You may have taken a look at the title of this article and thought, “What in the world does fluidity in the brain have to do with my daily health, or life for that matter?” Well, now that you’re here, we should probably discuss why brain fluidity is so essential to your well being, and talk more about how fish oil supplements can help keep your brain working at peak potential.
It might be hard to grasp the idea that one nutrient such as omega 3 can play so many vital roles in everyday bodily functions. These roles range from mood regulation and weight loss to managing thought disorders and cholesterol levels. Yet, this is what remarkable research continues to point toward.
Of the many positive benefits fish oil supplements and omega 3 have on the brain, there is perhaps none more important than its effect on brain fluidity. It may sound disgusting to think of it like this, but the brain cells work best when they’re in an environment swimming with nutrients. A fluid environment inside the cranium is needed to keep neurons firing optimally, maintain proper transport of vital nutrients the brain cells need to function, and to ensure blood flow is free from obstruction to provide oxygen to every brain cell.
Optimal brain fluidity is essential for the electrical signals within our cells for chemicals to bind properly. Let’s take serotonin for example, the brain chemical that regulates sleep, appetite and mood. Serotonin bonds with proteins in brain cell membranes where it is metabolized and begins to play its role inside the body. If we didn’t have synapse xt fluidity in our brains, it is easy to see that it would be “harder” for the serotonin to get to its point of destination to serve its purpose. It would encounter viscosity and interference along the way delaying it from doing its job. When brain fluidity degrades, so does brain function. We then begin to see the effects when we get depressed, forgetful and foggy. When you add omega 3 fish oil supplements into your daily routine, you are essentially adding “oil” to the brain’s “door hinge” and helping the brain’s cell membranes to work properly and efficiently.
Omega 6 Intake
High intake of omega 6 in our diets can break down brain fluidity. If you’re unfamiliar with the common sources of omega 6 fats, they are cereal, eggs, poultry and avocado. I’m not saying these foods are bad for you, but they need to be properly balanced with omega 3 intake to maintain proper brain fluidity. Omega 6 fatty acids can quickly become harmful to your bodily processes if not properly balanced with omega 3 sources like fish oil supplements.
Saturated fats
It is also a well-known fact that saturated fats are bad for humans. Not only do they contribute to atherosclerotic plaque buildup in the arteries, but they have also been shown to harden the brain cell membranes, thus impeding and even destroying their function.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is another well-known culprit we hear so much about. We typically associate “high cholesterol” with heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. While this is true, it is not mentioned often enough that cholesterol produces a nasty hardening effect on the interior walls of brain cells. Daily intake of omega 3 reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and in brain cell membranes leading to better fluidity.
Balance
A proper balance of omega 3 is essential for brain function. Researchers believe that many disorders ranging from depression to schizophrenia are linked in some way shape or form to an omega 3 deficiency. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association recommends that patients with “mood, impulse-control, or psychotic disorders should consume 1 gram of EPA + DHA per day” (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 67).