IN SEASON
Fish; Friend Or Foe?
NUTRITIONAL WRITER JOANNE MORLEY EXAMINES THE DEBATE AROUND THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FISH
Much has been written about the health benefi ts of fi sh. Frequently hailed as the ultimate ‘brain food’, we know how crucial good supplies of the nutrients fi sh contain are to the development and functioning of our brain’s cognitive functions. Without them we can become depressed, forgetful, and irritable and have an increased risk of developing serious illness and life threatening conditions. But there are also many reports in the media that fi sh are full of potentially harmful metals and toxins that in high quantities are poisonous to our bodies. So what are we to do?
16 | THE WEST COUNTRY FOODLOVER
Well, as with all things nutrition related,
it’s a question of balance. Many studies over recent years have revealed that those who eat no fi sh at all, and in particular oily fi sh, are found to be lacking in essential fatty acids such as Omega-3, an essential component of our brains and one that has many other health protecting benefi ts. With an increasingly ageing population, getting enough Omega-3 is crucial for protecting your brain cells from the damage that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Then there’s your heart. We know that
fi sh is able to help reduce your chances of heart disease by actually lowering the level of fat (triglycerides) in your bloodstream. The British Heart Foundation says that eating fi sh regularly could even help improve your chances of survival after suffering a heart attack. But what about those toxins? Are we just avoiding one set of problems and replacing
them with another? Well in all honesty there needs to be more research still, but following the widely accepted advice to eat oily fi sh such as salmon, mackerel and sardines just twice a week will ensure you strike the right balance of obtaining suffi cient Omega-3 whilst avoiding an overly high level of contaminants. Fish to restrict include shark, swordfi sh and fresh tuna.
Simultaneously adding more non-oily
white fi sh into your diet, such as cod, pollock or plaice, will further support a healthier diet and lifestyle with a great source of unsaturated fat, protein and other vital nutrients such as vitamin D and selenium. All good stuff for supporting your brain, the development of your child’s brain, protecting your heart against disease and hopefully ensuring your brain cells stay in optimum health for as long as possible. So taking everything into account i'd say fi sh should defi nitely be your friend!
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