Nutrition Articles

Did you know that the brain is 60% fat and essential fatty acids, mainly Omega 3, make up the great majority?

What the heck are Omega 3 fatty acids and what are the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids?

I'm glad you asked.

Essentially, Omega 3 fatty acids are the building blocks of the brain and the nervous system.

There are two kinds of Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) that are nutritionally required for you to survive: Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids. These essential fats cannot be synthesized in your body but make up very critical components of your cells and influencing many key body functions such as blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation, immune function, and cognitive (brain) function.

Most people get very little, if any, of the optimal Omega 3 fatty acids in their diets causing a whole host of health issues linked to various mental and emotional disorders.

Low levels of Omega 3 fatty acids have been linked to memory loss, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, autism and general learning difficulties or bad moods. "If you don't feed brain cell membranes enough of the right type of fat, the messages can be short-circuited and garbled. That may mean a disturbance in mood, concentration, memory, attention, and behavior," writes Miracle Cures author Jean Carper.

Depression is now being linked to low levels of Omega 3 since Omega 3 fatty acids help regulate mood by increasing levels of serotonin, the hormone that relieves depression.

Is it any wonder that depression is at an all time high?

Omega 3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect. The brain does not function well unless adequate amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids circulate in the bloodstream. Some experts even believe that Omega 3 fatty acids, the type found in fish and Omega 3 fish oil, may be the "magic intelligence-boosting" ingredient.

I would agree. The benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids are astounding.

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in two sources: plant foods (grains, fruits, vegetables, and oils) or aquatic plants (algae, plankton, and seaweed) and animals (fish and shellfish).

Omega 6 fatty acids are found in grains, seeds, vegetables, and meats such as chicken, beef, pork, and lamb. Omega 6 fatty acids are incredibly abundant in today's modern day diet causing a dangerous imbalance.

Most people consume at least 10 times more Omega 6 fatty acids than they do Omega 3 fatty acids which is why increasing your intake of Omega 3 fatty acids is so crucial to your brain health.

The average diet today contains roughly 20 to 40 parts Omega 6 to each one part Omega 3!

This is a huge problem.

Omega 6 fatty acids are contained in our cooking oils, meats, poultry, and processed or prepared foods that dominate most modern diets more and more these days. Experts, including myself, believe it is much more realistic to increase Omega 3 intake than it is to decrease Omega 6 intake (although decreasing Omega 6 fatty acid consumption to some degree should be seriously considered as well).

The solution to help you boost your Omega 3 intake, boost your brain power, and slow the aging process:

Eat plenty of cold-water fish such as tuna, trout, mackerel, and wild salmon and be sure to supplement with a high quality Omega 3 fish oil (especially if you don't eat fish). The belief that "fish is brain food" has been held around the world for well over two thousand years and the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids is clear.

My favorite and personal choice is "Wild Alaskan Salmon" and "Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Oil otherwise known as Omega 3 fish oil.

But be careful!

Low quality or "farm raised" fish often contain contaminants and very high levels of mercury. You don't want that or you won't reap the powerful, life changing benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids!

From now on when you order fish at a restaurant or buy it at a grocery store find out if it is "farm raised" or "Wild." "Wild" basically means organic and is is your top source, hands down.

The impact of Omega 3 fish oils on the brain is astounding and the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids is truly incredible. When the brain is healthy, the body is healthy, and everything else tends to follow.

Take care of your brain and it will take care of you.