Two leading neuroscientists recently announced that an active lifestyle and a diet rich in the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils help prevent the memory loss associated with old age, as well as having other benefits.

Seven Keys

Along with eating a healthy diet and keeping physically fit, five other key factors in maintaining your mental faculties are:

• Avoiding high stress levels
• Enjoying a rich and varied social life
• Mental stimulation
• Learning new things
• Thinking young

Omega-3s Stop Memory Loss

Studies show that omega-3 fats reduce the cell inflammation that triggers a decline in memory, and may even stem the chemicals that give rise to such inflammation in the first place. Omega-3 fats have also been linked with maintaining a healthy heart and joints, and in protecting the brain against the damage caused by Alzheimer's disease.

Yahoo News September 7, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

The mountain of evidence demonstrating the essential nature of omega-3 fatty acids continues to grow. There is little question that omega-3 fats arethe most common and serious nutritional deficiency for nearly everyone reading this. Omega-3 deficiencies are not only linked to memory problems, but also to a wide variety of other healh concerns that you probably have:

• Dyslexia
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Eczema
• Allergies
• Inflammatory diseases
• Arthritis
• Diabetes

Unfortunately,a number of people have some serious confusion when it comes to using omega-3 fats. While omega-3 from plants (like flax) are useful and should certainly be consumed, they are in no way, shape or form an acceptable substitute for animal-based omega-3 fats. In fact, in certain instances omega-3 from flax might actually increase the risk of cancer.

Those who consume a vegan diet that avoids all seafood will likely develop severe deficiencies in this important fat and expose themselves to all infections, not only flu, in addition to nearly every chronic degenerative disease we know of.I suggest you use a high-quality fish oil or cod liver oil, which will give you all the benefits while allowing you to avoid the dangerous mercury present in most fish.

Cod liver oil also provides you with an excellent source of vitamin D,which is important as winter is quickly approaching the northern hemisphere. Vitamin D is another important factor in staying healthy into old age. Most Americans do not get enough vitamin D, largely because of experts' misguided recommendations to avoid all sun exposure.

But increasing numbers of scientists are agreeing that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of:

• Bone and muscle problems
• Many forms of cancer
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Multiple sclerosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetes

It is essential to understand that in order to know how much vitamin D you should be taking, you should get your blood level checked. If you are uncertain about your vitamin D levels, you can read my past article on vitamin D testing and get up to date on this important topic.