Even though we have been told that fishing is murder and at some future date it may be treated as a crime, older adults who regularly eat fish seem to have a lower risk of dementia, a new study suggests.Researchers believe that the brain benefits come from the omega-3 fatty acids found most abundantly in oily fish like salmon, mackerel and albacore tuna.
There is a joke in here somewhere, but the brain is largely composed of fat.
Fats, along with water, are the chief components of brain cell membranes and the specialized tissues enclosing the nerves.
The brain needs the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, which are called eicosapentenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexenoic acid (DHA).
Fish get them from the algae they eat. Even though some leafy green vegetables, as well as walnuts, flaxseed, and canola oil, contain shorter-chain omega-3s; these are not readily converted by our bodies into EPA and DHA.
There have been some interesting studies that suggest fish oil may be of some help in treating manic depression and schizophrenia.
Fatty fish is definitely good for your heart. Omega-3s cut the risk of blood clots and thus lessen the chance of a heart attack. The American Heart Association now recommends that you eat two servings or more of fish a week. A diet that benefits your heart is likely to benefit your brain as well.
