Exercise and Omega-3 Boost Your Memory

By: Dr. Joseph Mercola


Two leading neuroscientists recently announced that an active
lifestyle and a diet rich in the omega-3 fatty acids found in
fish oils help prevent the memory loss associated with old age,
as well as having other benefits.

Seven Keys

Along with eating a healthy diet and keeping physically fit,
five other key factors in maintaining your mental faculties are:

• Avoiding high stress levels
• Enjoying a rich and
  varied social life
• Mental stimulation
• Learning new
  things
• Thinking young

Omega-3s Stop Memory Loss

Studies show that omega-3 fats reduce the cell inflammation that
triggers a decline in memory, and may even stem the chemicals
that give rise to such inflammation in the first place. Omega-3
fats have also been linked with maintaining a healthy heart and
joints, and in protecting the brain against the damage caused by
Alzheimer's disease.


Yahoo News September 7, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

The mountain of evidence demonstrating the essential nature of
omega-3 fatty acids continues to grow. There is little question
that omega-3 fats arethe most common and serious nutritional
deficiency for nearly everyone reading this. Omega-3
deficiencies are not only linked to memory problems, but also to
a wide variety of other healh concerns that you probably
have:

• Dyslexia
• Depression
• Weight
  gain
• Cancer
• Heart
  disease
• Eczema
• Allergies
• Inflammatory
  diseases
• Arthritis
• Diabetes

Unfortunately,a number of people have some serious confusion
when it comes to using omega-3 fats. While omega-3 from plants
(like flax) are useful and should certainly be consumed, they
are in no way, shape or form an acceptable substitute for
animal-based omega-3 fats. In fact, in certain instances omega-3
from flax might actually increase the risk of cancer.

Those who consume a vegan diet that avoids all seafood will
likely develop severe deficiencies in this important fat and
expose themselves to all infections, not only flu, in addition
to nearly every chronic degenerative disease we know of.I
suggest you use a high-quality fish oil or cod liver oil, which
will give you all the benefits while allowing you to avoid the
dangerous mercury present in most fish.

Cod liver oil also provides you with an excellent source of
vitamin D,which is important as winter is quickly approaching
the northern hemisphere. Vitamin D is another important factor
in staying healthy into old age. Most Americans do not get
enough vitamin D, largely because of experts' misguided
recommendations to avoid all sun exposure.

But increasing numbers of scientists are agreeing that vitamin D
deficiency increases the risk of:

• Bone and muscle
  problems
• Many forms of cancer
• High blood pressure
  
• Depression
• Multiple sclerosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
  
• Diabetes

It is essential to understand that in order to know how much
vitamin D you should be taking, you should get your blood level
checked. If you are uncertain about your vitamin D levels, you
can read my past article on vitamin D testing and get up to date
on this important topic.





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