Mediterranean Diet Study Links Fish Oil To Healthy Blood Sugar
The fish oil in a Mediterranean diet is linked to healthy blood sugar.
Both scientists and diet-conscious diners are becoming increasingly excited about omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. There is a growing body of research that links omega-3s to a number of health benefits for the heart and joints, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a division of the National Institutes of Health.
In fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people eat a serving of fish at least two times per week. They particularly recommend certain types of fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines and albacore tuna. Omega-3s in fish oil can balance triglyceride and healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure, the AHA said.
By contrast, eating red meat is associated with risks for poor heart health and a moderate decrease in life expectancy, according to researchers in Spain. In order to investigate and compare the various health effects of red meat and fish, the study team conducted a cross-sectional study on the eating habits of 945 men and women in a Valencian community.
The subjects ate high amounts of both fish and red meat. However, compared to red meat consumption, eating fish had a more suggestive relationship to a decreased incidence of blood sugar issues. The scientists speculate that omega-3s may support optimal insulin sensitivity.
Meanwhile, excess weight gain as associated with red meat consumption, a trend which is partly influenced by the popularity of weight-loss diets that recommend veal, the scientists said.
(Ironic, isn't it?)
"We ought to establish dietary intervention programmes so that we do not stray from the Mediterranean diet," said researcher Mercedes Sotos Prieto. "In other words, such a diet involves decreasing the amount of red meat that we eat and maintaining equal levels of fish consumption."
Other dietary sources of omega-3s include seeds, green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and certain vegetable oils, especially canola, flaxseed and soybean, according to the NCCAM.
However, fish oil remains one of the most popular sources of omega-3s. It is so popular, in fact, that some pharmaceutical companies package fish oil into dietary supplements.
But do you trust the quality of your products?
Both Ultimate Krill-Q and Pure Krill Mega-3 contain omega-3s derived from Antarctic krill, which are less likely than fish to be tainted by ocean pollutants such as mercury and PCBs.
Plus, the fatty acids in these pills are attached to phospholipids that allow your body to absorb the nutrients more easily.
These supplements can help you support optimal cardiovascular health, maintain optimal energy levels, balance blood sugar metabolism and more.