Omega-3 riebalų rūgštis DHR padeda palaikyti normalią smegenų funkciją*

Ar žinote, kad dvejų metų vaiko smegenų ląstelės nustoja daugintis? Kokią įtaką smegenų funkcijai turi riebalų rūgštis DHR?

Po dvejų gyvenimo metų smegenų tūris didėja dėl naujų ryšių – sinapsių – tarp smegenų ląstelių formavimosi, bet naujos smegenų ląstelės nebesigamina. Dėl spartaus sinapsių augimo 380 g sveriančios naujagimio smegenys iki dvejų metų amžiaus pasiekia 1,1 kg. Suaugusio žmogaus smegenys sveria apie 1,3 kg (1), didelę dalį išsivysčiusių smegenų sudaro riebalai.

Smegenys yra unikalios tuo, kad iš maisto sugeba pasisavinti omega-3 riebalų rūgšties DHR. Tai gausiausia omega-3 riebalų rūgštis žmogaus smegenyse, jos kiekis didėja smegenims vystantis ir augant ir mažėja mums senstant, DHR smegenyse įtakoja nervinio impulso signalo perdavimo greitį, tarpląstelinių junginių formavimąsi.

Tyrimai patvirtina ryšį tarp motinos suvartojamo DHR kiekio ir normalaus kūdikio smegenų vystymosi**. Svarbu užtikrinti gerą gyvenimo pradžią, kad vaikui augant būtų lengviau susidoroti su mažais ir dideliais uždaviniais mokykloje bei namuose.

Omega-3 riebalų rūgščių šaltinis yra maistas, nes žmogaus organizmas pats jų negamina. „Möller’s“ žuvų taukuose taip pat yra didelis DHR riebalų rūgšties kiekis, gaunamas iš šviežios žuvies.

Arbatiniame šaukštelyje „Möller’s“ žuvų taukų yra daugiau nei gramas omega-3. Toks dienos kiekis rekomenduojamas šiaurės šalių gyventojų mityboje. Vaikams ir suaugusiesiems, kurie nemėgsta menkių kepenų aliejaus, omega-3 kramtomos žuvelės arba kapsulės gali būti tinkama alternatyva.

* Teigiamas poveikis pasireiškia per parą suvartojant 250 mg DHR.

** DHR, motinai ją vartojant, yra naudinga normaliam vaisiaus ir žindomų kūdikių smegenų vystymuisi. Teigiamas poveikis atsiranda per parą suvartojant 200 mg DHR kartu su suaugusiesiems rekomenduojamu suvartoti per parą omega–3 riebalų rūgščių kiekiu, t. y. 250 mg DHR ir EPR.

(1) https: //faculty.washington.edu/chudler/dev.html

What is good health?

Body changes in later life call for changes in your diet

Do you have a good lifestyle?

Lifestyle simply means the way in which you live. Health and lifestyle go hand in hand. You might feel you have a good lifestyle if you are physically active, eat healthily and generally experience a sense of wellbeing. Conversely, if you want good health you should also have a good lifestyle.

Physical activity is the major contributor to a good lifestyle, but diet, drugs, stress, sleep and social conditions are also play an important role. Being able to use the body properly to avoid injury also affects lifestyle. Physical activity can also prevent depression and help you to recover more quickly from mental illness, both of which obviously affect your lifestyle.

How does the aging process affect your immune system?

Diet can be a difficult topic for many. Perhaps you eat too much or too little or maybe you find it hard to know what foods to combine to have a balanced diet. It’s also important to eat food that contains important vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, omega-3 and antioxidants. On top of all this, you also need to get enough energy, protein and the correct fatty acids. The requirement for these nutrients changes throughout your life. When you are older you also have different requirements than children and younger adults. Women also have different requirements than men. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers also have special requirements.

When you get older, you lose muscle mass and your body requires less energy and therefore less food. You may lead a less active life than you did before, which is why you require less food. However, your need for minerals, vitamins and other nutrients remains the same. Of course, there are plenty of healthy and active older people, but when you reach 70 to 80 years of age, it’s easier to become ill, especially during flu season.

Some steps you can take to improve your lifestyle and health are to:

eat a healthy and varied diet
stay active
watch your weight
avoid too much alcohol and don’t smoke
get enough sleep
think positive
practise good hygiene

What is good quality of life?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines quality of life as a state where the individual can realise their potential, cope with normal stressful situations, work in a rewarding and positive way, and be able to contribute to others and society.

Quality of life is a wide and somewhat diffuse concept that includes joy in, and a desire for, life. These are values that are rather felt than measured, which in turn are based on personal environment and choices. Quality of life doesn’t necessarily depend on being healthy or sick. It’s the moments between worries, sorrows, problems and ailments that matter. For example, if you have a chronic illness, a feeling of mastery can be important when talking about quality of life.

To sum up, quality of life is a combination of health, lifestyle, networks and social support. It’s about experiencing joy, meaning in life, satisfaction, security and a sense of belonging, as well as being able to use your strengths. It’s also about feeling interest in life, coping with everyday situations and a being committed to something or someone. If you have good quality of life, you will be able to cope better with the inevitable stressful situations in life.