One of the reason EFAs (Essential fatty Acids), of which Omega threes are a big part have such a celebrity reputation is that they are nothing short of fantastic for our brain. Our brains actually depend on them and the reason for this is that our brains are made up of 25% or a quarter Omega three fatty acids, excluding the water of course. There are many connections on the benefits of fish oil can have on mental health.
There were some studies done to illustrate this fact and one measured the DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an Omega 3 polyunsaturated fat found in oily fish, in selected children’s umbilical cords. It was found that the children with umbilical cords high in DHA were faster thinkers eight years later compared with children with umbilical cords low in DHA. Another study gave infants extra DHA for the first four months of their lives and found them to be faster thinkers six years later.
The benefits of fish oil do not only benefit the young. It has been found that a diet high in Omega 3 fatty acids, in particular DHA reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by a massive 60%. This was from research conducted by DR. Martha Morris of Chicago’s Rush Institute for healthy aging. Other research has shown that EFAs such as the Omega 3s found in oily fish are so essential that our brain practically cannot function without them. A diet deficient in EFAs leads to a lower IQ, poor memory and a big tendency toward depression. Without them our hormones go totally out of whack and this in turn leads to mood swings, PMS, sugar and saturated fat cravings and accordingly weight gain. This will in turn make us even more depressed.
Thus the benefits of fish oil for mental health are self evident and go hand in hand. These EFAs are essential, not recommended for our health and in a society deficient in them, we had better pay attention or all end up slaves to Prozac and other anti-depressants with nasty side effects.
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