Fatty Acids
Our Research Initiative
We chose a fatty acid supplement for the following
reasons:
Former research has shown that long chain fatty acids could have
real benefits for a range of learning and behavioural conditions
Approximately 20% of the dry weight of the brain and
approximately 30% of the retina are made from these elements
The average Westerner's diet is usually deficient in them. We
could see this for ourselves: children at our schools were ingesting
processed foods high in carbohydrates and sugar in preference to
oily fish and green leafy vegetables
Since overhauling the diets of all pupils was out of the
question, we decided to use a natural supplement as a convenient and
measurable dietary input.
Why Fatty Acids are
Essential
With current trends for low fat diets many people do not realise
that there are certain types of fat that are necessary for living
healthily. These are the two 'families' of essential fatty
acids ' omega-3 and omega-6. These compounds are long
chain polyunsaturated fats, as against the short chain saturated
fats, which should generally be avoided. Long chain fatty acids
are important for most key processes in our life, and that is
why they are regarded as 'essential.'
Our bodies cannot make them, and so we have to get them from a
dietary source. Fish and seafood are the main sources of the
omega-3s, particularly the key ones for the eye and brain, EPA and
DHA. Green vegetables, certain nuts and oils are the dietary sources
for omega-6 fatty acids. But even if you have a good dietary input
of the parent fatty acids (LA and ALA), your body may not be
efficient at metabolising them into the ones needed for optimal
brain function. And this is why a direct input of a supplement
seemed prudent.
