Fish provides great protection from health threats

Rawalpindi : Consumption of fish twice a week plays an important role in providing protection from a number of health threats and according to health experts, it is a must because majority of our population is facing deficiency of much essential nutrients, fish and fish products contain.

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

In Pakistan, people like to eat fish in winter and soon after the setting in of winter, the vendors start selling fish in almost all markets including those located along link roads. Fish on sale can be witnessed in almost all vicinities in town these days.

Studies reveal that all types of fish are good 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, said a medical specialist Dr. Sohail Tariq while talking to ‘The News’.

He said 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 body and brain to function optimally and are strongly linked to reduced risk of many diseases.

He added that researches have shown 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 high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, the fish contain.

He said fish and fish products are the best dietary sources of vitamin D. Studies reveal that being vitamin D deficient may increase risk of chronic diseases in adults such as osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, some cancers, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, as well as infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and even seasonal flu while children with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to get respiratory infections.

Deputy Director at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Waseem Khawaja said omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are absolutely essential for growth and development especially because it accumulates in the developing brain and eye. Expecting and lactating mothers should eat fish twice a week in moderate quantity, he said.

He added the consumption of fish reduces 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 preventing and treating 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, said Dr. Khawaja.

He added that sleep disorders have become common however their effects can be minimised through consumption of fish that improves quality of sleep.

Researchers have also shown that a few servings of fish in diet each week may reduce risk of cancer as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to a lower risk of cancer.