EPA and DHA Are Essential to Your Brain Health

Most people know that omega-3 fatty acids are good for us because of their benefits to heart and joint health.

But did you know? Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for brain health—and here’s why.

What is EPA and DHA?

Omega-3 fatty acids are comprised of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Every living cell in the body needs these essential fatty acids. They are required for rebuilding and producing new cells.

While both EPA and DHA are components of cellular membranes throughout the body, they each have specific functions in our health. EPA plays a critical role in supporting the healthy regulation of cellular inflammation, while DHA is the most abundant omega-3 found in the brain and is important for maintaining nerve cell structure and function.

This makes EPA and DHA the essential building blocks for healthy cell membranes. These cell membranes provide critical support for the brain connectivity that supports:

• Healthy memory
• Healthy cognition
• Emotional well-being

Additionally, DHA and EPA promote healthy blood flow, which is essential to optimal brain function and memory retention. Think of omega-3 fatty acids as high quality motor oil for the finely-tuned engine that is your brain.

Watch this short video featuring Dr. Amen and BrainMD Health’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Parris Kidd, to learn more about how a daily intake of omega-3s with high levels of EPA and DHA is essential to brain health.

The EPA and DHA Ratio to Omega-6

The optimal ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is 2 to 1, and not higher than 3 to 1.

Most people get far too little omega-3s in their diet. In fact, research consistently indicates that the majority of Americans have just slightly more than half the amount of EPA and DHA in their tissues than they need for optimum brain and body health. This is partly due to a high dietary intake of unhealthy fats combined with an inadequate intake of EPA and DHA.

BrainMD Health’s very own Omega-3 Power makes it super easy to get the right amount of brain healthy omega-3s. Each serving provides 1,440 mg of DHA and EPA from ultra-purified, high-quality fish oil. Omega-3 Power’s high potency helps to ensure having healthy tissue levels of DHA and EPA within weeks to a few months of taking it.

Omega-3 Power is sourced from anchovies, sardines, and mackerel. These fish roam mostly in the mid-level of the ocean and have relatively short-lived lifespans. Because of this, they tend to accumulate fewer toxins. In addition, the fish oil in Omega-3 Power is put through the most thorough purification processes available. It includes screening for more than 250 potentially toxic chemicals, and at the same time, eliminates the “burpy” effects of crude fish oils. The result is the highest quality omega-3 supplement available on the market today.

“Omega-3 fatty acids play such an important role in brain and body health that I suggest most people take them every day, regardless of their brain type or age. Taking Omega-3 Power is insurance that your body gets the nutrients it needs to be at its best.” -Daniel G. Amen M.D.

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BrainMD Life, Writer