Fats make you smarter. Outrageous? Not really. Truth is fats make up sixty percent of the brain composition and the interconnected nerves that operate the different systems in our body. If so, why aren’t all fat people geniuses? The reason for this is that they aren’t getting the right kind of fats. In most cases, obesity is associated with high saturated and hydrogenated fat levels; the “dumb fats” if you may. The most notorious of this group is the hydrogenated fats or the Trans Fat. These fats give processed foods their mouth watering flavors, enticing people to take them despite of the health risks. They have very little nutritional value and are even known to interfere with the “smart fats” in facilitating brain development.
The essential fatty acide are considered the “smart fats”. These are the kind of fats that are good for your brain. The brain functions like a command center that sends important chemical messages to all of the organs of the body in order for them to function. Prostaglandins are the chemical messengers while the brain cells act as message transmitters. The Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acide are needed by the body to manufacture healthy brain cells and prostaglandins thereby ensuring an impeccably functioning brain. These two essential fatty acides are the main structural elements of brain cell membranes. Moreover, they facilitate the conveyance of valuable nutrients in and out of the cells as they too are parts of the enzymes within the cell membranes.
Once the brain is deprived of the essential fatty acids, our cells respond by manufacturing similar yet harmful replacement fatty acide. When this happens, brain function is compromised. In addition, people who are suffering from depression and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have been found to have high levels of replacement fatty acids in their systems. Hydrogenated fats have been known to boost high levels of replacement fatty acides in our blood so avoiding them would be the wisest thing to do.
Easier said than done, but it’s worth a try. It’s just a matter of choosing the right path and walking it; steadily without flinching. A good start would be taking on a diet that’s rich in Omega-3. It’s almost like an all-inclusive diet as it doesn’t just provide you with the “smart fats” your brain needs but it also repeals the effect of Trans fatty acide and even lowers blood cholesterol levels. A diet that offers this much benefits should be a no-brainer but the problem is it might not be as appetizing as those unhealthy foods in the market today. Taste can be a liability because it can’t discern danger.
Intelligence is an invaluable entity that is shaped by various factors. It could be hereditary but without proper care and nutrition, its full potential wouldn’t be realized. Our brain is the cradle of knowledge; the alpha and the omega of life. The essential fatty acide are food for the brain ergo they should be appraised like life itself.