Brain fitness and brain health are increasingly becoming major concerns for society as the population ages. As people live longer, there are changes occurring in the brains of people. The changes that are occurring can be related to different environmental factors or it can be due to genetic differences. The result is that more people are at risk of developing age related diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. There are many health food supplements available on the market today that can help you maintain your brain function as you age. Here are some examples of brain nutritional supplements:
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in some fish such as salmon and Herring, can help to prevent the onset of cognitive decline associated with aging. Studies have demonstrated that those who exercise daily have a significantly lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, a common cause of dementia, than those who do not exercise. Exercise also improves the mental health, which is beneficial in preventing dementia, and increases the cardiovascular health. Therefore, it is a brain-health food for dementia prevention.
Fish oils can be considered to be a form of brain health food because they contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. However, you must be cautious about the source of the fish used in making these supplements. Studies have indicated that large amounts of EPA or DHA from fish are necessary in order to achieve the fatty acid levels needed to benefit from them. Therefore, you will need to eat large amounts of fish in order to get the fatty acids that you require. Further, the FDA has advised against using products that contain higher levels of DHA than what is found in table oil to avoid them being linked to heart disease. However, small amounts of these fatty acids can be found in some wild salmon.
Other foods that can help prevent the formation of neurological problems include organic fish that is caught locally. The best organic fish to eat are those that are caught within the United States. These fish are caught within the National Marine Fisheries Service waters and are allowed to come in contact with local aquaculture farms to feed the fish to keep them healthy. However, these farm-raised fish are fed higher levels of unnatural dyes in order to make them appealing to consumers, something that consumers do not always understand. In addition, the unnatural dyes are full of contaminants that will only make their way into your body if you consume them. Therefore, choosing wild caught fish is a better alternative for you health.
Tuna, another food chain member, is another member of the food chain that should be consumed in moderation. Although tuna has many positive qualities, including good protein and low sodium, eating too much of this fish can result in negative consequences. Too much tuna consumption has been linked to increased blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and ulcers, although the risk of these complications from eating too much of any food is generally considered extremely low. Therefore, it is best to choose fish that are lower in sodium and high in protein, such as mackerel, sardines, wild Alaskan salmon, and tuna.
Other fish that have been linked to negative effects include trout, swordfish, halibut, haddock, salmon, and crab. Each of these can cause negative side effects in your body if you consume too much. As mentioned above, trout and crab can cause adverse effects if you consume too much. Swordfish, halibut, haddock, and salmon can cause gastrointestinal issues, stomach pain, liver damage, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach bloating, breathing problems, and more. It is important to know which fish can have negative affects and which ones are actually good sources of nutrients.
There are three additional types of food chain member that are not usually thought of when thinking about nutrition. The first one is seafood, such as lobster, shrimp, oysters, and crab. While these fish are delicious, they are not considered to be healthful. They are also usually contaminated with toxins from mercury and PCBs. So, instead of focusing on organic fish when considering brain function, you should focus on white fish or sustainable fish over organic and wild caught.
The second type of food chain member that is often overlooked when eating fish is EPA/DHA. This is the major nutrient found in salmon, tuna, halibut, and seiners. In addition, studies have shown that there is a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, brain, digestive system, nervous system, hormones, bones, skin, muscles, joint health, and more. Therefore, while there are some health benefits to consuming fish, they are overshadowed by several of their negative side effects.
