Ever wondered why depression is running rampant worldwide? A British expert on brain development says that our fish-diminished diet is partly at fault.
According to Michael Crawford, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition at the University of North London, we are eating half the amount of oily fish we ate 50 years ago. Crawford says that this lack of fish may be linked to the current global epidemic of depression as well as the global heart disease epidemic.
Scientists have long understood the benefits of oily fish in heart disease prevention and treatment. But oily fish, such as sardines, mackerel, trout, tuna and salmon, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, are essential for a healthy brain and nervous system. In cutting down on fatty foods to help prevent heart disease, people have eliminated oily fish and seafood, theorizes Crawford.
A recent British survey found that one-fifth of the British population eats no oily fish, rising to one-third of those aged 15 to 24. Those looking for a safe and effective alternative to antidepressants may benefit from incorporating more fish into their diet, says Crawford.
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