Our brains (plus the highly sophisticated network of neurons that run throughout our bodies) think for us, make sense of the information around us, and create the emotions and “feelings” that make us who we are and inform our experience of life.

But sometimes, these emotions and feelings can become negative, which we call feeling “down in the dumps.” And for one in five Canadians this can turn into something bigger, which doctors call psychological distress.

So how can we support our brain and its network of neurons to function at their best – naturally?

Omega-3 “healthy fats” found in fish oils have long been studied for the benefits they provide throughout our entire bodies – yet many of us don’t totally understand what fish oils do for us.

As the single most researched nutrient, years of research have shown that omega-3s from fish oils can provide vital benefits to our health and happiness – from head to toe¹. From supporting our cardiovascular health, to lowering inflammation, improving gut health, and improving our mood, studies have shown that we can rely on omega-3s2.

But our bodies can’t make omega-3s, so we need to make sure that we get high enough amounts of this precious nutrient from our diets. We can find omega-3s in wild fish, some nuts and seeds and wild game, but it can be hard to get the amount of omega-3s that our bodies need to feel like our most vital selves.

What happens if we don’t get enough omega-3s?
Researchers have found a startling difference between people who suffer from lowered mental outlook and those who don’t: low mood sufferers often have higher levels of inflammatory chemicals, and lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Plus, people who regularly consume fish (or take fish oil supplements) generally have a more positive mental outlook.

But before we explain how omega-3s benefit mood, let’s take a look at the two very important fatty acids found in fish oils:

• Decosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is our structural fatty acid that is found in our brain where it supports cognition, memory, and development
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is a second messenger found in nerve cells where it can help to decrease inflammation and improve mental outlook

Omega-3 fatty acids and mood
While DHA can be found in the brain and does provide benefits there, researchers found that it does not appear to provide any benefit to mood.

But when EPA was used alone, or even better, combined with small amounts of DHA, results were very positive. Researchers found that EPA is better at reducing low-grade inflammation and chemicals produced by the immune system that have a negative effect on mood³.

In another study, researchers studied a sample group over the course of seven years and made another amazing discovery about EPA: those with higher blood levels of EPA showed better mental resiliency over time⁴.

But what about side-effects, or interactions with drugs? Compared to herbs like St. John’s Wort, which is commonly used to improve mood, EPA does not interact with medications5.

That’s why Genuine Health created omega3+ joy, a high potency omega-3 with the dose of EPA clinically proven to improve mood. Just two capsules per day provide 1000 mg of an EPA concentrate shown to boost mood and mental outlook.

Sourced from wild caught fish and sustainable fisheries that are strictly regulated, the omega-3 fatty acids found in omega3+ joy are processed using the latest technology to ensure optimal absorption. Plus, a 200+ step quality check ensures that our omega-3s are pure, fresh and clean.

Achieve your optimal mood and outlook – so you can live your life to its fullest expression – with just 2 softgels of omega3+ joy every day.

References:
¹ Sarris J, et al. Clinical use of nutraceuticals in the adjunctive treatment of depression in mood disorders. Australas Psychiatry. 2017 Aug;25(4):369-372
2 Rutkofsky IH, et al. The Psychoneuroimmunological Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. Adv Mind Body Med. 2017 Summer;31(3):8-16
³ Su KP, et al. Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids have different effects on peripheral phospholipase A2 gene expressions in acute depressed patients. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2018 Jan 3;80(Pt C):227-233.
⁴ Berger ME, et al. Omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio and subsequent mood disorders in young people with at-risk mental states: a 7-year longitudinal study. Transl Psychiatry. 2017 Aug 29;7(8):e1220.
⁵ Sontrop and Campbell. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and depression: a review of the evidence and a methodological critique. Prev Med. 2006 Jan;42(1):4-13.

About the Author: Stewart Brown

Stewart Brown is the founder and president of Genuine Health in Toronto. Learn more about Genuine Health at genuinehealth.com.