Cholesterol Management Health Center

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The New Low-Cholesterol Diet: Fatty Fish

The right fish can do wonders for your heart.

By R. Morgan Griffin
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

The term "fatty fish" may sound unappealing, but actually these are the tastiest and healthiest foods from the sea. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, and trout are full of omega-3 fatty acids -- good fats unlike the bad saturated fat you find in most meats. These fish should be a staple of everyone's heart-healthy diet.

How Does Fish Help?

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to lower triglycerides, which are a type of fat in the bloodstream. Experts aren't sure of the exact mechanism. Omega-3 fatty acids may also slow down the growth of plaques in the arteries and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

What's the Evidence?

A number of studies going back years have shown the benefits of fatty fish. In an important review of studies, researchers found that getting daily omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil could lower triglyceride levels by 25%-30%. The results were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1997.

Based on the mounting evidence, the FDA approved a new "qualified health claim" for the effects of omega-3 fatty acids ( EPA and DHA) for reduced risks of coronary heart disease. It also allows the makers or distributors of foods that contain these omega-3 fatty acids to advertise that the product may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Getting Fatty Fish Into Your Diet

Fatty fish typically are cold-water fish. You have many good choices when it comes to fatty fish. The American Dietetic Association recommends:

Salmon
Tuna
Trout
Herring
Sardines
Mackerel

Three ounces of salmon alone offers about 1 gram of EPA and DHA. If these fish aren't to your taste, you can also try white fish such as halibut or trout. A 3.5-ounce serving of trout offers about 1 gram of EPA, plus DHA.

One important point to keep in mind: How you prepare the fish is almost as important as which type of fish you eat.

"The way that you prepare any of these foods makes a big difference in your blood cholesterol level," says Keecha Harris, DrPH, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association (ADA.) "It's always best to broil, grill, or steam these foods."

Any health benefits from fish are cancelled out if you deep-fry them in a vat of vegetable oil.

The reliable tuna sandwich can be a healthy choice. ADA spokeswoman Ruth Frechman, RD, recommends tuna with low-fat mayo or pickle relish on whole grain bread.

You can also get a very quick and tasty meal by microwaving salmon and other fish. It only takes a few minutes. One big advantage is that you don't dry out the fish, which is easy to do using more conventional methods.

How Much Fish Do You Need?

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