Fish !!

[Tim Wescott]

What Are The Health Benefits Of Fish?
Fish is promoted for its health benefits and then the next report cautions against certain types


FISH

Do You Eat Fish?

When it comes to health benefits, fish continues to line up high on the positive side. There are the omega-3 fatty acids found in all fish -- especially the fatty fish. Omega-3s help promote heart health and aid in prevention of heart disease making them a positive choice. Recent studies have also looked at fish and memory; the question marks are about the mercury in some fish.

Fish that swim on the bottom of the ocean and are heavier in weight contain more mercury and should be consumed less often and avoided by certain segments of the population. Shark, swordfish, tilefish and King mackerel should be avoided by pregnant and nursing women and young children and other fish should be limited to 12 ounces per week. Limit the mercury in tuna by choosing chunk light tuna instead of albacore, which has more mercury.

[Tim Wescott]

Fish 101: Health Benefits Explored :

Research indicates that including a variety of fish in the diet is beneficial in reducing the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease among women. This research was highlighted in a recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jan 17, 2001, Vol. 285, No. 3).

Experts say the health benefits associated with fish consumption far outweigh any associated food-related risks. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued an advisory to women who are pregnant or of childbearing age about the consumption of larger predatory fish species—specifically, shark, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel—due to the levels of methylmercury found in those fish. Conversely, the advisory recommends 12 ounces of canned fish (which is produced from smaller fish) per week can safely be consumed by this population. The American Heart Association also suggests that “two fish servings per week are recommended to confer cardioprotective effects.”

Fish contain fat commonly known as omega-3’s. Researchers suggest that omega-3’s reduce the risk of blood clotting or sticking to the artery walls, a condition that could result in cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attack, and stroke. Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D., professor of nutrition at The Pennsylvania State University, reports, “In addition to the beneficial effects of fish consumption on CVD risk in individuals with coronary disease, a dietary pattern that includes fish and fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, lowers the risk of CVD in men without diagnosed CVD or cancer. Fish is an important food in a healthful dietary pattern.”

The benefits of a diet that comprises a variety of foods, including fish, are greater than any health risk yet associated with some fish. According to Edith Howard Hogan, R.D., L.D., spokesperson for The American Dietetic Association, “canned tuna, salmon and even sardines are an inexpensive and widely available source of protein and omega-3’s today.

[Tim Wescott]

Fish Facts:

Good Friday is this week, and many people will be indulging in some great fish meals.

Fish is certainly a great food. It is usually low to moderate in fat content, has a high protein content. The oils found in fish are very beneficial to your health. These are known as omega 3 polyunsaturated oils, which are useful for several reasons.

Reason 1 is that omega 3 oils don't increase your bad cholesterol (LDL's) score. They assist in decreasing your bad cholesterol, very useful for heart health. Reason 2 is that fish oils via a variety of mechanisms do in fact reduce the tendency in your blood vessels to suffer thrombosis. This means that clotting is not as likely in fish eaters, and the blot clots that get stuck in small arteries are what causes heart attacks and strokes.

Eat fish and be healthy!