Eat fish to prevent heart disease

It should come as no surprise that much of the developed world suffers from heart disease because of diet and other lifestyle habits. In the United States heart disease remains the number one killer among adults and demonstrates similar statistics in many other modern countries. The surprise comes in knowing that the majority of heart disease is avoidable yet educated people continue to ignore the dangers and promote lifestyles conducive to cardiac damage.

History has shown and scientists have found that the Eskimos of Greenland suffered very little from coronary heart disease despite a diet very high in fat. The primary source of fat in their diet came from sea mammals, which contain high amounts of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Researchers have also found inflammation markers, such as C-reactive protein and others, were up to a third lower in people who ate at least 10 ounces of fish per week compared with those didn’t eat fish. The more fish the people ate, especially fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna, the lower their level of markers of inflammation in the bloodstream.

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids found in certain fish tissues. Various scientific studies have now linked omega-3 fatty acids with a reduction in the risk of developing deadly diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and most recently Alzheimer’s.

There is no doubt that the omega-3 fatty acids are essential to health. They are fundamental molecules in the structure and activity of the membranes of all cells throughout the body. They also have highly specialized functions in neurological tissues, especially the brain and retina. Because of their role in cell membranes, omgega-3 fatty acids are essential for the formation of new tissue and are therefore important for development and growth.

The human brain is unique within the animal world in that it forms a greater proportion of body weight than in other species. It is also unique in its composition. Of the solid (non-water) matter in the brain 60% is fat, or lipid, and of that, polyunsaturates form the biggest component. We are now learning that diet can alter brain composition and brain function.

As well as the proven physical health benefits, omega-3s are now also demonstrating impressive results in the treatment of mental imbalance leading to anti-social behavior, learning difficulties, schizophrenia and depression. A fish-rich diet helps keep the mind sharp. Previous studies found that people who ate fish such as salmon and tuna that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids lowered their risk of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke.

Courtesy: Greg Cook