Want to add years to your life? All you have to do is make one simple addition to your diet, according to a new study.
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that older people who ate more of this food lowered their risk of dying by 27 percent.1 They published their findings in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. The study followed roughly 2,700 adults age 65 and up, for 16 years. At the start of the study all subjects were healthy. No signs of heart disease or stroke. Ruling out other factors, researchers determined that people who ate the most of this food lived an average of 2.2 years longer.
What gave them over two more years to enjoy life?
Fish. But not just any fish. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Most of us already know that omega-3s are great for us. But here’s where it got really interesting…
This is the first study to specifically look at how eating omega-3 rich fish (not just taking omega-3 supplements) helps extend life. In fact, the participants did not take any omega-3 supplements at all.
This is important. Because we now know that eating fatty fish alone has great benefits. “This is not a study of fish oil supplements, it’s a study of blood omega-3 levels related to diet,” said study author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian.
The people who ate the most fish and had the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids – DHA, EPA, and DPA – lowered their overall death risk by 27 percent. And that’s not all… They also cut their risk of dying from heart disease by 35 percent.
And if you’re worried that it’ll require a big change in habits, don’t be. Researchers found the biggest jump in omega-3 blood levels when going from very low intake of fish to about 400 mg per day.
“The findings suggest that the biggest bang-for-your-buck is for going from no intake to modest intake, or about two servings of fatty fish per week,” said Dr. Mozaffarian.
Your body cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids. The only way to obtain them is through diet and supplements. Fish with the highest levels of omega-3s include tuna, salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and anchovies.
Just make sure you buy wild fish and look for clear eyes – that is a good sign of freshness.
Unfortunately, due to mercury contamination, you’ll want to track your intake and look out for any warnings. And we still say it’s a good idea to get some of your omega-3s from mercury-free fish oil supplements. We recommend Carlson brand products for their reputation of high quality and purity.
You can find them online and in many grocery and health food stores. But whether or not you supplement…
Make sure to add more fish to your diet. It won’t just keep you living longer and protect your heart. Eating fatty fish also helps reduce your risk for other diseases such as cancer, mental and emotional disorders, and Alzheimer’s.2 Oily fish are also great anti-inflammatories and can help with joint pain.
Editor’s Note: Eating more omega-3-rich fish isn’t the only way to add more years to your life. In fact, researchers in Wisconsin revealed they found a way to reverse up to 20 years of aging in just 6 months–in a random group of men as old as 81.
These men lost 14.4% of their body fat… gained 8.8% lean body mass… their skin thickened…and their bone density increased. And it was backed up, peer reviewed, and published in one of the world’s most respected medical journals.
Go here to discover how you can get all details on how to ramp up your body’s production of this age-reversing compound all on your own – without a doctor.
References:
1 http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1671714
2 http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02049/facts-about-fish.html
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