Market in Ameyoko, Tokyo (photo by Wun Ee, courtesy of morguefile.com)

The typical Japanese diet, which includes plenty of fish and relatively little fat from meat, stands in sharp contrast to the diet of the typical American. Since the Japanese enjoy a significantly lower rate of heart disease than people in the U.S., the diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids from fish has long been eyed as a key factor in Japan's heart healthiness.

Recently published research in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, “…suggests that very high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have strong properties that may help prevent the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries,” said lead author Akira Sekikawa, from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

According to an article about the study in NutraIngredients, “A comparison of blood omega-3 levels and atherosclerosis among Japanese, white American and Japanese American men found that Japanese men had the lowest levels of atherosclerosis and two times higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than white Americans or Japanese Americans.”

To improve your cardio health the study's author says, “Increasing fish intake to two times a week for healthy people is currently recommended in the U.S.”

One million Americans die of heart disease each year and obesity rates have reached all-time highs in the U.S.

If you’d like to read the article in NutraIngredients cited above go to: Omega-3-rich fish linked to better hearts in Japan