Many natural food health food shops have companies that say that they sell unusual DHA and brain development products. There is a lot of confusion that is caused by these advertising campaigns. This article will cover the real link between these two areas and what can be done about it.
There are eight omega 3 fatty acids. The two found in fish oil are called DHA and EPA. Even though they all work together, there are several factors that have persuaded consumers to use DHA rich products as a replacement for the older 18/12 EPA supplement formulations.
1] DHA is literally twenty five [25!] per cent of our brains. That is the number to remember when questioning why there is a DHA and brain development connection. Low levels of it put people at risk for mental problems like depression, cognition issues and ADD.
2] Pre-natal children who have a deficiency are more at risk of slower IQ development, visual problems and more limited physical progress. These and other facts finally persuaded the American FDA to approve DHA being added to infant formula. This had already been legal in Asia and Europe.
3] Experts have known for years that humans possess an exceptional brain-to-body size ratio. This comes at a price. We need three to four times more energy to sustain our brain than any of the other primate species. Other primates or mammals can spend their time searching for food but humans have the mental ability to build houses, fashion art or develop complex communal gatherings.
A question often comes up. Is it necessary to have DHA and brain development? What about the other omega 3s? Will they help? The answer is that a few of them will but not as effectively.
DHA is a complex molecule - keep in mind, it is the longest chain fatty acid. What happens is that our bodies can change it to less complicated omega 3s when needed. In basic terms, complex to simple is less difficult. Any product, especially for the brain, should have more DHA than the other omega 3s.
Many people just do not totally understand how important the nutritional connection there is between DHA and brain development. They continue to use mediocre omega 3 fish oil supplements or none at all.
The FDA suggests a maximum of two servings of fish per week. Different health experts think that is too much. You can ignore them and take your chances with the various health issues that they are worried about - or - you can take a quality omega 3 product. The quality companies believe in full disclosure. Look at their websites for formulations and independent lab reports to prove purity.
Author Resource:
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