Health Benefits of Eating More Fish

At Lazy Lou's, we take the health and well-being of our guests very seriously. Research shows major health benefits can be realized by incorporating fish into our diets one or more times a week. We have compiled a selection of articles reflecting this information.

Benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids
(Found in Salmon)
Lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Lowers blood pressure.
Acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, making it beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
May help in treating glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.
May help prevent migraines, panic attacks and agoraphobia.
Some studies show it may help to prevent cancer.

Articles

Sizing Up Omega-3
(Source – USA Today)

What should you eat to get enough Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet for a healthy heart? SALMON! Scientists have been singing the praises of Omega-3 fatty acids for years now. Research has shown that they reduce sudden death from heart attacks. Two studies out in April revealed that people with no heart trouble can safeguard their heart and reduce their risk of sudden death by eating oily fish twice a week. Additional benefits include treatment for depression,arthritis and colon inflammation.

Health Benefits of Eating Seafood
(Source – Pagewise.com)

There is one piece of nutritional advice that most experts worldwide seem to agree upon – “Seafood is good for you.”

Deep-sea fish are particularly high in omega-3 fatty acids that help protect against many diseases such as cancer, arthritis, high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.

Omega 3’s protect against heart disease: studies have shown that people who eat a diet high in fish have reduced rates of heart disease. A British study showed by eating no more than 300g of oily fish per week, the men in one group who ate fish had reduced their chances of dying from a heart attack by approximately one third.

Omega 3’s can help prevent spread of some cancers: This includes breast cancer. The fish oils boost the immune system, thus helping destroy cancer cells that have not been removed by surgery.

Omega 3’s help relieve inflammatory diseases: Studies of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have show that eating a daily portion of 200g of salmon can dramatically reduce symptoms of inflammation and swollen joints.  

Eating Fish Prevents Sudden Heart Attacks
(Source – Southeastern Fisheries Association, Inc.)

Approximately 250,000 sudden cardiac deaths occur in the United States each year, and more than half the victims did not have any previous history of heart disease.

A study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston concluded that middle-aged men who eat a weekly meal of “fatty” fish such as salmon or shellfish cut in half their risk of suffering a sudden, deadly heart attack.

A study of 1,800 Western Electric workers that began in 1957 showed regular meals of fish lowered the overall risk of heart disease by 38 percent and of heart attack by 60 percent compared to men who ate red meat.  

Nutrition Factor: Eating Fish May Reduce Women’s Stroke Risk
(Source – Medicalpost.com)

A study by Nurses’ Health followed 79,839 women for 14 years, from 1980 to 1994. A total of 574 women had strokes during that time.

They found women who eat fish two to four times a week have a 48% lower risk of thrombotic infarction or stroke. Incorporating fish into the diet is associated with a number of benefits which can be incorporated to reduce the risk of stroke.

Go For Fish Once Daily
(Source: ThirdAge.com)

Researchers at the University of Western Australia say individuals in their study were all on diets, had high cholesterol levels, were being treated for high blood pressure and ran a risk of getting diabetes.

Their study found that including a daily fish meal in a weight-loss diet actually lowered cholesterol levels. The benefit was glucose metabolism and promotion of weight loss. Researchers say the key is having an overall diet with less than 30 percent of calories from fat.

They say the diet with fish works because it changes the way fatty acid is delivered to the liver. The change comes as the N-3 fatty acids lower cholesterol levels.

Eat Fish, Be Happy?
(Source – MyPrimeTime.com)

A large study in Finland found evidence that people who ate fish less than once a week ran a 31% higher chance of mild to severe depression than people who ate it more often.

That's probably because fish contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The evidence was statistically significant only for women. The authors of the study believe the effect also applies to men, for whom the results leaned in the same direction.

The study involved a random sample of 3,204 adults from four areas of Finland. They filled out a standard questionnaire to measure depressive symptoms and indicated how often they ate fish. 

Seafood Combats Cardiac Arrest
(Source – CNN.com)

Good news for seafood lovers: there's new evidence that seafood is good for your heart, and just a little seafood may go a long way. According to a new study, people who ate just one serving of fish a week dramatically reduced their chances of cardiac arrest. A study on the subject involving more than 800 people in the Seattle area was published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers at the University of Washington compared the diets and blood of the people in the study and found that those who ate moderate amounts of seafood rich in what are called Omega-3 fatty acids had a 50 percent to 70 percent reduction in their risk of a cardiac arrest compared with those who ate little or no seafood.

Salmon, albacore tuna, herring, mackerel, sea bass, oysters, and mussels are all seafoods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops pumping. It's not clear how Omega-3 fatty acids protect the heart. They may make the blood less likely to clot and block the blood flow to the heart, or they may reduce the irregular electrical rhythms of the heart that result in cardiac arrest. 

Eat Fish, Feel Better
(Source – USA Today)

A study completed by Harvard researchers was shut down because the benefits of fish oil were so impressive.

The study looked at the affect of omega-3 essential fatty acids (found in certain cold-water fish) on people with manic-depression.

There has been a steady stream of research touting the lower risk of heart disease associated with a diet that includes fatty-fishes such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, bluefish, halibut and herring. But the connection between omega-3 fatty acids and mental health (omega-3's are highly concentrated in the brain) has created a new era of medical research.

Omega-3 fatty acids appear to have both antidepressant and mood-stabilizing effects. Scientists have found abnormally low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the brains of people with depression.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture advises people to consume fish at least twice a week for the heart benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids. But if research continues to show the link between the acids and attitude, more Americans may choose to eat salmon as much for their heads as for their hearts.