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- $Unique_ID{BRK01181}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Are Health Claims About Fish True?}
- $Subject{food fish diet heart dietary fats oils polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty
- acid saturated fat oil special procedure procedures nutrition nutritions foods
- diets fishes sea }
- $Volume{P-26}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Are Health Claims About Fish True?
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- QUESTION: My wife is on a health food kick, and is now serving a lot more
- fish than we are used to eating. I don't mind getting used to this new diet
- if I was sure that it was doing me some good. Do you feel that all the health
- claims about fish are sufficiently true to make this change?
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- ANSWER: I doubt that your wife is alone in changing the cuisine that is being
- served at the table in most American homes, for the idea that new dietary
- habits can reduce the numbers of many of the leading causes of death is now
- pretty well accepted by various authorities. The belief is that high levels
- of cholesterol and saturated fat lead to heart disease, high blood pressure,
- and stroke, and that lowering the quantities of foods that contain large
- quantities of these substances can help to protect us. The recommendations of
- both the American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education
- program is to consume a diet containing less than 30 percent fat calories per
- day, and no more than 300 mg of cholesterol. The fats or oils in fish differ
- from those found in animal products and include a highly polyunsaturated
- omega-3 fatty acid, which is thought to be the element in the diet of the
- Eskimos of Greenland which seems to protect them from heart disease and
- stroke. Cold water fish are particularly high in this fatty acid, so choose
- from halibut, salmon, snapper and rainbow trout for your source. Natural
- sources are preferable to capsules which do not contain the wide variety of
- vitamins and minerals found in seafood which are so important to a healthy
- diet. The preparation of seafood is also important if you are to profit from
- your new food choice. Fish are best served boiled, broiled, baked, poached,
- steamed or grilled, but frying in high saturated fats is certainly a no-no.
- Choose vegetable oils for food preparation when necessary, using oils such as
- safflower, sunflower, olive, or corn. Eating a fish dish or two during the
- week as a substitute for meat will help cut back on the saturated animal fats
- they contain, but still leave room for a lean, well trimmed steak or slice of
- beef to be included in your week's menu.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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