‘Eating Fish - health benefits’

Despite a diet relatively high in fat, Eskimos have a much lower incidence of heart diseases compared to other modern cultures.

The research in 1970's attributed the difference to dietary intake of fish, which contains so called omega-3 fatty acids. Nutrition experts recommend omega-3 intake by eating 2-3 servings of fish every week. Of course, eating sushi and other fish dish every week is the tastiest solution to avoid medical complication

Among the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA are particularly known to be good to our health. These omega-3 fatty acids are known to be effective on heart disease control, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer prevention, strokes prevention, brain/nerve system development, prevention of Alzheimer's disease and even depression.

If you are a student, you might say those medical problems are for older people. But the truth is that you too get older and can develop serious medical complications due to habits formed during school days. Are you eating right these days? Cafeteria food, burgers, pizza, chips? Well, even though such foods are not necessarily hazardous to your health, it is likely that you are eating high in calories and saturated fat content. It is not too late to start a good eating habit by adding fish on a regular basis. After all, your body and mind is the capital which you have been and should be investing on most.

Heart Disease
It is known through medical researches that eating fish regularly could prevent heart attacks and cardiac arrests.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
It is reported that some patients taking omega-3 supplements had less joint pain and less morning stiffness.

Cancer
"A report says that omega-3 suppresses tumor growth in animals. Japanese women have only a third as much breast cancer as American women. Heavy use of foods such as fish and soy in the Japanese diet may be responsible. A recent study of 25 women showed that supplemental fish oil could change the ratio of fats in breast tissue."

Strokes
EPA helps to make the platelets in blood less sticky, thus preventing the build-up of plaque, which triggers stroke and heart disease.

Brain/nerve system developement in children (young mother and children)
DHA is required for the optimal development of the nervous system particularly for children. DHA is associated with good memory and development of brain cells. This substance promotes activity in brain.

Alzheimer's Disease
"In a study of more than 1,000 people (average age 75), those with high blood levels of an omega-3 called DHA were more than 40% less likely to develop dementia (including Alzheimer's) over the next nine years than people with low DHA levels. One theory why: We know the brain latches onto DHA -- its favorite fat -- to help build membranes around nerve cells; possibly the more DHA, the easier it is to zap messages from cell to cell."

Depression
"Because the brain is the richest source of fatty acids in the human body, and because proper nerve cell function is critically dependent on proper membrane fluidity, alterations in membrane fluidity impact behavior, mood, and mental function. Lack of omega-3 acids may contribute to depression."