Brain Function & Fish Oil Benefits

                                        
Here we look at the benefits of fish oil for healthy brain function.  There are literally thousands of published scientific studies concerning the importance of a specific omega-3 fatty acid (DHA) in preventing and treating depression, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, memory loss, stroke, schizophrenia, Huntington’s, bi-polar disorder, post-partum depression and other diseases involving neurons and brain cells.

Brain Function Importance of Omega-3/DHA

The reason that the omega-3 DHA is so important in brain function has to do with the amount of it that is found in organ.  It is composed primarily of polyunsaturated fatty acids and 40% of those PUFAs are DHA.  For many years, it was thought that DHA was not essential to the human diet, because the body can synthesize it from ALA and EPA.  But, now, many researchers refer to DHA as essential, because studies of vegans have shown that increasing intake of ALA does not correct DHA deficiencies.  It is now a common recommendation for vegans to take specific types of algae supplements.  That’s where fish get their DHA, from algae.

Alzheimer’s Disease

One of the latest studies concerning the benefits of fish oil found that DHA deficiency contributed to inflammatory signaling, cellular death and neuron dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease.  Alzheimer’s is a common condition among the elderly that is progressive and degenerative in nature.  Eventually it leads to death.

Strokes

Animal studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation delays cognitive decline that normally accompanies age.  The animals, mostly mice, are better able to remember and negotiate their mazes.  Similar studies have shown that fish oil contributes to functional recovery in stroke victims.

Increased Blood Flow Benefit of Fish Oil

Other studies have looked at how DHA contributes to brain function, when compared to the cholesterol-containing typical Western diet.  Specifically, they were looking at the blood flow and volume, and amyloid beta deposits.  Amyloid betas are misfolded proteins that become hard plaques that eventually kill brain cells.  It is known that amyloid-beta deposition is the primary cause of Alzheimer’s and memory loss in the elderly.  What the researchers have found is that the benefits of fish oil intake include increase in blood flow and volume, as well as decrease in amyloid-beta deposits. 

Eat Healthful Food & Omega-3 Fish Oil

Throughout your life, whenever possible, try to make the healthiest food choices.  Choose fish instead of red meat.  Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.  Try to decrease your intake of saturated fats, while increasing your intake of omega-3 fats.

These efforts not only contribute to healthy brain function, but are also good for the heart, the joints and every cell of the body.  Saturated or omega-6 fats contribute to the production of inflammatory compounds within the human body.  Chronic inflammation contributes to a variety of health problems, including cancer.

There are hundreds of health supplements on the market.  Each is accompanied by one benefit or another.  Many of them help reduce our risk of cancer and heart disease.  They may also prolong our lives.  But, if I could only choose one supplement to take on a daily basis, I would remember the benefits of fish oil and that’s what I would choose.

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