Basic Pursuits

People have thought for a while that omega3 fatty acids are good for the brain. Now according to Science Daily, researchers have proved it.

UCLA scientists have confirmed that fish oil is indeed a deterrent
against Alzheimer's, and they have identified the reasons why.

Specifically,

Greg Cole, professor of medicine and neurology at the David Geffen
School of Medicine at UCLA and associate director of UCLA's Alzheimer
Disease Research Center, and his colleagues report that the omega-3
fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish oil increases the
production of LR11, a protein that is found at reduced levels in
Alzheimer's patients and which is known to destroy the protein that
forms the "plaques" associated with the disease.

So how do we get the stuff into our bodies? Wild salmon is probably the best source. When it's fresh, it's really tasty and also really expensive. When it's canned, it's really inexpensive, but not very tasty. My best shot at a compromise is our Smoked Salmon Tuna Spread, which I make about every other week and use on sandwiches for lunch.

A good animal source is flax seeds and flax seed oil. Recent studies of this remarkable little super food have shown it capable of shrinking prostrate tumors and reducing the intensity of hot flashes in women.

Another recent study showed that people who drink moderate amounts of wine tend to retain the omega3s in their bodies longer than non-wine drinkers.

Just after the holidays, I'm focused on trimming back to "moderate" amounts of wine.

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