04/25/2024
Are you currently taking a good DHA supplement? If not I'm happy to recommend a good quality one. In addition, check out some of the food sources published in this post by Dr. Mark Hyman.
Grey matter in the brain is where we process and release new information, allowing us to control movement, memory, and emotions. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the most abundant essential omega-3 fatty acid in the brain and is particularly concentrated in grey matter.
Wild foods are high in omega-3 and lower in omega-6 fats. As hunter-gatherers, we consumed a ratio between 1:1 and 3:1 of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. Now, on a junk food, fast-food diet, that ratio can get as high as 20:1.
We already know that omega-3 fatty acids from things like small, fatty fish are critical for balancing inflammation in the body this is just one more reason to include them in a healthy brain-building diet as we age.
Not only do nuts and seeds contain a nice balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats, but they’re also loaded with vitamins, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and antioxidants like vitamin E, which prevent oxidation of the fats.
Walnuts, flaxseeds, h**p seeds, and chia seeds are some of the richest sources of plant-based omega-3 fats.
A trial of a nut- and seed-free diet may be useful for certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune disease. But for most of us, nuts and seeds are nutritional and disease-fighting superfoods.
DOI: 10.3390/nu14122408
