What Is DHA and Why It Is An Important Brain Food!
Why IS DHA or Docosahexaenoic Acid Important for Brain Development? Research shows that there exists a decided link between optimal brain development and essential fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid. Children with ADHD have lower concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood. According to the DHA-EPA Omega-3 Institute,it was Dr. Brian Walker and his graduate student, Maxwell Lamptey, who pioneered work on essential fatty acids at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Thirty years ago, they made the bold association between omega-3 enriched diets in mother rats and the superior learning capacity of their young offspring. Walker and Lamptey also located the significance of docosahexaenoic acid in brain tissue, suggesting that high levels of this fatty acid is required for optimal brain function. Subsequent research has proven this to be a fact. Researchers have long suspected that breast fed babies tended to be smarter than formula fed babies. A 1998 New Zealand study (Horwood and Fergusson, "Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Academic Outcomes" Jan 1998 Pediatrics Vol. 101, No. 1 ) involving over 1000 children who were followed for 18 years showed that breast fed infants possessed higher intelligence and greater academic potential than formula-fed infants. This particular study demonstrated that breast fed babies were 38% more likely to graduate from high school than their formula-fed counterparts. Other studies also show that breast fed babies' IQ is 3-5 points higher than that of formula-fed babies. DHA is the ingredient responsible for this kind of cognitive enhancement. Found in breast milk, but not necessarily in formula, this essential fatty acid is crucial for neural development in children. In a recent study carried out at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest and the University of Texas SouthWestern Medical Study, researchers discovered that children fed infant formula supplemented with high concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid tended to have higher cognitive skills than infants fed regular formula.
When the infants turned nine months old, they were tested with a problem solving activity; they had to go through a sequence of steps to get a reward - a rattle. Babies who were given docosahexaenoic acid demonstrated not only more "intentional behaviors" that brought them to their goal, they were also more likely to succeed in getting the rattle. This study proves beyond a doubt that docosahexaenoic acid is a special kind of brain food. Researchers are aware that infants who demonstrate superior performance in a problem solving task tend to have superior IQ and vocabulary later in life. What this means is that the beneficial effects of docosahexaenoic acid on infants can well extend beyond infancy. More studies are emerging, demonstrating that docosahexaenoic acid promotes more than neural and cognitive health. New studies are suggesting as well that DHA is effective for mood disorder. DHA is also good for decreasing the risk of Alzheimer's, dementia and retinal degenerative disease. It has also been shown to suppress colon cancer tumor cell growth. Food sources of DHA include fish, especially salmon and mackerel, whole grains and nuts, especially walnuts, whose interiors resemble the human brain. Disclaimer: The above information is meant only to inform and should never displace professional consultation.
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