Omega-3 is a nutritional supplement generally extracted from fish with a high-fat composition. This type of fatty acid is known for the apparent benefits it brings to the health of the skin or hair, among others. However, not everyone knows about the impact of omega-3s on one of the most important organs in the human body: the brain.
Omega-3s appear to have an impressively positive effect on the brain by reducing memory loss and even depression. Therefore, it is necessary to know the benefits that this fatty acid offers to the body and begin to consider adding it to your diet.
Influence of Omega-3 on your brain and mental health
1. Preserves and improves the cell membrane
Omega-3 is a crucial component in the normal functioning of the brain during all stages of people's lives. Consuming these fatty acids directly impacts how the brain operates. Therefore, a sufficient intake of these substances helps reduce memory loss and improves the acquisition of knowledge.
2. Reduces the effects of people with memory loss
The intake of Omega-3 supplements has been linked to a considerable improvement in brain function, reducing the effects of age-related brain conditions and disorders on the individual's cognitive ability.
Unfortunately, Omega-3 has not been proven to have any positive impact on the recovery or condition of Alzheimer's patients. However, starting to consume fatty acids before suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions should be the norm, since it is proven that their intake can be an effective method of prevention.
3. Reduces the severity of mental disorders
It does not sound unreasonable to say that omega-3 improves the state of an individual affected by mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. Although there is still no clear explanation for this fact, groups of researchers suggest that the improvement that these fatty acids suppose for depression comes from their positive effects in terms of serotonin levels in the brain as well as its receptors.
Similarly, other researchers attribute the benefits of omega-3 to its anti-inflammatory effects.
4. Helps the woman during pregnancy
If you are pregnant or planning to be, adding Omega-3 to your diet could be an incredible decision, as these fatty acids appear to have an impressive positive impact on the growth of infants.
Omega-3s during pregnancy have been linked to subsequent benefits in the child such as greater intelligence, better social abilities and may even reduce the likelihood of the developing individual of suffering from autism or cerebral palsy.
5. Reduces the deterioration of the elderly
Aging is necessarily inevitable. However, the diseases that this natural process entails are more than preventable.
The slowdown in brain damage that omega-3 produces is impressive. In fact, low levels of omega-3s in the blood are related to reduced brain mass sizes, that is, to the acceleration of brain deterioration. Therefore, an intake of fatty acids at an early age and throughout the aging process is recommended.
conclusion
Omega-3 provides countless benefits to the mental and brain health of people with slight impairments or of old age. This component is more than essential during the growth and aging of the individual, being useful from before birth to the last moments of life.
In this way, consuming Omega-3 could considerably prevent future diseases and improve the general health of the body.
We leave you the best offers of omega-3 supplements
References
- Pearson, K. How Omega-3 Fish Oil Affects Your Brain and Mental Health. For Healthline [Revised December 2017].