omega 3 fatty acids

As if you needed another reminder to stop eating processed foods: a new study has found that foods high in high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can make you stupid. But there's good news, too: eating foods high in omega-3s can help combat loss of brain function.

The study looked at different groups of rats that had been trained on a maze. After a few days on the maze, some of the rats were fed an HFCS-sweetened solution as their drinking water for six weeks, with some also receiving a diet high in omega-3s. After the diet, the rats were tested on how well they could recall the maze. The researchers found that the rats who ate the omega-3 diet were faster at completing the maze than the other rats, whether or not they were also given HFCS. Not only that, but the rats given the HFCS and not omega-3s were the slowest at completing the maze, and their brains showed a decline in activity and memory function.

This latest lab study is yet more evidence that processed foods can mess with our minds (other studies, for example, have linked fast food to depression) and that a diet high in omega-3s can help protect your brain from aging and mental decline. Ready to swap that fast-food burger for a mind-sharpening meal instead? Here's a list of vegan sources of omega-3s and five staples of the omega-3-rich Mediterranean diet.

Our lifestyle habits don't just affect our waistlines and physical health; they also affect our intelligence. If you want to keep your smarts, make sure you do these three things.

Exercise regularly: Exercise has been proven to be good for your brain because it promotes brain cell growth. Not only that, studies have found that being obese prematurely ages your brain, which can lead to a higher risk of Alzheimer's — all the more reason to make exercise a habit as early as possible in your life.

Sleep right: Sleep rejuvenates your body as well as your mind, and when it comes down to it, quantity matters. We've probably all been there: the forgetfulness and dulled reasoning skills that we have to deal with after an abbreviated sleep time, and it's been proven — sleeping fewer than seven hours a night can result in a decline in brain function the next day. But make sure you don't overdo it; the same study found that sleeping for more than eight hours also lowers your brain's ability to function.

Eat superfoods: We eat right for our bodies, so why not our brains? From blueberries to chia seeds, there are many types of superfoods that do double duty by lowering your risk of diseases while also increasing your brain power. A new study confirms the power of omega-3 fatty acids for your brain — it found that people who ate a diet low in omega-3s had smaller brains and scored lower on cognitive and memory tests than those who ate a more omega 3-rich diet. Ready to add more brain-boosting foods into your diet? Here's a list of seven superfoods that increase your brain power.

Flaxseed oil is a great way to get your daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are beneficial for us because they are good for our hearts and our mood, they may lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and can help with menstrual cramps. Flaxseed is high in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), a type of plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon.

It's key to have a good balance of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in your daily diet. Unfortunately, the typical American diet tends to contains more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, and researchers believe that this may be a significant factor in the rising rates of inflammatory diseases in the United States.

Flaxseed oil can be added to everyday dishes and snacks like salad dressing, steamed vegetables, potatoes, and rice. Since you can't really taste it, you can also use it in the morning in fruit smoothies or oatmeal — just don't go overboard!  Also, never use flaxseed oil while cooking and store it in the fridge since heat destroys its nutritional goodness.