The benefits of omega fatty acids have been touted for quite some time now. It seems that almost daily we hear about a new reason for why we should be receiving adequate amounts of omega fatty acids in our diet.
While only lately we have been hearing about their benefits, omega fatty acids have been helping us stay healthy for quite some time now. But, we first realized their true benefits when the World Health Organization began taking a look at the diets of people in other countries such as Japan and France.
They took a look at potential differences in genetics, lifestyle, and diet, with diet coming out on top. They found that what people ate — in addition to how and when they ate food — had a huge impact on their health. It was found at the time that a diet rich in fish led to a lower rate of heart disease.
Further research into diet — this time into the diet of the Inuit — found that while they ate incredibly high amounts of fat, they also had almost no cases of either heart disease or high cholesterol in their population.
However, the Inuit that were living in Denmark and eating a Danish diet did not exemplify this same level of heart health.
Once researchers took a look at the type of fat the Inuit were eating, they found that polyunsaturated fats are key to maintaining a healthy heart and low cholesterol levels in the body.
While these have been beneficial findings, now it seems that omega fatty acids and fish might help with yet another part of your body — your mind.
A new study published in the Archives of Neurology has found that there could be a link between a slower cognitive decline as people age and their intake of fish. While further research needs to be conducted on this, it serves as a good first step — and further proof that fish really does a body good.
Previous studies have found a link between a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and the amount of fish and omega-3s a person takes in. In light of this, researchers set out to find whether or not it could lessen age-related cognitive decline as well.
The study, which consisted of residents of Chicago, Illinois who were over the age of 65 (and who were involved in another study), took a look at six years of information, included interviews between 1993 and 1997, and then three subsequent follow-ups over six years.
They found that as compared to those who ate fish less than once a week, those who ate fish at least once a week had a 10% slower cognitive decline, while those who ate fish two or more times per week had 13% slower cognitive decline.
While researchers failed to find a definite link — whereas studies in the past have found a link — the lead researcher noted that it could be because the questionnaires were too broad in scope.
Further research needs to be conducted on this issue, but in the meantime there is sufficient evidence from a plethora of other studies that shows fish and omega-3 is definitely beneficial to your health — and perhaps your mind.
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Tags: Cholesterol, Diets, natural foods
