The most common disorders of the brain – the ones we fear the most – are all rooted in good fats. It is because our brain is made mostly of fat.
Two-thirds of the brain should be fat and three-fourths of the fats of the brain should be DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an Omega-3 essential fatty acid). This punctuates our need for healthy dietary fats.
Remember, all conditions arise from four major causes: trauma, toxins, deficiencies and stress. An essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency can start us down the pathway to an unhealthy brain. Good fats make healthy brains.
Bad fats or no fats at all can make our brains sick. What are some of the conditions we face that are associated with an unhealthy brain?
Common Conditions
Traumatic Brain Injury
A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may or may not be associated with a concussion – a serious condition which may cause loss of consciousness. But in every case of head trauma your brain will experience inflammation.
That inflammation may smolder for years and become the center for a serious disease process, such as headaches, seizures or dementia.
Stroke
Stroke occurs most commonly when a clot in the artery blocks oxygen-rich blood flow to an area of the brain. The tissue deprived of oxygen quickly begins to die. Another form of stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts and the affected tissue is, once again, starved for oxygen.
A stroke may kill you or cripple you; it always causes inflammation in the tissues of the brain. That inflammation may smolder for years and become the center for further disease process, such as headaches, seizures or dementia.
Autism
About 1 in 110 children in North American will develop the tragic brain disorder of autism. Autism results in disconnections between the structure and function of the developing brain.
Toxins play a role in the development of autism, whether these toxins come from our environment, our lifestyle or our genetics.
Alzheimer’s
Dementia comes in several forms; the most feared form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. It is characterized by tangled nerves, gooey plaque in the brain and inflammation.
Alzheimer’s disease slowly erases memories and processes vital to health and life. Because Alzheimer’s is associated with brain inflammation, it is more common in people who have suffered a TBI or stroke.
Fats To The Rescue!
Good fats make your brain healthy, they make your heart healthy, they reduce inflammation and they improve circulation. They improve your immune system and reduce pain.
Trans-fats are examples of “bad” fats. They have just the opposite effect of good fats: they make your brain, heart and immune system unhealthy. They increase pain and they are a toxic cause of inflammation.
Good fats are essential for life and good health. A good source of supplemental healthy fat is Omega Prime. Omega Prime consists of:
Omega-3: Fish Oil
A key ingredient in Omega Prime is fish oil. Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 from fish oil is healthy for your body and it shows a special affinity for your heart and brain. Fish oil contains fully metabolized DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an Omega-3 essential fatty acid) and is absorbed very quickly.
Omega-3: Flax Oil
Flaxseed oil is a vegetarian source of Omega-3. It is not fully broken down as fish oil is. Instead, it must be slowly metabolized over several hours. Think of fish oil as “fast-acting” and flaxseed oil as “sustained release.”
Omega-3/6: Perilla Seed Oil
The human body cannot produce essential fatty acids: Omega-3 ALA (alpha linolenic acid) or Omega-6 LA (linoleic acid). We must get them from our diet and that is why they are called “essential.” Perilla seeds contain a balance of Omega-3 ALA and Omega-6 LA.
There are nearly 500 articles in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) database on perilla. Scientists from all over the world are studying the oil of this amazing anti-inflammatory seed. Over 50 articles discuss the anti-inflammatory benefits of perilla seed.
Omega-6: Evening Primrose Oil
Evening Primrose oil (EPO) is a primary source of LA (linoleic acid) in OmegaPrime. LA goes through a long process of metabolism that results in intense anti-inflammatory activity.
Evening Primrose oil is an excellent source of LA and OmegaPrime is an excellent source of EPO.
Conclusion
Essential fatty acids are ESSENTIAL to brain health! We cannot make them; we must get them from our diet. The healthier our fat intake is, the healthier our brain may become.
