Grandma was right. She knew fish was brain food and she didn't need a science degree to figure it out.
Every day there seems to be good news about fish oil and how it benefits your brain. Scientists have proven that fish oil benefits the brain from a baby in the womb to an elderly person suffering from Alzheimer's.
Seventy percent of a baby's brain is made up of omega 3 DHA and EPA fatty acids. Did you know a baby's brain is made up of 70% omega 3 fatty acids ? DHA and EPA. The optimum development of a baby's brain and emotional wellbeing depends on these fatty acids. And a baby's only source of these nutrients is from mom's diet. Leading health authorities such as the National Institutes of Health believe all pregnant and lactating women should take omega 3 DHA and EPA supplements on a daily basis ? 1200 mg to be exact.
Recent studies, however, showed the average omega 3 intake of pregnant and nursing mothers was only 18% of what's recommended. And only 3% percent of women get the DHA and EPA their babies need.
If the fetus doesn't get the DHA and EPA necessary for optimum brain development from the mother's diet, it takes what it can from the mother's brain. As a result of this depletion of DHA and EPA, many women lose as much as 3% of their brain mass during pregnancy. Many researchers think could be a major cause of post-partum blues.
And, if mother's not eating fish, you better believe her adolescent and teenage children aren't getting the DHA and EPA they need. The resulting omega 3 deficiency has been linked to the childhood behavior problems, temper tantrums and learning difficulties of ADD and ADHD.
However, British scientists recently discovered that omega 3 fish oil supplements can significantly reduce the symptoms of dyslexia, ADHD and ADD. After putting the children on omega 3 capsules for just six months, the children's spelling score was six months higher and their reading skills were a year higher.
Eating fish two or three times a week and/or taking a daily omega 3 fish supplement with DHA and EPA is good for adult brains too.
Dietary deficiencies of omega 3 DHA and EPA have been linked to a higher incidence of migraine headaches, depression and bipolar disorder. Eating more fish or taking fish oil supplements, on the other hand, has been found to provide good quality, natural relief for these conditions.
Alzheimer's disease now affects some 5 million Americans and that number is expected vastly increase over the next twenty years as the baby boomer generation begins to age. Studies have shown that people who ate the most fish and had the highest DHA levels had 47% less dementia and 39% less Alzheimer's.
Fish oil also helps prevent "brain attack" or stroke. A Harvard Medical School study of over 43,000 men over a period of 12 years reported that men who eat fish just once a month had a 44% less risk of ischemic (blood clot) stroke than those men who ate fish less than once a month. Taking a daily aspirin, by the way, reduces stroke risk by only 21%.
So, like I said, Grandma was right. Fish is brain food. So be good little boys and girls and listen to Grammy's advice.
