Eating Seafood for Healthy Aging

Research suggests that dining on fish high in omega-3 fatty acids decreases your odds of developing various age related illnesses. If you aren’t already eating three servings of fish a week, it might be time to start adding some nonfried fatty fish like salmon, trout and albacore tuna to your diet.

Growing numbers of reports are citing potential benefits of regular fish consumption with respect to Alzheimer’s. One recent study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated, “regular consumption of omega-3-rich food could prevent age-related cognitive decline.” In addition, other studies have concluded that Omega-3 fatty acids may slow cognitive decline in some patients who already have very mild forms of Alzheimer’s.

Direct links have also been made between the amount of fish in your diet and your chances of heart disease. Despite the fact that fatty fish eaters generally consume slightly more cholesterol than non-fish eaters, studies have shown their incidence of fatal heart disease was more than 50% lower. The evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the tendency of blood to clot, similar to aspirin, and also helps to lower cholesterol.

Finally, a study done in Australia found that people who ate fish at least once out of every five days were up to 30% less likely to develop skin spots, called Keratoses, a which results as we get older and our skin receives years of sun exposure. This is especially important as keratoses can often lead to skin cancer.