| What you eat can go to your head. That's not a new | | | | reducing inflammation in the body. Inflammation has |
| theory. Fish oil has been thought to be "brain food" for | | | | been linked to many diseases and disorders, including |
| centuries. But now there's lots of scientific proof to | | | | depression. |
| back it up. | | | | As psychiatrist David Mischoulon puts it, "We know |
| Although anti-depressant medications can be effective, | | | | that inflammation in the body results in the increased |
| there are risky and sometimes unpleasant side effects. | | | | synthesis of certain hormones like cortisol, and those |
| So scientists have been searching for more natural | | | | have been associated with depression. Perhaps by |
| alternatives to help people with the increasing incidence | | | | preventing inflammation, [these omega 3 fatty acids] |
| of depression that affect millions. | | | | can also counteract any influences that cause |
| Study after study suggests the omega 3 fatty acids | | | | depression." |
| EPA, DPA and DHA, which are plentiful in certain cold | | | | Since this first study, there have been many others |
| water fish, increase the good-mood serotonin levels in | | | | that show fish oil can help stabilize mood, including the |
| your brain. | | | | mood swings in those with severe depression. |
| This means that omega 3 fish oil can help you to feel | | | | For example, research published in the Archives of |
| both happier with your life the way it is now and, at the | | | | General Psychiatry, showed that 64% of bipolar |
| same time, more motivated to create a better future | | | | patients who took fish oil for four months reported |
| for yourself. It's even been shown to help smooth the | | | | dramatic improvement in their symptoms. This was in |
| mood swings of those with severe bipolar disorder. | | | | contrast to only 19% of those receiving a placebo. |
| But that's not all fish oil has been shown to do. Besides | | | | The research team leader, Dr. Andrew Stoll, found that |
| lubricating your brain, it can also ease the pain of | | | | these studies weren't the only ones that prove the |
| arthritis and reduce your risk of degenerative diseases, | | | | benefits of fish oil for depression. "There are a lot of |
| such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and | | | | reasons to believe it works," said Dr. Stoll. "In countries |
| breast and prostate cancers. | | | | where the average fish consumption is high we see |
| The first depression research to attract wide attention | | | | lower rates of depression." It's as simple as that. |
| was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in | | | | Omega 3 studies on depression usually use high quality |
| 1998. Scientists realized there were significantly lower | | | | fish oil supplements. The reason is that most of the |
| levels of omega 3 EPA, DPA and DHA in the blood | | | | research scientists believe that supplements are the |
| cell membranes of patients with depression. | | | | easiest and safest way to increase your omega 3 |
| The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil appear to work by | | | | EPA, DPA and DHA levels. |