One of our Healthy Humans doctors, Robert Abel, published a terrific book called The DHA Story – How Nature’s Super Nutrient Can Save Your Life (http://www.amazon.com/DHA-Story-Natures-Super-Nutrient/dp/1591200016/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281887588&sr=8-4) that offers a ton of compelling evidence for getting enough DHA in our diets.
In this multi-part blog post, I’d like to highlight some of the incredibly powerful correlations between DHA and optimal health.
Having recently discovered the meaning of myopia (nearsightedness) and my slow-to-admit need for some “corrective action”, I began studying the eye and general “eye health”. Turns out the retina (as well as the brain) is composed of up to 30% DHA!
As a matter of fact, DHA is a key component of all our cell membranes. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an Omega-3 fatty acid molecule with 22 carbon chains and a carboxyl group at the end. And a key element of this structure is that six of the 22 carbon chains, starting with the 3rd (hence the term Omega-3) have double bonds between them (the rest all have single bonds). Conversely, Omega-6 fatty acids have their first double bond at the 6th carbon chain (and only contain between 2-4 double bonds).
More double bonds better help counter the effects of free radicals and improve cell to cell communication. A study from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) showed that if DHA were replaced by its Omega-6 counterpart (DPA), significant vision deterioration resulted (along with many other health problems). And there is a ton of additional research showing the correlation between DHA and good eyesight.
While fish oils are great sources of Omega 3s, most of these oils contain 80% EPA and only 20% DHA. EPA, or Eicosapentaenoic acid, is a precursor to DHA and contains only 20-carbon chains, five of them with double bonds. Unfortunately, our bodies are not very good at converting EPA to DHA, and as such need to get our DHA intake from what we eat. So, along with a begrudgingly painful trip to the optometrist for corrective lenses, I’ll also be starting a DHA supplementation regimen in an effort to strengthen the “windows to my soul”.
In Part 2 of this series, I’ll talk about the differences between Omega-3s and Omega-6s and how humans, dolphins and whales are unique amongst the animal kingdom.
One of our Healthy Humans doctors, Robert Abel, published a terrific book called The DHA Story – How Nature’s Super Nutrient Can Save Your Life that offers a ton of compelling evidence for getting enough DHA in our diets.
In this multi-part blog post, I’d like to highlight some of the incredibly powerful correlations between DHA and optimal health.
Having recently discovered the meaning of myopia (nearsightedness) and my slow-to-admit need for some “corrective action”, I began studying the eye and general “eye health”. Turns out the retina (as well as the brain) is composed of up to 30% DHA!
As a matter of fact, DHA is a key component of all our cell membranes. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an Omega-3 fatty acid molecule with 22 carbon chains and a carboxyl group at the end. And a key element of this structure is that six of the 22 carbon chains, starting with the 3rd (hence the term Omega-3) have double bonds between them (the rest all have single bonds). Conversely, Omega-6 fatty acids have their first double bond at the 6th carbon chain (and only contain between 2-4 double bonds).
More double bonds better help counter the effects of free radicals and improve cell to cell communication. A study from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) showed that if DHA were replaced by its Omega-6 counterpart (DPA), significant vision deterioration resulted (along with many other health problems). And there is a ton of additional research showing the correlation between DHA and good eyesight.
While fish oils are great sources of Omega 3s, most of these oils contain 80% EPA and only 20% DHA. EPA, or Eicosapentaenoic acid, is a precursor to DHA and contains only 20-carbon chains, five of them with double bonds. Unfortunately, our bodies are not very good at converting EPA to DHA, and as such need to get our DHA intake from what we eat. So, along with a begrudgingly painful trip to the optometrist for corrective lenses, I’ll also be starting a DHA supplementation regimen in an effort to strengthen the “windows to my soul”.
In Part 2 of this series, I’ll talk about the differences between Omega-3s and Omega-6s and how humans, dolphins and whales are unique amongst the animal kingdom.
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Posted by michelangelo lopez | April 21, 2011, 2:18 pm