Omega-3s help with so much: brain function, vision and mood stabilizing. And the best place to get it is not from fish, but seal oil.
No one wants to hear it in the middle of August, but we have to face the facts: September is coming and for many, that means going back to school. Whether returning to school requires going back into classrooms full-time or continuing virtual learning, the start of the school year is a stressful time for everyone. Schools can be a Petri dish of germs, which is why your self-care routine should also include supporting your own immune system.
One way to do that is through ensuring you get your Omega-3s. These vitamins can boost the central nervous system and brain function. It can improve memory and other cognitive abilities can help regulate and stabilize moods as well as reduce anxiety and the effects of stress. While most people turn to fish oil for their Omega-3 intake, growing research shows that seal oil is an excellent source and can help boost immune function, vision health and it may even play a role in preventing chronic diseases.
Why seal oil is better than fish oil
Omega-3 is made up of several essential polyunsaturated fatty acids including Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). Each can be found through various sources and serve different purposes.
EPA supports cardiovascular health, reduces joint inflammation and helps lower cholesterol. Meanwhile, DHA boosts brain function, it can help combat mood disorders and improves ocular health. DPA, on the other hand, helps to repair damaged vessels and can boost the absorption of EPA and DHA. While seal oil contains all three fatty acids, fish oil contains just DHA and EPA, which means it isn’t absorbing into your body as well as Omega-3s from seal oil would. And because there is DPA in seal oil, there’s no need to increase Omega-3 artificially, while fish oil concentrates are often altered to increase the Omega-3 levels to make it more digestible. Seals are also mammals, like we are, which means it’s easier for our bodies to absorb the oil than it is for fish oil.
Both oils have good and bad cholesterol, but seal oil has a healthy balance between the two as it has more HDL (good cholesterol) with less LDL (bad) cholesterol. Whereas fish oil has higher levels of LDL cholesterol.
How Omega-3s help with brain function
Omega-3s help with brain function in numerous ways. It helps preserve cell membrane health and facilitates communication between neurons. It also improves brain blood flow and helps with brain tissue growth. In addition, it supports cognition and it could prevent disorders like depression and anxiety.
Omega-3’s role in reducing anxiety and stress
Omega-3s need to be balanced in one’s diet to keep brain performance up to par. Having fatty acids have been shown to prevent and improve varying neurological conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, Alzheimer’s and Dementia. There are other factors that contribute to these conditions of course, but Omega-3s provides balance in the neurotransmitter’s serotonin and dopamine levels. Omega-3s also help decrease inflammation in the brain, which can be a major factor in developing depression.
Omega-3 and vision health
There have been several studies on Omega-3 fatty acids that prove it helps reduce the risk of macular degeneration—which affects millions of people and is the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S. One study shows people with high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in their diet are 30 percent less likely to develop macular degeneration, compared with others. The fatty acids could help reduce risk of high eye pressure (otherwise known as ocular hypertension), which can lead to glaucoma. Omega-3s additionally works against dry eye syndrome which causes eye itching, burning and redness.
Northerners have been making use of the natural landscape around them for centuries and the abundance of seals nearby have been known to offer many benefits. Using seal oil is just one way so many Northerners have remained strong and healthy over time, despite the sometimes-harsh environment. Luckily, seal oil is available across the country.
Bibliography
https://www.thebetterfish.com/thecurrent/omega-3s-and-brain-health/
https://canadiansealproducts.com/products/seal-oil/seal-oil-vs-fish-oil