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Fish Oil Fat has both beneficial long chain fatty acids EPA and DHA which are two of the most important Omega-3's.
DHA fatty acid is probably the most important Omega 3 fatty acid.
This fatty acid is essential to your brain and central nervous system development especially during infancy and childhood years.
Fish oil contains both long chain fatty acids and both can be found in abundance in oily fish and in fish oil supplements.
Essential Long Chain Fatty Acids
Fish fatty acids contain two long chain fatty acids called EPA and DHA:
EPA is short for eicosapentaenoic
DHA is short for docosahexaenoic
These Omega 3's are very important in the maintenance of your energy balance and glucose metabolism.
And unlike the short chained omega-3 fatty acid called ALA, no conversion is necessary in order for your body to receive their benefits.
EPA and DHA fish fatty acids have been linked with everything from weight loss to reducing the risk of heart disease and depression.
DHA Fatty Acid and Breast Feeding
Mother's milk can be high in the DHA fatty acid as long as the mother is consuming foods rich in this fatty acid or taking a supplement.
DHA is the main structural component of your brain tissue and has a huge influence on how well your neurotransmitters communicate with each other.
DHA is needed for:
Proper brain development
Increased brain size
Increased intelligence
Development of central nervous system
Best Food Sources for DHA are:
Coldwater fish like salmon and sardines
Algae like spirulina
The best source of this type of fat would be from a fresh fish that comes from a clean and cold water place. It is becoming harder and harder to find safe fish as we pollute our waters more and more.
Smaller fish would be a safer bet and certain types of fish like salmon found in certain pristine areas would probably be one of the safest kinds of fish to eat.
