DHA: A fishy omega-3 fatty acid
One of the most essential ingredients in your recipe for grandeur, this omega-3 fatty acid is the main structural component of the human cerebral cortex.
In fact, it is the most abundant fatty acid in the brain, approximately half of the weight of any given neuron’s plasma membrane is comprised of DHA. Those seeking a Limitless mind and body should make fish a regular part of their diet in addition to supplementing DHA.
This article is mostly going to focus on decoding what the human studies are saying about DHA and how this squares up with the anecdotal experiences of Biohackers online.
Eat fish!
Mammals are unable to synthesize omega-3 acids in our bodies, it’s an ability unique to cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, swordfish, herring, bluefish, caviar, and sardines. Salmon cooked ordinarily contains about 500–1500 milligrams per 100 grams. DHA is found in most cold-water organisms but it is increasingly concentrated in animals that are higher up the food chain (How do you prefer your great white shark cooked, sir?) It is recommended that healthy adults get at least 500 milligrams of DHA+EPA daily. According to the DHA-EPA-Omega3 Institute, cooking fish does NOT create a measurable drop in DHA levels, actually, it increases the concentration of DHA since raw fish has a lot more water in it. Don’t like fish? DHA is also found in eggs (in much lower quantities) and can be taken as an odorless, tasteless supplement.
A 900-milligram dose of DHA supplement is shown to absorb better in your system if taken with a meal. If you ate one serving of salmon every day that would generally provide the standard daily DHA, but those seeking a Limitless mind are recommended to eat fish daily in addition to supplementing DHA.
Why we need it
Low levels of DHA are generally disastrous and are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, depression, neural cell death, and general cognitive decline. Increasing DHA also has a statistically significant benefit for those dealing with bipolar disorder.
Ben Greenfield, the author of Boundless, articulates its importance to nervous system function…
it doesn’t matter how many neurotransmitters you make if the action potentials they propagate can’t be adequately transmitted because you have broken-down, degraded myelin sheaths. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important for the formation of myelin sheaths, so a neurotransmitter-supporting diet should include a high intake of omega-3s. (p.41)
Also, DHA is also a primary structural component of the human testicles, sperm, and retina.
Not a meat eater?
Not all DHA comes from fish though, it can also be synthetically manufactured in a lab using alpha-linolenic acid and microalgae called Crypthecodinium cohnii. This was a discovery made by NASA in the 1980s. So DHA can be consumed by those who adhere to the strictest guidelines of the vegan lifestyle (vegans are allowed to eat microalgae right?). The vegetarian and vegan diets contain little to no DHA normally so vegetarians and vegans must supplement DHA even more than normal.
Vs ADHD
Research on the effect of ADHD and DHA supplementation had produced inconclusive results. However, a number of studies have suggested that children with ADHD have low levels of omega-3s and some top Nutritionists advise supplementing fish oils for those diagnosed with ADHD.
For memory and more
One study observed the effects of DHA supplementation on the memory and reaction times of young adults who had a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids and found that it improved both, particularly the episodic memory of the women and the working memory of the men. Another study revealed that DHA prevented aggression toward others from increasing in young students during times of mental stress. (p.136)
For heart health
DHA is also good for your heart health as it reduces the level of blood triglycerides.
Vs cancer
DHA is also an essential cancer combatant in your body, as it inhibits the growth of colon carcinoma cells. It was also shown that DHA would increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy done for prostate cancer.
Expecting?
Infants get the majority of their DHA from breastfeeding, so pregnant or nursing mothers should be extra vigilant about keeping their DHA levels high.
Sources
Neptune Krill Oil (NKO®) Softgels
Good news, Chlorella and Spirulina contain DHA. Given the choice, I’d rather get my DHA from these supplements as they also chelate toxins and can be consumed powdered as a pleasant herbal tea. That sounds better to me than trying to figure out which omega-3 fish oil supplements are legit.
Downloadable Fish Oil?
You may be interested in taking it as an infoceutical — a non-pharmacological, side-effect-free version of the supplement that takes advantage of the phenomenon of water memory — which is imprinted on water via quantum collocation and electromagnetism using this device…
Infocueticals typically have 1/3 or half the effect of the actual medicine being imprinted. If you’re skeptical of Infopathy that’s understandable, it’s a game-changing application of a little-known scientific phenomenon. But I’d urge you to evaluate the scientific evidence (presented in my biohacker review) that downloadable medicine is no longer science fiction…
Dosage
Can you have too much DHA?
The general sentiment is that the more DHA the better. The FDA has indicated that up to 3000 milligrams of DHA daily from all sources safely. In Japan, a daily DHA intake of up to 1200 milligrams is quite normal.
Side Effects
DHA for practical purposes has almost no negative side effects. Since DHA is fat some diabetics should consult their physician about their fish oil intake. Extremely high amounts of fish oil can decrease blood platelet ability to clot and scab but this is quite rare. Some Eskimos have diets extremely high in DHA which can cause blood in the urine or frequent nose bleeds.
