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Omega 3 for depression – Discover why Omega 3 for depression is a realistic alternative
Many people turn to omega-3 fatty acids as an alternative treatment for depression, but can it really benefit people suffering from depression? The answer to that is a resounding yes, and it works in a few different ways. However, taking any type of omega 3 will not help relieve depression, my opinion is that you will specifically need a fish oil omega 3 supplement. The reason I say fish oil is twofold; The first reason is due to the DHA fats found in fatty omega-3 fish. DHA fats are an essential fat required by the human body. We have this fat in...
Omega 3 for depression – Discover why Omega 3 for depression is a realistic alternative
Many people turn to omega-3 fatty acids as an alternative treatment for depression, but can it really benefit people suffering from depression? The answer to that is a resounding yes, and it works in a few different ways. However, taking any type of omega 3 will not help relieve depression, my opinion is that you will specifically need a fish oil omega 3 supplement.
The reason I say fish oil is twofold; The first reason is due to the DHA fats found in fatty omega-3 fish. DHA fats are an essential fat required by the human body. We have this fat inside us when we are born, but we no longer produce it and therefore we have to get it from an external source. This is important in depression because the human brain actually breaks down about 25 percent DHA fat.
As we age, the fat stores we have begin to deplete and we need to replace them through our diet, but most people in the Western world don't eat enough oily fish to replace these fats. So when the memory becomes depleted, it can lead to diseases such as depression as well as declining memory, poor concentration and also risks of diseases such as Alzheimer's and bipolar disorder.
Another area in which Omega 3 fish oil can work against depression is the way it counteracts inflammation. Inflammation is caused by Omega 6, and although we need this to be healthy, we have doubled the amount of Omega 6 we consume daily in the last hundred years or so; and over the same period, the number of people suffering from depression has also doubled. It is now known that it is healthy to have a good Omega3-Omega6 balance, there is no set stone ratio, but if your balance is somewhere in the range of 1:1 to 1:14 Omega3 to Omega6, this can help reduce inflammation levels.
These are the two main reasons why using omega-3 fish oil for depression is a realistic alternative. However, to reach the levels needed to truly make a difference, you need to consume it daily. So ideally, you should take a fish oil supplement, especially one rich in DHA fat. And in addition to fighting depression, taking these supplements daily also helps your health in many other areas, such as protecting your heart from disease.
Inspired by Danny Lewis