Thursday, March 31, 2011

DHA from Fish Oil Lowers Diabetes Risk, Slows Brain Aging

Human genetics have evolved by harnessing the power of a wide variety of nutrients which have been available in our food supply for countless generations. Over the past half century many of these natural nutrients which are so essential to our health have been slowly and systematically removed from the foods we eat.

DHA is a critical Omega-3 fatty acid which our ancestors found primarily in fish which is now severely deficient in our diet, causing a dramatically increased risk from diabetes and dementia. Including this powerful nutrient through targeted supplementation can prevent these conditions and regulate the progressive decline we know as aging.

DHA Inhibits Amyloid Plaque Formation
DHA is an Omega-3 fat which is preferentially used by the body for the formation of cell membranes and is especially important to the formation and function of neurons in the brain. When our body is supplied with sufficient amounts of DHA, the fat is allowed to accumulate in the brain where it increases brain cell survival and down regulates the formation of toxic amyloid beta plaque. This action effectively lowers the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer`s disease.

DHA Can Prevent Cognitive Decline
The results of a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that DHA can protect against brain aging by preventing the typical damage associated with memory decline. DHA is stored by the brain for use during periods of stress and toxic overload to protect brain neurons. This is critical to the formation of memories, higher learning and thought which decline with the onset of dementia. Sufficient blood levels of circulating DHA are necessary to provide reserves which can be used to repair neuronal damage before memory loss becomes evident.

DHA Lowers Systemic Inflammation
Systemic inflammation is one of the key underlying causes of diabetes and DHA has been shown to regulate the metabolic disorder which results from excess body weight. Macrophages are components of our immune system which are essential for fighting invading pathogens, and accumulate in the white adipose tissue in response to weight gain. As more weight is gained macrophage activity increases and inflammation levels rise in the body with potentially devastating effects to our internal organs and vascular system.

DHA Improves Insulin Sensitivity, Prevents Diabetes
DHA has been shown to attach to a receptor on macrophages which are present in our white fat cells and down regulate inflammatory activity to reduce levels of inflammation. Higher levels of inflammation are associated with insulin resistance which is a hallmark of the progression of diabetes. According to research published in the journal Cell, DHA is the evolutionary key to mediate inflammation while safely lowering risk from diseases ranging from diabetes and cancer to cardiovascular disease.

Extensive research has confirmed DHA as the most critical fatty acid to promote cognitive function and lower dangerous levels of inflammation throughout the body. Man has evolved on a diet which is fortified with this essential fat but our modern diet is grossly deficient leading to many common diseases. The best way to ensure sufficient levels circulating in your blood is to supplement daily with a highly concentrated form of DHA to reduce the risk of diabetes and cognitive decline.

1 comment:

Alfredo E. said...

The amounts of omega 3 needed for good health depends on several factors, age, diet and state of health. The idea is to get closer to the ideal omega 6 / omega 3 of 1/1. Normally, this ratio is 20/1 or even 50/1, it depends of the amounts of omega 6 (basically, grains and grain oils a person ingests).

So, if you want to have a better control of the inflammation ( heart disease, high triglycerides, diabetes, arthritis, etc.) in your body and of the elasticity of all your cellular membranes, you should be pointing to a 1/1 ratio.

It varies with your diet. If you have a high omega 6 diet, with lots of grains, pasta, breads, cookies, starches and low in vegetables, fruits and omega 3 meats, you should take more than 6.000 mg per day of fish oil (1.800 mg of omega 3 fats, DHA plus EPA).

Read more at http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-wonders.com/omega-3-fatty-acids-dosage.html