Eat Seafood for Long Life and Healthy Brain

The human brain is one of human evolution’s crowning achievements. It allows us to coordinate with others and plan our lives, manipulate our environment, and work with tools. The human brain is an organ of special distinction in the human body, helping to make sense of the activities throughout the nervous system that snakes throughout the entire human body. We expect this one organ not only to manage the body but also to absorb the stimuli from our environment and assimilate a vast scope of information about human society. The inputs that define how our mind is formed extend beyond nutrients to include what we learn through a lifetime of experience. The role of nutrients in allowing for the basic structural and energetic demands of the human brain and body-system are worth noting.

There are some critical elements for human brain development such as Folate, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Cholesterol, Vitamin A, and more. These are just some examples. A lot of people already know the importance of vegetables for the important mineral, Magnesium. Vitamin A is commonly recognized as important for eyesight and for the function of the nervous system.

This article is meant to give some attention to a nutrient that gets forgotten due, in part, to its source being a little beyond the horizon. The nutrient is DHA and its source, fish. Some of the longest living cultures eat fish as a notable percentage of the meat they eat.(at least 4X per week)  DHA is a valuable kind of fatty acid in the human body. The body can make its cell membranes out of DHA. Different kinds of fats can be used for cell membranes, DHA being among the better ones. DHA actually helps in the process of converting sunlight to Vitamin D. DHA helps the body use sunlight that strikes our skin and eyes and convert that sunlight into useful energy.

Its role in cellular signaling and brain health is significant. Eating fish is one way you can increase your lifespan and prevent neurodegenerative disease. Lightly cooking fish is the best way to consume the DHA without damaging the oils through high-temperature cooking.

Fish also contains Iodine which is a micronutrient that supports children’s growth and development and brain health.

Salmon is a popular option as these fish are thought to be less likely to absorb environmental pollutants that humans are emitting into the air and oceans. Tuna is another common choice but it may contain more Mercury. This could be a good compromise for a portion of the fish you or your family consumes so that you are at least eating more seafood. There are certain foods that can assist your body’s natural detoxification capabilities in dealing with Mercury exposure, such as Cilantro. I would personally recommend you limit Tuna to twice per month.

Oysters are another kind of seafood you can reap health benefits from. Raw oysters really encourage the body to thrive and grow by feeding it some of the most primal hormonal support possible through normal dietary means. Oysters are supportive of young athletes, teens/tweens (puberty), and the development of the brain and nervous system. Oysters also support testosterone in men and sex drive in both men and women.

The regular consumption of seafood will benefit your entire body: heart, brain, your growth. And seafood will help you rise in age with great health and vitality beyond your peers. Cheers to optimization!