Like all living creatures, we’re products of the world we live in. We are what we eat, what we drink, what we absorb through our skin and what we inhale.
Every day, every one of us is in contact with hundreds of toxins. From plastic drinking bottles, to kitchen cleaning products, to the air we breathe; research clearly shows that this ‘toxic cocktail’ is harming our health [1]. Now scientists are discovering that these toxins might be negatively impacting our brain function too.
A study published in 2018 in the Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences found that long-term exposure to particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide led to cognitive declines in study participants as they aged [2].
Data shows that BPA, a common plastic ingredient, damages brain cells and affects mood and memory. It has also been associated with anxiety and hyperactivity and is now believed to be one of the risk factors for ADHD [3][4].
To start, we can reduce our toxic load by doing things like choosing BPA-free plastics, avoiding chemical-based cleaning products and exercising when the air is at its cleanest.
We can also help heal our brain by giving it the nutrients it needs to fight back. Omega 3 fatty acids have many powerful health benefits for your body and brain, especially Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), one of the most important omega-3 fatty acids.
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found throughout the body. It forms a structural part of the central nervous system and makes up approximately 40% your brain. No wonder it’s so important! DHA is vital for brain development in infants and plays a significant role in memory and learning throughout our lives [6][7]. All age groups need DHA and it is absolutely essential for pregnant women.
How else does DHA help with brain health?
1. DHA helps our brain’s “plasticity”
This refers to our brain’s ability to modify itself, supporting our ability to learn, change behaviors, process emotions, and recover from brain injury or damage [8].
2. DHA fuels the growth of new brain cells.
Yes, our brains do continue to grow as we age! DHA helps our brains grow throughout infancy, childhood, adulthood and even older age [9].
3. DHA is critical to cellular development in our eyes
It helps us maintain healthy vision, positively affecting our mental cognition in turn [10].
You won’t be surprised to hear that, on average, we consume far less DHA than we should. A typical adult American diet contains less than 100mg of DHA per day. Yet most health organisations agree that 250-500mg/day of combined DHA and EPA (another fatty acid) is the amount adults need to maintain overall health[11].
You can add DHA-rich foods to your diet, by eating:
At Xtendlife we offer three exceptionally high quality products that deliver this brain superfood, easily and effectively.
One of the freshest fish oils available, it contains 700mg of DHA per serve to support optimal overall health & vitality.
Includes the bio-available fish oils in our base product, plus our unique antioxidant blend to support the skin against premature aging.
Includes our signature fish oil blend plus high quality bio-available CoQ10 for optimum heart health support.
All three options include our signature blend of bio-available New Zealand Hoki and Tuna oil, perfected after extensive research and proven in studies to have superior benefits for your health.
So go ahead, get the good stuff! Your brain will thank you for it.
[1] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/09/news-air-quality-brain-cognitive-function
[2] https://www.pnas.org/content/115/37/9193
[3] https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031912-114413
[4] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/120264.php
[5] https://neurosciencenews.com/household-chemicals-neurodevelopment-6647/
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728620/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4364972/
[8] https://www.drbeurkens.com/dha-is-critical-for-infants/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4812310/
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10479465
[11] https://www.karger.com/Article/PDF/446855
[12] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-omega-3#health-conditions
Shipping calculated at checkout
