Are We Missing an Essential Chemical?

The thrust of this story is that modern man in many societies may be depriving their bodies of an essential chemical that affects brain functions. Research suggests that many ills we are suffering may be linked to insufficient amounts of DHA in our diets.

"DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a component of brains, particularly the synaptic junctions between nerve cells, and its displacement from modern diets by the omega-6 acids in cooking oils such as soya, maize and rape is a cause of worry. Many researchers think this shift—and the change in brain chemistry that it causes—explains the growth in recent times of depression, manic-depression, memory loss, schizophrenia and attention-deficit disorder. It may also be responsible for rising levels of obesity and thus the heart disease which often accompanies being overweight."