Why you need to eat more fish (or take supplements)

Most of us don’t eat enough fish—and, as a result, we’re low in the vital omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

Fatty fish such as mackerel and salmon are excellent sources of the fatty acids, but if we’re vegetarian—or the fish aren’t a regular part of your diet—you need to start taking omega-3 supplements, say researchers from the University of East Anglia in the UK.

They reckon that 76 percent of the world’s population have levels of fatty acids that are far too low to maintain health and certainly fall well short of even the recommended daily intake.  Not getting enough of omega-3’s long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), could affect our health, and especially our heart, and this becomes even more critical if you’re pregnant.

But it’s not only our cardiovascular system that benefits from fatty acids.  Omega-3 supports a healthy lifestyle throughout all stages of life—from reducing the chance of pre-term birth and supporting visual and cognitive development in infants and supporting healthy immune function. It could also reduce the risk of depression and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Recommended daily amounts vary from country to country, but the most common recommendation is 250 mg per day of combined EPA and DHA, with an additional 100-200 mg of DHA for pregnant women.

What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community