01/13/2019 / By Ralph Flores
If you find yourself in a crabby mood most of the time, it could be your body’s way of telling you that you’re not getting enough of a specific nutrient. According to research, people who do not consume enough of the omega-3 fatty acid called DHA are prone to various risk factors — including anger and hostility.
The study looked at how DHA can affect a person’s aggressive tendencies during a high-stress period. The team involved medical students and conducted the trial during their final exams. The students received either a placebo or a fish oil supplement with DHA. They found that those who took the placebo had increased levels of aggression, while those who took the DHA supplement did not exhibit any aggressive tendencies.
Interestingly, when the researchers tried to replicate the trial in a low-stress environment, they found that DHA had no effect on aggression. This means that this omega-3 fatty acid directly affects stress-related aggression and urges, as it directly affected neurotransmitters related to anger and impulse control. DHA also improved the expression of proteins that inhibit inflammation.
These results have also been seen in other studies. In an unrelated study that also involved university students during their final exams, researchers found that those who ate a high-DHA diet did not display increased hostility, compared to those in the control group.
The ability of DHA to reduce aggressive behavior isn’t just for adults — research has proven that children also benefit from it. In a study that included boys and girls between 9-12 years old, researchers found that adding omega-3-fortified foods can reduce impulsive behavior, with the effect being more evident in females. (Related: DHA from fish oil improves aggression and impulsivity.)
Aside from reducing anger and hostility, DHA — which is short for docosahexaenoic acid — can offer other brain benefits, including:
If you’re looking to add DHA to your diet, one of the best sources of it is seafood. For instance, a serving of salmon fillet has over 2,000 mg of DHA, making it one of the best sources of this omega-3 fatty acid. Other notable sources include tuna, trout, mussels, and oysters.
Learn more about DHA and other forms of omega-3 fatty acids at Nutrients.news.
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Tagged Under: anger, Brain, brain health, brain nutrients, DHA, hostility, impulsive behavior, mental, mental health, mood, mood swings, natural cures, Neurotransmitters, nutrition, omega-3 fatty acids, prevention, supplements