The American Heart Association has released a new advisory that might have people considering having fish for several of their meals.
The New Study
On Thursday, May 17, the health organization released an advisory in their journal, Circulation. The bulletin encouraged Americans to increase their fish intake. They strongly recommended that Americans consume fish that contain higher amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids.
The AHA advised eating fresh salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, herring, sardines, and lake trout. They also suggested that Americans should consume either 3-1/2 ounces of cooked fish or a three-fourths cup of flaked fish twice a week.
Benefits Of Eating Fish
The AHA's advisory pointed out that the fish's Omega-3 fatty acids would significantly strengthen the heart. The research team thoroughly investigated numerous studies and trials that focused on how Omega-3s affected cardiovascular health.
They found that people who ate seafood four or more times a week had a 22 percent chance of getting coronary heart disease than those who ate fish once a month. Also, if people eat fish twice a week, then it would help reduce the risk of heart failure and cardiac arrest.
Mercury Levels
Another issue that the AHA's advisory tackled was the presence of mercury in fish. The research team found that several types of fish such as swordfish, bigeye tuna, and shark had higher amounts of mercury.
The research team recommended that while pregnant women and young children should avoid consuming these kinds of fish, they added that no one should stop consuming fish just because of their mercury levels.
No Fish Oil Supplements
The health organization stated that people who actively dislike seafood should eat it over taking a fish oil supplements. The AHA noted that there is no evidence that taking fish oil pills prevent heart attacks, stroke, or heart failure.
"The benefits of fish are likely due in part to the omega-3 fatty acid content, but may also be due to choosing finish in place of high-saturated fat foods like steak. Just taking a supplement isn't the same as making healthier choices in your diet," said Alice H. Lichtenstein, Tufts University's Director and senior scientist at the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory and a co-author of the AHA advisory to Consumer Reports.
Fish Stories
A study published in the Nature Communications journal believe that hippopotamus feces could be a factor in the deaths of countless fish in Kenya's Mara River. Scientists discovered that the hippos excrete 9.3 tons of waste into the Mara River every day. Their hippos' waste volume not can trigger fish deaths because the waste depletes oxygen from the water during composition.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources posted a photo of a sheepshead fish on May 9. The fish caused quite a stir on social media because they have human teeth. The sheepshead fish's teeth allow the fish to chomp on shrimp, oysters, and clams.
Tech Times reached out to the American Heart Association for a comment on this story.
