May reduce your risk of autoimmune diseases

There are more than 80 known autoimmune diseases, including conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes. Some studies have linked omega-3 or fish oil consumption to a lower risk of type 1 diabetes in children and an autoimmune diabetes-like condition in adults. Some experts believe that eating fish can reduce your chances of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis because fish and fish oils are high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Those who took vitamin D, or vitamin D with omega-3 fatty acids, had a considerably lower risk of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis than those who took a placebo, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 25,000 older adults. The findings were published in the BMJ on January 26 as part of the larger, nationwide VITAL trial.