Dr Michael Mosley has revealed a “brain protective” nutrient that should take a place in your daily routine.
Countless research suggests that a healthy diet can shield your brain from various health problems, ranging from dementia to Parkinson’s disease.
However, the health guru suggested that one nutrient that is found in fish, seaweed or supplements is especially important.
The doctor shared that omega-3 could not only protect your heart, boost your immune system but also benefit your brain health.
The fatty acid, which is vital for your health, comes in many different forms, but the two most important are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).
Dr Mosley penned for MailOnline: “Among other things, they keep your brain cells healthy and talk to each other.”
The expert isn’t the only one to back the effects of omega-3 on your brain as a study, published in the journal Neurology, discovered a strong link between levels of EPA and DHA in the blood and brain health.
Looking at blood samples and brain scans from 2,000 middle-aged volunteers, the research team found that people with the highest levels of EPA and DHA performed better on cognitive tests.
The doctor added: “On top of that, the volunteers who carried a variant of the APOE4 gene that’s linked to a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but who also had high levels of DHA and EPA, had less brain damage than those who didn’t.
“So these omega-3s are brain protective, though we don’t know exactly why.”
The health guru explained that one theory comes down to these fatty acids forming a part of the membranes that surround the nerve cells and their anti-inflammatory properties.
What’s more, Dr Claudia Satizabal, who ran the study, pointed out that if you increase your consumption of omega-3s “even by a little bit”, you can protect your brain.
Dr Mosley explained that “the only real way” to get enough DHA and EPA from your diet is through oily fish, seaweed, or a dietary supplement.
If you’re not a fan of fish and want to stick to dietary sources, you could give seaweed like Nori a go. “While it doesn’t have as much omega 3 as oily fish, it helped sustain our ancestors down the millennia,” the doctor added.