While Eskimos probably eat more fat than any other group of people, very few Eskimos get heart disease. The answer to this medical puzzle seems to lie in their fish-rich diet. Cold-water fish like salmon and mackerel contain abundant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, special substances that seem to benefit the body by:
- Reducing blood levels of harmful cholesterol and other blood fats known as triglycerides.
- Preventing blood clots from forming in arteries.
- Slowing the growth of breast tumors (according to animal studies).
- Relieving the pain of migraine headaches (a vascular problem).
- Easing the swelling of rheumatoid arthritis.
Omega-3 fatty acids are best consumed in their natural form, from fish, rather than in supplement form. To get more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet, try to eat seafood rich in omega-3's at least two to four times a week. Some good sources include:
- Anchovies
- Atlantic mackerel
- Chinook or pink salmon
- Herring
- Lake trout
- Norway sardines
- Whitefish
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