Hey Fathead!

Did you know your brain is 60% fat? This fat helps to protect your brain and helps your neurons in your brain send messages to one another quickly. Your brain needs DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega three fatty acids. The kind of fat found in fish and algae. Your brain also prefers any of the omega three fatty acids including EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and ALA (α-linolenic acid). But, often, your body has to convert the EPA and ALA fats to DHA because your body needs a lot of the DHA fat. You might be wondering why you want this type of fat. The omega three fatty acids are malleable and flexible, whereas, saturated fats and trans fats are more rigid. The type of fat in your brain is dependent upon your diet. When your diet is high in trans fats and saturated fats, like from what is often found in animal products or processed foods, these stiff fats will be prominent in your brain.  You know what happens when these types of fats are more prominent in your brain? You might not think as clearly, you might have more difficulty recalling information, and you might suffer from mental illness. Deficiency in omega three fatty acids has been associated with dementia, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. In fact, in many clinical studies, individuals suffering with these mental disorders experienced significant symptom improvements by taking DHA omega three fatty acids pills.  If you are concerned about your fat intake, your physician can run a test to determine if you have enough DHA fat in your diet.