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About The Health of It All....

This is an index of the health notes included in recipes. These short tidbits of information can help answer questions on everything from Omega-3 Fats in fish to whether to cook chicken with the skin on or not. Want to know about garlic and cholesterol? Is it okay to eat eggs or not? It's all here.

 
 

The Health of It All

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

How did the Eskimos do it?

That was the question posed by scientists after the finding that Inuit Eskimos have a lower incidence of coronary heart disease. This finding was surprising, since the Eskimos also have a high fat diet, but the difference is that the fats they consume are very high in omega-3 fatty acids. This type of fat has been under a lot of investigation by researchers with varying results. Claims that fish oils reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides, raise HDLs (good cholesterol), reduce LDLs (bad cholesterol) and discourage blood clotting are generally supported by research, however.

The consensus is that most people benefit from eating fish high in omega-3 fats about 2 to 3 times a week and is now widely recommended. These are usually found in cold water fishes like tuna, salmon, mackerel and trout (see Omega-3 fats in fish).

There are many studies investigating the effects of supplements versus actual fish consumption. Again, conclusions are mixed and some of the results are controversial. The American Heart Association recommends supplements only for those few people who have extremely high triglycerides, have not responded favorably to standard dietary treatments or medications, and are at high risk for pancreatitis. However, Dr. William Connor of Oregon Health Sciences University conducted a study on fish oil supplements and found that people could reap the benefits of omega-3 oils from an intake of 2 grams a day. In actual fish terms, that equals about 4 ounces of salmon.

Hmmm… The choice? Pills? Salmon? Pills? Salmon? I’ll take the fish any day. Read More "The Health of It All..." Articles