Can fish oil improve mood?
Our brain (in addition to the most sophisticated neural network throughout our body) thinks for us, understands information around us, and creates emotions and “sensations” that make up who we are, and informs our experience of life.
However, sometimes, these emotions and sensations can become negative, which is what we call feeling down. For one in five Canadians, this negative feeling can turn into something more serious, which doctors call psychological distress.
So, how can we support our brain and its neural network to function at their best – naturally?
Omega-3 “healthy fats” found in fish oils have been extensively studied for the benefits they provide to our entire body – however, many of us do not fully understand what these fish oils do for us.
As the most uniquely studied nutrients, years of studies have shown that omega-3s from fish oils can provide essential benefits for our health and happiness – from head to toe.1 They support cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, improve gut health and mood; studies have shown that we can count on omega-3s.2
However, our body cannot produce omega-3s. Thus, we must ensure that our diet contains sufficient quantities of this precious nutrient. We can find omega-3s in wild-caught fish, certain nuts and seeds, and wild game. However, it can be difficult to consume the amount of omega-3s our body needs to be full of energy.
What happens if we don't consume enough omega-3s?
Researchers have discovered a surprising difference between people who suffer from a diminished state of mind and those who do not: people suffering from low mood often have higher levels of inflammatory chemicals and lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
Moreover, people who regularly consume fish (or take fish supplements) usually have a more positive state of mind.
However, before explaining how omega-3s benefit mood, let's look at two very important fatty acids found in fish oils:
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the structural fatty acid found in the brain where it supports cognition, memory, and development.
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is a second messenger found in nerve cells where it can help reduce inflammation and improve mood.
Omega-3 fatty acids and mood
Although DHA is found in the brain and provides benefits there, researchers have found that it does not seem to provide benefits for mood.
However, when EPA was used alone, or even better, with small amounts of DHA, the results were very positive. Researchers found that EPA is better at reducing minimal inflammation and chemicals produced by the immune system that have a negative effect on mood.3
In another study, researchers studied a sample group over a seven-year period and made another incredible discovery about EPA: people with high blood levels of EPA showed better mental resilience over time.4
But what about side effects or interaction with medications? In comparison with herbs like St. John’s Wort, which are commonly used to improve mood, EPA does not interact with medications.5
That's why Genuine Health created omega3+ joy, high-potency omega-3s with a clinically proven dose of EPA to improve mood. Two capsules per day provide 1,000 mg of an EPA concentrate that has been shown to boost mood and state of mind.
Sourced from wild-caught fish and sustainably managed fisheries that are rigorously regulated, the omega-3 fatty acids found in omega3+ joy are processed using the latest technology to promote optimal absorption. In addition, a 200-step quality check ensures that our omega-3s are pure, fresh, and clean.
Live in a good mood and maintain an optimal state of mind to live your life to the fullest with just 2 softgels of omega3+ joy per day.