subject: Omega 3 Helps Depression--What You Need to Know [print this page] Omega 3 Helps Depression--What You Need to Know
If you suffer from the blues you may have heard omega 3 helps depression. Studies show getting the right nutrients can boost your moodeven benefit clinical depression. The reason why is because you're probably not getting the right kinds of fats that your brain needs.
Omega 3 fatty acids make up your brain. But modern diets leave us deficient in them. We just don't eat the right foods.
Americans are Nutrition Deficient?
The foods you eat have changed dramatically over the past century. Your ancestors ate whole foods. Meat, veggies and fruit made up their diets. In 1900, there was no such thing as fast food or frozen meals.
But in today's fast paced, "got it have it" society, we live on processed foods. Even the healthier processed foods don't contain the omega 3 fatty acids you need. As the result, nutritionists think most Americans are suffering from a serious nutrition deficiency. On average, we get 10 times the amount of other fatty acids to every omega 3.
It's this lack of omega 3's that can lead to depression. Studies show people who get enough omega's suffer less depression and other serious illnesses.
Your body can't make them, it has to get them from the foods you eat. So to make up for your lack, you can eat more olive oil, avocadoes and walnuts. But the maximum effect of omega 3 helps depression comes from DHA. You get this from fish.
Here Fishy
Many doctors suggest eating fish 2-3 times a week or taking a supplement to enhance your mood. One Harvard doctor says that by eating more omega 3's, you're recalibrating your brain. And, if you don't get these nutrients? Your body will struggle to make replacements. People suffering from depression often have high levels of these replacement fatty acids.
Plus, countries where they eat a lot of fish like Japan and Iceland report very low rates of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Of course, you should always check with your doctor, but it just may be the cure for the blues is swimming in the ocean. If you'd like to learn more about how omega 3 helps depression please visit my website where I share research about omega 3 fish oil.
