What can Omega-3 fatty acids do for my emotional and nervous system health?
We’ve all heard that fish is considered “brain food”. In fact, the most polyunsaturated of the Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, makes up the majority constituent of the gray matter of the brain. The fat in your brain, as well as your retinas, makes up the type of fat that forms cell membranes. Neurons in the brain, the cells that transmit chemical messages, are also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Actually, there is more DHA in our neurons than in our red blood cells. Research in the last few years has revealed that diets rich in Omega-3 fatty acids may help promote a healthy emotional balance and positive mood, and may help us maintain a healthy mental state in our later years. Researchers speculate that a diet rich in the Omega-3 fatty acid DHA, found in fish oil, may help to promote a healthy emotional balance and positive mood, in part because DHA is a primary component of the synaptic membranes (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol.
