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Get Enough Fish Oil For Peak Cognition & A Healthy Brain

by Poliquin Group™ Editorial Staff
3/17/2016 2:30:24 PM
 
Take a DHA-rich fish oil to improve cognition and memory. Better brain function means more focus, motivation, and drive, which will make everything about your life better, including your workouts.
 
A study in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that DHA-rich fish oil is the most effective omega-3 for boosting the brain. The omega-3 fatty acids are DHA and EPA from fish and ALA from flaxseed and other vegetable sources. 
 
This study compared the effects of supplementing with 1 gram of DHA, 1 gram of EPA, or a placebo daily for 12 weeks on concentration, brain activity, and blood flow. Results showed that the participants who took the DHA-rich supplement had a significant increase in blood flow to the brain during a challenging cognitive test. There was also a substantial increase in prefrontal cortex activity, and participants had better overall performance on the task in the group that took the DHA-rich supplement. 
 
There was no difference in cognitive performance, blood flow, or prefrontal cortex activity between the group that took the placebo and the EPA supplement. The EPA supplement did contain 200 mg of DHA, which scientists think is too low a dose for improving cognitive function and brain activity.
 
DHA is a natural component of the human and mammal brains, and it appears that brain function is best when DHA makes up close to 20 percent of the fatty acids found in the brain. DHA maintains the structural integrity of the cell membranes of the brain, meaning it has a direct impact on neurotransmitter function. It also plays a role in preventing Alzheimer’s and keeping you sharp as you age.