The Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Antidepression Diet and Brain Program

A must-read for anyone dealing with depression, The Omega-3 Connection by Andrew L. Stoll, M.D., strikes yet another blow against the standard American diet.

We already know that years of noshing on highly processed foods have saddled us with sky-high rates of heart disease, obesity, and related conditions.

But, as we’re starting to understand now, our eating habits may also be subtly altering our brain chemistry, leaving us vulnerable to anxiety disorders and depression.

Only in this case, it’s not just what we’re eating–it’s what we’re not eating: foods containing omega-3 essential fatty acids–the “good fats” that help maintain optimal brain function.

In his book, Stoll, the director of the psychopharmacology research lab at Boston’s McLean Hospital and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, suggests that restoring our body’s natural balance of omega-3s may help alleviate (and prevent) many types of depression — even for those who don’t respond to traditional antidepressants.

Omega-3s may also prove helpful with other problems, such as the inability to handle stress, memory loss, and cognitive decline. The book contains a “renewal plan” designed to help readers put Stoll’s concepts into practice, recipes for omega-3-rich dishes, advice for choosing supplements, and dosages for therapeutic use.

Although Stoll is quick with the caveat that much of the research on omega-3s and brain function is still evolving, he makes a compelling case for using these fats to regulate depression and other cognitive disorders.

Along with major epidemiological evidence that shows lower rates of depression in those cultures that consume a great deal of omega-3s, Stoll’s own studies indicate that boosting their intake can reduce depression symptoms.

And Stoll cites stacks of additional studies suggesting that omega-3s can also help with major depression, schizophrenia, and postpartum depression. Going even further, Stoll makes a strong argument that omega-3 deficiency could be contributing to rising rates of teen violence and attention deficit disorders.

Of course, depression should never be treated without physician supervision. But in laying the groundwork for the omega-3s to emerge as the next big thing in natural depression therapy, Stoll certainly gives us food for thought.

The Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Antidepression Diet and Brain Program

The Ultimate Omega-3 DietLive longer, better, and healthier with omega-3s!

The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet is the first book to offer simple, practical steps for striking the proper balance between miraculous omega-3 fats and the less-healthy omega-6 fats to get the most out of your diet.

Armed with the practical information in The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet, you’ll be able to:

• Discover delicious omega-3-rich foods that are right in your supermarket
• Cook mouthwatering meals using the 40 included recipes and meal plans
• Navigate the often-confusing supplements aisle
• Read food labels to identify hidden omega-6 fats found in many foods
• Pack in omega-3s even when eating out
• Learn the omega-3 and omega-6 content of more than 900 foods

Buy The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet
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The Omega Diet: The Lifesaving Nutritional Program Based on the Diet of the Island of Crete

Is it really possible that eating more fat is the key to better health? It depends on the fat, according to Dr. Artemis Simopoulos.

The Omega Plan shows, in great detail, the difference between omega-3 fats, those found in fish and some green vegetables, and omega-6 fats, which are found in most meats and vegetable oils.

The former have heart-protective and cancer-preventive properties; the latter, she writes, cause obesity, heart disease, cancer, depression, and a host of other ills.

Omega-3 fats are at the heart of her plan, along with ample servings of fruits and vegetables. Unlike diets based on deprivation, Simopoulos offers some fairly lush food choices, including an ounce of cheese every day.

Best of all, The Omega Plan is bursting with so much useful information about food shopping and preparation that you’ll be able to use its advice the second you put the book down.

Buy The Omega Diet: The Lifesaving Nutritional Program Based on the Diet of the Island of Crete

Regular and long-term intake of omega-3 fatty acid-rich cod liver oil may protect people from symptoms of depression, says a large study from Norway. The study, found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 29 per cent lower in regular cod liver oil users than the rest of the population.

Numerous observational studies and uncontrolled trials have reported the benefits of fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA on the behaviour and learning, especially in kids, as well for improving the symptoms of depression.

Omega-3 are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) consumed predominantly in the diet from fish, nuts and seeds. The fish oil PUFAs include Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenioc acid (DHA).

EPA is proposed to function by increasing blood flow in the body. It is also suggested to affect hormones and the immune system, both of which have a direct effect on brain function. DHA, on the other hand, is involved in the membrane of ion channels in the brain, making it easier for them to change shape and transit electrical signals.

Source: Journal of Affective Disorders
August 2007, Volume 101, Issues 1-3, Pages 245-249
“Associations between cod liver oil use and symptoms of depression: The Hordaland Health Study”
Authors: M. Baroy Raeder, V.M. Steen, S. Emil Vollset and I. Bjelland

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FRIDAY, June 8 (HealthDay News) - U.S. researchers have launched a study to examine whether an omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The 18-month clinical trial will be conducted at 52 sites across the United States and will seek to enroll 400 people, age 50 and older, with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The trial is supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Recent U.S. and European studies have reported that people with the highest blood levels of DHA were about half as likely to develop dementia as people with lower DHA levels.

During this new clinical trial, about 60 percent of the participants will receive either two grams of DHA per day, while 40 percent will be given an inactive placebo. Cognitive tests will be used to monitor patients’ Alzheimer’s disease progression during the study.

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Omega 3 fats might help in lowering high blood pressure (BP), according to a new study published in Hypertension.

Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, contain two types of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) - DHA and EPA, that have been shown to reduce blood fats called triglycerides and possibly prevent dangerous heart-rhythm disturbances.

Due to this, it is recommended that adults eat these fish twice a week, and that people with heart disease consider taking fish oil pills to get extra DHA and EPA.

The effects of omega-3 fats on blood pressure are less clear. And it has not been known whether omega-3-rich foods, specifically, are helpful; this includes plant sources, which contain an omega-3 known as ALA, a precursor to DHA and EPA.

The International Study of Macro- and Micro-nutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP) is an international epidemiologic study of 4680 men and women from 17 population-based samples in China, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States.

They found that people who ate more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids tend to have lower blood pressure. This relationship was seen with fish, as well as with vegetable sources, such as canola oil, soybean oil, flaxseeds and walnuts.

Among the study participants, those who ate relatively more omega-3 fats from food tended to have lower blood pressure. The results lend modest support to the general recommendation that adults increase their omega-3 intake.

The benefit was most clear among people without high blood pressure and those who were not taking medication or following a special diet to control their high BP.

The findings suggest that people eat their omega-3 fats as part of an overall diet, which helps control blood pressure. That includes limiting salt, alcohol and saturated fat, while getting enough vegetable protein and nutrients such as potassium and calcium. Hence, dietary sources of PUFA may contribute to prevention and control of high BP.

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