Seaside medicine cabinet

Mackerel

What it’s good for Beating the blues.

How it works No one knows exactly how it works but it’s thought that the Omega-3s in oily fish, such as mackerel, not only help your brain create more of the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin, but also make you more responsive to its effects. ‘A recent British survey of 37,000 people by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition found that nearly half frequently felt depressed and 64 per cent felt anxious or tense. But those who ate two portions of oily fish a week reported clear improvements,’ says Patrick Holford, director of the Brain Bio Centre (www.brainbiocentre.com). Studies also show that people living in seaside areas have a lower incidence of depression, possibly due to them eating more oily fish.

The prescription Most people should be eating more oily fish because as a nation the majority of us aren’t getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids in our diet. However, oily fish can contain low levels of pollutants that can build up in the body. For this reason, the Government recommends that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to have a baby should limit themselves to two portions of oily fish a week, and everyone else should aim for up to four portions a week.

Where to buy Sustainably caught Cornish hand-line mackerel is available from Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.