Systemic inflammation is not localized, but appears throughout your body. The symptoms of this can include: redness, swelling, fatigue, lack of energy, etc. There are many factors that can cause systemic inflammation like infection, disease, and trauma. You want to reduce this because it can become chronic which leads to many long-term complications.
Can Omega-3s Reduce Inflammation?
According to Johns Hopkins website, omega-3 fatty acids are inflammation fighters. This includes sardines, tuna, mackerel, and several other fish. For vegans and vegetarians, there is also the option of an omega-3 supplements. This is different from fish oil because the omega-3s could also be sourced from krill oil or flaxseed oil.
A specific trial was done by with healthy individuals between the ages of 19 and 37 to see if Omega-3 supplements would fight inflammation at William Harvey Heart Centre in an article posted in July 2020. The results showed an increase in anti-inflammatory molecules for up to 24 hours.
How to Eat Fish Sustainably
There are several ways to eat fish sustainably and to be environmentally conscious. Overfishing is a big environmental issue as oceans are being depleted of these fish populations.
1.Eat Lower on the Food Chain
Eating smaller fish like mackerel (pictured above), can take pressure off of larger fish that are being depleted due to overfishing. This is also true for sardines and anchovies.
2. Choose Sustainable Fishing Practices
One of our vendors, Patagonia Provisions, is dedicated to sustainable fishing practices. They don’t source their fish from farms or hatcheries. They source from small family-owned fishing guilds that use responsible and small-scale practices in thriving sardine and anchovy populations in Spain.
