Dr. Daniel Amen's: 11 Simple Food Rules for a Healthy Brain & Body

Dr. Daniel Amen's: 11 Simple Food Rules for a Healthy Brain & Body

Author: Dr Daniel & Tana Amen July 10, 2026 Duration: 46:40

Food is medicine, or it's poison. Knowing what to eat and having the discipline to stick to the plan are usually the biggest game-changers for improving the health of both your body and your brain. In this video, Dr. Amen shares his 11 simple food rules you can begin implementing in your life today to optimize your health and be your best. In 2020, The BMJ published a study exploring the role diet and nutrition play in mental health, with the lead authors stating, "Poor nutrition may be a causal factor in the experience of low mood, and improving diet may help to protect not only the physical health but also the mental health of the population." In other words, food matters for mental health. Unfortunately, a number of foods and food ingredients, common in the standard American diet, are toxic to mental health. They can harm your brain and put you at increased risk for brain and mental health conditions such as depression, ADD/ADHD, anxiety disorders, and dementia. Awareness of the following toxic foods can help you to avoid what increases mental health problems and choose brain-healthy foods instead.


What if the small, daily decisions you make about food, thought patterns, and lifestyle are actively shaping your biology for better or worse? That’s the central exploration you’ll find within Change Your Brain Every Day, a conversation hosted by Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen. Moving beyond theory, this podcast delivers practical, actionable strategies rooted in clinical experience. Each episode feels like a direct consultation, where the Amens translate complex neuroscience into clear steps anyone can use. You’ll hear them discuss how specific habits influence conditions like anxiety, focus, and low mood, offering a tangible sense of agency over your own mental and physical well-being. The tone is both authoritative and deeply encouraging, stripping away the overwhelm that often accompanies health advice. Rather than promising a single miracle cure, the focus is on sustainable, incremental change-the kind that compounds over weeks and months to create lasting results. Tuning into this podcast is an investment in understanding the direct connection between your daily life and your brain’s health. It’s for anyone who feels stuck in unhelpful cycles or is simply curious about optimizing their mind. The Amens act as guides, providing the tools to not just manage symptoms, but to fundamentally reshape your approach to your own health journey, one day at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Change Your Brain Every Day
Podcast Episodes
Mariel Hemingway: Breaking Generational Trauma Before It Breaks You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In this powerful conversation, Dr. Daniel Amen sits down with Mariel Hemingway to explore the deep connection between family emotional history, trauma, mental health, and hormones. During the interview, Dr. Amen shares M…
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For some people, the choice to take antidepressants leads to a happier, healthier quality of life. For others, it only makes things worse. Therefore it's crucial to understand the benefits and drawbacks of choosing this…
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In this week's episode, Dr. Amen is joined by music singer and songwriter Christine D'Clairo. Christine opens up about the trauma that shaped her life, the silent battles she faced, and the journey toward healing. From s…
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Duration: 12:53
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Duration: 38:42
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This Is Your Brain on Food with Dr. Uma Naidoo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:38
This episode features information, tips, and how to's on food and its effects on the brain. Dr. Uma Naidoo is the director of nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, writer for the Harvard…