Women can mitigate their risk of heart disease through a seafood-rich diet, according to results from a new pilot programme carried out by Seafood Nutrition Partnership.
The programme, launched in June this year, revealed 92% of participants lowered their risk of sudden cardiac death by following a diet rich in seafood, and therefore Omega-3.
“The results achieved by the first Eating Heart Healthy cohort are clinically significant,” said Dr William Harris, president of OmegaQuant, maker of the Omega-3 index test. “They have shown that having knowledge of baseline Omega-3 levels is a good motivator towards increased seafood consumption.”
The objective of the programme is to help women learn to incorporate healthy fats and nutrient-dense foods into daily meals, with the goal of increasing awareness of heart health and lowering their risk of cardiovascular disease – the leading cause of death for women in the USA, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the US Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services’ dietary guidelines recommend that Americans eat seafood twice a week, only 20% of Americans currently consume seafood at this level.
The Eating Heart Healthy programme is being conducted in partnership with Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). Equipped with newfound heart-health knowledge, participants left testing with recipes to feed a family of four for US$10 per meal, sample Omega-3 capsules and follow-up informational support.
“Following a Mediterranean diet rich in seafood can reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by 30 to 50%,” added Dr JoAnne Foody, medical director for both the Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Centre at BWH and the Eating Heart Healthy programme.
