Do I need to take an Omega 3 fish oil?

With Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia on the increase, should we be routinely supplementing our diet with an Omega 3 fish oil

There’s been a lot in the press recently about Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia . It’s on the increase, and many people are worried about developing the disease in later life. One of the most widely researched, and safest nutrients on the planet is DHA Omega 3.

omega 3 fish

DHA is an Omega 3 fatty acid that is the primary structural component found throughout the human body, but it is most abundant in the brain, heart and eyes. The brain tissue is 60% fat, and has a high demand for DHA.

The brains of Alzheimer’s Disease patients have been shown to have a lower content of DHA than the brains of people without Alzheimer’s. Deficiency of DHA is associated with cognitive decline.

In order to help prevent this decline, research (Framingham Heart Study) shows that we should be eating oily fish (tuna, mackerel, herring, salmon, sardines and pilchards – all high in DHA) at least 3 times weekly.

If we don’t ingest enough DHA, saturated fats will be incorporated into the brain nerve cell membranes. These fats make the membranes more rigid, and less flexible and less efficient at passing electrical and chemical messages. As a result, the speed at which one brain nerve cell communicates with the next, slows down.

If you don’t like fish, consider supplementing with a daily Omega 3 fish oil capsule, and do ensure that the fish oil has been sourced from the body of the fish, not the fish liver, that may contain chemical toxins.

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