Heart health is dependent on many factors including blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But what many people fail to address is the electrical activity in the heart, or the heart beat its self. A heart beat is accomplished when an electrical signal travels from a specialized area in the atrium down to the ventricles, which results in the lub-dub, two contraction system of the heart. How efficiently the electrical current travels gives a heart rhythm and how often it travels gives the rate.
A new study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology found that increased intake of omega 3 fatty acids such as those in fish help to maintain a healthy heart function. The study looked at EKG tracings of more than 5000 adults and compared the results to broiled or baked fish intake.
They found that heart rates were slower in those individuals who consumed fish at least once a week. A slower heart rate can be a sign of an optimal functioning heart, that does not need to work harder to deliver blood and oxygen to all the tissues of the body. Individuals who usually have a slower resting heart rate are more likely to be physically fit and are less prone to high blood pressure. A normal heart rate is 50-90 beats per minute.
Those participants in the study who consumed fish five times a week or more were also found to have a healthier heart rhythm compared to matched counterparts that did not consume high amounts of fish. Healthy heart rhythms are a good indicator that the electrical 'pulse' is traveling through the heart correctly. Individuals with extra beats or arrythmias are more likely to have heart problems that could increase their risk for a heart attack by overstressing the heart muscle.
The study also found that fried fish did not have any health benefits, as other previous studies have shown. Fried fish is usually low in omega 3 fatty acids, which are the most likely cause of benefit.
Now individuals can eat fish and know that the omega 3 fatty acids it contains are even more helpful for heart function. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish, including EPA and DHA help lower cholesterol, protect against atherosclerosis, lower heart rate, and improve the rhythm of the heart.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on August 2, 2006 10:59 AM
