Fish Oil Makes You Smarter

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http://www.mercola.com/2005/aug/25/fish_oil_makes_you_smarter.htm

 

Fish Oil Makes You Smarter

 

A recent review of studies, including about 50 that have not yet been

published, supports the theory that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a form

of omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, improves cognitive and

behavioral performance.

 

Based on the studies, researchers suggest that small differences in

brain concentrations of DHA, such as those that most likely occur

between infants fed supplemented or unsupplemented formulas, may

result in subtle effects that currently are difficult to detect but

could be significant. Animal studies have provided convincing and

consistent evidence linking a decrease in brain concentrations of DHA

to decreased performance on cognitive or behavioral tests.

 

 

 

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition August 2005, 82(2): 281-295

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

The evidence continues to mount that omega-3 fats are vital for proper

brain function. That's one of the primary reasons why I often remind

you it's tremendously important for pregnant women to be sure they are

receiving the optimal amount of omega-3 fats if they do not want to

risk the health of their unborn baby.

 

There is very little doubt in my mind that this is the single most

important nutritional deficiency in the United States. There would be

a massive improvement in our health if more people started consuming

fish oil.

 

Fish or cod liver oil is really the only " supplement " I routinely

take. I put supplement in quotes because I really don't believe that

fish or cod liver oil is a supplement at all, but rather is a food.

The unfortunate reason the extracted oil is a superior option to fish

itself for most of us is due to the contamination of the fish supply

with mercury and PCBs.

 

Studies have also shown that school-age children with dyspraxia

improved dramatically when given an omega-3-rich fish-oil supplement.

Dyspraxia is a condition that encompasses problems with motor skills

and coordination; it frequently overlaps with dyslexia, attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.

 

The easiest and safest way get omega-3s is to take a high-quality fish

or cod liver oil daily. To choose the best one for you, I recommend

reviewing my fish oil/cod liver oil FAQ page today.

 

Most fish oil supplements, like the Carlson brand of fish oil/cod

liver oil that I highly recommend and offer on this site, go through a

molecular distillation process to clean out the mercury. The Carlson

brand also is routinely tested using standard international protocols

in an independent, FDA-registered laboratory; this testing not only

ensures freedom from detectable levels of mercury, but also cadmium,

lead, PCBs and 28 other contaminants.

 

 

 

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