Fish and Its Connection to Improved Health

   A common misconception is that rural Americans are healthier and live longer lives than the rest of the general population. Some argue that because rural life is more laid back, there is a lower degree of stress in people’s everyday lives. Others discuss how the lower amounts of air pollution or the use of locally grown, unprocessed foods lead to an overall healthier lifestyle. This, however, is not the case. In fact, as discussed in the article Rural Americans Have Less Healthcare Access: Report, it is explained that rural Americans are actually more likely than their urban counterparts to suffer from chronic health conditions. This, paired with the lack of access to quality healthcare, diminishes the health status of many rural Americans. And, without proper health care, longevity is even harder to strive for.

   Today, a groundbreaking study was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

“People who eat baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis may be improving their brain health and reducing their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease.”

~ ScienceDaily (November 30, 2011)

Even though eating fish is not necessarily helpful to other chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, this does have the potential to help with any type of chronic, cognitive impairment. Improving one’s mental health is an essential step in leading a healthy life. This, however, is made difficult by the fact that many rural Americans currently live in landlocked areas with very few bodies of water. They do not necessarily have access to fish on a weekly basis which, if changed, could greatly reduce the degree and the quantity of cognitive impairment. Even those rural areas that do have lakes, such as Minnesota, still have a high rate of Alzheimer’s disease (www.health.state.mn.us). Although not definitive, this could be due to the way in which the fish is typically prepared. According to the study, the fish must be broiled or baked, fried fish did not give the same results.

   No matter the reason, rural Americans should be made more aware of this study’s results. It is important for physicians and other health professionals to encourage a weekly intake of fish in order to not only better one’s cognitive function but to also better one’s overall health. Rural America already suffers from a shortage of qualified health professionals, which makes it even more important to find preventative treatment plans which the patient could administer themselves.