Why Some People Eat Fish Almost Daily

Why Some People Eat Fish Almost Daily

So, you think eating fish is not on your regular menu, and fish is just a little too expensive anyway? Well, think again, because fish is really a gold mine of concentrated nutrients. Fish has more important health benefits to be gained compared to meat. If treating heart disease sounds expensive to you, then how about avoiding its chance by eating fish regularly sounds?

These are the benefits of eating fish regularly:

1. Reduces the rate of heart disease

The rate of heart disease can be significantly reduced by eating fish two or three times a week. A few years back, scientists have noted that a high percentage of people who have a diet that relied heavily on fish for protein have no coronary artery disease at all. In a recent study, fish oils are found to have beneficial action especially in reducing the chance of a heart attack.

Fish oils are rich in a type of unsaturated fatty acid known as omega-3. Polyunsaturates are particularly high in fish fats, which remain liquid even when chilled. These fatty acids decrease the stickiness of blood platelets, therefore reducing their chance of clumping together or clotting. They also increase the flexibility of the red blood cells, enabling them to pass more readily through tiny vessels, reducing inflammation of artery walls, and lower levels of triglycerides in the blood.

2. Enhances learning skills in children

Fish oil has long been considered as brain food and its regular consumption enhances memory and develops concentration. Studies carried out in different countries such as the U.K and Australia have shown the positive effects of fish oil on the learning skills of toddlers. Children affected by ADD/ADHD and dyslexia benefit from fish oil, their learning, grasping, and reading skills improve appreciably. In fact, if expecting mothers partake of fish oil, the children born have an edge over their compatriots in kindergarten. DHA in fish oil boosts visual acuity in children.

3. Prevents various forms of cancer

Fish oil is also considered to be beneficial in treating and preventing various forms of cancer. Studies with volunteer groups show that those who consumed fish oil were less susceptible to sunburn and the harmful effects of UV rays. This could have implications in the prevention of skin cancer. Research also shows that the combination of propofil, which is an anesthetic, with fish oil can lead to the destruction of cancer cells. This opens up the possibility of developing either an ointment or a patch for treating tumors. Fish oil has also been found to be useful in the treatment of the Human Papilloma Virus, which is a common STD that leads to cervical cancer in women.

4. Prevents age-related blindness

Fish oil has always been considered good for the eyes; recent studies have shown that the Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil offer protection against age-related macular degeneration, which is one of the foremost causes of age-related blindness, and dry-eye syndrome in which the lachrymal glands do not function properly and the cornea can get scarred.

5. Helps lose weight effectively

A recent study conducted in Denmark has found that fish oil consumption by diabetics lowered the content of triacylglycerol, (TAG) in the blood. TAG is a fatty substance linked to heart disease. Obese individuals who suffer from hypertension, insulin resistance, and high blood triglycerides can lose weight more effectively if they follow a regimen of exercise combined with regular intake of fish oil. This is because the Omega 3 fatty acids enhance the fuel-burning capacities of the cells. A study conducted in Japan found that Statins, which is drug used to lower cholesterol levels, was more useful when used in conjunction with fish oil.

6. Helps control digestive tract ailment

Fish oil serves as a remedy for ulcerative colitis, which is an ailment of the digestive tract, characterized inflammatory pseudopolyps. Fish oil taken in conjunction with antioxidants and fiber-rich foods, helps control this ailment.

What's in a fish?

Fish are rich in nutrients, especially protein, vitamin B12, niacin, magnesium, zinc, and more. Oily fish are particularly rich in vitamins A and D. Furthermore, the bones in canned sardines, mackerel and salmon are rich in calcium.

Due to its massive bulk of muscle on a more spindly skeleton compared to land animals, fish are high in protein. It is commonly believed that the darker the flesh, the oilier the fish; however, that belief is not true, because the dark color is due to the presence of myoglobin, a pigment that stores oxygen in the muscle.

There is no dfference in nutrient content between fish that are farmed and those that are caught in the wild. The texture of some farmed fish, however, is meatier.

How much fish is enough?

According to the American Heart Association, eating two servings of fish a week is highly recommended. This is based on their updated dietary recommendations after much evidence point to the fish-linked cardiovascular benefits. Some experts even suggest up to three servings of fish a week are needed to provide omega-3 fatty acids related benefits.

Fish oil supplements may be advisable for some people, but check with your doctor first since they can "thin" the blood. Too much consumption of nutritional supplements, especially omega-3 supplementation, can lead to the risk of heavy metal poisoning by the body's accumulation of traces of heavy metals. For these reasons, the FDA recommends not more that 2 grams per day intake of omega-3 supplements.

Health risks

Eating fish is not without its own risks.

1. Raw fish preparations

Raw fish preparations like sushi, pickled salmon, and Scandinavian gravlax, can harbor parasites. Unless, they are properly prepared, the worms and eggs can get into your body.

2. Scombroid poisoning

Scombroid poisoning is characterized by a rash and stomach upset due to bacteria infections. Fish like herring and mackerel must be cooked or processed soon after they are caught. If kept too long before cooking they are susceptible to bacterial growth.

3. Hepatitis

Shellfish from waters poluted by human waste bring a threat of viral hepatitis as well as bacterial infections that can cause severe gastrointestinal upset. Thorough cooking can eliminate most of the bacteria found in shellfish.

4. Contaminants

Large, long-lived fish, such as tuna, shark, king mackerel, and swordfish may accumulate heavy-metal contaminants, especially mercury, which are toxic to the human nervous system and can be dangerous to unborn babies. Because of these potential threat, women are recommended to avoid these fish completely during pregnancy.

5. Pollutants

Fish caught in certain areas may show high levels of PCBs and other industrial pollutants. For this reason, they are best avoided altogether.

Recommended Preparation

If you buy a whole fish, use the head and bones to make stock for low-fat soup. Combine fish with carbohydrates to stretch a small amount: a single poached salmon steak can be flaked into spinach noodles, or fillets of cod can be mixed with herbed mashed potatoes for a family meal of fish cakes. Avoid dishes that demand lavish amounts of buttery sauces that spoil the low-fat value of the fish.

Why Some People Eat Fish Almost Daily