Seafood, we love it, hate it, or are allergic to it. It’s been recently studied that eating seafood regularly can help shield delicate blood vessels in the brain. This is because of the presence of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, B and a whole slew of minerals ranging from zinc to phosphorus and iron. (Harrar, 2022)
So why is eating fish so important? Omega-3 fatty acids are largely obtained from seafood consumption. Our heart and brain remain healthy because of these vital nutrients. Fish include two types of omega-3 fatty acids: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). We must obtain omega-3 fatty acids from our diets since our bodies are unable to manufacture them. While present in all varieties of fish, omega-3 fatty acids are particularly abundant in fatty fish. Oysters, canned light tuna, canned mackerel, canned trout, sardines, herring, and salmon are all great options as a source of omega-3s (Washington State Department of Health, 2024).
Did you know there is a protein in your brain that is linked to Alzheimer’s? This protein is called, for those curious, beta-amyloid, it is linked to Alzheimer’s and this protein basically creates damaging clumps within the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease, activating immune cells and blocking cell-to-cell communication, ultimately destroying brain cells (Beta-Amyloid, 2017).
You can be proactive and take action against Alzheimer’s and seek ways to strengthen your brain to lessen the degenerative effects of dementia by eating nutritious food, medication, therapy, etc. All in all, having a healthy diet with nutrient-rich foods that assist in cognitive retention or eating “brain foods” can help at least strengthen your brain and slow down the aging process over time.
So moral of the story… eat your fish!
ECCA’s Memory Masterclass is offered three times each year and includes a section on brain food. Check it out!
Sources:
Harrar, Sari. “More Evidence Suggests Fish Is Good for Brain Health.” Brain and Life Magazine –
Trusted by Neurologists, 2022, www.brainandlife.org/articles/more-evidence-suggests-
fish-is-good-for-brain-health.
Safety–EPH-EHS–4400, Environmental Health and. “Health Benefits of Fish.” Washington State Department of Health, doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/food/fish/health-benefits. Accessed 1 Mar. 2024.
Beta-Amyloid and the Amyloid Hypothesis, 2017, www.alz.org/documents/national/topicsheet_betaamyloid.pdf.