Eating more seafood could possibly help prevent Alzheimer's and dementia

Thursday, February 11, 2016 by: Sarah Landers
Tags: Alzheimer''s prevention, Omega-3, fish consumption

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(NaturalNews) A recent study of older adults who consume at least one portion of seafood a week, and who carry a risk gene for Alzheimer's and dementia, found fewer signs of brain changes over time, suggesting that seafood may prevent or at least slow the progression of Alzheimer's.

The study was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and Dr. Laura Phipps of Alzheimer's Research UK said: "The omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish are an important part of a balanced diet, and previous studies suggest they could play an important role in keeping the brain healthy."

The many benefits of eating fish

Fish is loaded with vital nutrients such as protein, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, making it one of the healthiest foods on the planet. It is packed full of the nutrients that most of us don't eat enough of – such as fat-soluble vitamin D and various other vitamins and minerals.

Fish is one of the best foods you can eat for a healthy heart, and studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and premature death from heart disease. In a study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, over 40,000 males who regularly ate one or more servings of fish every week were found to have a 15 percent lower risk of heart disease.

Fatty types of fish are considered to be even more beneficial for heart and brain health, because of the high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids they contain. These acids are essential for growth and development, in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), because it accumulates in the developing brain and eye. For this reason it is often recommended that expecting and nursing mothers eat a lot of fish.

Fish is also thought to increase gray matter in the brain, and protect it from age-related deterioration or cognitive decline. Many observational studies have shown that people who eat fish every week have more gray matter in the centers of the brain – which control memory and emotion.

Depression is one of the world's biggest health problems, although it's not discussed as often as heart disease or obesity. It is a serious and incredibly common mental disorder. Studies have shown that people who regularly eat fish are less likely to become depressed, and numerous controlled trials have also found that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial in helping to increase the effectiveness of antidepressant medications.

Meanwhile, fish is the only good dietary source of vitamin D, which has received a lot of mainstream attention over the past few years. In fact, a shocking 42% of the U.S. population is deficient in it. If you don't get a lot of sun and don't eat fatty fish regularly, you should probably consider taking a vitamin D supplement.

The consumption of fish has also been linked to a reduced risk of autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes – where the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Several studies have found that omega-3 acids are linked to a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes in children, as well as of other autoimmune diseases.

Asthma caused by chronic inflammation in the airways has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Studies have shown that regular fish consumption is linked to a 24 percent lower risk of asthma in children.

A great deal of research has been carried out and will continue to be undertaken over the coming years around the health benefits of fish and what components of fish make it so healthy. But if you're looking to prevent Alzheimer's, dementia and a whole host of other health conditions, you should look at adding more fish to your diet – today. Remember though, to get the full benefits of fish try to avoid farmed fish as much as possible.

Sources include:

Mirror.co.uk

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

EcoWatch.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

AuthorityNutrition.com