Your brain is 60 % fat. This fatty tissue needs replenishing. But it’s crucial to know which fats will feed your brain the best. EFA’s (essential fatty acids) known as omega 3’s and omega 6’s are intimately involved in brain function., and deficiencies or imbalances in brain fats are known to be associated with everything from dyslexia, hyperactivity, depression, to schizophrenia and manic depression. The ideal ratio of omega 3’s to 6’s is 1:1 but these days we get about 1:20, and in some populations it can be as much as 1:50. The problem is both gross deficiency and imbalance between these two, that is contributing to the mental and other health problems that we see today. Why are our diets so deficient in Omega 3 fats? These fats are prone to damage through cooking and processing. The average person today eats only about one sixth of the omega 3 fats found in the diets of people living in 1850. In general we need much more omega 3’s and the reason that they are deficient in our diets is mostly due to food processing (and partly due to food choices).
If you have any health issues, particularly mental health issues, then maybe consider increasing your intake of these Omega 3’s. Common symptoms of deficiency or imbalance include:
- Excessive thirst
- Chronic fatigue
- Dry or rough skin
- Dry hair, hair loss or dandruff
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or breast pain
- Eczema, asthma, or joint ache
- Dyslexia or learning difficulties
- Hyperactivity
- Depression or manic depression
- Schizophrenia
If you have five or more of these symptoms and you have a mental health problem, it might be a good idea to have a blood test to determine your essential fat status.
The best foods for brain fats are:
Omega-3′:
- Eggs
- Salmon
- Mackerel
- Herring
- Tuna
- Sardines
- Anchovies
- Flax seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Walnuts
- Hemp seeds.
Omega-6:
- Sunflower seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Corn
- Soybeans
- Wheat germ
For both Omega-3 and Omega-6 here is an excellent supplement; http://www.lifegym.ie/products/bio-oils/
