Food for Thought

In the blog I wrote for BrainReady, I mention exciting new research regarding Alzheimer’s dementia. This new information suggests that omega-3 fats can preserve brain health surprisingly well. The Journal of Neuroscience recently published a study reporting treatment success with DHA, one of the two beneficial fatty acids found in fish oil.

Mice were bred to form brain lesions similar to those in Alzheimer’s dementia sufferers. When these mice were given supplements of DHA, these pathological injuries seemed to go away! No human studies have been accomplished so far with DHA supplements. But there have been several research studies which conclude that those who eat more fish have less risk of dementia.

Fish oil fats are strong inhibitors of inflammation. And inflammatory mechanisms may be at the root of Alzheimers’ dementia as well as cardiovascular disease.

DHA is a primary component of brain tissue. So, it makes sense to think that having plenty of this building-block material around would help the nerve cells repair themselves. We can’t make new nerve or brain cells. But the body has many repair mechanisms to repair and regenerate cellular structures, to keep them healthy.

DHA has even been added to some infant formulas. Research suggests that this supplementation can make smarter children. Since the brain continues to develop throughout the first few years of life, the right building blocks are needed for this process. The crucial building material seems to be DHA.

You can read more about the numerous health and weight loss benefits of the omega-3 fats found in fish oil, including improved fat burning in muscle tissue, in the Secrets and Supplements section. Some studies suggest that these fat-burning fats can enhance weight loss. The two chief fats found in fish oil are EPA and DHA. The body can convert EPA into more DHA.

But even if you are not interested in weight loss, you should make sure that you are getting enough of these fishy fats in your diet or take a good supplement. Evidence is mounting that fish oil fats can improve brain cell function, stabilize heart rhythm, improve cholesterol profiles, and fight inflammation. Animals given fish oil fats have showed actual regression of tumors as well as the Alzheimer’s-type brain lesions.

I hope I have convinced you of the benefits of a healthy diet and supplement program. If you want to age well, you need to be proactive. The Standard American Diet (SAD) will not do the trick.

Both the affects of aging as well as toxins and injury can harm your brain. But with optimal nutrition, you can increase your body’s ability to provide damage control. Fish oil is a primary tool in your arsenal for brain protection. (I take fish oil supplements every day.) A good supply of the full gamut of vitamins and minerals are needed as well.

Don’t forget about the “3 rejuvenators” ,as I call them. These are acetyl-l-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, and alpha lipoic acid. They can provide high level fire power for those of us who are (ahem) over a certain age.

These powerful (and natural) compounds have been shown to increase the ability of old rats to negotiate a maze as well as their younger counterparts. The “rejuvenators” protect the mitochondria in brain cells in addition to those in your muscles. The brain needs a lot of energy not only to think but to maintain its youthful vigor through the use of many repair mechanisms.

It’s never too late to make changes to help turn back the clock. Wine can age well, or turn to vinegar, depending on its biochemistry. Your brain is the same. Preserve it now with super nutrition to keep it functioning well in your later years.