A recent study found an interesting fact that could change the way you look at your food! Scientists have found that eating seafood, which contains a nutrient called omega-3 fatty acids, can help keep your kidneys healthy.
What are omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of fat that your body needs. We find them in various foods, but our body cannot produce them itself.
Two types of this nutrient, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), come primarily from fish and other seafood.
ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is another type that we find primarily in plants like nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables.
The kidney and why it matters
The kidney is an organ in our body that helps clean our blood. It removes waste and excess fluid from the blood, which we then excrete from our bodies as urine.
When the kidneys aren’t working properly, it’s called chronic kidney disease (CKD). This disease affects approximately 700 million people worldwide and can lead to kidney failure and even death. That’s why we need to keep our kidneys healthy!
The science behind the study
Scientists from the George Institute for Global Health and the University of New South Wales have teamed up for this study.
They collected information from 19 different studies conducted in 12 different countries. These studies looked at how omega-3 fatty acids affect kidney health in adults.
The researchers measured the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the people’s blood and monitored them for an average of about 11 years.
After considering factors such as age, gender, race, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, heart disease and diabetes, they came up with interesting results.
Results of the study
The research showed that people who had higher blood levels of seafood omega-3 fatty acids had a lower risk (8% lower) of developing chronic kidney disease.
Even more impressive, people with the highest levels of these omega-3 fatty acids had a 13% lower risk of CKD than those with the lowest levels. They also found that these people’s kidney function did not decline as quickly.
The situation was different with ALA, the omega-3 found in plants. Researchers found no link between the amount of ALA in a person’s blood and their kidney health.
Important notes
Now it’s important to remember that this study does not prove that seafood consumption definitely prevents chronic kidney disease. There may be other factors at play that the researchers didn’t take into account.
However, these findings support the notion that eating seafood can be part of a healthy diet and help protect your kidneys.
Looking ahead
These results are exciting, but more research is needed. Scientists hope to conduct more controlled studies, carefully monitoring all factors to find out if seafood-based omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent and treat CKD.
For now, adding more fish to your diet might be a good idea!
Remember, it’s not just about seafood. Eating a balanced diet with all kinds of nutrients is essential for overall health. So enjoy a varied diet and keep your body, including your kidneys, happy and healthy!
If nutrition is important to you, please read the relevant studies Whole grain products could help extend life expectancyAnd Vitamin D supplements significantly reduce cancer death rates.
For more information on nutrition, see recent studies natural coconut sugar, which may help lower blood pressure and artery stiffnessAnd Eating an anti-inflammatory diet may help prevent fatty liver disease.
The study was published in the BMJ.
SOURCE: WorldTimeTodays