Health Update: Omega-3’s Protect and Feed the Brain

RVAchironeuro • November 21, 2022

11.21.2022

 

Hello once again everyone:

Here is some great news for brain health. Keeping your Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid (EFA’s) intake optimal results in better brain function and protects us again age-related decline (Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline). This study is unique because it looks at this issue in middle aged people rather than older populations that are more frequently studied in relation to brain function and health.

“Omega-3 fatty acid concentrations in red blood cells were linked with brain structure and cognitive function in midlife, an exploratory cross-sectional study showed.

In about 2,200 people with an average age of 46, a higher omega-3 index was associated with a larger hippocampal volume (the memory center of the brain) and better abstract reasoning, according to Claudia Satizabal, PhD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and colleagues.

In addition, APOE4 carriers (that have high risk of dementia) with a higher omega-3 index had a lower white matter hyperintensity burden, they reported in (the Journal)  Neurology.

“The new contribution here is that, even at younger ages, if you have a diet that includes some omega-3 fatty acids, you are already protecting your brain for most of the indicators of brain aging that we see at middle age,” 

  Omega-3 fatty acid levels also may protect older brains from environmental exposures like air pollution. Studies have linked pro-inflammatory diets, which are low in Omega-3’s, to (lower) brain volume and other markers of (unhealthy) brain aging in older people.”

Bottom Line: It is important to make sure your food plan has adequate Omega-3 EFA’s and that you keep your Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio optimal. The earlier in life that you do this, the better, but it helps at any age. This is important for multiple reasons:

  1. We need Omega-3 EFA’s for proper brain function as DHA is essential to normal function and health of all brain cells.
  2. Omega-3’s also possess powerful anti-inflammatory actions that are also critical for optimal healthy aging of all brain cells and the body as well.
  3. Too many Omega-6 type of EFA’s is highly inflammatory. We do need some Omega-6 EFA’s, and this means that even if you have adequate Omega-3’s but too many Omega-6’s in your diet that you will tilt towards inflammation and degeneration of healthy cells. The typical American diet is way too heavy in processed and damaged Omega-6’s and it is important to know your ratio so that you can adapt your food plan to a more anti-inflammatory status to protect your health. Plus, you can find out your Omega -6:3 ratio by a simple blood test which we do thorough LabCorp. To read more about Omega-6 issues, click the link below.

 

 

By Mark Smith March 23, 2026
Health News Update: How To Fight Inflammation and Chronic Disease 3.23.26 Hello again everyone: You might wonder why I keep focusing on food…so here are some of the reasons: food choices are the leading cause of death in the U.S. and spreading around the world. Poor food choices lead to inflammation which slowly destroy health. It is that simple, plain, and clear and backed by research. The next question: how do we fight back? Introduction The positive impact of food on health was postulated by the ancient Hippocrates, father of modern medicine with his famous quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” [1]. In the 21st century, scientists have focused on the effect of nutritional habits in diseases. Nowadays, it is well documented that food plays a noteworthy role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD), metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, and cancer [2–5], as it correlates with others with the lipid pattern, the blood pressure, and the endothelial function. The scientists examine the effect of nutritional habits on disease emergence and progression in both individual nutrient intake and dietary patterns models. Worldwide, two dietary patterns are usually compared—the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the Western diet (WD) [3,6]. The Mediterranean diet reflects the food culture of most Mediterranean countries based on olive oil consumption, seasonal fresh vegetables, cereals, and plants in balance with low consumption of meat [7]. The Western diet, on the contrary, is dominated by high-fat dairy products processed and red meat [8]. However, discordance in the different MD patterns and consumed food doses had been recognized. Without any doubt, those discrepancies could confine and restrict our knowledge on the health benefit mechanisms of the MD [9]. Due to the above, the medical community along with nutritionists and dieticians take a keen interest in MD and its traits [7]. https://www.academia.edu/45378994/biomedicines_Mediterranean_Diet_as_a_Tool_to_Combat_Inflammation_and_Chronic_Diseases_An_Overview?email_work_card=view-paper food choices can fight inflammation and chronic disease Bottom Line: This is a 2020 paper and since then literally hundreds of papers on the MD have emerged showing how the food plan lowers inflammation and the risk for developing multiple chronic illnesses. Even still, lots of research needs to be done to elucidate the many mechanisms of how food impacts our system and how to optimally individualize dietary recommendations. At this point, our best strategy to prevent and/or recover from any chronic condition is to eat as clean and natural as possible. It has become rather obvious that the further away from a natural diet we get, the sicker we become. On top of that, I have yet to see a full recovery from any health issue without the foundation of a predominantly plant-based, unprocessed, whole foods approach…which is why I keep posting about this subject. All the best to you and yours!
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