Doctor explains what Omega-3 actually does for your brain
It has never been more apparent that what we eat plays an intrinsic role in our overall health – and when it comes to the brain, even more so.
We've been told there are a variety of foods that are good for the brain, like fatty fish, leafy greens, and nuts, but have you ever wondered why these are the go-to?
Dr Rahul Jandial, world-renowned brain surgeon and neuroscientist, tells 9Honey it all has to do with Omega-3 and what it actually does once inside the body.
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"The brain is filled with 100 billion neurons with their tentacles that are sparkling electricity at each other." iStock
"We understand the concept that not all fats are bad," Jandial explains.
"Some fats are bad. Those are are the ones that after you cook bacon, they look like cake in your frying pan, the stuff that turns into gunk.
"The fats that aren't bad are the ones that stay liquid."
This idea also applies to inside the brain, which is where the "very unique" Omega-3 fats come in.
"The brain is filled with 100 billion neurons with their tentacles that are sparkling electricity at each other," the author of Life Lessons From A Brain Surgeon tells us.
"Those tentacles, much like the wires that feed your computer, are wrapped in insulation, and that insulation for your brain tentacles, for your neurons, are omega three fats. It's that simple."
Omega-3 fats are what insulates your brain neurons. iStock
The better that insulation is, the faster the neurons can function.
"The brain is actually quite fatty. And it's the insulation that can increase the speed of communication between the 100ish billion neurons sparking electricity," Jandial says.
"That's my deep science analysis of food in the brain."
The MIND diet
That's why the MIND diet – eating pattern called Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay – is considered the best for brain health.
As its name suggests, MIND combines elements of the Mediterranean diet (linked to many benefits for overall health) and DASH (short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, a diet developed to control blood pressure), with a number of tweaks to boost the brain.
MIND was first developed by a team from Chicago's Rush University, who have demonstrated its long-term neuroprotective benefits among US populations.
The MIND diet is high in omega-3 and considered the best for brain health. 9News
And Jandial agrees it is the best way to go.
"It's what you should eat to keep your heart arteries open, your brain arteries open, your brain flesh irrigated, and dementia at bay," he says.
"It's mostly plants and fatty fish like anchovies, oysters, and salmon is the best.
"And if you're vegan like I am, then you can have chia seeds, spinach, and many other leafy green vegetables that provide you with protein."
READ MORE: Doctor reveals the secret to better sleep - and it's not melatonin
Dr Rahul Jandial recommends the MIND diet for brain health. Supplied
Nuts, particularly walnuts, are another great choice, says Jandial, as they have more Omega-3 than peanuts.
And he has good news for wine lovers.
"Red wine is also good as it is basically grape juice if you take the alcohol concept out of it."
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