Nutrition: The benefits of eating fish

Heart disease The British Heart Foundation says eating oily fish can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and improve your chances of survival following a heart attack. Fish does this by lowering levels of fats called triglycerides in the blood - raised levels are associated with heart disease. Fish oils also appear to help reduce blood clotting and abnormal heart rhythms after a heart attack. Child development Sarah Kayitare, a mother of three boys says eating fish while pregnant is essential for proper development of the baby. “Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consume fish because it is a healthy food and a major source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is important for normal development of the retina and brain but also helps in giving birth to a strong and healthy baby,”she says. Cancer A Swedish study of 6000 men over a 30-year period showed that those who didn’t eat any fish had between double and triple the risk of developing prostate cancer, compared to those who ate moderate or large amounts. Shellfish, such as crab and lobster, also contains selenium, thought to have cancer-fighting properties. Depression It’s been reported that fish can help to ease depression. Again, it’s down to omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to raise levels of the brain chemical serotonin. Arthritis Population groups that eat a lot of fish have low rates of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Studies have also shown fish oils to be useful in relieving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Social benefits According to research carried out in Mauritius, children given lots of fish from the age of three are less likely to have criminal records by the time they reach 23. Skin According to dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, author of The Perricone Prescription, a salmon-packed diet can help smooth out age lines.

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Nutrition: The benefits of eating fish