The Spanish adult population suspended in oily fish consumption recommended

Suffice a fact. Up to 52% of the Spanish population over 40 years consume less amounts of blue which establishes the Mediterranean diet and the World Organization recommends fish – two servings a week, and almost 30% admit never ingest.

This follows from the results of the ‘Survey of consumption of oily fish in Spain 2015’, an observational, cross-sectional epidemiological study of population base by interviewing more than 2,000 people, conducted by the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC). “It is a very low percentage, given that specifically fish and oily fish is an essential element in our Mediterranean diet,” Dr. Leandro values ​​Plaza, president of the FEC, adding that “it is known that the Mediterranean diet influences largely in the lower mortality from cardiovascular disease in Spain compared to other countries, and one of the pillars of this diet it is fish. ” While in our country cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death (30.09% of all deaths), the European average for this reason mortality is 46%, and in some countries up to 65%.

In addition, data from this study focus on the range of population (from 40 years) having increased cardiovascular risk. In fact, as explained by Dr. Maria Elisa Street, coordinator PASFEC (the Program of Food and Health of the FEC) and Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the Complutense University of Madrid, “It is from 40 years when it begins to increase the risk of ischemic heart disease, according to the Framingham study, is the moment you begin to add the old data to the formulas for calculating risk. This occurs mainly in men, and in women the risk is began around age 50, when it begins to decrease the Protection estrogen. ”

Recommended: two servings of oily fish per week

According to Dr. Street, the Mediterranean diet recommends eating about four servings of fish per week, two of which should be oily fish, because having more fat, contains the highest concentration of omega-3 PUFA. In fact, fish is the only animal that has two of these very important acids in their biologically active form: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

“DHA is a regular component of the membranes and participates in the development of the central nervous system. It also has beneficial effect on endothelial function (at the inner vessel wall) and improves the lipid profile, mainly increased cholesterol levels well, called HDL. For its part, the EPA is a fatty acid that has some antithrombotic activity, so discreetly decrease the risk of thrombosis, “says Dr. Street. Among the fish more of these fatty acids contain, are sardines and salmon, as well as mackerel and anchovies, that fish being a short half-life also have the advantage of accumulating little mercury. “For all these reasons, are extremely recommended twice a week”, he emphasizes the expert.

The Eskimos and the Japanese are the two groups in the world, having in common the fresh fish-based diet, have the lowest incidence rates of ischemic heart disease. And a study by the University of Pittsburgh (USA) shows that middle-aged Japanese men suffer lower incidence of arterial calcification that American men, precisely because of their differences in the consumption of oily fish.

According to the results of the survey, which has had a representative sample of Spanish society> 40 years, less than half of Spaniards consume recommended amounts of fish (white and blue), and in particular 7% Participants acknowledged not consume any fish, and 28.1% never consumed oily fish, some data that compromise the benefits associated with omega-3 PUFA.

The reasons are several, it is that 31% of respondents claim not eat oily fish because they do not like, 18% because it is difficult to cook and 17% because it is expensive. Also, by geographical area (in figure 1 below are the five areas in which conducted the study observed), in the southern area of ​​the country is consumed oily fish more frequently (55% ingested sufficient quantities), and Catalonia Baleares and the worst consumption data are recorded, despite being sea areas, with only 38% of participants taking recommended amounts.

Regarding consumption by age, only 42% of> 65 years eat enough oily fish, a figure that increases by ten percentage points (to 52%) in the case of participants between 40 and 50 years. Notably the incidence of cardiovascular disease among the respondents, 18% have high blood pressure, heart problems 15% 13% 8% diabetes and dyslipidemia (altered levels of blood lipids, mainly cholesterol and triglycerides ).

These figures, combined with other evidence extracted from the survey, as 52% of sedentary lifestyle among participants, and 51% prevalence of overweight and obesity, promote the FEC to appeal to care for cardiovascular risk factors in the context of the celebration of the “Heart Week”, which like every year carries the end of September with numerous activities that frame the World Heart Day on 29 September. And, although 67% of respondents said worry about the health of your heart, 56% have not made any cardiovascular checkup in the past year (measure of blood pressure, blood …). When asked in the survey for their attitude towards care of your heart, Spaniards do not eat enough oily fish and do not seek solutions to bridge this gap although 85% of those who indicate that they do something to take care of your heart, notes that controlled diet, and 69% who exercise.

Heart Week, the stage of the World Heart Day

One more year, the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC) invites citizens to take care of your heart with heart-healthy habits of life, passing through a balanced diet, moderate exercise practice and control of risk factors (obesity and overweight , high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and smoking).

In this thirty-first edition Alava, La Rioja, Madrid, Alcala de Henares, Alcobendas, Leganes, Gijon, Leon, Valencia, Huercal-Overa (Almería) and Zaragoza, places that offer a specific program at street level, participating in cardio enclosures where young and old can measure the health of your heart. Thus, measurements of cardiovascular risk is made, they will know how to save a life by technical demonstrations of pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through various workshops and learn to cook the most appropriate way to our hearts, among other activities.

Specifically, in Madrid, the heart-enclosure will be installed once again in the Plaza de Callao, the 25th it will kick off with the official opening at 12:00 hours, to make way for permanent activities every day, as echocardiograms, blood coagulation or micro-theater about the symptoms of heart attack in women; as well as specific workshops on nutrition and physical activity for each day. Furthermore, on Saturday 26 from 9:00 pm to be held at the Casa de Campo (Madrid River Campus) the sixth edition of the Fun Run Heart, this year the number of wide ridges.

In the framework of Heart Week, the president of the FEC wants to remember the latest data of the National Statistics Institute (INE), which put cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in Spain, with 30.09% of the total of deaths in our country, and to influence that, “80% of diseases could be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and maintain our resolve food shortages in this regard.”

Source: Spanish Heart Foundation