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Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

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41–50 of 168 posts

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#41
post #8

So basically once your body has all the nutrients it needs to grow or make the things it needs to make, it makes them. Even more extra stuff it doesn’t need, it doesn’t use. Makes sense. This also appears to apply to the immune system. There’s zero evidence that supplements that are supposed to “boost your immune system” do any such thing. Yes your immune system functions best if you have good nutrition, but that’s i…

Well, that and high quality, sufficient sleep. That is way harder as you age, and a worthwhile aim of lifestyle modification or supplementation to support it.

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#42
post #8

So basically once your body has all the nutrients it needs to grow or make the things it needs to make, it makes them. Even more extra stuff it doesn’t need, it doesn’t use. Makes sense. This also appears to apply to the immune system. There’s zero evidence that supplements that are supposed to “boost your immune system” do any such thing. Yes your immune system functions best if you have good nutrition, but that’s i…

Lot of issues can be autoimmune related. Goal is to calm down the immune system. Not boost it. This is where basics like getting away from sugar are so important.

Immune system isn’t just too much or too little. Can’t simplify it to that. People with autoimmunity are also immunesuppressed at baseline.

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#43

I don’t understand the author’s reading of the literature they cite. They refer to “isolated studies” and then link to a systematic review of 25 studies. They also linked to the same review twice for both memory and attention, which I assume is a mistake, because the review only supports the claim about memory. But none of these studies are about “brain-boosting”. They’re about preventing or reversing cognitive decli…

why is it that no one wants to study the effects of nootropics?

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#44
post #6

cost of 100 omega 3 capsules (in .gr): ~10 euros, fish and nuts cost about 18 euros per kilo and tend to spoil.

You you can just buy cold pressed flax oil and supplement with that. ~30 USD for ~1L iirc and it has an absolute assload of ALA (omega3) Hemp seed oil is a good one for omega6 but usually people get enough 6 from diet and 3 is the one we need to boost to get the 3:6 ratio up https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid_ratio_in_food

I like flax oil, but it spoils very quickly. I have trouble going through 250ml before it goes rancid.

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#45
post #8

So basically once your body has all the nutrients it needs to grow or make the things it needs to make, it makes them. Even more extra stuff it doesn’t need, it doesn’t use. Makes sense. This also appears to apply to the immune system. There’s zero evidence that supplements that are supposed to “boost your immune system” do any such thing. Yes your immune system functions best if you have good nutrition, but that’s i…

I’ve often said that when discussing vitamins, in particular, the general public thinks of them incorrectly like stackable video game power ups. In reality, they are more analogous to essential pieces of the game’s code.

You don’t get super powers by taking a whole bunch, and things start malfunctioning if you lack them.

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#46

An intriguing read that summarises the findings of multiple sources. Makes one ponder the true effectiveness of other supplements on the market, and whether the $100B+ industry is built on hearsay and deception.

No pondering necessary. That entire industry is based on making implications with statements and lobbying to avoid any potential accountability.

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#47

One of the major problems translating "science to advice" is the need to specify a risk/reward model for the person being advised. If P(TheScience) = 0.01, but P(GeneralInjury|TheScience) = 0.00000000000...1, and P(GeneralBenefit|TheScience) = 0.5 .... then most people should do "what the science says". Of course there's P(MyBenefit|TheScience) and P(MyInjury|TheScience) which makes rendering general advise often imp…

What do you mean by P(TheScience) ?

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#48
post #8

So basically once your body has all the nutrients it needs to grow or make the things it needs to make, it makes them. Even more extra stuff it doesn’t need, it doesn’t use. Makes sense. This also appears to apply to the immune system. There’s zero evidence that supplements that are supposed to “boost your immune system” do any such thing. Yes your immune system functions best if you have good nutrition, but that’s i…

There is a shit ton of evidence supporting vitamin d3 to fight covid...

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#49
post #11
post #8

So basically once your body has all the nutrients it needs to grow or make the things it needs to make, it makes them. Even more extra stuff it doesn’t need, it doesn’t use. Makes sense. This also appears to apply to the immune system. There’s zero evidence that supplements that are supposed to “boost your immune system” do any such thing. Yes your immune system functions best if you have good nutrition, but that’s i…

I guess the argument would be that you don't know for sure whether your diet does provide all the nutrients your body needs, so supplements could be used to fill in any gaps. The assumption being that your body will just dispose of any excess safely.

> The assumption being that your body will just dispose of any excess safely.

Not always. Fat-soluable vitamins (A, D, E, and K) will build up in fat tissue and can lead to toxicity.

Re: Omega-3s: Are “Brain-Boosting” Effects Scientifically Backed?

#50
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to get crippling Seasonal Affective Disorder every year, got tested, was badly deficient, and now don’t anymore.

How did you all resolve the deficiencies? Can you link any product you took? I am in need of Vitamin D.

See Dr Berg:

https://youtu.be/NFxQJmvgXOQ

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