SEARCH:
Sign in | Join | Help
search Mercola.com
 
FREE Subscription 
The World’s Most Popular Natural Health Newsletter
Newest Thoughts on Brain Food

Fish have long been regarded as “brain food” because of their high content of omega-3 fatty acids.

Historically, omega-3 fats have been said to improve brain development and maintenance. Now, two new studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition provide further evidence for the beneficial effects of omega-3 fats, including better performance or preservation of your brain function as you age.

While numerous studies exist showing diets high in omega-3 fats lower your risk of dementia, these newer studies looked at the benefits of omega-3 fats among healthy people, with the hope that they would prevent progression to dementia.

More than 5 million Americans have some form of Alzheimer’s disease, and just as many suffer from vascular dementia, so preventing and slowing the progression of neurodegenerative disorders is a public health imperative.

The studies found:
  • A diet high in fish and fish products is associated with better cognitive performance
  • Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids were associated with less decline in the speed-related cognitive domains
It often takes decades for dementia to develop and brain volume to shrink. These studies of the benefits of omega-3 fats on brain function offer an opportunity for early intervention to maintain your brain function and slow progression to dementia.
 
Sources:

Sources:

Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It is now clearer than ever that consuming plenty of omega-3 fats will help to keep your brain functioning at its optimal level, even as you age. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are not a normal part of aging, and neither is becoming forgetful or otherwise senile. 

One of the easiest and most powerful things you can do to keep your brain healthy is to get enough omega-3 fats. The evidence on this just keeps pouring in, and this month alone there were two important studies on the topic published in my absolute favorite nutrition journal,  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN).

The first looked at the relationship between fish consumption and brain performance in the elderly. It is thought that cognitive impairment and dementia among this age group are directly influenced by how much seafood (rich in omega-3 fats) is eaten.

Sure enough, it was found that among the elderly, those who ate plenty of fish and seafood had better cognitive performance. And the more fish they ate, the better their brain function was.

In fact, those who ate 10 grams or more of seafood a day had up to an 80 percent reduced risk of having poor scores on brain function tests compared to those who ate less seafood. In case you forgot your metrics, 10 grams is a mere one-third of one ounce, so for a week that would be a whopping two ounces.

The best results seemed to come from eating non-processed lean fish and fatty fish. Not surprisingly, benefits from eating processed fish and fish sandwiches were inconsistent, “possibly because cooking and preparation methods influence the nutritive value of the meal,” the researchers said.

Does this mean that you should start eating more non-processed seafood? Absolutely not, and I’ll explain why later.

But first let’s take a look at what the second AJCN study found.

It’s known that the rate of cognitive decline varies significantly between individuals, and it’s known that omega-3 fats found in fish and fish oils can account for some of these differences. A lower intake of omega-3 fats tends to lead to cognitive impairment and mental decline.

This study looked at the association between omega-3 fats and brain function in five specific cognitive domains over a three-year period.

They found that a higher intake of omega-3 fats resulted in less decline in the sensorimotor speed and complex speed cognitive domains. 

Folks, this is very clear-cut evidence. If you eat more omega-3 fats, you will keep your brain functioning better, and slow its decline as you age.

The Best Sources of Omega-3 Fats

There is an interesting discussion brewing below among Vital Votes readers about the best way to get your omega-3s. Hands down, the best way would have been to eat oily fish like salmon -- but now that most all fish is contaminated with pollutants, it is not safe to eat, in my opinion.

If you’d like to stick with fish as your source of omega-3 fats, I would highly recommend that you only eat small fish (which have not had time to bioaccumulate toxins) like sardines and anchovies. You can also eat fish that you know have been tested and shown not to contain harmful levels of mercury and other toxins. Currently, I know of only one such brand, Vital Choice Wild Red Salmon.

What about taking fish oil or cod liver oil? I used to highly recommend this as an excellent source of omega-3, and I still do in some cases, but there are drawbacks to getting your omega-3 in this form.

Unfortunately, fish oil is weak in antioxidant content. Not only that, but as you increase your intake of omega-3 fats by consuming fish oil, you actually increase your need for even more antioxidant protection.

Why?

Well, fish oil is highly perishable. Antioxidants are necessary to ensure that the fish oil doesn't oxidize and become rancid inside your body (oxidation leads to the formation of unhealthy free radicals). Because of this, I now recommend that you get your omega-3 fats from Antarctic krill oil. It is superior to fish oil because it contains phospholipids, antioxidants and omega-3 bonded together in a way that keeps them safe from oxidation and easily absorbed in your body.

Personally, I take krill oil every day. I particularly appreciate the fact that the omega-3 is attached to phospholipids that dramatically increase its absorption, especially into brain tissue.

So with krill oil, you can ensure that you’re getting these incredibly healthy fats without having to worry about oxidation issues.

How to Optimize Your Brain Function

Omega-3 fats have been found time and time again to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and slow age-related mental decline.

Please be aware that getting enough omega-3 fats is only part of the equation. You also need to lower your intake of omega-6 fats, which many of you likely get way too much of (they’re found in vegetable oils like corn, soy, safflower, sunflower and canola).

The ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats is 1:1. Your ancestors evolved over many thousands of years on this ratio. Today though, Americans’ ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 averages from 20:1 to 50:1! That spells serious danger for you.

Simply cutting back on processed foods (which are loaded with vegetable oils) and taking a high-quality krill oil daily (or eating sardines/anchovies) will start you on a path toward your ideal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.

What else can you do to keep your brain function strong?


Related Links:



Comment on This Article Community Comments (71)
 
 
Posted On Nov 11, 2007
When I attempt to explain the need for correct consumption of saturated fats and Omega3s people think I'm nuts as all the nutritional advice STILL says 'low fat' and no saturates.
Even explaining that arterial plaque is mostly polyunsaturated in structure ....
and have they ever noticed the stickiness of recently spilt vegetable oil?....but never sticky coconut oil...they still think I'm nuts!!
Just as well we are not an endangered species eh?!

 
david
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 8/2006
david  
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Nov 12, 2007
They that believe a low, or no fat, diet, or consumption of the wrong domestic hydrogenated fats, is a good thing, (a FALSE premise) are setting themselves up for a Darwin Award nomination, with their own health demise.

Uncle Russ


Cinnabar
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 11/2007
Cinnabar  
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

Conventional medicine is a good thirty years behind alternative medicine.



Pat Ormsby
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Pat Ormsby  
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

Good one, Uncle Russ!

The other day I was explaining to the local ladies my diet strategy, central to which is taking care to get lots of good fats.  They all thought they'd heard me wrong.  I explained in detail pretty much what Dr. Mercola has above, with the exception of the importance of getting unadulterated Omega-6 as well, in the proper ratio.  They listened because the results show.  I think the Japanese have famously excellent health largely because they relish raw fish.  I also think many of the current crop of health problems (diabetes is rampant) result from pollution of said fish.  Word is that 90% of women here have endometriosis.  Could it be the dioxins?



godfreygirl
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
godfreygirl  
 
Posted On Jun 10, 2008

For David....I agree with you 100%.  I have been SO health conscience via healthy eating and exercise.  Just TRY saying something (in a very nice way) to someone who is drenching their food in salt, plate high in gravy, butter...and so on...your views on healthy eating and WHY!  They DO look at you like your nuts or some kind of fanatic!  It's like they have NO clue even with our TV having programs very often about the importance of this.  They just DO NOT seem to GET IT!  Maybe they just to not want any kind of advice because they didn't ASK for it.  I guess I should just keep my mouth shut and LET them slowly kill themselves....SO frustrating!!


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 09, 2007
Remember that it is the ratio of Omega-3s to Omega-6s that is also important.  Too many Omega-6s increase the general inflammatory state of the body.  Poly unsaturated oils are usually high in Omega-6s.  Also, just say NO to margarine. 

Oops, it was the main stream medical health care establishment that has told us for 40 years to use poly unsaturated oils and use margarine.

Russ, you are right when you say: "It's the quality of the fats taken, stupid."

 
foxtroter_203
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 9/2006
foxtroter_203  
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Nov 12, 2007
Natural fats and oils (olive, coconut, flax, chia, butter, cream, meat marbling from grass fed, palm, expeller pressed, organic eggs, etc.) remain far safer and nutritionally superior (as well as better tasting) to partial or wholly hydrogenated, fractionated or otherwise manipulated (corn, cotton, peanut, soy, canola/rapeseed, etc.).


Sheila C
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 1/2007
Sheila C  
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

Thanks Russ, I think I'll eat my chia pet now.



K.T.
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
K.T.  
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

smclark7 I loved your comment about eating your chia pet!


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

I agree with all aspects of this article bar one: while krill may be the best source for omega 3 fats and at the same time contain necessary anti-oxidants, it has one major flaw in my opinion.

Krill is the bottom of the food chain.  This is one of two major food sources for blue and gray whales.  At this moment, Japan has been harvesting krill and the other major food source for these large sea mammals: plankton.  If you devastate the bottom of the food chain, the devastation will quickly work its way up.

So while krill oil may be ideal for human consumption, it is perhaps not the moral, responsible choice for consumption.


 
cydwatts
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2007
cydwatts  
Replied

condy
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2006
condy  
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

This is my big concern too. I just recently started using krill oil, but in the past couple of weeks I've heard from more than one source that harvesting krill can result in major problems for whales. So now I'm torn: what safe choice do I have?

Margaret



Cinnabar
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 11/2007
Cinnabar  
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

I agree.  If humans eat consume something that has a detrimental effect on our system  as a whole, no one wins in the end.  I'm going to look for an alternative.

I am a member of the Nature Conservancy, and in the new issue of their magazine, one article discusses anchovies as a more sustainable alternative to larger fishes like tuna.  It takes much less energy to produce these little fish, because they are at the bottom of the food chain.  However, this seems to contradict what is being written here.  Does anyone wish to comment for or against eating anchovies in relation to personal health and environmental issues?



godfreygirl
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
godfreygirl  
 
Posted On Jun 10, 2008

As for me, I TOTALLY agree with you.  There are WAY too many creatures on our earth that are becoming extinct and I believe MOST of it (maybe ALL of it) is because we humans are NOT taking care of our planet.  We would NOT have to try and rely on alternatives to fish or anything else if it were not for US polluting our environment.  It's SUCH a dilemma...how can you change people and the way they do things?  It's almost impossible...even when we're bombarded with it on the news and other informative sources like the National Geographic channel.  We've become WAY to concerned with just ME, ME, ME and not on the consequence of what we are doing to our planet.  We ARE going to pay the price and that is SUCH a VERY sad thing.  (I will add that I am 'guilty as charged' for doing the VERY same things many, many times just to save money...but, what ARE we to do?  I only wish I had a 'soapbox' to get on and try to DRILL this into people...SIGH!!!!!   :-o   :-(


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 30, 2007

My 6'2" son had severe leg pains and cramps as a teenager. I took him to the doctor who told me that it was "growing pains" and he would have to learn to live with it. A research scientist from England said that 75% of all humans are allergic to dairy products and that we needed Omega 3 fish oil for our joints.

I convinced my son to stop eating dairy products and take 10-15 Omega 3 capsules a day, but only because he wanted to continue playing basketball. Within 2 weeks all pain ceased, but he hated taking them. He stopped when he graduated. Now he is a basketball coach and has players who have experienced the same thing he did. (Omega 3 deficiency)

Through the years I have tried various different Omega 3 supplements and fish products. All have been rejected by my children and grandchildren. Recently I found a brand that meets most of the requirements that everyone on this blog has been talking about; purity (free of heavy metals, PCB's or dioxin), from the smaller oily fishes; mackerel, sardines and anchovies, freshness with protection against oxidation damage, absorption in the intestines instead of the stomach and easy to take with no fishy aftertaste.

I talked my son into taking a capsule one morning after eating cereal with milk (What can I say...he's a grown man now) He refused until I challenged him. He did not get sick or purp that familiar yuky taste. Now even my 6 year old granddaughter swallows the pretty large capsule without water. No fuss and no struggle. After a couple of days of taking the supplement, my 9 year old granddaughter stopped wetting the bed! I read of a child taking this supplement and ADHD symptoms seemed to vanish. Another child stopped having frequent urinary tract infections. My son's headaches have stopped and I am praying that it will help him realize how smart his parents are.

Email me if you want to know the name of the product: hopkibm@yahoo.com.


 
authorklhop
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 9/2006
authorklhop  
 
 
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

Uncle Russ:

I'm disappointed in you.  Calling somebody stupid is not an effective way to teach.  

Perka


 
Perka
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 10/2006
Perka  
 
 
 
 
© Copyright 2009 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.