Fat has always had a bad name but some kinds of fat are good. In fact, research studies suggest that more than 50% of the brain and nervous system are made up of fat. Fat constitutes the major part of the diet of most people in the world.
But this doesn’t necessarily add to the intelligent quotient and the reason is because the intake is not of the right kind of fat.This is where DHA or docosahexaenoic acid comes in. DHA is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. It is present in great quantity in fish such as tuna and bluefish and in marine animal oils.
DHA is an essential fatty acid and is considered to be important for the development of babies, with particular regard to their eyes and brain. Breast milk contains DHA and is also added to some infant formulas. Studies show that DHA may improve vision and some cognitive functions in infants and young children.
The most rapid brain growth in babies occurs during the first year of life, almost tripling in size by at the end of the first year. As the central nervous system grows rapidly during this time, the brain uses almost 60% of the total energy consumed by the child.
Fats form a major constituent of the brain cell membrane and the myelin sheath around each nerve. So, obviously getting enough fat, and, more importantly, the right kinds of fat, can hugely affect brain development and performance.
So if there is a deficiency of DHA, which is the main structural element of brain tissue, then the brain is less likely to function at its peak.
DHA is necessary for infants and also to regulate normal brain activity in adults. It is said to lessen the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and myocardial infarction. DHA is said to have a positive impact on diseases such as depression, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and a few cancers.
The brain cells need Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids to develop. Sunflower and sesame oils contain Omega 6 while pumpkin seeds and walnuts and some kinds of fish contain Omega 3 fatty acids as do eggs and meats.
Studies have shown that some parts of the world where diets are rich in Omega 3 acids have fewer cases of CNS degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Conversely, children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, and who perform poorly at school, have inadequate important fatty acids in their diet.
So a diet rich with DHA provides healthy fats and reduces the ill effects of the bad fats like cholesterol and may even turn around the effects of a surfeit of trans fatty acids. DHA can be found in seafood and algae, as well as salmon, tuna, and sardines.
Our body does not manufacture DHA, so it must be included in our diets. This poses a problem as DHA is a complex form of Omega 3 and is found only in a few foods in significant quantities. So it is necessary and desirable to include DHA in our diet as much as possible.
