The Brits are a Few Steps Ahead

The Brits are a few steps ahead of us.

I don't think they'd win in a super-spy contest between James Bond and Jack Bauer.

But in a "paying attention to how our food affects our mood, thoughts and behaviour" contest, we'd definitely come up short.

Several groups in the UK are looking at the relationship between food and brain function. Specifically how it affects behaviour and learning in children. One such group is Food and Behaviour Research (FAB) (they're from Britain, so they spell it funny...kind of like southerners tawlk funny.)

FAB studies the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of:
a. Everyday difficulties in behaviour, learning or mood that can affect children and adults - at home, at school or in the workplace.
b. Developmental conditions - such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autistic spectrum disorders.
c. Mental health conditions - such as anxiety, depression, bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder and schizophrenia.

They do lots of work with essential fatty acids and how they affect the brain.

FAB has developed sort of an "early warning" list of signs that someone might be lacking in essential fatty acids.

These signs include:

• allergies (eg eczema, asthma, hay fever)
• poor concentration
• memory problems
• depression
• excessive mood swings
• undue anxiety
• difficulty sleeping
• problems with reading (because the letters and words appear to move or blur)

Wow. What struck me about this list was how many of the 'physical' signs were also what I would call 'mental' signs.

It's easy to see from this list that Essential Fatty Acids are really brain food. In fact, the research shows that your brain prefers DHA, the long-chain fatty acid found in fish oil, more than any other fats.

I love my brain (like Woody Allen says, "It's my second favorite organ") it as the best starting point to better health.

Because it's hard to be enthusiastic about school, work, or anything else for that matter, when you have one of those 'physical signs'.

Any one of those problems can zap your energy, keep you distracted, and make it virtually impossible to feel motivated or excited.

Keep you from feeling productive, connected, centered.

Keep you from growing, learning and improving.

Whether in Britain or the good ol' US of A, whether at work, home or at school, your brain will thank you for a big serving of fish oil every day.

That's why I take fish oil and recommend Live like you mean it...

Dr. Vince

PS. You don't have to cross the Atlantic or go fishing to get your fish oil. I've done the hard part for you. The easy part is going to www.drvinceonline.com and get yours.

PSS If you want to learn more about what FAB is doing, you can go to the FAB Research website