HEALTHY LIVING


These Brain Boosters Help You Stay Sharp


Two key nutrients safeguard your well-being — omega-3 fish oils and CoQ10. ::


BY DAVID ALLIOT I


n the wide world of nature’s nutrients, it’s easy to get carried away as you explore options for the path to your


well-being. But when it comes to brain


health, so much depends on the critical nourishment you provide your intelligence center — vital for memories, energy, and everything that makes you you.


UNBEATABLE COMBINATION That’s why integrative health practitioners zero in on two key nutrients to safeguard brain health — omega-3 fi sh oils and CoQ10. There are many types of


omega-3 fatty acids — 11, in fact. But nutrition professionals focus on two mainly, because they are scarce in the food chain and they are so important for good health: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). And these two are especially


important for promoting and protecting brain health throughout all stages of life.


BENEFITS OF EPA, DHA


Not just for your brain — EPA and DHA are important to every single cell in your body. They’re a vital part of your cell membranes, providing structural support, and they even aid the crucial messaging between cells.


“These omega-3 fatty acids prevent blood


clots, can function as an antidepressant, reduce triglycerides, and


94 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MAY 2023


decrease the risk of developing hypertension and coronary artery disease, research shows,” says David Brownstein, M.D., a leading practitioner of holistic medicine and the author of Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health newsletter. He stresses their importance to


the brain, and it’s easy to see why — EPA and DHA are concentrated in peak levels in your brain. The National Institutes of Health


agrees: Your brain is 60% fat. It only makes sense that not getting enough of the right fat in your diet can contribute to brain problems. But your body can’t produce the


amount of these omega-3s you need to survive, so they’re classifi ed as essential nutrients, and you need to get them from the foods you eat — or supplement with them. EPA and DHA are found in


seafood such as fatty fi sh like salmon, trout, tuna; and shellfi sh like crab, oysters, and mussels. Just be mindful of your choices.


FISH OIL WOES


“Farm-raised fi sh has been found to be contaminated with PCBs and other chemicals,” Brownstein warns of the man-made, chlorinated industrial chemicals.


“Recently, the Environmental Working Group purchased farm- raised salmon from 10 grocery stores across the United States. The scientists found


that 70% of the samples they gathered were


contaminated with PCBs at levels that raise serious health issues.”


Brownstein also adds a


cautionary note about mercury. He tells Newsmax some fi sh contain dangerous mercury levels, which can lead to neurological and behavioral disorders, so choose wisely.


As a rule, fi sh that eat other fi sh are higher in mercury. These are just a few:


Shark Tuna


Swordfi sh Marlin


Instead, Brownstein says, be sure to get a healthy dose of these omega- 3s by way of supplements.


Many studies back up that theory. In a review of studies, published by JAMA Network Open in 2018, people who were diagnosed with anxiety experienced reduced symptoms from large doses of omega-3 fatty acids — up to 2,000 milligrams a day. And according to a June


2022 study published in Current Developments in Nutrition,


Americans lack adequate amounts of these important omega-3s.


COQ10 — MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BRAIN


Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential nutrient produced naturally by your body. It helps every single cell produce the energy it needs to function — and it’s found in all of your body’s organs including the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidneys.


“CoQ10 defi ciency is associated


with many health problems, and supplementing with CoQ10 has been shown to help with heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, migraine headaches, and statin- induced muscle aches and pains,” Brownstein says. It’s a powerful antioxidant,


protecting cells from free radicals and oxidative damage. It improves the mitochondrial function of cells and it’s vital for energy production. But by the time you reach your 40s, your body’s CoQ10 levels


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