Fish and fish oil

For our fall wellness activities, I will be doing a series of short (about 5 minute) youtube videos with information about healthy holiday eating, managing stress, etc. Stay tuned for those!

Omega 3s are a type of polyunsaturated oil that helps especially with heart health. Omega 3s help prevent arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat that may cause sudden death). They also help lower triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and slow the rate that plaque accumulates in arteries.

The American Heart Association recommends for those without coronary heart disease to eat at least 2 servings (3.5 ounces) of fish per week to get omega 3s for health. This be be a variety of fish, including oily fish, either baked or grilled, not fried. Those with coronary heart disease or high triglycerides may also benefit from a supplement, in addition to eating fish. Talk to your physician about this.

Some fish are higher in mercury, so women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or young children should not eat shark, swordfish, tilefish, or king mackerel. They are higher on the food chain and usually live longer, which is why they are high in mercury. Those groups should also limit their intake of fish to no more than 12 ounces of fish weekly, including tuna. The benefits of eating fish for other groups far outweigh any potential risks as long as a variety of different types of fish is being eaten.

For more information on fish from the American Heart Association, click this link.