In a four-month study of 63 overweight men and women who were being treated for high blood pressure, participants who ate a daily serving of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acid as part of a weight-loss regimen lost weight, lowered their cholesterol levels and reduced their risk factors for diabetes. Their results were compared with participants who either ate fish just once a week, only participated in a weight loss plan, or were in the control group and maintained their usual eating habits. This dietary approach conferred greater benefits than did a fish diet or a weight-loss program alone,

lead researcher Trevor A. Mori, University of Western Australia, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Cardiovascular risk is likely to be substantially reduced in overweight individuals with high blood pressure when they participate in a weight-loss program incorporating fish meals rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, cod, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure and lowering cholesterol levels.