We’ve all heard that eating a healthy, nutritious diet is good for our health, but a new study gets even more specific. It finds that a diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may lower the risk of developing 14 different cancers.
Researchers used data from 250-thousand people taking part in the U.K. Biobank study, which follows more than half a million people for more than a decade.
- After around 12 years, nearly 30-thousand of the 250-thousand people had developed some type of cancer.
- After analyzing levels of omega-3s and omega-6s in their blood plasma, the scientists found higher levels of these nutrients is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer.
- People with higher levels of omega-3s were less likely to develop colon, stomach, lung and other digestive tract cancers, while those with higher omega-6 levels were associated with a lower risk of 14 types of cancer, including brain, malignant melanoma and bladder.
These two nutrients are types of fat linked with lower cholesterol levels, better brain health and longevity. Fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel and sardines, are good sources of omega-3s, and so are flaxseeds, walnuts, fish oil supplements and cod liver oil. Omega-6s are found in vegetable oil, like canola oil, and eggs, seeds, nuts and avocado. Lead study author Yuchen Zhang explains, “These findings suggest that the average person should focus on getting more of these fatty acids in their diets.”
Source: Newsweek