Review Detail

One of the most exciting developments in the field of mental health in recent years has been the recognition of the vital role that fatty acids, particularly omega-3s, play in maintaining healthy brain function. The brain structure itself is composed of a large amount of fat and the type of fats are very important.

The author of this book, Andrew. L. Stoll, is Professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is a major researcher into the effects of omega-3s on mental health.

Although Stoll notes that this field of investigation is still in its infancy he presents convincing evidence that omega-3s are vital for mental health and that supplementing them can effectively treat mood disorders. This evidence includes major epidemiological evidence that shows lower rates of depression in cultures that consume large amounts of omega-3s, and Stoll's own studies demonstrating that increasing dietary intake and supplementing pure omega-3 fatty acids can reduce depression symptoms. There is good evidence that this holds true when all conventional therapies have failed.

In addition, we learn that omega-3s have shown promising results treating other problems, such as the inability to handle stress, memory loss, and cognitive decline.

Although the book goes into a great deal of detail about how omega-3s do what they do and the research that has been conducted to date, the author also writes on a very pragmatic level, offering dietary advice to increase intake of omega-3s, and even providing a number of recipes.

This is a great book from one of the leading experts in this exciting area of nutrition and mental health research. A must read for those suffering from mood disorders.

*I would also recommend looking into the work of Prof. Basant Puri, another leading researcher on the same subject who has done much to bring the subject to public attention.