Total vegetarians or vegans discourage the consumption of all animal flesh, including fish. Others, such as Keith I. Block, MD, advocates “pescetarianism,” and allows or encourages the consumption of healthy fish (devoid of mercury contamination) in an otherwise vegetarian diet. What does science show?

Fish Oil and Chemotherapy

An increase in certain fish oils and vitamins during chemotherapy has repeatedly been associated with a better outcome. Thus, in a phase II clinical trial, the addition of 1.8 grams of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day improved the outcome of chemotherapy.¹

Fish oil also prevented bone loss caused by the use of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women.²

Aromatase Inhibitor (AI)

In obese breast cancer patients, use of omega-3 fatty acids (such as those found in fish oil) was associated with significantly reduced aromatase inhibitor (AI) joint pain compared to placebo.³

Other than the risk of overconsuming mercury or other pollutants, we can see no good reason that a person would not consume fish, especially oily fish such as sardines.

For more information go to The Moss Report.