(NaturalNews) A new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has found that eating omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish helps regulate the heart's electrical activities.
Researchers, led by Boston cardiologist Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, analyzed data from around 5,000 participants 65 years or older in the 1989-1990 Cardiovascular Health Study. They found that the participants who ate oily fish rich in omega-3s had a lower heart rate, less time between the signal to pump blood and when blood was pumped, and a shorter time for the heart's electrical system to reset after each heartbeat.
"The heart resets its electrical activity after every beat," says Dr. Mozaffarian. "When there is heart disease, the resetting can be delayed. That is dangerous."
The researchers found that higher intake of omega-3-rich fish indicated greater heart benefits, and that most of the benefits could be attained by eating oily fish only a couple of times per week. However, researchers warn that the benefits are only seen when the fish is prepared in a healthy way -- baked or broiled -- and not when fried.
Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel, lake trout, sardines, herring, salmon and albacore tuna. However, consumers should be aware that certain types of fish can contain high levels of mercury.
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