With school back in session, it’s likely we could all use a little extra boost in brain power. After spending the summer relaxing, it’s always hard to get back into a professional routine. If you find yourself struggling to stay on top of everything this fall, one vitamin supplement may be able to help increase our concentration and memory.
Some researchers say that taking a fish oil supplement may actually increase brain function and possibly reduce the chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s find out what research has found and if it is worth including fish oil with our daily multivitamin.
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Fish oil is the oil that comes from the tissues of oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna. Fish oil is beneficial to our bodies because it contains omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – both of which are vital in maintaining healthy brain function.
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that “omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. They are necessary for human health, but the body cannot produce them. You have to get them through food.” Many people do not get the recommended dose of omega-3 that experts suggest is necessary to our health.
According to a website that provides information about omega-3, Meg-3, it is explained that “most Omega-3 experts recommend that adults should consume about 500 mg of Omega-3 EPA/DHA per day (equivalent to two fatty fish meals per week) to maintain overall good health.” If including fish into your diet twice a week isn’t something you see as feasible, you might want to consider taking a supplement, especially after what researchers are suggesting it can do for your brain.
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The University of Maryland Medical Center states that “several studies show that reduced intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with increased risk of age-related cognitive decline or dementia, including Alzheimer disease.” In these studies, it is believed that those who had a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia than those people who had lower amounts of omega-3.
A health and wellness website, Care 2, explains that “many studies find [that] one particular omega-3 fat, DHA, can significantly delay the onset of age-related dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.” It is believed that the increase of omega-3 can lead to a healthier brain, especially when it comes to memory. Care 2 states that a “study, published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found that people with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids may also have larger brain volumes in old age—equivalent to preserving one to two years of brain health.”
If keeping our brain healthy is as simple as eating the right foods, it seems we should all do our best to eat some extra omega-3-filled foods.
Verdict: Fact. Fish oil has been proven to help promote brain health. Besides for fish dishes, foods such as spinach, raspberries, and eggs have high contents of omega-3. Talk to your doctor about including more omega-3 rich foods into your diet, or consider taking a supplement to help keep your brain at its best!
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What are some more omega 3 benefits you’re aware of?
