Reasons to get Fishy
 
Oils we Need and What they are : Latest research has shown that those advocating vegetarian style diets have got it partially wrong. The fats in vegetable oils are omega-6 and are often too vigourous in their action. They really need the omega-3 fats, prominant in fish, to counteract them, so acting as a balance. Doctors and dieticians now agree that balancing these types of fats is necessary for a healthy life.
N.B. Some vegetarian doctors might, pig-headedly, insist the findings of the research is wrong purely to support their idiosyncratic dietry beliefs.
 
Heart Disease : Omega-3 fats, prominant in fish, help to prevent blood clotting and maintain a regular heartbeat.
 
Cancer : Studies show that Japanese women, who eat a lot of oily fish, have a lower incidence of breast cancer than Western women who eat a diet rich in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats. Research suggests the aggressive nature of the omega-6 fatty acids can encourage cancer if not counteracted by the more relaxed omega-3 eicosanoids.
 
Bones : Fish oils contain one of the only significant dietry sources of Vitamin D, needed by the body to abdorb calcium for healthy bones, teeth and immunity. Because of rationing during World War Two, children were give free cod liver oil to prevent them getting the bone softening disease, rickets.
N.B. The Main source of Vitamin D is RED Meat.
 
Brain : Adding omega-3 polyunsaturates to the diet can help reduce depression, schizophrenia and aggression under stress. It is thought that the omega-3's have a similar effect to Prozac and encourage the production of the feel-good chemical serotonin in the brain.
 
Skin : Without polyunsaturates in the skin membranes, we would literally dry out. Although it is the omega-6s that have the best skin benefits, conditions such as psoriasis and dermatitis are related to the level of omega-3 polyunsaturates, because of their anti-inflammatory action.
 
Lungs : The cells that line the airways in the lungs are really modified skin cells. The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3s make the lung cells less sensitive to irritants like cigarette smoke and environmental pollutants.
 
Kidneys : American research has shown that omega-3 supplements in patients with failing kidneys restore much of their kidney function and can eliminate the need for a transplant.
 
Joints : Cod liver oil is most widely taken to ease arthritis. This pain is caused by the aggressive nature of the omega-6 eicosanoids, which make the cells over-sensitive to the stress on joints. The omega-3s in fish oil contend these aggressive eicosanoids and reduce inflammation. Research is under way that suggests fish oils can even reverse osteoarthritis by stopping the enzyme action that destroys cartilage.
 

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