Fish – a source of protection from health threats

Rawalpindi : Consumption of fish is a great source of protection from a number of health threats and according to health experts, individuals must make it part of their diet particularly in winter to reduce the risk of serious ailments along with seasonal infections.

Fish that is considered as one of the healthiest foods on the planet helps reduce the risk of diseases like osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and as well infectious diseases, tuberculosis and even seasonal flu while its consumption also helps safeguard children from respiratory infections.

Experts say that one should eat fish at least twice a week mainly because the majority of our population is facing deficiency of many essential nutrients, fish and fish products contain.

Fish is a great source of getting high-quality protein and iodine along with various vitamins and minerals. It is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids that play a vital role in functioning of both the body and the brain.

Studies reveal that consumption of all types of fish are good for health but some fish are better than the others because of having more omega-3 fatty acids as the fatty types of fish are considered as the healthiest. Vitamin D found in fish is a nutrient that functions like a steroid hormone in the body while omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for the body and the brain to function optimally and are strongly linked to reduced risk of many diseases.

Experts believe that eating at least one serving of fish a week lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes known as two of the world’s biggest killers and it is mainly because of the high amount of omega-3 fatty acids the fish contain. Fish and fish products are the best dietary sources of vitamin D. Studies reveal that the deficiency of vitamin D may increase the risk of chronic diseases in adults while children with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to get respiratory infections.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are absolutely essential for growth and development especially because it accumulates in the developing brain and eye. Experts say that expecting and lactating mothers should eat fish twice a week in moderate quantity. The consumption of fish reduces the decline in brain function in old age and researches have shown that people who eat fish regularly have more grey matter in the brain centres that control memory and emotion.

Another great benefit of eating fish is that it may help prevent and treat depression making one a happier person. The consumption of fish helps prevent asthma in children and may protect vision in old age. Studies show people who eat more fish have a much lower risk of developing macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness.

The effects of sleep disorders that have become common can be minimized through consumption of fish as it improves the quality of sleep. Experts say that a few servings of fish in diet each week may reduce the risk of cancer as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to a lower risk of cancer.

It is important that people in Pakistan like to eat fish in winter and its consumption is increased many times in the coldest months all across the country. Vendors in almost all major markets in town can be witnessed selling fish in winter though fried fish being sold in the markets may not be much beneficial to eat because most of the vendors fry fish in again and again re-heated oil that contains trans fats. Repeatedly reheated oil even of the finest quality transforms into Trans fatty acid that can be a risk factor for heart disease, breast cancer and prostate along with a number of other serious health threats.