DHA Archives - Your body ~ Your brain ~ Your diet

Men: Your Sperm Count is Plummeting

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023 MariaC DHA, lycopene, selenium, testicular cancer, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc

A paper published in November 2022 describes data from 223 international studies that reveal that sperm count across the globe has decreased by more than half over the last fifty years. According to the team of scientists who made this discovery, humanity faces a “fertility crisis.”
You might take the view that — what with eight billion of us already on the planet — the situation is more of a solution than a problem. However, as well as being highly distressing for couples struggling to conceive, low sperm count is associated with a number of male health issues, including testicular cancer, and all-cause mortality.

Feed Your Brain

How to Combat Depression… With Fat

June 27, 2022September 1, 2022 MariaC bipoloar, Depression, DHA, EPA, MDD

The human brain is often likened to a computer. I don’t know why; it’s nothing like a computer. Break open a head and you will see that the organ within is just a lump of wobbly fat. Yet it took millions of years of human evolutionary biology to fine tune that lardy lump. It runs entirely on what you feed it.
The dry weight of the brain is 60% fat. The rest of it is cholesterol (also very important) and protein (ditto). No other organ contains so much fat or needs it so much. Without it, the brain simply cannot function.

Feed Your Brain

The five best diet hacks to transform your mental health

September 7, 2020September 1, 2022 MariaC anxiety, blood sugar, Depression, DHA, microbiome, NCGS, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, vitamin D

There are many dietary factors that can affect brain function. Here I focus on the five that I encountered most frequently in clinic. The clue to identifying the right one(s) often lies in the accompanying physical symptoms. If you suffer from depression and anxiety, you too might spot the clues. Here’s a guide to nutritional sleuthing for mental well-being.

Feed Your Brain

The physical symptoms of mental illness

September 3, 2019September 1, 2022 MariaC ADHD, autism, Depression, DHA, dysmenorrhea, EPA, inflammation, oily fish, omega-3, omega-6, schizophrenia

Alicia was certainly different, but she was typical in one regard: she had a combination of physical and mental symptoms. And, as it turned out, there was one underlying cause. Alicia’s brain lacked fatty acids, and this deficiency was manifesting in other parts of her body.

Feed Your Brain

Why babies need animal fat

July 14, 2019September 1, 2022 MariaC ADHD, arachidonic acid, autism, DHA, EPA, epilepsy, formula feed, ketogenic diet, ketone, vegan, vegetarian

As well as needing fat for fuel, a baby’s brain requires specific fat for normal cognitive development and intellectual skills. Without that specific fat, there is a serious risk of developing brain dysfunction.

Feed Your Brain

How eating more fat can improve your memory

November 5, 2018September 1, 2022 MariaC Alzheimer's, Cholesterol, cognitive, dementia, DHA, epilepsy, ketogenic diet, ketone, MCTs, medium chain triglycerides, memory

The dry weight of the brain is 60% fat. It’s all there: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. There’s also a good deal of cholesterol, a fat-like substance. As well as forming part of the structure of the brain, and providing fuel, these fats play a role in maintaining memory and other aspects of cognitive function.

Feed Your Brain

How to stop Alzheimer’s before it begins

October 31, 2018June 24, 2019 MariaC 0 Comments advanced glycation end-products, AGEs, Alzheimer's, dementia, DHA, homocysteine, lutein, MCI, mild cognitive impairment, sugar, type 3 diabetes, vitamin B12, zeaxanthin

There is a mistaken but widespread belief that we are all helpless victims of cruel fate and random DNA, marching through our lives towards a preordained conclusion. Instead, the evidence suggests that developing dementia is largely a matter of what you eat and drink. Here are four dietary changes you can make now that can play a significant role in maintaining the health of the ageing brain.

Feed Your Brain

How fat babies develop healthy adult brains

February 22, 2018February 22, 2018 MariaC 0 Comments ADHD, Alzheimer's, arachidonic acid, autism, brain, Depression, DHA, docosahexaenoic acid, fat, Homo erectus, ketogenic diet, ketone bodies, ominvorous diet, Paleolithic, sapiens, schizophrenia

Human babies are the only land mammals born fat, and there is good reason for that. When humans evolved from plant-eating tree-dwellers to omnivorous land-dwellers, an extraordinary burst of brain growth was triggered. The large human brain is dependent on fat for growth and function, from conception to old age.

Feed Your Brain

The link between diet and depression: 5 important facts

May 25, 2017June 24, 2019 MariaC 0 Comments antidepressants, blood sugar, brain, cognitive function, Depression, DHA, diet, docosahexoenic acid, folate, homocysteine, Insulin resistance, nutrition, oily fish, phytate, psychiatric disorder, SAD, seasonal affective disorder, type 2 diabetes, vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc

Although diet plays a crucial role in the normal functioning of the brain, it is often overlooked as a major cause of depression, despite all the evidence. This article describes how certain nutrient deficiencies can lead to depression. Find out how to ensure you are eating the right foods for a healthy brain.

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