Fish For Preventing Heart Disease
Tuesday July 29, 2008
A study just published by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that Japanese men are much less likely to have clogged arteries than American men (or even Japanese men living in the United States) even though all of the groups studied had similar cholesterol levels and rates of smoking. What was the difference? The men in Japan ate fish every day while the men in the United States ate fish one or two times per week. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered to be the key nutrients in fish that keeps your heart and arteries healthy.
Poll:How do you get your omega-3s?
- Mostly from fish and seafood
- Mostly from plants like flax
- Mostly from fish oil capsules
- I don't pay attention to how much omega-3 I get
- View Results
Photo © Lotus Head
Comments
Thanks for linking to the article abstract, which I did read. The Japanese men had less carotid artery intimal media thickness than U.S. whites and U.S. Japanese. This suggests that they would have fewer atherosclerotic complications such as heart attacks and strokes. So it appears the heart-protective effects of fish extend beyond their anti-arrhthmia properties.
-Steve
Yes, fish is terrific. But for vegetarians and vegans I would recommend having a look at spirulina. It offers many of the same benefits as fish (omega-3, protein, etc…) as well as huge amounts of GLA, vitamin A, and essential sea-based minerals.
Spirulina forms the base of the aquatic food chain. It’s what fish eat.
Yuri
http://www.EatingforEnergy.ca
Omega-3s may also help to increase stroke volume and cardiac output therefor increasing delivery of oxygen during exercise - this may help cardiovascular disease patients with their exercise programs.