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News - How Do Omega Fats Assist Brain Function?

Fish Dish The omega fats, also known as LCP’s (Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) found in oily fish are often referred to as ‘brain food’, but why?

By establishing how the brain develops gives us a clear view of the importance of nourishing and stimulating the brain, with a crucial time for development being the first 4-6 months of life. The brain regulates and controls the Central (brain and spinal cord) and Peripheral (nerves that extend to all parts of the body) Nervous System and fundamental to all our daily activities and well-being. Therefore our ability to speak, move, cognitive function, perception, voluntary and involuntary reactions relies totally on our brain functioning efficiently.

Brain cells (made up of neurons, axons and dendrites) rapidly develop within the first 4 months of life. The brain is constantly maturing to meet developmental needs and by the age of 2 years has increased by 75% in weight and by 6 years of age of normal growth will be 90% of its eventual weight.

The Dendrites are finger like projections running from the body of the cell that increases the receptive surface area. The Axon's or nerve fibre, influence a reaction and sends out a chemical message that for instance allows the tendons in your fingers to respond to pick up an object.

It is known that the Axon’s of the brains nerve cells are covered by a fatty membrane called the Myelin Sheath. The Myelin Sheath protects the nerves, conserves energy and speeds up the passage of electrical signals. Omega fats/LCP’s therefore play a key role in the proficient development of our brain cells, and as our bodies are unable to manufacture these fats we can only access them from foods, and is one of the key reasons as to why mother nature ensures LCP’s are found in abundance in breastmilk.

To try and simplify the science, think of an electrical appliance like a kettle. The wires that need to conduct the electricity supply from the socket to allow us to boil water in the kettle are made up of 3 small wires. Those wires (like axons) are protected by plastic outer tubing and allow the electricity to pass through it safely and efficiently. Think of that plastic coating as the Myelin Sheath!

Therefore having a good supply of Omega fatty acids/LCP’s in our daily diets from birth support optimum development at the key stages of a child’s brain development and how they continue to function into adulthood. For further evidence there are some compelling studies looking at the dietary intake of LCP’s and the affect it has on Cognitive Development in Infants that you can find in Section 2 of The Distance Learning Pack provided by Ideal Nutrition.

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