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If you want to improve your brain health through your diet, then you can start with eating more fish.
Salmon, trout and sardines are all rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are a major building block of the brain. Your brain needs them to build brain and nerve cells and studies show that they’re essential for learning and memory. It is said that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have a therapeutic effect against inflammatory conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases.
Other studies have also proven other beneficial effects omega-3 fatty acids have on your brain. Several studies found that omega-3 fatty acids can slow down age-related mental decline, helping you ward off neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
One other study found that people who regularly ate baked or broiled fish were more likely to have more gray matter in their brains. Gray matter contains a lot of the nerve cells that control memory, emotion and decision making.
The omega-3 fatty acids in fish are also known to prevent and treat depression. Studies have found that people who regularly eat fish are less likely to develop symptoms of depression. They may even aid in treating other mental conditions like bipolar disorder.
About 60 percent of your brain is made of fat. Half of that fat is made of omega-3 fatty acids. Since your body can’t make omega-3 fatty acids, you need to get these essential fats from food sources – like walnuts, vegetable oils, flaxseeds, leafy vegetables and, of course, fish.
Healthy fish like salmon, trout, tuna and mackerel are also beneficial to other parts of your body. Here are some of those benefits:
If you aren’t the biggest fan of eating fish all the time, there are other foods out there that you can eat that are also great for supporting and improving your brain health. Here are just a few of those wonderful superfoods:
Fish are a great source of nutrients that can improve your brain health, and because they are also beneficial for other parts of your body, consuming them regularly is greatly beneficial for maintaining your body’s overall health.
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