In the health community, the brain food fish association has been recognized for years. Ordinary consumers are aware of the benefits derived from omega 3 rich fish or fish oil supplements. People understand how omega 3s help cardiovascular issues, visual problems and joint diseases. This list is too short, because the benefits to the brain may be as strong as for any organ in the body.
Recently, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published three studies from Norway, New Zealand and the Netherlands. All three studies found that higher blood levels of the omega 3s found in fish oil were associated with better cognitive development in adults.
Previous studies in other countries have not only documented the brain food fish oil connection in adults, but also in children. Young children who had omega 3 deficiencies in the womb had lower IQs, poorer vision and slower cognitive development. The mothers were more likely to suffer from post-partum depression.
Another recent long term study, from The Archives of Neurology, looked at adults. It found that elderly people who ate seafood at least once a week did better on tests of memory and mental acuity, and had a 10 percent slower decline in mental skills each year.
Dr. John A. Boockvar, an assistant professor of brain surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, stated that "we know it improves brain functioning."
People, who have been following the research the past thirty years, will not be surprised at these results. Their are numerous reasons why the omega 3s in fish are thought of as brain food. One of the more obvious ones is that 25% of our brains are literally made of omega 3s.
Omega 3s are also the major building blocks of every cell membrane in the body. They help control what goes in and what comes out. In other words, they maintain cell fluidity. If there are too few omega 3s in the cell membranes, the body replaces them with saturated fats instead.
This clogs up organs all over the body, not just the brain. Think of it this way. How well will your car run if you rarely change the oil? After a while, the car will not run at all.
The problem is solving the deficiency. The FDA and others caution about eating too much seafood because of all the ocean toxins they absorb. Farmed species can be just as bad but for different reasons.
For most of us, that means taking a good fish oil supplement. It will give you the nutrients you need without the risk.
The research associating brain food and fish is overwhelming. My website can help your research with finding the best way to add omega 3s to your diet.
Author Resource:
Get my free five-part mini course on the benefits of omega 3, including critical information on why you should take omega3 fish oil .
To sign up for the course and get more tips on the importance of omega 3, visit my website: http://www.omega-3-guide.com/
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