General, Research, Technology

The benefits of eating fish have been overestimated

Fish is considered very beneficial to the body.product, and its benefits are mainly due to the presence of omega-3-unsaturated fatty acids. Under this term, it is customary to understand substances that are part of cell membranes and blood vessels. Unfortunately, the human body cannot produce them in sufficient quantities, so many people try to replenish its balance with the help of certain products and biological additives. And all because there is an opinion that these acids can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. However, recently, employees of the University of East Anglia found that all praised substances have little effect on predisposition to heart disease and cancer, and in some cases may even cause some harm.

It is believed that fish contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids

The results of the study werepublished in the scientific journal British Journal of Cancer. The scientific work consisted in the fact that scientists gathered together the results of studies on the effect of omega-3 acids on the human body and evaluated how much they reduce the risk of developing fatal diseases. The studies covered data from at least 100 thousand people who consumed biological supplements with omega-3 acids for one year. Among them were people with a predisposition to cancer and heart disease.

What are the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids?

Having studied the data at their disposal,Scientists have concluded that the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in large quantities in fish, are overrated. It turned out that people who consumed them very rarely escaped from cardiovascular diseases. For clarity, scientists gave an example: if 1000 people consumed omega-3 acids for four years, only three people would die from heart disease. And these substances, as it turned out, have almost no effect on the risk of cancer. Moreover, scientists have found that dietary supplements can slightly increase the likelihood of prostate cancer.

Omega-3 acids in fish cannot prevent cancer

But there’s nothing to be afraid of, because the harm fromomega-3 acids are minimal, just like their benefits. However, it remains unknown how true the information that the test substances have a positive effect on bone condition, skin health, brain function and human immunity. Most likely, this or another group of scientists will search for an answer to this question. Maybe work on this has already begun.

Why eat fish?

Yes, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are now foundquestionable. However, according to study author Lee Hooper, oily fish still remains a very nutritious product that has many other beneficial substances. In particular, it is rich in proteins and trace elements such as iodine, vitamin D, calcium and selenium. It is known that iodine improves metabolism and strengthens the immune system, and vitamin D improves the absorption of calcium, which is useful for bones and the human nervous system. It is also known that calcium plays a large role in the contraction of all the muscles of the human body. The mineral selenium, in turn, slows down inflammatory processes and improves the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Also, a fish diet can help fight asthma.

But on supplements with omega-3 acids completelyYou can’t count. Yes, they have some kind of benefit in themselves, but at the same time they are quite expensive and not a fact that they can save from cardiovascular diseases and cancer. As mentioned, fans of such supplements may even develop prostate cancer, but to prevent it, you can often eat dishes with mushrooms. In one of our previous materials, we already talked about how they are useful.