Docosahexaenoic Acid
by Get Smart on Jun.30, 2010, under Brain Food
Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHS, is a vital fatty acid needed by our brains in order to function properly in our day-to-day lives.
Some of its uses are documented below:
DHA and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD):
Supplements of Docosahexaenoic acid have been tested on patients with ADD and the results have varied with some patients having reduced symptoms of the disease at the end of the test while others didn’t go ahead and complete the test. All this being taken into account, there can be some positivity taken out of this as many people’s symptoms have reduced after getting supplements of DHA.
DHA and Brain Development:
As noted at the beginning of this article – Docosahexaenoic acid is very important for the functioning of the brain in our day-to-day life. Very few people know for a fact that our brain consists of 60% fat, yes that’s right, 60% fat. The problem with us isn’t that of not eating a great enough quantity of fatty acids in our food (We eat more than enough fat), but, we’re not eating the right kind of fat. This is where DHA comes into play. Docosahexaenoic acid is one of the fatty acids that can be found and consumed by us. Try including a little bit of seafood in your diet every week in order to have the right amount of DHA. If you’re a vegetarian then I suggest you have seaweed and vegetable oils such as flaxseed oil. Certain supplements containing Docosahexaenoic acid are very beneficial to our health as well.
DHA, Visual Senses and the Nervous system:
DHA plays a vital role in the initial development of an infant’s nervous system and visual senses. It is also important for a woman to take the right amount of DHA during her pregnancy for the same reasons.
DHA and Heart Ailments:
Regular intake of fish oil or other supplemental sources of DHA reduces the risk of getting any kind of heart diseases such as reduction in the clotting of blood, blood pressure and also improves the overall health of your heart.
DHA and Alzheimer’s Disease:
Alzheimer’s disease is found to occur mostly in adults over the age of 65 years. People suffering from the disease find it difficult to recall recent memories. A recent study has been conducted by the United States National Institute of Health in which doses of Docosahexaenoic acid were given to patients suffering from the disease and although it helped in the increase of blood levels of DHA, it did not help in the other tests that were conducted regularly on these patients with regard to their mental abilities.
DHA and the Fight Against Cancer:
The Omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, is said to have a restraining effect on cancer affected cells. Though, it has to be noted that enough research hasn’t been done to come to a definite conclusion.
DHA and Arthritis:
Studies that have been conducted show that symptoms of Arthritis have reduced although it does not restrict the progression of the disease.
The various sources of Docosahexaenoic acid are (Have too much of these and the next thing you know – you’re a member of Mensa):
It is commonly found in cold-water fish as mentioned before. To be more specific, they are found in fatty fishes such as Sardines, Tuna, Herring, Salmon, etc… Pregnant women are told to avoid swordfish, shark, mackerel and tilefish. Breast milk contains high amounts of DHA which is important for every infant.
Safety Measures:
Pregnant women must consult their doctors before they take any fish oil supplements and infants are told against taking any supplements that contain EPA. Docosahexaenoic acid can also cause diarrhea and cause discomfort around the abdominal region.
It is recommended that anyone who is going to take supplements containing DHA consult with their doctor to determine if Docosahexaenoic acid would be beneficial to you in the prevention of heart diseases, development of the nervous system, reduction of Arthritis and the various other benefits and that their are no risks to their health.
Improve Your Memory
by Get Smart on Jun.30, 2010, under Memory, brain power
It seems as if everyone is searching for ways to improve their memory and make them more focused. There are currently thousands of mind activities, games and exercises that will allow you to work on your memory building skills, thus resulting in the ability to hold memories longer. Many of these training exercises require a specific game. Even Nintendo has gotten into the memory improvement business with the games available for the GameBoy DS. These games and puzzles allow you to work on your memory skills, while providing enjoyment so that you do not actually consider it a task to build your memory.
Brain supplements are also available claiming to have the ability of improving your memory. Taking specific vitamins and nutrients could aid you in your quest to have a more youthful memory. Many supplements however, boast what they cannot deliver. So, how to improve your memory and boost your brain’s powers?
You can start by researching the different games, puzzles and training exercises that are designed for just this task. By spending a few hours each week engaging in these exercises you may see a significant improvement over the course of just a few months.
Remember that old game Concentration? This is a memory improving game, as you are forced to remember where the cards are placed so that you can match them with their counterparts. Children have been playing this game in schools for decades. The game was designed to improve memory in children at the grade school level. Many older children and even adults find the game compelling and use it to help their memory upgrades to be more fun and less of a boring task.
Other games and puzzles are also available that will provide you with memory improvement while giving you a fun and adventurous way to improve memory skills. Whether you are normally a game player or would rather read or maybe listen to mind power tapes, you can find just the right training exercise to help you with this quest.
Certain chemicals and/or minerals can also help you to improve memory, while also aiding in other aspects of your total health.
Dimethylamineothanol (DMAE), Citicoline, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), Gotu Kola and Fo-ti are but a few of the natural chemicals produced by your body and natural herbs that have been proven to be very effective in memory improvement. These new “Brain Foods” have shown significant improvements in areas of the brain and memory including the reduction and reversal of age-related memory loss and supporting the fight against diseases that focus on the brain’s full functionality.
So, while there are many games, puzzles and training exercises that work to improve your memory and build memory skills, there are also brain supplements that are available that can help you to significantly improve the results of your memory building training. Taking just a few hours each week to work on improving your memory skills can help you to retain and recall information much easier and faster after just a few months. If you are already experiencing memory loss, these steps can help you to retrain your brain to get back those memories that you have been missing. For those who are still on the younger side of the scale, beginning exercises and training to improve memory now, will virtually guarantee that as you get older you will retain your sharp memory and focus.
Whether you want to improve your memory for studying or you are simply getting to the age that memory loss is inevitable, you can use these exercises as well as these supplements to support the help in improving your memory and give yourself a longer and healthier lifespan.
