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With all the foods, vitamins, supplements and pills available in the world, it’s hard to keep track of what helps your mental health the best. It’s important to get a variety of nutrients, and omega-3, a type of fatty acid, is especially known for its mental health benefits.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center’s website, humans need omega-3 fatty acids to survive, but since the body doesn’t make them they have to be found in food or supplements.
“Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other seafood including algae and krill, some plants, and nut oils,” according to the website.
Omega-3 is important for brain function and can help prevent certain health conditions like cancer and heart disease, according to the website.
“Omega-3 fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral function,” the website states. When there are deficits in this fatty acid, then some mental health and general health issues can occur, like depression, fatigue and heart issues.
Trudy Scott, the president of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, a nutritionist and author, said in an email that there are different studies supporting omega-3’s link to mental health, including depression and anxiety specifically.
“Given the link between anxiety and depression, it’s likely that seafood consumption could also help reduce the incidence of anxiety,” Scott said. “Other sources of omega-3s are walnuts, grass-fed red meat, leafy green vegetables, and flaxseeds.”
A study in Finland in 2001 demonstrated that the more fish people eat, the less depressed they are.
“Several studies have reported depletions of omega-3 fats among depressed patients, and a cross-national comparison has revealed a significant inverse correlation between annual prevalence of major depression and fish consumption,” according to a study summary on the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s website.
“The likelihood of having depressive symptoms was significantly higher among infrequent fish consumers than among frequent consumers.”
Add a Comment6 Comments
i think spiritual healing is amust to fight anxiety and deppression, when the body is down,our spirit are low we must ask god to help us..if we know the story of moses and jesus in the holy bible.how they cope with all the pressure with all the people around them with all the demands..they asked god..god..god
November 24, 2011 - 2:00amThis Comment
If Omega 3 fatty acids are helpful for depression I would hate to know how much worse I would feel than I do now, taking the Omega 3. I haven't felt so low in a long, long time and I've been on Omega 3 for 2 years and am so depressed I am near suicide. I am also on antidepressants and have been most of my life...over 50 years! I wish they helped like the article says they are. I know they don't help everyone and I guess I am one of the unlucky ones.
November 19, 2011 - 8:40amDid you know a big possible side affect of anti depressant drugs is amazingly 'Increased depression!' .
November 22, 2011 - 3:38amIf id been taking anti depressants for 2 years and they wernt helping i would try definatly try a sustained period without them, and stick to just the Omega 3 or Krill Oil.
All the best.
Thank you so much for the comment. I appreciate it. I have tried many times to stop the antidepressants but every time I ended up in the hospital for weeks. So, for me, going off the meds is not an option. I do have to change them every year or so, because they become ineffective, but I'll always need something. I am taking the Omega 3 regularly and it helps too. Again, thanks for the suggestion.
November 22, 2011 - 9:34ambbnrse
Eating real food that our great grandparents would have recognized as healthy is the key.
November 18, 2011 - 1:58pmI keep hearing that Krill Oil is a great supplement
November 17, 2011 - 12:33pmBut not sure if it really is much better than other Omega 3 oils?
it is more expensive but is it worth it?
info here- http://www.tongkatfitness.com/products/what-is-krill-oil-krill-plus-500