By: Batumba Tak

General Secretary The St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union

Health Benefits Of Eating Fish

In the words of the Lord coming from St. Luke 24: 42 and 43, it is written, “And they gave  Him (Jesus) a piece of a boiled fish, and a honey comb. And He (Jesus) took it, and did eat before them.”I am pretty sure that we all will agree that maintaining a healthy and sound body is among the ways of God, for we cannot understand or have any knowledge of the Creator if we are ill, therefore, we must avoid that which harms our body and accustom our self to that which is helpful and helps our body become stronger.However, we can all learn from the following anecdote about Maimonides (Maimonides is a medieval Jewish philosopher with considerable influence on Jewish thought, and on philosophy in general), is instructive.The story states that during the period when Maimonides served as the royal physician of the Sultan of Egypt (According to the Webster Dictionary definition, a Sultan is a ruler, or Sovereign, of a Mohammedan State: specifically, the ruler of the Turks; the Padishah, or Grand Seignior, Officially so called), the Sultan never became ill.However, one day the Sultan asked the Maimonides, “How do I know that you are an expert physician, since during the period that you have been here, I have never been ill, and you have not had the opportunity to test your skills?It is written that the Maimonides replied, in truth, the great and faithful physician is the Holy One, Blessed Be He, as it is written, ‘I am the Lord, your healer.’ And as a result this Great and Faithful Physician was able to promise His (Jesus) people that because He (Jesus) is their Physician, He (Jesus) will be able to protect them from all the illnesses that were put on Egypt.’The Maimonides then concluded by saying, “Therefore, we have learned the ability of a physician to prevent illness is a greater proof of his skill, than his ability to cure someone who is already ill.”Accordingly, here is a short list of clean fish that are acceptable in promoting our Creator’s image in the earth, and also a short list of the abominations which shall not be eaten by His (Jesus) people.
Clean Fish (having both Fins and Scales):1. Barracuda. 2. Bass 2. Grouper. 4. Grunt.5. Kingfish. 6. Mullet.7. Tuna or Ahu, Aku, Albacore, Bonito or Tombo.
Unclean Things From the water:Fish.a. Catfish. B. Eel.b. Shark. D. Swordfish.e. Crab. F. Conch.g. Lobster.
Nevertheless, let us now move on from where we left off in our previous article by looking at how eating fish helps brain development.It has already been established that fish with high levels of fatty acids, such as Salmon or Tuna, can and could be very beneficial for proper Brain tissue development in human beings, especially in children.However, the acids could even help with ADHA disorders (ADHA means: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which is a medical condition that effects how well someone can sit still, focus, and pay attention).Moreover, people with ADHA have differences in the parts of their brains that control attention and activity. In truth this means that they may have trouble focusing on some tasks and subjects.We shall now turn our attention briefly to how eating fish helps our eyesight.Everybody I know in Newtown eat fish, if not everyday almost every day, and by now I am also pretty sure that we all also know that the Omega 3 acid found in fish can help with retinal tissue developments, making the consumption of fish very beneficial for our eyesight.In addition, babies who are breastfed by their mothers who are eating fish tend to have better eyesight, because they receive all the nutrients of the Omega 3 fatty acids through their mom’s.We shall now continue by looking briefly at how eating fish helps reduce Alzheimer’s risk.Very recent research has clearly shown that older people can reduce their risk of Dementia (The word Dementia describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking problem-solving or language – It is said that Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes), including Alzheimer’s if they eat fish or seafood at least three times per week.In addition, it is also said that the reason behind this is that, as we know, fatty acids found in fish help with brain tissue development, and also help preserve gray-matter neutrons, creating longer cells in the areas of the brain that are responsible for learning and for memory.We now move on very briefly and look at how eating fish helps with depression.The Nutritionists and the Dietitians have clearly stated that fish consumption can and could also help to fight depression, because it acts as a boost if taken along with properly prescribed antidepressant medication.However, this is particularly effective for women dealing with postpartum depression.We shall now look very briefly at how eating fish helps healthy pregnancy.We, the older ones, know that long time ago Midwives were accepted because they were acknowledge as specialists in normal pregnancy and birth. These Midwives knew their role were to look after the pregnant women and their babies throughout a phase of antenatal care (Prenatal care, also known as antenatal care is a type of preventive health care, with the goal of providing regular check-ups that allow doctors or midwives to treat and prevent potential health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy while promoting healthy lifestyles that benefit both mother and child).However, even before the actual birth of the baby, the Midwife used to encourage women to eat plenty fish while pregnant- and later after the child’s birth breastfeeding can be enormously advantageous for the baby, as it can and do help to reduce the risk of a premature labour as well as providing the baby with omega 3 acids (and all its benefits) from an early age as well.Finally, we shall now look briefly at how eating fish can help to give you stronger sperm.You don’t have to be a scientist to understand why fishermen love eating fish. The evidence is there to be seen, they end up having lots of babies. I could recall vividly a close friend of mine, who has since passed away, used to say that the reason his sperms was strong is because he eats plenty fish every day.Recent search has given truth to his claim because it has clearly stated that the produce of stronger sperm is linked to our diet, and men who particularly include fish in their daily food habits may have better quality and stronger sperm.Therefore, this wealth of evidence for the positive benefits of Omega 3 acids promote the need for It to be a more regular inclusion of fish in a more healthy diet. I definitely think so, what do you think? Or what are your thoughts on this subject? Be sure to let us know by sending them to franklynramsey@gmail.com Your feedback is warmly welcome and encouraged.As time is of the utmost importance, we shall stop here for today but will continue when we look at the benefits of eating raw garlic cloves.As I end here for today, I leave you with a quote by William Basse, a poem by An Unknown Author, and a fish song by Yosa Buson.
“The first men that our Savior Dear Did choose to wait upon Him (Jesus) here, Blest fishers were; and fish the last food was, that He (Jesus) on earth did taste: I therefore strive to follow those, whom He (Jesus) to follow Him (Jesus) hath chose.” – William Basse.
Fish (SELF) LessBy: An Unknown Author.
Right side or left side?
We are always in between,Fighting our inner demons.We have freedom to choose, Choices that make us who we are.
What are you going to choose?
The WhaleBy: Yosa Buson.
The Whale that wanders round the Pole,Is not a table fish.
You cannot bake or boil him/her whole,Nor serve him/her in a dish.
But you can cut his/her blubber up,And melt it down for oil.
And so replace the colza bean,(A product of the soil).
These facts should all be noted down,And ruminated on,By every boy/girl in Oxford town.
Who wants to be a DON?