Your Sushi Obsession Might Help You Think Smarter And Sleep Better

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Most of us know by now that fish is a true superfood when it comes to our health. The omega-3 fatty acids help us keep our blood fats balanced, reduce inflammation and even stave off depression. But for the first time, new research from the University of Pennsylvania is connecting weekly consumption of fish with both better sleep and higher brain function.

For the study, the team recruited 541 9- to 11-year-olds in China (54 percent were boys and 46 percent were girls) and asked them to complete a questionnaire about how often they ate fish in the previous month. The answer options ranged from “never” to “at least once per week.” They then completed a Chinese IQ test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, which assesses both verbal and non-verbal skills like vocabulary and coding. Finally, they asked the children’s parents about their sleep quality using the standardized Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire, covering everything from sleep duration to daytime sleepiness.

After taking demographic differences into consideration, the researchers found that the kids who ate fish at least once per week scored 4.8 points higher on their IQ exams than the kids who they “seldom” or “never” ate fish. And when looking at the parent surveys on sleep quality, they found that higher fish consumption was associated with fewer wake times throughout the night, resulting in a better sleep quality overall. There didn’t seem to be any gendered differences.

Unsplash/Taylor Grote

“It adds to the growing body of evidence showing that fish consumption has really positive health benefits and should be something more heavily advertised and promoted,”study author Jennifer Pinto-Martin said in a statement. “Children should be introduced to it early on. Introducing the taste early makes it more palatable.”

One of the best parts of this new data is that it stems from people absorbing the omega-3 fatty acids from the foods they eat rather than supplements they take, proving it is possible to see big benefits from a healthy diet alone. And we obviously aren’t 10 years old anymore, but keeping our intake of omega-3 fatty acids in check will only help us stay mentally sharp and well rested as we age. (It certainly won’t do the opposite.)

So go forth and enjoy all the sushi your heart can handle. And know that if you skip the soy sauce and sriracha mayo while you’re at it, you’ll fare even better.