The Cheerful Oncologist

Eating plenty of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids -- such as tuna and salmon -- may reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration [known as neovascular AMD], a new study says.

The study findings are published in the May issue of the journal Archives of Ophthalmology.

Fish, fish, fish! That's all I read in the papers these days - nothing but stories about how piscine-rich diets confer a clearly unfair health advantage over those centered around consumption of flesh from cloven hoofed animals.

What if I'm a hearty meat-and-potatoes type and suddenly I come across this story while tucking into my breakfast steak some morning? Wouldn't I feel a bit discriminated against? Might I just set my jaw and announce to the world that "It just ain't fair!" Why, this type of abuse could even endanger my life - just look at this headline, also from today:

"Unfair Treatment Boosts Heart Attack Risk"

Of course, I could always start cooking a filet or two, in between the pot roasts and porterhouses that bring such tidings of comfort and joy. I wonder how much fish you have to eat in order to avoid going blind...

Higher fish consumption, both total and broiled/baked, was also inversely associated with neovascular AMD," the authors wrote. They said that eating more than two medium (4-ounce) servings of fish a week, or more than one medium serving of broiled or baked fish, was associated with a lower risk for advanced AMD.

Two four-once servings - is that all? I was afraid you had to cram it in like you were at the Feeding of the Five Thousand. I suppose I could tell Jeeves to tell the cook to prepare a fish dish every Monday and Thursday - or maybe I should just hold off until I need glasses...

Too bad our friends in the fast-food industry can't put a little docosahexaenoic acid in their hamburgers - or would that just be playing to our vices?