It is a known fact that our long term diet habits as well as choice of nutrition can affect the way we feel and look. However, now it is also proven that it can effect how we tend to think. So the term “food for thought” is valid after all!

One may find it strange that our stomach can have so much effect on our brains, but recent researches gave clearly established the fact that a lot of psychiatric, mental and emotional disorders, such as bi-polar disorder, depression and even schizophrenia are more affected by the cause of wrong diet than by faulty genetics. The fact remains true for patients of memory loss as well. Same goes for people with learning disorders, Alzheimer’s, or trouble with blue moods. In most of the cases, these patients have a diet that lacks in the omega 3 oils. These are nothing but fatty acids that are found in fishes of the cold water, such as cod, herring and salmon.

Omega-3 acids for healthy brain

The fatty acid omega 3, that is also known as the DGA or the docosahexaenoic acid has been proved to be quite essential for the right brain functioning. According to the experts, the fish food has been known as brain food for a reason, the reason being it is a good source of DHA that is a fatty acid found in great concentration in the brain cells. In fact DHA is important for the functioning of the cell membranes of the brain, which in turn are responsible for transmitting the brain signals. The fatty acid omega3, especially the DHA makes the cell membranes of the brain a lot more fluid that improves the brain cell communication. Needless to say, when there is a lack of these acids in one’s body, a sort of communication breakdown can occur in their brain, which is anything but preferable.

The fatty acid Omega-3 is so crucial for the maintenance and development of the mind, that some scientists even believe that it was owing to the presence of this acid in the brain that caused the human mind to evolve to the next stage. However, sadly enough, while this acid was quite abundant in the human diet before the twentieth century, it is now highly lacking in diet chart of any average individual. Like said by some experts, the brain is like a machine that needs oil. The oils of the brain are nothing but the omega 6 and the omega 3 fatty acids. The T\typical modern diet though tends to include lots of omega 6, in the form of soybean, corn, and processed foods, it seriously lacks in the omega 3 oils that nevertheless is extremely crucial for mental well being.

This acid is needed by pregnant women too during their pregnancy period to combat mood swings and depression that is not uncommon for expecting mothers. All in all, the fatty acid Omega 3 is a must, for brain health.