What's the Importance of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Brain Health?

A growing number of experts agree that omega-3 fatty acids affect almost every body system.

Research has documented the connection between omega-3s in several neurological and psychological conditions. A recent study found a correlation between omega-3 fatty acids that are related to an increased risk in Alzheimer’s.

How to get your omega-3s

The Harvard Medical School Guide, Understanding Inflammation, suggests a few specific foods that provide healthy doses of omega-3 fatty acids, which have long been shown to reduce inflammation:

• Olive oil
• Flaxseed oil
• Fatty fish (salmon, sardines and mackerel)

The National Institutes of Health says that omega-3 fatty acids affect almost every body system and numerous health conditions. Some of the interest in omega-3s is traced back to observations that Greenland Inuit people (who have a high diet in fish oils) have lower serum cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) than might be expected.

Evidence has been mounting over recent years for the positive effects on various disease processes and risk factors. Let’s look at a few of the areas positively affected by omega-3 intake, including brain health:

• Neurological and psychological conditions: The relationship between omega-3 intake and these conditions is grounded in known aspects of brain and neuron physiology. Adequate omega-3 intake seems to help prevent cognitive decline in people’s middle and later years.
  Omega-3 fatty acids have also been studied in the context of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and depression. They have found that some children respond to omega-3 supplementation.

• Cardiovascular: Perhaps the most well-known effects of omega-3s are on the cardiovascular system (CS). And dietary fish consumption and fish oil supplementation have been studied on coronary artery disease (CAD), arrhythmias, heart failure, and hypertension.

• Ophthalmological: Dietary intake of omega 3s may benefit age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eye syndrome. In fact, several studies have shown a decreased risk of AMD when people ate fish two or more times per week.
  And people with dry eye syndrome (DES) are linked to a decreased dietary intake of omega-3s or a high ratio of dietary omega-6.

• Other Body Systems: Additionally, there are even more health conditions and body systems affected by dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids to include dermatological (skin conditions), and arthritis and joint health.

Add omega-3s to your diet today!

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Click here to read the full article by the National Institutes of Health.