Recent Blog Articles

Taking up adaptive sports

Cutting and self-harm: Why it happens and what to do

Discrimination at work is linked to high blood pressure

Pouring from an empty cup? Three ways to refill emotionally

Give praise to the elbow: A bending, twisting marvel

Sneezy and dopey? Seasonal allergies and your brain

The FDA relaxes restrictions on blood donation

Apps to accelerometers: Can technology improve mental health in older adults?

Swimming and skin: What to know if a child has eczema

A muscle-building obsession in boys: What to know and do
Heart Beat: Shellfish for the heart?
Fish is good for the heart, especially fatty fish like salmon and sardines. What about shellfish? Shrimp, lobster, clams, scallops, crayfish, and the like deliver smaller amounts of heart-healthy omega-3 fats than finfish. They also tend to be higher in cholesterol. A study from the Medical University of South Carolina suggests that shellfish certainly aren't bad for the heart. But they may not offer the same protection against cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease as finfish.
The researchers came to this conclusion by looking at the onset of heart disease in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. People who ate shellfish at least once a week were just as likely to have had a heart attack, needed a procedure to open or bypass blocked arteries, or died of a heart condition as those who ate shellfish only a few times a month and those who never ate shellfish (Journal of the American Dietetic Association, August 2009).
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!