SEARCH

Omega-3's Enhance Brain Benefits of Exercise Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is one of two omega-3 fatty acids found in animal foods (the other is EPA). DHA has been shown to enhance the function of the brain by increasing neuoplasticity, or the brain's ability to generate new neurons and create connections between them. Exercise is also known to promote neuroplasticity.  Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles recently sought to determine whether DHA supplementation would boost the neuroplasticity-promoting effect of exercise. Rats received supplemental DHA with or without exercise for a period of 12 days. The researchers found that DHA increased markers of neuroplasticity such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), while the combination of DHA and exercise increased them more. The same pattern was seen with spatial learning ability, with DHA plus exercise generating the greatest improvements.  The authors of the study, which was published in the journal Neuroscience, concluded, "These results indicate that the DHA diet enhanced the effects of exercise on cognition and BDNF-related synaptic plasticity, a capacity that may be used to promote mental health and reduce risk of neurological disorders."

Moderate Carb Intake During Exercise Best? Cold Weather Best for Marathon Performance Sodium Phosphate Loading Improves Cycling Performance Researchers Find That Milk Is An Effective Post-Exercise Rehydration Drink Study Finds Aging Distance Runners Slow Slowly Sea Snake Fat Increases Endurance Post-Ironman Supplementation Enhances Mood State during Recovery Branched Chain Amino Acid Supplementation Reduces Muscles Damage during Running Beta-Alanine Fails to Improve Sprint Performance Carb-Protein Sports Gel Increase Endurance 13% Soy Protein Does Not Lower Testosterone Novel Glucose Beverage Enhances Post-Recovery Performance Prior Exercise, Antioxidant Supplementation Do Not Reduce Oxidative Stress in Trained Subjects Increased Environmental Oxygen Availability Boosts Cycling Performance Are Supplement Users Healthier? Study: Athletes Using Supplements for Wrong Reasons Does It Matter What Type of Creatine Supplement You Use? Creatine Loading Delays Neuromuscular Fatigue in Cycling Supplement Enhances Golf Swing More Proof Brain Causes Fatigue Beta-Alanine Falls Flat in New Study Add Free Radicals to The List of Factors That Cause Muscle Fatigue Glucose-Fructose Sports Drink More Effective than Glucose-Only Sports Drink Oral ATP Is Not Ergogenic CoQ10 Supplementation Delays Exercise Fatigue in Study Carb-Glutamine Drink Enhances Soccer Performance Caffeine Preserves Strength during Exercise in Heat Milk Is Not a Sports Drink Fish Oil Improves Heart Function in Overweight Persons Whey Protein Supplement Promotes Fat Loss Whey Protein Supplement Promotes Fat Loss What Is The Optimal Amount of Fructose in a Sports Drink? Carb-Protein Drink Increases Carb Burning in Second Workout Vitamin C Reduces Oxidative Stress during Exercise (Today, Anyway) Carb-Protein Intake during Exercise Stimulates Muscle Protein Synthesis Protein Ingestion Acelerates Post-Exercise Muscle Function Egg White Protein before Running in Heat: Useless Carb-Protein Supplementation Enhances Cycling Performance Beta-Alanine Boosts Strength-Endurance More Evidence of Exercise Benefits from Fish Oil Post-Exercise Caffeine Helps Muscles Refuel New Study on Carbs, Exercise and the Immune System Omega-3's Enhance Brain Benefits of Exercise Milk and Carb-Protein Supplements Reduce Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage Effect of Glycerol-Enhanced Sports Drink in Soccer Accelerade during Cycling Boosts Recovery New Study on GI Complaints in Runners Does Glycemic Index of Pre-Exercise Meal Matter? Resveratrol Makes Old Mice Run Young Fluid Loading Improves Cycling Performance ISSN Publishes Position Statement on Nutrient Timing Carb-Protein Supplement Stimulates Muscle Protein Synthesis during Exercise