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Is Fish Good for the Brain? You bet it
is.
Scientists think
they have evidence that fish oil could cure mental disorders such as
depression, Alzheimers, schizophrenia and dyslexia – conditions
increasingly common in the Western world.
“This
really does represent a breakthrough in the managing of individual
depressions”, Alexandra Richardson, Senior Neuroscience Research
Fellow at Britain’s University of Oxford, told a seminar about
depression in Stockholm recently.
“If the
brain does not have the right fats, it will not be working right.” The
right fats to beat the blues are large amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids,
found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel.
Richardson’s research found that the lack of these fats – which are
needed for the normal development and functioning of brain cells –
causes depression, autism, dyslexia and ADHD (attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder) in some people.
Depression has become increasingly common in the 20th
century and one in four people will suffer from a mental or
neurological disorder during their lifetime, according to World Health
Organisation data.
High
levels of stress, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine consumption can
further decrease the levels of fatty acids, aggravating or even
creating mental disorders, Richardson said. She believes there is a
link between the dramatic increase of depression and changing eating
patterns in the West. In countries where people eat less fish the
increase in the incidence of depression is higher than in, for
instance, Japan where fish consumption remains high, Richardson said.
She said
everyone could benefit from increasing their intake of Omega-3 fatty
acids. “There is little to lose. There are hardly any negative
side-effects, only nice cosmetic ones such as nice shiny hair, strong
nails and healthy looking skin.”
Recommended fish oils (You can click on these supplements to go to the
products on our website) are:
You can
also read more information on this subject in our full article -
Fish Oils and Mental Health.
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