Depression:
What Do Essential And Metabolic Fatty Acids Have To Do With It?
Depression
is more than just “feeling down in the dumps”. It is a mood disorder
with such symptoms as fatigue, sleep disturbances, restlessness, loss
of energy, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty
concentrating, irritation, agitation, inappropriate guilt, withdrawing
from activity, and suicidal thoughts. A person does not have to have
all of the symptoms, any five, at least, need to be present for a
diagnosis of
depression
to be made. The symptoms also have to last more than just a few days. A
lack in the modern diet of essential and metabolic fatty acids has been
linked to the increase, over the last century, of depression.
The rise in the rate of disorders like
depression
due to a lack or imbalance between fatty acids shows how necessary
essential and metabolic fatty acids are for the body and brain to
function properly.
The role played in the function of serotonin
and dopamine, which are chemicals of the brain, by essential fatty
acids is important. If the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty
acids is wrong in the diet, optimum functioning of the brain chemicals
can not be maintained and the result can be depression. Eating fatty
fish or taking an omega-3 supplement such as fish oil is important to
maintain a balance of essential and metabolic fatty acids. Visit
http://www.omegaflaxseedoil.com to learn more about benefits of Omega 3.
The
right balance of essential and metabolic fatty acids, especially DHA,
has been argued by Hibbeln and Salem of the Laboratory of Membrane
Biophysics and Biochemistry might possibly reduce the development of
depression. A study involving bipolar disorder patients being treated
with DHA and EPA along with their medication indicated that DHA and EPA
improved results with these patients, showing fewer recurrences of
mania or depression.
Patients in another study who suffered from
depression, ate fatty fish two or three times a week for five years
showed that they were not as likely to have feelings of
depression Consuming fatty fish as a way to
balance your levels of essential and metabolic fatty acids is excellent.
A wide imbalance in essential and metabolic fatty acids brought on by
our modern eating habits has led to cases of
depression
to increase. The importance of correcting the imbalances is shown in
tests treating depression patients with essential and metabolic fatty
acids result in decreasing the occurrences and improving the feeling of
depression.
Glossary:
Essential fatty Acids: Fatty acids are vital for physical and mental
wellbeing which cannot be produced by the body.
Serotonin and Dopamine: two chemicals in the brain which are involved
with emotions and nerve communication
Omega 3 fatty acids: Fatty acids essential for physical and mental
wellbeing including ALA, GLA and DHA.
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