KalenaSpire

Where Healing Your Gut Elevates Your Life

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Home
  • Meet Christine
  • Services
    • Health Coaching
    • Private Yoga
    • Herbal Healing
    • Book an Appointment
  • Shop
  • Favorites
  • Praise
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Cart

Protecting Brain Health with Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

August 16, 2018 | Leave a Comment

The omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are classified as “essential” nutrients for the human because they cannot be made by the body. Hence the term, Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). Since the body cannot make EFAs, we have to acquire what we need from food and nutritional supplements.

Fatty acids nourish and protect brain cells and help reduce inflammation. Thus, a wellness routine that includes protecting brain health with EFAs is wise. | KalenaSpire

 

While EFAs are important to overall health, in this article we highlight their importance to brain health.

 

PROTECTING BRAIN HEALTH WITH ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

Fatty acids nourish and protect brain cells and help reduce inflammation. Scientists are actively investigating the role EFAs play in preventing and managing age-related cognitive decline.

When we consume EFAs, the body will use what it needs and then stores the rest for future use. Brain tissue is especially rich in EFAs where it is important for protecting connections between nerve cells. So, a diet deficient in these fats deprives the brain and nervous system of a crucial nutritional substance.

Scientists believe DHA protects against Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and dementia. Adults with insufficient intake of DHA show poor performance on cognitive tests as well as increased risk for age-related cognitive decline. In studies using an EFA supplement, there have been positive changes in memory related functions for individuals with very mild AD.

 

GETTING THE EFAs YOUR BODY NEEDS

Because we must get EFAs from food or nutritional supplements, it’s important to understand what our bodies need. Most Americans get a daily average of only 130 mg EPA + DHA – far below the 1000-2000 mg recommended for optimal health and cognitive function. We also need the proper ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid. Too little omega-3 and too much omega-6 can result in increased inflammation. Eating a variety of EFA rich foods plus a supplement is a good option for many people.

People who have a high intake of fish consumption show a decreased risk of dementia and AD. Foods abundant in EFAs include salmon, chunk light tuna, halibut, sardines, and krill, as well as flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts. Be mindful of the source of your fish, since some are high in mercury. Look for organic, wild caught options. Your integrative and functional healthcare practitioner can help you with dietary options and EFA supplement that best meets your needs.

 

 

What are your tips for protecting brain health? Share in the comments below!

 

 

References
  • Assisi A., Banzi R., Buonocore C., et al. “Fish oil and mental health: the role of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in cognitive development and neurological disorders.” Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006 Nov;21(6):319-36. Accessed 8 April 2018: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17012979
  • Freund-Levi Y, Eriksdotter-Jonhagen M, Cederholm T, et al. “Omega-3 fatty acid treatment in 174 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: OmegAD study: a randomized double-blind trial.” Arch Neurol. 2006 Oct;63(10):1402-8. Accessed 8 April 2018: http://www.utdallas.edu/~tres/papers/freund-levi.2006.pdf
  • Robinson, Jennifer G, Nkechinyere Ijioma, and William Harris. “Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cognitive Function in Women.” Women’s health (London, England)6.1 (2010): 119–134. PMC. Web. 8 Apr. 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2826215/
  • Maclean CH, Issa AM, Newberry SJ, et al. Effects of Omega‐3 Fatty Acids on Cognitive Function with Aging, Dementia, and Neurological Diseases: Summary. (2005 Feb.) In: AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 1998-2005. 114. Accessed 8 Apr 2018: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11893/
  • Cederholm, T., Salem, N. & Jan Palmblad; ω-3 Fatty Acids in the Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Humans, Advances in Nutrition, Volume 4, Issue 6, 1 November 2013, Pages 672–676. Accessed 8 Apr 2018: https://doi.org/10.3945/an.113.004556
  • Ricardo U., Dangour, A.D. “Nutrition in Brain Development and Aging: Role of Essential Fatty Acids” Nutrition Reviews (May 2006)64 (suppl 2) S24-S33; DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2006.tb00242.x http://nutritionreviews.oxfordjournals.org/content/64/suppl_2/S24
  • NutritionData.com. Foods Highest in Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Accessed 7 Nov 2016. http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-012140000000000000000.html?maxCount=20
Photo Credit
  • Kerdkanno/bigstockphoto.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: brain health, essential fatty acids, inflammation, omega-3 fatty acids, seafood


About Christine

Christine Cherpak is a Functional Nutrition & Wellness Expert, and the founder of KalenaSpire, a holistic health coaching and private yoga practice that specializes in freeing people from chronic digestive discomfort. Christine supports her clients in understanding the root cause of their digestive discomfort, creates a custom plan to put them on the road to healing, and shows them how to make sustainable lifestyle changes so they can finally enjoy and elevate their lives.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

        We collect, use and process your data according to our ​Privacy Policy​.

The Latest

Here are tips for going vegetarian. Understanding common pitfalls can help you maintain a nutritionally sound vegan or vegetarian diet. | KalenaSpire

Tips for Going Vegetarian

Health benefits of aromatherapy | KalenaSpire

Health Benefits of Aromatherapy

SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine), which the body makes from the amino acid methionine, is one example of a molecule that is important to the moods we experience. The importance of SAMe involves its role in helping to form, activate, or breakdown hormones, fats, proteins, neurotransmitters, and medications. | KalenaSpire

SAMe: Natural Support for Healthy Brain Chemistry

Book now!

Categories

Instagram

  • Nature offers powerful all-natural remedies. Start with the basics (e.g., sunshine, sleep, healthy food, outdoor exposure) and see how your body responds. #healthyhabits #feelyourbest #functionalmedicine #functionalnutrition #bestoftheday #Repost @drbrucehoffman
・・・
What are some of your favorite all-natural remedies?
  • As you begin the New Year, take a moment to evaluate the foods you choose. Each time you eat, you are shaping the fate of your cells. Ensuring that you consume a variety of nutrients will support optimal wellness. 
#newyearnewme #healthyfood #functionalnutrition #functionalmedicine #bestversionofyou #colorfulfood #healthycells  #Kalenafreedom #Repost @deannaminich
・・・
Food has a physical and energetic signature. Every time we eat, we are taking in a spectrum. Literally.
  • Never stop believing and nurturing your dreams. Christmastime makes the most magical place on Earth a bit more magical. #Disneylover #Mickeysverymerrychristmasparty #dreams #faith #blessed #love #magickingdom #mickeyschristmas #christmas2018 #kalenafreedom #KalenaStressBuster
  • Looking for a plant-based protein bar or cookie that’s super low in sugar (but doesn’t use harmful artificial sweeteners)? Look no further than @nocow 🌿 I was stoked to open a package of protein bars and cookies that @nocow sent me. #Chocolate #fudge #brownies and #snickerdoodles now have a place at the breakfast table. What flavor do you think #nocowbar should make next?
___
#socialgood #healthyfood #functionalmedicine #functionalnutrition #foodftheday #instafind #paleolifestyle #vegetarianfood #followforfollowback #kalenafreedom

Follow Me!

RECENT PINS

Archives

Purchase products through our Fullscript virtual dispensary.

Sync.com - private cloud

Purity Organic Coffee


Kettle & Fire Bone Broth - Shop Now

Alexandria Z., M.S.

Christine is my wellness goddess. Her amazing support, extraordinary expertise, and undeniable compassion invited me to a world of freedom from digestive discomfort that I didn’t know was possible. The whirlwind of bloating, constipation, brain fog, and digestive upheaval was consuming my life. Exhaustion and frustration were becoming my very existence. And then I met my health goddess! Christine’s astute listening and meticulously tailored guidance, transformed my thinking and whirlwind of digestive discomfort. She helped me achieve a state of equilibrium. The balance I now experience is the center of my wellness existence—the core of my life with digestive happiness.

 

Christine instilled in me the power to embrace the grace and strength of my very own body! She has taught me to internalize the boundless evidence of my body’s functionality to heal digestively. While working with Christine, my exhaustion, pain, and bloating were overshadowed with energy, digestive comfort, glowing skin, and knowledge. Her coaching raised my awareness of food sensitivities, and promoted better food choices, which led to better sleep, a stronger link to overall wellness, clarity in my thinking, and ultimately, more joy in my life.  Christine’s remarkable spirit of wellness will forever echo in my digestive wellness journey. I bestow upon Christine the well-deserved exceptional title, “my wellness goddess.”
2015-07-27T17:47:59-04:00
Christine is my wellness goddess. Her amazing support, extraordinary expertise, and undeniable compassion invited me to a world of freedom from digestive discomfort that I didn’t know was possible. The whirlwind of bloating, constipation, brain fog, and digestive upheaval was consuming my life. Exhaustion and frustration were becoming my very existence. And then I met my health goddess! Christine’s astute listening and meticulously tailored guidance, transformed my thinking and whirlwind of digestive discomfort. She helped me achieve a state of equilibrium. The balance I now experience is the center of my wellness existence—the core of my life with digestive happiness.   Christine instilled in me the power to embrace the grace and strength of my very own body! She has taught me to internalize the boundless evidence of my body’s functionality to heal digestively. While working with Christine, my exhaustion, pain, and bloating were overshadowed with energy, digestive comfort, glowing skin, and knowledge. Her coaching raised my awareness of food sensitivities, and promoted better food choices, which led to better sleep, a stronger link to overall wellness, clarity in my thinking, and ultimately, more joy in my life.  Christine’s remarkable spirit of wellness will forever echo in my digestive wellness journey. I bestow upon Christine the well-deserved exceptional title, “my wellness goddess.”
https://kalenaspire.com/testimonials/alexandria-z-m-s/
Copyright © 2019 Kalena Spire | All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer | Returns and Refunds Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
Web Design by Viva la Violette

popup