| > | | | | appear to have the most brain benefit. |
| Fish has been touted as brain food for a long | | | | To complicate things even further, most animals |
| time. New research shows that people with high | | | | can convert the short-chain to long chain forms, |
| levels of omega-3s in their blood are have greater | | | | but humans are not very good at this. If we |
| brain health in old age. However, there's no quick | | | | want to increase long-chain omega-3s in our blood |
| fix. | | | | and increase our odds of aging with a healthy |
| Copyright (c) 2008 BrainFit For Life | | | | brain, eating sources of long-chain omega-3s is our |
| A lot research has focused on omega-3 fats as | | | | best bet. Fish is the #1 source. |
| good for body and brain function. Scientists have | | | | If you don't eat about 3 servings of fish per |
| scrutinized these fats in everything from heart | | | | week, you should really consider taking a fish oil |
| disease and diabetes to depression, bipolar illness, | | | | supplement on a regular basis. If you are a |
| schizophrenia, ADHD and Alzheimer's. The latest | | | | vegetarian who does not eat fish at all, don't fret, |
| papers to add to the experimental pile come from | | | | there are also algal oil supplements out there that |
| a recent edition of the American Journal of Clinical | | | | have the long-chain omega-3s. After all, fish can't |
| Nutrition. | | | | make omega-3s either. They get them by eating |
| The new studies evaluate omega-3s in people in | | | | marine plants (or eating other fish that eat marine |
| their 70s and 80s and relate to cognitive function, | | | | plants). Fish are just good at concentrating |
| mood and mental well-being. The bottom line to | | | | omega-3s in their meat, so are a great source for |
| the new findings is that having higher levels of | | | | us folks that don't like chewing on seaweed. |
| omega-3s in your blood protects you from many | | | | Fish has been considered brain food for the better |
| cognitive problems of old age. The downside is | | | | part of a couple of centuries. Whether you like it |
| that you can't just start taking them in your 70s | | | | or not, our bodies are designed to run best on a |
| and expect quick results. However, longer use | | | | diet high in marine sources. If you look at the |
| may still be beneficial. | | | | cultures around the world who enjoy longevity |
| So what's the best way to boost omega-3 levels | | | | and vibrant health into their old age, you will find |
| in your blood. First, you have to understand that | | | | fish as a staple in all of them. |
| there are different kinds of omega-3s that come | | | | There is nothing new to this advice. Only that we |
| from different sources. The kind of omega-3s | | | | are now beginning to understand why fish and the |
| that are good for your brain are called 'long-chain' | | | | omega-3s they give us, are important for many |
| omega-3s, most commonly DHA and EPA, and | | | | aspects of our mood and metabolism. Once again, |
| fish is the best source for these. | | | | science finally catches up to age-old wisdom to |
| You may have heard that things like flaxseed oil | | | | support what we have known all along - Fish is |
| and walnuts are high in omega-3s as well. Although | | | | brain food, eat it and prosper. |
| this is true, these foods are only high in | | | | Reference: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| 'short-chain' omega-3s, which are not the kind that | | | | (2008). 88: pp 595, 706, 714, 722. |