What Are the Best Fats for Brain Health?

When you take out water weight, your brain is about 60 percent fat. This stunning statistic is a reflection of the key role that fats play in our brain’s structure, function, and subsequently its health. Here’s where the research stands on 3 top contenders when it comes to healthy dietary oils/fats for the brain.

1. Olive oil

One of the strongest correlations between health benefits (including brain benefits) and diet relates to the Mediterranean diet. This dietary pattern tends to be described as rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, nuts, and olive oil. Eating closer to a Mediterranean diet was recently found to correlate with less brain atrophy and better memory in a study published in the journal Neurology in 2021.

2. Omega-3-rich foods including nuts, seeds, and fish

In the conversation about healthy brain fats, omega-3 fats (also known as omega-3 fatty acids) are always at the forefront. That’s because relative to other parts of the body, the brain is highly concentrated in omega-3 fats, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which makes up around 90 percent of the brain’s omega-3 content.

3. Coconut oil

Unlike omega-3s and the fats found in olive oil, the fat in coconut oil is mostly a form of saturated fat. While it’s true that some research connects saturated fat intake with negative health outcomes, there’s been a significant shift in the overall understanding of how saturated fats affect our bodies.

Made mostly of fat, our brains may benefit when we prioritize certain fats in our diet. Consumption of olive oil is consistently linked to better health and brain outcomes. Omega-3 fats, found in plant and especially fish sources, are key to healthy brain function. Emerging research suggests that coconut oil may be worth considering as a dietary fat source.

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-modern-brain/202210/what-are-the-best-fats-brain-health

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