Scientists believe fish-rich diets protect Japanese against heart diseases despite the fact that they smoke much more than Americans.Previous studies had reported that while hyperlipidemia, hypertension and type-2 diabetes are similarly prevalent in the US and Japan, Japanese men are at a lower risk of developing artherosclerosis leading to heart attack and stroke.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, individuals living in Japan eat an average of 3 ounces of fish every day, while the majority of Americans have no more than two servings of fish per week.
Findings show that the blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in men living in Japan are two times more than those of Japanese or non-Japanese males living in the US.
Scientists concluded the high omega-3 content of fish is responsible for the reduced risk of plaque formation, atherosclerosis and subsequent coronary heart disease in the Japanese. The American Heart
Association recommends individuals especially those suffering from heart disease to take at least 1 gram of omega-3 daily.
