What Are DHA Supplements And Why Shoud YOU Be Taking Them?

The growth in sales of DHA supplements has been exponential over the last few years, and for very good reasons. Lets have a look at what DHA supplements are, what they can do for your health and why so many people have taken the step of adding an Omega 3 fish oil supplement to their diet.

We have always been told that fat is bad for us. To an extent this is true, particularly saturated fat, however there are also fats which are good for us and which are considered essential for optimum health. The omega 3 fats, and in particular DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid), are considered to be what is known as essential fatty acids.

They go by other names, for example long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, however the principal is that we ought to have a minimum level of intake of these fats, and in particular DHA, to maintain optimum health and to fight some health problems more successfully.

The most important source of DHA and EPA in the past has been fish in our diet. Fish, and in particular oily fish, are particularly high in Omega 3 essential fatty acids.
Sadly over the last century our intake of fish has declined dramatically, and this has coincided with an increase in the range of serious health concerns, and particularly in the rise in heart disease and deaths from heart disease related conditions such as heart attacks.

Scientists have discovered from over 30 years of research that there is a link between a reduction in intake of fish, being excellent sources of DHA and EPA, and an increase in heart related conditions as well as quite a number of other health problems.

And in societies where the intake of fish remains high such as in Japan, these health conditions are much less prevalent.
The evidence of the health benefits of DHA and EPA is now overwhelming and such mainstream organizations as the American Heart Association are recommending minimum levels of intake of these Omega 3 essential fatty acids.
This can be achieved by eating more fish, however for most people taking dietary supplements containing DHA and EPA, sourced from fish oil, is a much more cost-effective and easy solution.
The range of conditions which, it is considered, are benefited from increasing our intake of DHA and EPA is very wide. It is now well-known that DHA has an extremely important role in development of the brain and nervous system in the fetus and baby, and for this reason many health professionals recommend pregnant or nursing women take DHA supplements, both for their own health and for the health of their developing children.

For adults and the elderly Omega-3 fatty acids are important for maintaining brain function, and adequate Omega 3 fats help with both memory and concentration. People of any age can be helped by improved nutrition by increasing their intake of Omega3 fats. Adequate levels of Omega3 fats reduce your risk of a range of heart related health problems including fatal heart attacks, as well as the risk of stroke.

This alone would be sufficient reason for most of us to start taking the highest quality DHA supplements, however there is a much wider list of health conditions which are beneficially impacted by increasing our intake of essential fatty acids.
A reduction in the risk of macular degeneration, improvements in arthritis, a reduction in the risk of various cancers, reduced symptoms of diabetes, assistance for those suffering from depression and high blood pressure are just a few. There are many more.
Of course we can always eat more fish, and this is recommended, though there are some issues relating to toxic contamination of fish with industrial chemicals. However the reality is that for most of us our intake of fish has reduced dramatically over the last century, and fish is now a luxury item because of the price.
DHA supplements, or what can also be called Omega 3 capsules or fish oil capsules, are dietary supplements specifically designed to increase our intake of DHA and EPA in a cost-effective and simple manner. They can be taken by pregnant women, children, adults and the elderly and all will benefit.
It is arguable that discovery of the importance of DHA and EPA, those all-important essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 fatty acids, is one of the most significant discoveries to impact on the maintenance of good health of our citizens over the last half century. As more and more people begin to understand the importance of eating more fish, or taking high quality DHA supplements, the more we should be able to positively impact the health of our generation.

Is It Possible That There Is An ADHD Fish Oil Link?

Does someone in your family have ADHD? Fish oil may provide the answer. Whilst it is still not conclusively proven, it is clear that using fish oil for ADHD relief may well be worthwhile.

ADHD, or what is known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, affects around 7 percent of our children, mostly boys. Somewhere around 70 percent of these continue, in their adulthood, to suffer from ADHD. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown in recent studies to be important in the treatment of various mental conditions including depression and also important for the development of the fetal brain. There is now evidence that using Omega 3 for ADHD treatment may be useful.

There are studies on ADHD sufferers that show that they have very low levels of the essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 fatty acids. The 2 most important of these are the Omega 3 fats called DHA and EPA. These are mainly found in fish and fish oil and can also be taken as fish oil supplements.

The Inflammation Research Foundation has recently concluded a study of 3 boys and 6 girls who were all previously diagnosed with ADHD symptoms. The symptoms include an inability to concentrate well on any individual past over a longer period of time and disruptive behaviour such as hyperactivity.

Over 8 weeks these children were given high doses of fish oil supplements containing Omega 3 fatty acids. Over that time the levels of the Omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA were monitored and other factors were also monitors which indicate the degree of their ADHD.

It was observed that their levels of EPA and DHA increased dramatically and the indicators of their degree of ADHD fell. Their inattention school almost halved from 18 to 10 and their hyperactivity score fell from 11 to 5. Both of these results are impressive for sufferers of ADHD. Omega 3 supplementation seems to have had a very noticeable affect.

Of course it's still too early to state that using fish oil for ADHD treatment can be used as a treatment on its own. But it does seem that there is clear evidence that using fish oil for ADHD relief is well worth investigating. It seems there is clear signs of an ADHD fish oil link.

It is also not clear what is the appropriate dosage of fish oil supplements for ADHD sufferers. Dosage levels in the trial were quite high, higher than that recommended for the general population.

But there is now little doubt that just about everyone in the US should be taking the best Omega 3 fish oil supplements, not just sufferers of ADHD. Omega 3 supplements benefit our health in a wide range of ways, including, it seems, in improving our mental state. It seems that adequate levels of essential fatty acids in our body to have an impact on conditions such as depression and ADHD.

There's a wide range of reasons, both the general health and to improve their mental state, why children with ADHD should be taking daily Omega 3 fish oil supplements.

Note that not all Omega 3 fish oil supplements are created equal. Many supplements have low levels of 2 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, and do not represent good value for that reason.