Fat Brain Happy Brain

The most important fats for the brain are the omega 3, long chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAS) Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA). They are found mainly in oily, deep sea, cold water fish. Whilst in theory these EFAs can be converted from omega 3 containing oils such as flaxseed, in reality this conversion is very poor. At best only about 1% of flaxseed oil is converted into the essential PUFAS.

Therefore, if you are not consuming at least two portions of fish a week your brain may be in trouble, and here’s why:

These PUFAS form the cells membranes of every cell in the body, including the cells of the brain. PUFAS are long and flexible fatty acids; when the cell membranes are full of PUFAS the cell membranes are flexible and fluid which enables the cell to send and receive messages effectively. In an absence of PUFAS the cell membranes must take up other fatty acids from whatever oils are provided by the diet, including the highly toxic trans fatty acids. With these fatty acids making up the cell membrane the brain and nerve cells cannot function optimally, negatively effecting cognitive functions such as memory, learning and mood.

Not only are DHA and EPA critical cell membrane components, but they are also metabolised into anti-inflammatory and antioxidant metabolites that protect the brain from oxidative stress. By preventing inflammation, and therefore damage, they can help preserve optimal brain power and brain health into the mid and later stages of life.

Since the industrialisation of food production, the omega 6 vegetable oils in our diet have crept up from around 2% to a whopping 10% of total calorific intake. This increase in vegetable oils in our diet has knocked the all important PUFAS out of our diets and out of our cells, including our brain cells!

If you don’t like oily fish or find that you are not eating it several times a week, a fish oil supplement is an insurance policy for your brain. But not just any fish oil supplement will do.

Efalex® Active Adult is especially formulated to give mature adults the essential nutrients their brains need to maintain clarity, dexterity and agility. Efalex® Active Adult contains plenty of DHA (250mg) and EPA (40mg) alongside the well known brain and circulation herb Ginkgo biloba, standardised to ensure potency. Efalex® Active Adult includes folic acid and B12 as these vitamins are involved in reducing homocysteine and therefore inflammation in the body. Vitamin E is included as an antioxidant to the product itself, and also to all the fats in the body, including those in the cell membranes. And phosphatidylserine is another cell membrane component that allows for healthy memory and cognition.