OUR appetite for “miracle” foods is insatiable – and food companies know it. That is why everything from bread to yoghurt now comes with added omega-3 fatty acids. These molecules are said to prevent heart disease, dementia, depression and cancer, and even make our kids brainier. Too good to be true? Sadly, yes. As the evidence piles up, their feted health benefits are melting away (see “Omega-3: the emperor’s new pills?”). Like every other so-called superfood, claims about omega-3s need to be taken with a big pinch of salt.
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