Improve your memory and concentration

Do you lie about your age? It's okay, we won't tell. Most of us try to stay young: we hide our wrinkles or deny our minor forgetfulness. However, despite our efforts to ignore aging, it happens every day.
By Health First
3 min read
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Do you lie about your age? It’s okay, we won’t tell. Most of us try to stay young: we hide our wrinkles or deny our little forgetfulness. However, despite our efforts to ignore aging, it happens every day. In our brain, aging leads to a slow loss of our cognitive functions, affecting our memory and concentration. Luckily, you don't need to ask Sherlock Holmes for help to solve this mystery. The answer is easy to find and tastes good! Omega-3s, those essential fatty acids we hear about regarding heart and joint health, can also promote cognitive health and brain function. In a 2016 article in Current Neuropharmacology, experts concluded that omega-3s are essential for healthy aging and ideal as nootropic substances. Ah ha! Brilliant! Omega-3s are excellent for our brain.

Other recent scientific studies suggest that there may be a link between healthy levels of omega-3s in the brain and our mood, anxiety levels, and post-traumatic stress disorder. As researchers learn more about the role of omega-3s in the brain, it is becoming increasingly clear that it is important for our health to include enough of them in our diet. Are you getting enough?

Get your brain working! Certain seeds, including flax and chia, offer a form of omega-3 fatty acid that our bodies can partially convert into EPA and DHA. Fatty fish is the best dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, including salmon, mackerel, and sardines, which are direct sources of EPA and DHA. Health Canada suggests consuming 100 to 5,000 mg of EPA and DHA per day to promote cognitive health. That’s a lot of fish – about 3 servings of salmon per day. Salmon is delicious, but three servings are a lot of salmon to eat!

Adding a quality fish oil supplement to our diet is an easy way to consume more EPA and DHA. Health First’s Omega-First capsules contain 450 mg of EPA and 250 mg of DHA for a total of 700 mg of EPA and DHA, and Health First’s Omega-First liquid contains 760 mg of EPA and 505 mg of DHA, for a total of 1,265 mg of EPA and DHA in a 5 ml teaspoon.

Wait a minute! Before you stick out your tongue and say "yuck," know that a good quality oil doesn't have to taste like fish! Ours has a delicious lemon flavor. Ah, we’re clever, aren’t we – we solved the mystery by giving you something to talk about.

Brain Foods

Here are some facts about omega-3s to keep your brain busy:

  • The two most important omega-3s for the brain are EPA and DHA.
  • Omega-3s are a type of essential fatty acid (EFA).
  • The body cannot make omega-3s, which is why they are called essential.
  • Signs of deficiency include fatigue, memory loss, dry skin, and depression.

Want to know more about how to choose the right fish oil for you? Learn more about how the Canadian independent testing service can tell you if your fish oil is safe, potent, and fresh:http://healthfirstnetwork.ca/fr/blog/votre-huile-de-poisson-est-elle-securitaire-puissante-et-fraiche/