Present primarily in fish and seeds, can this ancient fat be the ingredient to promote super intelligence?
The fat DHA is the key to intelligence, and important for brain development and health. We dive into its impact on education and learning. As DHA is essential to cognitive function, we explore its purpose, benefits, and common foods where it is found.
What is DHA?
Docosahexaenoic Acid or DHA is an Omega-3 fatty acid which is essential to the human body. DHA is not only found organically in fatty fish oils, but composes ½ of our brain’s dry weight. As humans, the majority of our DHA is transferred through childbirth and in early infancy, and even found in breast milk.
DHA Benefits
DHA is extremely necessary in a child’s early stages of growth. This super fat plays a vital role in a child’s brain development as it improves memory, verbal learning, and reading/spelling abilities. Older children and adults also need DHA as it enriches the brain’s membrane fluidity, receptor function, and neuron growth. It increases one’s cognitive abilities, the evolution of the brain, and therefore, intelligence. Additionally, with the beneficial impact DHA has on the brain’s neurons, students’ focus and attention can improve.
Increasing DHA
Doctors recommend people to consume 250-500 mg of DHA daily. Because our bodies are incapable of producing this healthy fat, DHA supplements and consumptions through food are essential. Fatty fish oils, especially salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring, are the best ways to increase one’s DHA. For vegans, chia seeds, Brussels sprouts, walnuts, and other plant sources are great ways to boost DHA levels.
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