Feel Better with Fish (2024)

Omega-3 fatty acids may improve mood and mental health due to their effect on communication channels in the brain.

By Cary Barbor published January 1, 2001 - last reviewed on June 9, 2016

MIND

Fish-filled aquariums can be soothing, and now research shows that fish can even more profoundly affect outlook: Fish oil's omega-3 fatty acids may improve mood and mental health.

In a recent study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, Andrew L. Stoll, M.D., a Harvard Medical School psychiatry professor, studied 30 bipolar disorder patients to determine whether eating fish oil or olive oil in conjunction with regular medication stabilized the patients' moods. After four months, patients eating fish oil showed a significantly longer period of remission from the disorder than those eating olive oil. And in a related study, 30 schizophrenic patients hospitalized for relapse were given fish oil as their sole treatment for 12 weeks. The oil decreased one-third of the patients' symptoms enough that they postponed taking antipsychotic drugs until the trial was concluded. Conducted by physicians at Oxford's Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, the study was reviewed recently in the Cochrane Database System Review.

Though they're unsure exactly how fish oil improves mood, researchers speculate that fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)--which aids in neural development--may help modulate overactive communication channels in the brain.

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Feel Better with Fish (2024)

FAQs

Feel Better with Fish? ›

Fish is bursting with healthy vitamins and minerals that help us feel good. Eating fish provides us with important B vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin D, plus minerals like calcium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, potassium and selenium.

Why do I feel good after eating fish? ›

Benefits of eating fish

They provide a good source of protein and vitamins, and are a primary dietary source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can: lower risk of heart disease. lower triglyceride levels.

Why does fish make you happy? ›

Alleviates anxiety and has calming affects – Similar to reducing stress, observing an aquarium/fish tank helps reduces anxiety by a great amount as well as help to calm your nerves some. Blood pressure health – experts found out that watching fish in a large aquarium helped lowered their blood pressure.

Why does fish give me energy? ›

Energy Boosting B Vitamins: Wild seafood is packed with B vitamins, including B12 and B6. These vitamins play a vital role in converting food into energy and can help prevent fatigue and improve stamina.

Is eating fish good for your mental health? ›

Many observational studies show that people who eat more fish have slower rates of mental decline ( 10 ). Studies also reveal that people who eat fish every week have more gray matter — your brain's major functional tissue — in the parts of the brain that regulate emotion and memory ( 11 ).

Why do I feel better eating fish than meat? ›

In seafood, you get the added nutritional benefits of calcium, iron, selenium, omega-3 acids, and numerous other minerals and nutrients. Considering all of the added nutrients, it is glaringly apparent that seafood is better for your health. The main difference lies in their tastes and variety of choices.

Why does your body crave fish? ›

Craving fish

Fish are naturally high in fatty acids like omega-3, so craving fish may be mean that you need more omega-3 in your diet. Other symptoms to watch out for if you're deficient in omega-3 could be dry skin, dry eyes, or lower moods.

Why does seafood make me feel so good? ›

Oysters are a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins while being low in carbohydrates. Oysters help regulate blood pressure and improve blood circulation, which gives an overall good feeling.

What happens to your body after eating fish? ›

Help maintain a healthy heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of sudden death, heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms, and strokes. Aid healthy brain function and infant development of vision and nerves during pregnancy.

Does eating fish relax you? ›

Current recommendations suggest eating at least two servings of fatty fish per week. A study conducted on men found that eating salmon three times per week reduced self-reported anxiety. Salmon and sardines are also among the few foods that contain vitamin D.

Why do I feel smarter after eating fish? ›

You may have heard that omega-3-rich foods, such as fish and nuts, are good for the brain. Two studies lend more weight to this hypothesis—in it, people with more omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in their blood had larger intelligence-related brain structures.

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