A group of researchers from the Menzies Research Institute in Tasmania, Australia, spent 5 years tracking 1,400 volunteers aged between 26 and 36. These volunteers recorded their daily diets, including various types of seafood such as fish, shrimp, and shellfish. At the same time, their mental health conditions were also recorded.
The study found a strong association between the amount of fish women consumed and their likelihood of developing depression. The results showed that women who ate fish once every two weeks had a 6% lower risk of depression; women who ate fish more than twice a week had a 25% lower risk of depression compared to those who ate fish less than twice a week.
Braised Sardines
However, for men, there was no such benefit. The reason may be that men obtain more omega-3 fatty acids from other dietary sources, particularly meat than women. Richard Marsche, director of the Food, Brain, and Behavior Institute, explained that a part of the human brain is composed of long-chain fatty acids, which are omega-3 fatty acids, and these fatty acids are common substances in fish oil.
Another plausible explanation is that omega-3 fatty acids may work in conjunction with female sex hormones to enhance brain health, thereby reducing the risk of depression.
This research demonstrates that eating more fish is beneficial for women's mental health. Of course, eating deep-sea fish is not only good for women's mental health but also for brain health. Experts recommend that people can eat deep-sea fish twice a week, such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, and sardines.
Red sardines