Does Your Brain Need an Oil Change?

Humans really are fat heads. About sixty percent of the human brain is fat. To maintain proper brain health, you need to get adequate fat from your diet. But, not just any fat will do. Some fats damage the brain. The Standard American Diet (SAD) high in trans and hydrogenated fats worsens inflammation in the body, and this inflammation can damage delicate brain tissues. These unhealthy fats are found in fried foods, shortening, lard, margarine, baked goods, and processed and prepared foods.

Healthy fats help keep the lining of brain cells flexible so that memory and other brain messages can pass easily between cells. Both Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats are important to brain health and should be eaten in a one-to-one or two-to-one ratio to each other. However, the average North American eats these foods in a twenty-to-one to a fifty-to-one ratio, causing a huge imbalance and resulting Omega-3 deficiency. In this ratio, Omega-6 fats can cause or worsen inflammation, for which there is insufficient Omega-3 fats to keep inflammation under control. The typical diet, if it contains any healthy essential fatty acids, usually includes fats found in meat and poultry, or occasionally from nuts and seeds. Most of these fats are Omega-6 fatty acids.

Omega-6 fatty acids are found in the highest concentrations in corn, sunflower, and safflower oils. But, you are more than what you eat. I read somewhere that “you are what you eat eats.” So that means if you eat a diet with meat or poultry that was fed corn, or other grains high in Omega-6s, you’re getting lots of Omega-6s indirectly.

Next: Learn how DHA protects your brain.

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Heidi H.

12:47PM PDT on Apr 10, 2013

Thank you. I must buy some walnut and safflower oil. Your tips are great.

April 10
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Malgorzata Z.

12:42PM PST on Mar 3, 2013

chyba wolę orzechy od ryb

March 3
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Ro H.

9:32AM PST on Mar 3, 2013

g d c.

5:57PM PST on Dec 29, 2012

December 29
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Natalie S.

6:38AM PST on Dec 27, 2012

Thanks for the article. There's always something new to be learnt from reading these articles ... plus it's always good to reread what you know.

December 27
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Donna H.

4:11AM PST on Nov 8, 2012

Thanks.

November 8
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Marianne B.

8:06PM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

Some people like myself are allergic to Omega 3. Purchased at a health store. Broke out in hives. My Dr.advised taking this. Depends on the person, I guess.

July 31
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Eternal G.

5:20PM PDT on Jul 30, 2012

Olive oil for everything ;)

July 30
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5:16PM PDT on Jul 30, 2012

Olive oil, YES!

Ala M.

1:33AM PDT on Apr 15, 2012

I am extremely grateful for these articles on health.For me health is very important since we have no access to our GP in Quebec. Thanks to your wonderful articles that I stay healthy at 65.