OLD WIVES WEREN'T SO DAFT

Many like to dismiss old wives tales and I often wonder where this term came from and why many of them prove to be of value, whether they were passed down from old wise women, the term was around in ancient times, "

The concept of old wives' tales is ancient. In the 1st century, the Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy, "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness" (I Timothy 4:7 KJV[2]). 

However one of my favourite books "Honey Mud and Maggots" explains the reasoning behind some 'Old wives tales and folklore remedies' Like the article below, I grew up being told by my grandma being told Fish is good for the brain and no doubt her grandma told her the same, so it seems the Old wives knew what they were talking about, irrespective of who, and where these old wives originated. I really enjoyed this book and you will too.

Book Description

Many modern medical practices began as old wives' tales or folk remedies. "Honey, Mud, Maggots and Other Medical Marvels" investigates a multicultural variety of age-old remedies often dismissed by 20th-century Western medicine as harmful or foolish but now shown to have real scientific validity. This book calls upon the medical establishment to open itself up to the possiblities of alternative therapies - remedies that have stood the test of time precisely because they work. The age of leeching is long gone, yet tens of thousands of leeches are used each year to re-establish blood flow following reconstructive surgery. Maggots have accidentally cleaned wounds for centuries. Now doctors use them on purpose to heal gangerous sores that are resistant to modern medicine. Honey is one of the oldest medicines in the world. In some modern hospitals it is used to heal wounds that even the best antibiotics and antiseptics cannot treat.

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Why fish oil is good for your brain: Study finds it boosts memory by 15 per cent

• Fatty acid found in fish and seafood boosts memory function by 15 per cent
• Fish-rich diet important for maintaining optimal brain health and preventing onset of dementia

Eating oily fish such as salmon and trout can significantly improve your memory say scientists.
A new study found that a fatty acid found in fish and seafood can boost memory function by 15 per cent.
Scientists are now highlighting the importance of a fish-rich diet for maintaining optimal brain health and preventing the onset of dementia.

According to a new study eating oily fish such as salmon can significantly improve your memory and help prevent the onset of dementia

Over a six month period 176 healthy adults were given supplements containing DHA - an Omega-3 fatty acid found in foods such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout, prawns and mussels.
During this time memory and cognitive function were assessed and compared to a placebo group.
After treatment, memory, working memory and speed of working memory all showed significant improvements.
It is believed that DHA could be key in preventing Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common forms of dementia, characterised by a decline in mental abilities, such as memory and reasoning and often associated with increasing age.
Lead researcher Professor Welma Stonehouse of Massey University in New Zealand said: 'This is the first robust study to show that a DHA-rich supplement can improve some aspects of memory functioning in young healthy adults.

DHA - an Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish and seafood is one of the most highly concentrated fats in the brain

'The cognitive functions shown to be affected by the DHA-rich fish oil, namely memory and working memory, are among the most important functions of our brains for numerous everyday activities, such as working, driving, shopping, studying, playing sports, etc.

'Maintaining brain health and getting your brain to perform at its optimal capacity is just as vital as maintaining physical wellbeing and health.'
DHA, is one of the most highly concentrated fats in the brain and known to play a vital role in the structure and functioning of the brain.

But as the body cannot effectively make this fatty acid it must be consumed as part of the diet.
Researchers highlighted that as many people fail to eat enough fish and seafood, the brain's performance is potentially compromised.
The study showed that male participants who took a DHA supplement demonstrated 15 per cent faster working memory while women had a seven per cent improvement in the speed of episodic memory.
Professor Stonehouse added: 'These findings contribute to the growing body of research showing that omega-3's play a very important role in brain function throughout the life cycle, even in healthy cognitively intact individuals.'
This is one of the few studies to investigate the effects of DHA on cognitive function in healthy adults with no pre-existing cognitive disorder.
Dementia affects around 570,000 people in England, with Alzheimer’s disease responsible for around 60 per cent of dementia cases.
The NHS states a healthy diet should include at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish.

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