If any nutrient could use an image makeover, it's fat. Often forgotten in our anti-fat frenzy is the fact that some fats are crucial for proper brain function. Among the good guys: the omega-3 fatty acids, which include linoleic acid--found in soybeans, canola oil, and nuts--as well as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both plentiful in fish. Researchers have long known that infant brains require omega-3s, but now they say it appears these fats influence our behavior long after we've shed our diapers:
In a study of Japanese teens, those who had been taking omega-3-rich fish oil supplements for three months were less aggressive during a stressful exam period.
Purdue University's John Burgess, Ph.D., reports that kids with attention deficit disorder (ADD) may be more likely than their peers to have low blood levels of omega-3s. He's now testing whether fish oil can boost ADD kids' mental skills and attention.
