Vital Tips for a Healthy Brain - Living Well In Saratoga Springs NY: Saratoga's Holistic Health Forum Blog

A recent article in Vital Choice discussed several journal findings on the relation between omega 3 intake and psychotic symptoms. In one recent study, the author reports:

“Long-chain omega-3s reduce the risk of progression to psychotic disorder … in young people with sub-threshold psychotic states … omega-3s may offer a viable prevention and treatment strategy …” (Amminger GP et al. 2009)

The researchers randomly assigned the volunteers to receive a daily placebo (coconut oil) capsules or supplements of fish oil containing 1.2 grams of omega-3s, including 700 mg of EPA and 480 mg of DHA.

The participants took the supplements or placebo for 12 weeks, and were followed for one year.

After 12 months, only 4.9 percent of the omega-3 group (two out of 41) had progressed to full-blown psychotic disorder, compared with 27.5 percent (11 of 40) in the placebo group.

In other words, compared to placebo, supplementation with fish oil appeared to reduce the risk that at-risk youths would progress to “full threshold psychosis” within a year by one-fifth to one-quarter (22.6 percent).

Prior research has deomnstarted that schizophrenic patients had significantly lower levels of omega 3s in their cell membranes as compared to controls. It seems omega 3s have the benefit of favorably affecting the cell membrane for more effecient neurotransmission. They also increase the availability of the antioxidant glutathione and the key neurotransmitter glutamate.

Make sure to click on the article for additional reference sources!

Another Key to Optimal Mental Functioning to keep in mind (pun intended):

Exercise:

According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, “

Twelve months of once-weekly or twice-weekly resistance training benefited the executive cognitive function of selective attention and conflict resolution among senior women.”

Another study in the same journal, concluded, “

Moderate or high physical activity is associated with a reduced incidence of cognitive impairment after 2 years in a large population-based cohort of elderly subjects.”

What to Avoid for Optimal Brain Power:

Artificial Sweeteners

The use of artificial sweeteners has caused a great debate in health care. According to AAHON, “scientists disagree about the relationships between sweeteners and lymphomas, leukemias, cancers of the bladder and brain, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, and systemic lupus. Recently these substances have received increased attention due to their effects on glucose regulation.”

More information available on my recent blog on artificial sweeteners at my main website.

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