Omega-3 Deficiency Causes More Aggression, Research Shows
At bloodtesting.nl you can easily order an omega-3 test that you can perform yourself at home. The results will give you a good idea of your omega-3 status and help you address any deficiencies in a timely manner. This insight will give you the opportunity to improve your brain health and promote your overall well-being.
A lack of omega-3 fatty acids may contribute to aggressive behavior, according to a new study. In a world where we are increasingly faced with behavioral problems in children, rising rates of ADHD, depression and even violence, the cause may be surprisingly simple: a lack of omega-3 fatty acids. This nutrient, which we get mostly from fish, turns out to play a bigger role in our moods than we might have thought.
What Does the Research Say?
A large-scale study of 4,000 participants over 28 years has found that both children and adults become less aggressive when they increase their intake of omega-3, such as by adjusting their diet or fish oil. According to Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, consultant for the U.S. National Institutes of Health, there is a clear link between intake of omega-3 from fish and lower rates of homicide, depression and suicide in countries around the world.
In Australia, for example, the omega-3 status of prisoners is measured with a simple finger prick test, which gives a picture of their propensity for anger, aggression and ADHD. A similar study in British prisons found that giving omega-3 supplements reduced violent incidents by more than a third. Although this is international research, the insights are also relevant to the Netherlands, where omega-3 deficiencies are just as prevalent.
Why It's Important to Test Your Omega-3
Just as general practitioners in the Netherlands often test vitamin D in patients with fatigue or low immunity, testing omega-3 in behavioral problems such as ADHD, depression and anxiety symptoms should also be the standard. The omega-3 index, which can be measured with a simple finger prick test, gives a reliable picture of how much omega-3 fatty acids are in your blood.
Dr. Simon Dyall, nutritional neurologist at the University of Roehampton, emphasizes that less than 5% of children in Europe get the recommended amount of omega-3. In Japan, where people eat a lot of fish, the average omega-3 intake is around 10%. There we see much lower rates of violence, depression and even Alzheimer's. By comparison, in the Netherlands and many other Western countries this value is around 4%, while for healthy brain function you should be above 8%. Many, especially people with behavioral problems, even score as low as 2%.
What Can You Expect from an Omega-3 Test?
With an omega-3 test, such as the one available from bloodvaluestest.co.uk, you can easily measure your omega-3 index at home with a tiny finger prick. This gives you insight into how much of these essential fatty acids are present in your blood. This is useful not only for people with known mental symptoms, but also for anyone curious about the overall health of their brain.
The test can be especially valuable for children and adults struggling with concentration problems, mood swings or anxiety. The results of such a test can help you make targeted changes to your diet or, if necessary, consider supplements to optimize your omega-3 levels.
What Does Science Say About Omega-3 and Behavior?
The results from this study and many others consistently point to the same thing: there is a strong link between low omega-3 levels and increased aggressive behavior. Professor William Harris of the Fatty Acid Research Institute states that "low omega-3 levels are not only associated with increased aggression, but an increase in omega-3 through diet or supplementation can reduce these behavioral tendencies."
In the Netherlands, where many people do not eat enough fish, the risk of omega-3 deficiency is high. The recommendation to eat fatty fish twice a week is difficult for many to meet, and often the importance of these fatty acids is underestimated. By testing your omega-3 levels, you can get a clear picture of your own situation and determine if you may have a deficiency that is affecting your mental health.
Time for Action: Why Testing Matters
It's important to be intentional about your mental health, and testing your omega-3 levels can be an important first step. Whether you're a parent concerned about your child's concentration and behavior, or someone struggling with stress, anxiety or mood swings themselves, understanding your omega-3 status can help you take targeted steps.
At bloodtesting.nl you can easily order an omega-3 test that you can perform yourself at home. The results will give you a good idea of your omega-3 status and help you address any deficiencies in a timely manner. This insight will give you the opportunity to improve your brain health and promote your overall well-being.
