting research on foods for brain health, we are also researching, in separate studies, the effects of supplements and vitamins on brain health.

We are conducting clinical trials with patients of all ages, to see the effects of the Mediterranean diet, elimination diet, supplements such as probiotics and prebiotics, as well as vitamin supplementation.

The four clinical trials are:

1. To determine the short- and long-term effects of a personalized elimination diet (ED) versus a standardized diet according to WHO health guidelines.
    
2. To determine the double-blind placebo controlled (10 weeks) and open label (10 weeks) effects of broadspectrum supplementation.
    
3. To determine the double-blind placebo controlled (10 weeks) and open label (10 weeks) effects of probiotics.
    
4. To determine the short- and long-term effects of an energy-restricted Mediterranean diet with physical activity promotion and behavioural treatment versus an unrestricted caloric Mediterranean diet.