According to health experts, we should eat at least 2 servings of fish per week. The main reason why fish is one of the healthiest foods on the Planet is its omega-3 fatty acid content. These fatty acids are essential for heart and brain health.
A recent Web MD has discovered that this omega-3 fatty acid content in fish is extremely beneficial for people with a high risk of heart attack, or those who have already experienced one.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, claim that fish oil rich in omega-3s can help lower the damage caused by a heart attack.
They say people who have suffered from heart attacks should receive fish oil supplements that contain omega-3s on a daily basis, for up to 6 months. These nutrients improve heart contraction and help lower the tissue buildup in the undamaged parts of the heart. This is not only beneficial for heart attack survivors, but also for those with an increased risk of a heart attack. They can take these fish oil supplements as a preventive measure.
Dr. Raymond Kwong, the author of the study, explains that anyone can take omega-3 fatty acids, including heart attack sufferers. Omega-3s can therefore contribute to faster and improved treatment of cardiac remodeling. In other words, taking fish oil supplements can lower the chances of heart failure and even death.
Where Did the Conclusion Come From?
Dr. Raymond Kwong says the study was conducted on 360 heart attack sufferers who were separated into 2 groups. One of them was a placebo group, while the patients from the other group received 4 grams of fish oil every day for a period of 6 months.
The patients from the second group were given fish oil supplements approved by the FDA. Kwong and his team used MRI to check their patients’ hearts before and after the study. The researchers got quite convincing results – the participants who received fish oil supplements had a reduction in heart muscle scarring by 5.8%, improved function of the heart by 6%, as well as reduced inflammation.
All patients who participated in this study were also taking other medication as part of their therapy, but they were under a doctor’s observation during the whole study to make sure they stay safe.
Besides being beneficial and safe for people who have experienced a heart attack, fish oil supplements are also beneficial for reducing cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides – all of which contribute to a healthier and stronger heart.
Via Reuters