High Cholesterol: Eating Fish and Fish Oil Eating fish, at least
2 servings each week, is part of a heart-healthy diet. Some
people take fish oil supplements to help lower triglycerides.
Fish oil supplements can lower triglycerides but do not help
lower cholesterol. Eating fish may help lower your risk of heart
disease. The American Heart Association recommends that healthy
adults eat at least 2 servings of fish a week. Oily fish, which
contain omega-3 fatty acids, are best for your heart. These fish
include tuna, salmon, mackerel, lake trout, herring, and
sardines. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend that women
who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and
young children should not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel,
or tilefish, because these fish have higher mercury
concentrations. But for middle-aged and older people, the
protection that fish gives the heart outweighs the risks of
eating these fish. Eating a variety of f