Only 5% of those on fish oil went on to develop full-blown psychosis versus 28% of those who got psychotherapy alone.
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OMEGA 3 THE PERFECT ANTI-DEPRESSION BRAIN FOOD
Young patients, suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, improved dramatically while on fish oil for 12 weeks. After taking fish oil only two weeks , they showed fewer signs of disorganized or delusional thinking, more motivation, and better overall functioning than those in a comparison group, who just got psychotherapy.
After a year on the fish oil, they continued to function still better, have fewer symptoms, and were less likely to suffer a psychotic episode than those who did not get the fish oil. Only 5% of those on fish oil went on to develop full-blown psychosis versus 28% of those who got psychotherapy alone.
Man never was the biggest, fastest, nor strongest animal. Dinosaurs ruled the world for millions of years, but we outlived them by being smarter. Our brain size radically increases once we started eating fruit, fish and animal foods. Today, though we live in a wealthy society, our diets are very deficient in crucial nutrients, especially Omega-3 brain food.
Since 1930, our intake of omega-3 has decreased by 80%. In the past, we ate fish seven days a week, today we eat very little fish and suffer from a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids. This deficiency may be a reason for our increased incidence of heart and brain diseases.
BRAIN FUNCTION
The brain is the greediest organ in your body and has high dietary requirements. The old sayings: “Fish Is Brain Food”, “Eating Fish Will Make You Smart” may well be true. Sixty percent of your brain solid matter is composed of essential fatty acids that are a large portion of their communicating membranes of the brain.
Most neurotransmitters in the brain are composed of fatty acids, which support acetylcholine secretion and help cognitive abilities. These transmitters have intricate wiring controls that control our actions, thinking, and moods.
Brain cells have omega-3 in every cell membrane. If they don’t function well, neither will your brain. Omega-3 is found in the fatty membranes of every brain nerve cell. You feed the brain with effective nutrients it will perform better.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Essential fatty acids have become synonymous with fish oil in modern american marketing. Unsaturated fats found in the oils of some fish as: salmon, vegetables and certain nuts and seeds. They are healthier than the saturated fats found in meats and dairy products and help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They are called essential because he must be obtained through the diet and are necessary for the growth and function of muscles, nerves cells and organs in humans. There are two families of essential fatty acids omega-3 and Omega-6.
Omega-6, present in saturated fatty acids, have a straight structure while omega-3 is markedly curved. The saturated straight fatty acids are closely packed together in a cell, which makes them stiff while the curb fatty acids in EPA can’t be packed so closely take more space and make the cell walls more plastic and less stiff.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in many cold-water fish including salmon and trout, sardines, anchovies herring, tuna and cod. EPA and DHA are the two most potent forms of omega-3 fatty acids and are known as good fats unlike saturated fats. The other form of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, is a major component of human brain and retinal tissue and is essential for the transmission of nerve impulses.
Cold-water fish contain omega-3 fats and DHA, that boost brain development. One should eat oily fish three times a week, or consider a mixed fish oil supplement that has at least 500 mg of EPA and DHA combined
BENEFITS OF OMEGA-3
Everyone agrees the benefits of fish oil and essential fatty acids in the diet. Omega-3 fatty acids can help cardiovascular health and good unsaturated fats from fish unlike bad saturated fats from red meat, animal products and dairy.
Omega-3 fatty acids keep our joints flexible, and skin more elastic. It is in each brain cell and increases nitric oxide, synthase, a mediator of transmission in the brain. EPA helps produce hormone like substances, prostaglandins that control blood clotting and artery function.
Omega-3 supplements in children were found to improve attention deficit hyperactive disorders. DHEA is important in fetal and infant mineral development, and is now even available in infant formulas. It incorporates into the brain and retinal cell membranes especially the last trimester and early infant life.
Children with low levels of omega-3 exhibit a great number of behavioral problems, temper tantrums, learning problems and sleep disturbances. Those given fish oil supplements, concentrated better, were less impulsive and are calmer.
Consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids can also reduce coronary heart disease risk and reduce dementia. It has prevented the buildup of amyloidal protein in the brains of rats, as seen in Alzheimer’s. When you eat too little fat, your body warns you by causing depressions.
WILD SALMON
Omega-3 rich salmon, sardines, anchovies, and herring and other deep cold-water fish are loaded with omega-3. These are essential for brain function and also contain anti-inflammatory substances.
Wild salmon, fighting for survival in the fierce oceans and rivers, have developed strong muscular tissue and their fat levels have increased. Wild salmon is incredibly good for brain health and is one of the healthiest foods you can eat and is best source of essential fatty acids, as omega-3. It also has the lowest amounts of contaminants as mercury, among all the seafood. Your will note improvement in your brain matter, mood, synaptic connections, your arteries, and you will reduces your risk of stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Despite its high costs, your brain and body are worth it.
Most fish oil is extracted from the fatty flesh of these fish. Nutritious fish oil from cold-water fish in the wild is great because the fish required vegetation to survive. The best fish come from the deep Atlantic of Norway and other Scandinavian countries. The colder the water, the less chance of toxins as mercury, lead, dioxins and PCB
FARM RAISED SALMON
Today most salmon served in restaurants is farmed salmon. Most are grown in good sustainable, eco-friendly farmed salmon operations. Most farm-raised salmon exist in a locked up, artificial, and occasionally contaminated environment. They are fed food to make them look orange and healthy instead of white and sickly. Often color is added after to give the orange look to make them acceptable.
Salmon reared in fish farms are customarily fed grains, are grayish white in color, not quite as bad as we are accustomed to. A normal wild diet of smaller salmon gives it its robust red color and its omega-3 fatty acids. The heart and brain benefits are not as protective as wild caught salmon, since they have less omega 3.
OMEGA-3 SUPPLEMENTS
Fish oil is extracted naturally by pressing or by centrifuging. Cold pressing means that the oil was produced without damaging temperature or unnecessary pressure. Some is extracted from petrochemical solvents as hexane. There are hundreds of thousands of fish oil supplements on the market, all unregulated by the FDA. Safety, efficacy and strength vary immensely among brands. Look for terms cold water, as opposed to farm raised. If the fish oil is molecularly distilled, it ensures the absence of heavy metals and other contaminants as PCB. If the fish oil is extracted from fish liver it can be high in heavy metals and contaminants. North Atlantic deep cold-water fish is the most nutritious.
COMMENTARY
Try to offset the temptations of junk food with its high levels of saturated fats and give yourself lower fat options. Perhaps manufactures should use omega-3 has an additive in all kinds of food including ice cream. Taking it will help your heart, your immune system your mood, your aging brain and you’re dimming eyes. It may even help ward off cancer.
One must remember that fish become rancid immediately after death. Unstable fish oils have a poor unpalatable taste. If you bite the tasty oil and it is unpleasant, the oil is unstable. Stable fish oil has a neutral taste and is odorless. Grilling or frying the fish destroys the oils
Natural fish oils are more favorable than chemically modified supplements, and have a balanced mixture of fatty acids. Chemically modified products, have higher concentrations of EPA and DHA at the expense of other antioxidants. The living fish has a potent antioxidant system that is lost during preparation, resulting in free radical formation. Fish oil preparations are restored by the addition of a mixture of natural antioxidants.
Since omega-3 reduces the ability of the blood to clot and increases risk of bleeding, caution must be used if you are taking a blood thinner, as aspirin or warfarin.
Besides fighting depression and psychosis, it makes sense to add it to your dietary regimen since it also reduces your total cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and lowers your blood pressure.
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1 comment:
this is a great article. I wholeheaartedly agree that omega 3 is essential to good healthy brain function. I found another great resource, a free bonus book all about Brain food. My whole family now follow this way of eating and we have all seen improvement.
Free bonus book about Brain Food
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