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Is fish really brain food? Scientists seem to think so!
If there's one thing that science has taught us over the years, it's that there is no such thing as a "miracle" food. One day oat bran is all the rage, and the next we should be cutting down on carbs. But through all of the "nutrition-of-the-week" advice we see as consumers, one thing hasn't changed – fish is good for you. It's just that simple. Study after study has confirmed that the DHA and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are fuel for the brain. In fact, studies have confirmed that omega-3 DHA is known to keep brain cell membranes healthy and appears to aid communication within brain cells.1
While we might think of our brains as a bunch of wires sending messages back and forth, in reality, much of the brain is largely composed of fat.2 To keep the brain healthy and functioning at peak performance, it is important to eat healthy fats in the form of omega-3 DHA found in fish and other foods. Three recent studies have each suggested that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids in fish may improve cognitive performance.3 Other studies indicate that fish consumption can play a positive role in mental health with reduced risk of depression.4
Nutrition fads may come and go but the scientific community generally agrees that eating fish is a great way to keep your brain healthy. With so many delicious varieties of fish to choose from, and so many fast and simple ways to prepare it, you might even find yourself eating more than the two servings of fish a week recommended by Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide5. . . and that would be a very smart choice!
General References:
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_3957_ENU_HTML.htm
http://www.wellnessletter.com/html/wl/2001/wlFeatured1001.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/08/AR2007110800862.html
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/choose-choix/meat-viande/tips-trucs-eng.php#choose
Additional References:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/fishman/2005/fish_brain.html
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