Fatty Fish: A Useful Tool in Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevention

Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fatty fish, are believed to have a wealth of health benefits – with one recent study finding that fish oil can even reverse liver disease. While the supplement industry has made millions over the past decade marketing their isolated and packaged omega-3 fats, recent research has demonstrated these many benefits are best delivered through natural food sources. Adding to this growing body of research, a new study indicates that one portion of fatty fish every week could significantly cut your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

The study, from Karolinska Institute in Sweden, looked at women born between 1914 and 1948 whose diets, health, and various other measures were examined as part of the Swedish Mammography Cohort Study between 1987 and 1990. That study’s participants were sent a follow-up survey in 1997 asking for additional information. At that time, 56,030 of the original participants were still living.

Of all participating women, 32,000 had some sort of health monitoring between 2003 and 2010. Of those, 205 were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. When comparing this with the data concerning their diets, the researchers made the conclusion that those women who ate the equivalent of one serving of fatty fish or four servings of lean fish per week had a 52% lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Read: 6 Foods and Herbs for Arthritis and Inflammatory Pain

As reported by MedicalNewsToday:

“Overall, eating more than one serving of all types of fish every week for a minimum of 10 years was linked to a 29% reduced risk of arthritis when compared with eating less than one portion a week. Additionally, the results showed that women who consumed the least omega-3 PUFAs included the highest number of smokers and the lowest proportion of alcohol drinkers and aspirin takers.”

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that causes pain throughout the body but most specifically in the arms, legs, wrists, and fingers. It’s believes around 50 million adults in the U.S. suffer from the condition that is most common in the elderly.

This research indicates adding fish to your diet could help reduce your risk of battling the condition later in life.