Eating fish may lead to a longer life, study reveals

Eating fish may lead to a longer life, study reveals. Experts have linked the consumption of fish to a number of incredible health benefits, such as protecting our brains from age-related deterioration and reducing the risk of diabetes. Researchers have now found that a diet rich in fish and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids can also lead to a lower risk of premature death.

The investigation was focused on 240,729 men and 180,580 women who were followed for 16 years. During the study period, 54,230 men and 30,882 women died. A very strong association was identified between fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake and lower mortality.

When the researchers compared men who ate fish often with those who rarely or never ate fish, they found that men with fish in their diets had a nine-percent lower mortality rate overall and a 37-percent lower risk of dying from chronic liver disease.

In addition, males who reported that they regularly ate fish had a ten-percent lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease, a six-percent lower risk of death from cancer, and a 20-percent lower chance of death from respiratory disease. Eating fish may lead to a longer life, study reveals

Among females who ate more fish, the team found an 8-percent lower overall mortality risk, a 10-percent lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease, and a 38-percent reduced risk of death from Alzheimer’s disease.

While the consumption of fried fish was not found to influence mortality in men, the consumption of fried fish was linked to an increased risk of mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease in women.

The study also revealed that long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake reduced the incidence of fatal cardiovascular disease among men by 15 percent and by 18 percent among women.

The study is published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer