Food for Thought: "Omega-3s" and the Brain
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2010-07-28/food-thought-omega-3s-and-brain
We don't eat like hunter gatherers anymore - trans-fatty, processed foods long ago displaced wild plants and animals. But have changes in the types of fat we eat affected both our physical and mental health? We discuss why omega-3 fatty acids may be the true "good mood food."
Guests
Joseph Hibbeln
Acting chief, Section on Nutritional Neurosciences, NIH; Captain, U.S. Public Health Service
J. Thomas Brenna
Professor of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University
Evelyn Tribole
Registered Dietitian; Nutritional Counselor; Author, "The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet" (McGraw-Hill)
Comments
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This is not news to anyone who reads Nina Planck, Marion Nestle and Michael Pollan. Basically what these three individuals write is the way people will be eating in 20 years.
In addition to eating a healthy diet (see the authors above) and exercising five days per week I take ONLY one supplement - Udo's Choice 3-6-9 Oil Blend and recommend it highly.
http://www.udoerasmus.com/firstscreen.htm
Please suggest foods or supplements for adults
From Nicole in Falls Church, VA:
The discussion about what specific nutrients to eat has been going on for years - and it always changes. Shouldn't people just focus on eating a balanced diet? I would always rather get my nutrients from whole foods than from a pill.
I have progressive multiple sclerosis and my doctor, among other dietary and supplemental changes, told me to take DHEA. Is this the same as DHA and, if not, could a DHA supplement be useful for m.s.? Thank you.
I've considered this issue heavily, during my pregnancy with my son (now 5 years old) and ever since as he grew into a toddler who refused to eat any fish at all. During this time, I discovered an amazing product at MOM (My Organic Market) in College Park made by Rainbow Light called "Gummy Omegalicious Omega 3 Formula." It is indicated for ages 4 and above, including adults, but I began giving my son half-doses at age 2 just to get some of these essential oils into him. I had initially tried putting flax oil into my son's mac and cheese, but then I read that flax is not as good a source as fish oil.
The Omegalicious gummies contain a DHA:EPA ratio of 5:1 which they claim is similar to the balance found in breast milk. They are made of fish oil, but, amazingly, do not taste like it. My son has been gobbling them up happily every morning for the past 3 years or so. (P.S. I in no way work for or represent the aforementioned manufacturer or retailer! :-)
I also have a question, does anyone know how good is the balance of omegas in your typical canned white tunafish? The only thing I find on the packaging of the tuna currently in my pantry is that it contains Omega-3s, but doesn't say anything about Omega-6s or the ratio in the product.
I personally love salmon, halibut, sea bass, lobster, shrimp, etc. and only tend to purchase wild-caught seafood or fish that I believe to be sustainably farmed -- but it's getting to be out of my reach financially these days, so I'm hoping that canned tunafish and other cheaper options can do the job nutritionally!
I would like to bring up a point about mercury in fish. Even though one of the panelist reported that studies show the benefits outweighed the risks there is a small population that genetically can not detox metals or other toxins from the body. I have seen this with my wife. Through her doctor, a holistic psychiatrist in Chevy Chase MD, has found she does not have genes necessary for this vital function. She ate canned tuna frequently for many years and she gathered a host of maladies in which she stopped functioning well. She has been disabled for 2 years now and is back on the mend. She registered a 24 where a 4 is highly toxic on the mercury test. We changed her diet to include cilnatro and chlorophyll to help remove metals.
We use Udos Choice Algae DHA Omaga 3
I guess remember that studies are blanket observations and can't represent all concerned.
Dietary selenium's protective effects against methylmercury toxicity. ensuring you have adequate selenium is probably the best protection from mercury.
It's also worth knowing activated vitamin D lessens heavy metal induced oxidative injuries in rat brain. The primary route for brain toxicity of most heavy metals is through depletion of glutathione. Besides its function as a master antioxidant, glutathione acts as a chelating (binding) agent to remove heavy metals such as mercury. If brain levels of activated vitamin D are too low to use glutathione properly, and thus unable to remove heavy metals, they may be damaged by heavy metal loads.
Shorter lived surface dwelling fish like sardines and herring are probably a safer bet than longer lived predatory fish.
May I suggest DIRECTMS.ORG as a good knowledge base for diet and supplement recommendations for Multiple Sclerosis
Everything on that site is backed by masses of scientific documentation and there are some excellent video presentations that explain the science in relatively simple terms.
You will see they recommend a large daily intake of omega 3 fish oil
Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids: 5 g of EPA+DHA
This is best gotten from fish oil such as salmon oil (.3 grams EPA + DHA per 1 gram capsule). 1-2 tablespoons of cod liver oil is also an option but ensure that vitamin A content does not exceed 5000 IU. The addition of 1 tablespoon of flax oil can be of value because it contains alpha linolenic acid, a precursor to EPA and DHA.
DHEA is an entirely different substance. I can't find any evidence for it's use in MS. Maybe your doctor has other reasons why he thinks it may be helpful to you.