The DHA is an acid with properties for human health. It is part of omega 3 and is found in foods like algae or fish. Closely related to EPA, it can be consumed through food but also provides all its benefits through a supplement in the form of capsules or pills, easy to buy and take.
What is DHA
The body needs it for the synthesis of cell membranes and it is an essential component for the life of neurons. Taking it improves the formation and preservation of the tissues that make up the nervous system.
It regulates the functioning of the heart and plays a role in the longevity of the eye system. DHA is a polyunsaturated Omega 3 fatty acid.
Contents
Properties and Benefits
- Protects against cardiovascular diseases.
- Stimulates good cognitive functioning.
- Promotes emotional stability.
- Acts as a brain protector.
- It is anti-inflammatory.
- Improves platelet count in the blood.
- Essential for maintaining good blood pressure.
Its uses are well-proven in people at risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The properties of DHA prevent certain individuals from developing the most common symptoms of dementia and some degenerative diseases where reasoning ability is lost.
Furthermore, the balanced intake of this food element which is docosahexaenoic acid is vital for keeping blood fat levels low.
Omega 3 DHA
Fish fatty acids are very beneficial for health. Omega 3 DHA is a polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acid, also known by the abbreviation PUFA-LC.
It enhances neuronal growth and brain plasticity. Recommended for people with hyperactivity and attention deficit syndrome.
EPA and DHA
Omega 3 fatty acid is related to DHA because the former contains it. That is, omega 3 is composed, in addition to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
Therefore, to obtain a good dose of DHA through food, one should eat, for example, fish with omega 3 so that the body can process it and metabolize it into DHA and EPA.
Foods rich in DHA
Thus, the relationship between EPA and DHA is that they form what we know as omega-3. They are mainly found in the following foods:
- Bluefish
- Anchovies.
- Trout.
- Tuna.
- Salmon.
- Sardines.
- Herring.
- Seaweed.
The amount of DHA in seaweed is very important as this food, rich in minerals and other trace elements, is often overlooked. It is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Taking it with vitamins
For proper assimilation, the presence of vitamin B6 and vitamin C is necessary, along with minerals such as magnesium and zinc. All these nutrients together in the metabolism promote the enzymatic acceleration of delta-5 desaturase and delta-6 desaturase.
If you’re wondering why these enzymes are necessary, the answer is that they are responsible for transforming the consumed alpha-linolenic acid into EPA and DHA.
Is it necessary to take DHA as a supplement?
Only a small amount of the required DHA appears from metabolism in most people. Since a good intake of nutrients and vitamins is necessary, nutritionists often recommend including a DHA supplement in capsule form.
Thus, it is the easiest and most effective way to avoid deficiencies and imbalances of omegas.
What is DHA and EPA used for?
Some people are recommended to take a daily dose of DHA to improve their depressive state.
It is also used in the field of childhood hyperactivity. Taking DHA has benefits to normalize the behavior of children suffering from attention deficit, but it also regulates the emotional stability of adults and the elderly.
- It helps to fluidify the cell membrane.
- Stimulates protein movement.
- Participates in visual function, improving the transfer of visual signals.
- It is highly present in the eye.
- Regulates blood pressure.
- Levels triglycerides in the blood.
- Boosts the body’s defenses.
- Interacts in inflammatory processes, reducing them.
Differences between EPA and DHA
When taken, they interact differently, emphasizing different biological processes. Thus, the differences between EPA and DHA are:
EPA intervenes in:
- Circulatory system.
- Cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Good for the heart.
DHA acts in:
- Nervous system.
- Memory.
- Concentration.
- Vision.
- Improves synapse formation or the channel neurons use to communicate with each other.
- Growth and formation of neurons in the fetus.
So, when choosing a product with these fatty acids, it is important to be clear about the objective. That is, the benefits you want to obtain. Based on the differences we have indicated and the specific needs of each person, it is possible to choose different amounts of each element.
