Omega-3

[pinkhighlighter]

I have been taking omega-3 supplements for over a year now and it has drastically improved my mood. I didn't believe it could ever do that, so I have been very happy with it. I still read about omega 3 all the time. It and the brain in general are just such interesting topics to me.
My mood has not been completely "fixed" and I sometimes wonder if I should bump up the amount I take a little bit.
Up until I was 23 I pretty much got no omega-3 and I have read it can possibly take years to get up to where you should be. Since I still don't eat fish, I will definitely be taking the supplements forever.
For anyone else here who takes a supplement, what dosage do you take? If you reduce it do you notice a change?

And in regards to the brain, what other foods are beneficial?
I know that green tea is very good as it is full of antioxidants.

[Pegasus]

In regards to good brain food, try Brazil nuts or pistachios.

[escapee]

What about getting the remaning EFA ( essential fatty acids ) in the unprocessed natural form as well (eg : omega 6 )

What doctors and nutritionists do not understand and the grain industry does not want you to know! Brian Peskin tells us the truth about the effects of lack of Essential Fatty Acids in our lives and the harm that the push for massive quantities of ca

[Rosi]

I don't take supplements as I prefer to try to get my nutriments more naturally. A good source of omega 3 is seeds. I use a combination of pumkin, sunflower, flax seed and sesame. I add them to my muesli or toast them to add to salads or soups.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Rosi

I don't take supplements as I prefer to try to get my nutriments more naturally. A good source of omega 3 is seeds. I use a combination of pumkin, sunflower, flax seed and sesame. I add them to my muesli or toast them to add to salads or soups.

Don't forget to ground your flax seeds, or they will mostly pass undigested. Unless you chew each bite 75 times.

[Jm4362]

I've read that chia seeds are a good source of omega-3. I plan to buy some eventually.

Here is an article. (copy and paste?)

3 Reasons to Eat Chia Seeds


~Jm4362

[Sunsingh]

A naturopathic doctor once told me that vegetarians need 2 tablespoons of udo's choice oil every day. I use his balanced blend that has 3-6-9 in the proper ratio. it also uses various sources for the oil.

Other brain foods: i've heard that 1 brazil nut contains all the selenium you need for the day.

Almonds are excellent. Soak them first, it increases absorbtion of nutrients. A saint once told me that boiling ground almonds in milk creates a synergistic effect - very good for the brain.

mangosteen drinks are very good. i've noticed my alertness improve markedly with these. B vitamin complexes as well have increased my alertness - they enhance the body's ability to extract energy from food.

[pinkhighlighter]

Well, I just love almonds, so I will have no trouble eating those.
I've heard a lot about Brazil nuts lately, I will have to try them.
I take a B-complex vitamin as well.
Sounds like I am on the right track Thank everyone

[openeyes]

Walnuts are an excellent source as well, with a better omega6:3 ratio than most others. I also get omega 3s from a couple capsules of fish oil (360 mg EPA, 240 mg DHA. be sure to get a kind without mercury) with a meal each day, plus wild salmon, sardines, and quality eggs. If eating fish, check out gotmercury.org to be sure you're focusing on varieties which are fairly safe (one has to be careful with tuna).

You'll find a few brain foods listed here:

brain foods

The best one I see listed is egg yolks, which are best eaten raw to minimize oxidation. Egg whites should be cooked though, as when raw they inhibit biotin so I often just have the yolk and mix it into other foods I'm eating, such as mashed potatoes/sweet potatoes. Some friends even add yolks to oatmeal, though I've yet to try that. And if you ever blend fruit or vegetable juice, you have an excellent opportunity to add a couple egg yolks for improved absorption of oil soluble vitamins. Find combinations that you can actually enjoy.

[Zulu]

I take 3g of EPA/DHA from LEF. Whenever I have to stop (temporarily out of capsules), I notice no difference. There's a fair bit of N-3s in my diet naturally. I take omega-3s because as prevention for multiple diseases.

[DQueens]

hey there,
unless you are a complete vegan you can probably get plenty of omega 3 fats from food. Soy milk (or regular milk), eggs and fish all have omega 3, as do flax-infused grain products. I like the optimum power cereal line, which uses a lot of flax in all their products. If you are taking supplements, however, you are probably getting more than enough. Vitamins and nutrients dont work in the way you are assuming they do. You dont see an improve in mood that increases as you increase your "dose" of omega 3's. With nutrients, you are either deficient or you are not. Since you are taking supplements, you are most likely not deficient in omega 3. However, some signs of omega 3 deficiency are those red pimply bumps that sometimes occur on the back of the arm (the tricep area). Eating too much fat, even if it is omega 3 "healthy" fat, ends up in teh same place as every other kind of fat, in your fat cells. While omega 3 has been shown to help the brain, it is mostly for young children and babies whose brains are still developing. The condition of your mood is very unlikely to be only due to the amount of omega 3 Fatty acids that you are consuming but more likely a huge number of factors, such as other nutrients, exercise, stress, or mental attitude. If you feel that you are depressed or experiencing low mood, the answer is not to pop another omega 3 fatty acid supplement, but to talk to your doctor and think about seeing someone to talk to, there is nothing wrong with that! Or the answer could be as simple as having coffee with people you like, going for a walk outside, playing with your dog, engaging in your favourite sport, reaidng a good book or watching a good movie.