A recent study which was published in the November issue of the Archives of Neurology found that people who consume larger quantities of fish have a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

It appears that the deciding factor is the blood level of DHA (docosanhexaenoic acid), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid which is important to proper central nervous system functioning.

High levels of DHA appeared to cut risk of dementia by half in the study. Lead researcher Dr. Ernst J. Schaefer stated “Just as fish is good for your heart, it’s probably good for your brain as well”. The study used data from 899 men and women collected over nine years.

The researchers found that the study participants with the highest DHA levels had a 39 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and a 47 percent lower risk of dementia, when compared with those with lower levels.

DHA is highest in fatty fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon and albacore tuna. The study participants with the highest levels of DHA averaged two to three servings of fish a week. However, if you don’t like fish, you’ll be pleased to know that Dr. Schaefer feels that the same benefits can be attained by taking fish oil supplements. He says “either eat more fish, or use one or two fish oil capsules a day”.

While experts agree that more research is needed to confirm that DHA protects against Alzheimer’s, since we already know that the omega-3 fatty acids protect the heart and circulatory system, eating more fatty fish or taking fish oil capsules seems to be a safe dietary modification for most people.

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Whether you just want to lose some of that excess holiday weight, or you’re planning on entering a fitness contest and need to drop those last couple of pounds, the more methods you employ, the faster you’ll get to where you want to be. If you only have one or two tactics in your arsenal, you may eventually reach your goal, but the battle will be long and uphill. So take advantage of our list of 5 simple, time-tested ways to shed more fat in less time.

1. Eat five to six small meals a day

This will keep your digestion running efficiently. Eating a smaller meal every 3 to 4 hours will help speed up your metabolism so that it burns calories quicker.

Eating one or two larger meals each day can cause metabolism to slow down. If your body’s not presented with food often, it doesn’t utilize it as quickly.

Skipping meals completely will cause your body to go into defense mode and hold onto stored fat. Because your body now becomes unsure when it’s going to get its next meal, it will conserve stored fat for future calorie needs.

Each meal should consist of protein (for muscle building), low to moderate carbohydrates (to provide energy), and some healthy fat (for energy and organ protection).

Foods like turkey, chicken, fish, eggs and milk are good sources of protein. For carbohydrates, eat quality complex sources like whole grains, vegetables, beans, and occasional fruit. Added fats should be kept to a minimum and they should come from sources like fish oil, olive oil, nuts and seeds.

Full fat loss tips article

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