Decosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
CT-444
FACTS
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably spent the last decade counting your fat grams because of studies that linked a high-fat diet to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer. But in your zeal to eat right, you may have eliminated some good fats in the process, notably decosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential fatty acid that cannot be manufactured by the body. DHA is found in foods that many people have given up in the name of good health, such as organ meats (which are high in both saturated fat and toxins) and eggs (which the medical establishment incorrectly claimed to be too high in cholesterol for people with lipid problems). It is also abundant in fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and albacore tuna; however, most Americans do not eat significant quantities of fish. Why do we need DHA? DHA is found in high concentration in the gray matter of the brain and the retina of the eye. It is also instrumental in the function of brain cell membranes, which are important for the transmission of brain signals.
Essential for normal brain and eye development, DHA is passed from the mother to the fetus via the placenta. After birth, the primary source of DHA is breast milk. Over the past 50 years, the consumption of DHA has significantly declined, and this has many scientists worried. According to an article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Dr. Joseph R. Hibbeln and Dr. Normal Salem of the National Institutes of Health linked the increase in depression in North America over the past century to a steady decline in DHA consumption. The authors noted that in countries where DHA consumption has remained high, depression is not as common. Low levels of DHA have also been associated with an increase in dementia, mood changes, memory loss, and visual problems. In fact, in a Swedish study, elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease were found to have lower blood levels of DHA than healthy older people. Another Japanese study showed a 65 percent improvement in dementia symptoms among patients given DHA supplements.
Scientists are also concerned about the decline of DHA in breast milk, and they fear that it may interfere with normal mental development in children. In Europe, DHA is added to infant formulas. Although there is no direct evidence that links DHA to mental or behavior problems in children, at least one study performed at Purdue University found that boys diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had lower levels of essential fatty acids, such as DHA, in their blood than children who did not have this problem. In addition, some scientists speculate that the deficiency in DHA may be a contributing factor in postpartum depression in new mother.
Possible Benefits
May prevent depression.
Can reduce symptoms of dementia.
Promotes normal brain development in children.
Enhances vision.
The Right Amount
Take one or two capsules after means, three times a day.
Personal Advice
If you are a nursing mother, check with your physician or natural Abunda Life healing practitioner about taking DHA. It may be just what you and your baby need to be happier and healthier!