Give a Woman a Fish, and she'll live a lot longer (...continued)

Of special importance is the “Singapore Chinese Health Study,” where researchers at the University of Southern California and the National University of Singapore studied the eating habits of 35,298 women, aged 45 to 74 years, over a five-year period. The result published in the British Journal of Cancer, showed that postmenopausal women who consumed an average of just one and half to three ounces of fish and shellfish daily were 30 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than women who ate less than one ounce of fish a day.

Risk Reduction also was associated with consumption of DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids found almost exclusively in marine fish. The researchers suggested that eating just 10 ounces of fish and shellfish a week could reduce breast cancer risk by 25 percent. At a time when more than 40,000 American women die each year from breast cancer, this is exciting news.

What’s important now is getting more fish to American women. The average American currently eats less than five ounces of seafood per week, or about 16 pounds per year. That compares with 37 pounds for the average European and nearly 90 pounds for the average Japanese, said health expert Joyce Nettleton, author of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health and a member of Tuna Nutritional Council. But help isn’t far away: of America’s top 10 most popular fish, salmon, and canned albacore tuna have the highest levels of omega-3.

DHA and EPA omega-3 are also linked to reduced post-partum depression, fewer premature births, and improved cognitive function in infants. They also protect against heart disease, stroke, and arthritis. Promising research also suggests EPH and DHA fatty acids many reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and help maintain sharp minds as people age. Recognizing the many health benefits associated with eating fish, the American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association recommend that people eat two servings a week.

By Laine Welch www.afjournal.com