Why fish oil is brain fuel

Most people will have heard that fish is good for the brain
but not everyone understands just why the fatty acids found
in fish are so important, and are still unaware of what
happens if they don't get enough in their diet.

A healthy brain relies on Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These long chain
polyunsaturated Omega 3 fatty acids are the building blocks
of the brain itself and are only found in any significant
quantities in oily fish and of course fish oil. The other
Omega 3 fatty acid is Alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which can
be found in some vegetable oils, nuts and plants however,
we cannot easily convert this into EPA and DHA which means
we have to source these two directly from fish.

Most health professionals believe that DHA is the fatty
acid that is most important for healthy structure and
development of the brain and for vision so it is vital that
there is enough DHA in the diet during pregnancy and in the
first few years of a child's life. EPA on the other hand,
is essential for healthy functioning of the brain on a day
to day basis, which means that throughout your life you
need a constant supply of EPA.

Sadly, for most people, this just isn't happening as our
diets tend to be rich in Omega 6 fatty acids and poor in
fish sources of Omega 3. Omega 6 is abundant in vegetable
oils, processed foods, meats and dairy products.
Furthermore, if the brain cannot get the fatty acids it
needs it will rely on replacement fatty acids that just
aren't cut out for the job. It's a bit like putting the
wrong fuel in your car and expecting it to run smoothly.
Many health professionals are now attributing a number of
diseases and health problems to the imbalance between Omega
3 and Omega 6 in our diets and this view is backed up by an
increasing number of clinical trials and studies.

If we relate this to mental health for example, people with
depressive disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, memory
problems, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia,
have been found to have low concentrations of Omega 3 in
their blood along with a high ratio of Omega 6. Why would
this have such an impact? Well, every second of our lives
we are converting fatty acids into eicosanoids. Eicosanoids
are hormone-like compounds that control every physiological
function in the body and depending on what fatty acids are
available, for example Omega 3 or Omega 6, the eicosanoids
will either be anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory.

Omega 6 fatty acids are known to be pro-inflammatory, they
help the blood to clot, and promote tumour growth. Omega 3
fatty acids do exactly the opposite so it isn't hard to
imagine that a diet too rich in Omega 6 and too poor in
Omega 3 can have a devastating effect on both physical and
mental wellbeing.

Of course if a lack of Omega 3 fatty acids can result in
depression and other conditions affecting the brain then it
stands to reason that increasing intake of Omega 3 might
offer some therapeutic value to help treat these conditions
and this is exactly what research has found. However, it
must be remembered that adequate amounts of Omega 3 should
be present in the diet in the first place and if this was
happening, there might be fewer mental health problems
today. Let's have a look at a small sample of studies
showing how Omega 3 fatty acids contribute to a healthy
brain.

How Omega 3 makes a difference to brain health

. Research by the University of Western Australia found
that women who took fish oil supplements during the latter
part of their pregnancy had babies with better hand to eye
coordination, were better speakers and could understand
more at the age of two and a half, than babies whose
mothers who were given olive oil instead

. A study by Aberdeen University and led by professor
Lawrence Whalley found that fish oil helps the brain to
work faster, increases IQ scores and slows down the ageing
process.

. The Durham trials led by Dr Madeleine Portwood have
consistently found that fish oil improves behaviour,
concentration and learning in the classroom.

. One study by researcher Natalie Sinn in Australia found
fish oil to be more effective than Ritalin for ADHD.

. Hibbeln et al looked at diet in 22 countries and found an
association between low fish consumption and postnatal
depression.

. Here in the UK, Dr Malcolm Peet found that ethyl-EPA, a
highly concentrated form of Omega 3, dramatically reduces
depression.

Conclusion

The research continues and no doubt we will be hearing more
about the wonders of Omega 3 and its effect on brain power
in the future. In the meantime, there is sufficient
evidence to show that every single one of us can benefit by
increasing the amount of Omega 3 we have in our diet.
Eating more fish is a possibility but not advisable due to
toxins and other pollutants in our fish. However,
concentrated high-grade fish oil is a perfectly feasible
and much safer way of getting enough Omega 3 to give your
brain the best chance of staying oiled up and in good
working order.

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Dave McEvoy is an expert in omega 3 fish oil EPA with over
20 years experience; for more information about fish oil
and how it can help come and visit. http://www.mind1st.co.uk