The physical benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have been reported extensively in scientific circles, but these organic chemicals can also induce positive psychological developments as well. Recently, an assistant clinical psychiatry professor at Columbia University extolled the merits of these fish oil-based nutrients on brain health in a Huffington Post piece on mood-optimizing diets.
According to Dr. Drew Ramsey, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are both found in fish oil, are an essential part of a "happiness diet" because they have been shown to counteract the effects of certain psychological disorders that impact mood.
To back up his claim, Ramsey cites several recent studies that have investigated the role these nutrients play in emotional development and regulation. For example, a 2011 study conducted in France revealed that mice that lacked these essential fatty acids were found to demonstrate depressive behavior due to the impairment of certain brain functions. The results, according to Science Daily, were not enough to establish that the lack of EPA and DHA caused mood disorders, but they did convey a correlation between the two.
Although a fatty acid deficiency may be linked to negative emotional states, as of yet, there hasn't been conclusive evidence to show that increasing the amount of EPA and DHA in your diet can actively make you feel better. However, a 2007 study at the University of Pittsburgh did reveal that the nutrients could potentially promote structural improvement in the parts of the brain linked to emotions, Medical News Today reports.
To find out more about the various benefits of these brain supplements, click here.