Fish, Good for Your Sanity!

October 11, 2013

Junk food makes people insane! The increase in mental disorders in the last several years could be attributed to the increase in the consumption of an unhealthy diet. Foods with omega-3 fatty acid (mainly vegetables and fish) help keep the brain healthy. People eat 1/3 less vegetables and 2/3 less fish than they did 50 years ago (BBC News).

Healthy Diet

Fish is a low-fat high quality protein. Fish is filled with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as D and B2 (riboflavin). Fish is rich in calcium and phosphorus and a great source of minerals, such as iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times per week as part of a healthy diet. Fish is packed with protein, vitamins, and nutrients that can lower blood pressure and help reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Healthy Heart and Brain

Eating fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential nutrients keep our heart and brain healthy. Two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Our bodies don’t produce omega-3 fatty acids so we must get them through the food we eat. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in every kind of fish, but are especially high in fatty fish. Some good choices are salmon, trout, sardines, herring, canned mackerel, canned light tuna, and oysters.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids:

  • Help maintain a healthy heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of sudden death, heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms, and strokes.
  • Aid healthy brain function and infant development of vision and nerves during pregnancy.
  • May decrease the risk of depression, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and diabetes.
  • May prevent inflammation and reduce the risk of arthritis.

 

Read more about the health benefits of fish at the Washington State Dept. of Health Blog