Italian students urged to use super‑foods for 2026 Maturità oral exams

More than 500,000 Italian students preparing for the 2026 Maturità oral exams have been advised to adopt a targeted nutrition plan. Immunologist and nutrition professor Mauro Minelli of the University of Lum Giuseppe Degennaro explains that the brain functions like a high‑performance engine and needs specific “bio‑chemical fuel.”

He recommends three categories of super‑foods: for memory and neuronal plasticity, oily fish such as salmon, sardines or anchovies, plus nuts and seeds rich in omega‑3s, vitamin E and zinc; for concentration and sustained energy, low‑glycaemic cereals (oats, farro, brown rice), dark chocolate (75‑80 % cocoa), blueberries and other berries; and for calm and stress management, bananas, eggs (source of choline) and leafy greens (spinach, beet greens) which provide magnesium and tryptophan. Hydration is highlighted as essential.

The strategy is presented as a way to optimise cognitive performance, reduce anxiety and maintain alertness during the intensive revision period before the oral tests.