Newsflash: Fish oil supplements may not solve all of our problems. A "nada effect" is how one doctor describes the use of fish oil supplements for those of us who might be at risk for heart disease, but who have not yet had a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Zip. Zero. Nada. A study by the Risk and Prevention Study Collaborative Group, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 9, 2013, concludes that in terms of heart attack prevention, fish oil supplements do nothing - no harm, and no good. However, we are still urged to EAT FISH (and not smoke, get moving, and have an overall healthy diet.)*
It reminds me of Dorothy and her Ruby Slippers. We keep asking the Wizard to solve all of our problems, grant our wish (just give us a pill!) and yet our Ruby Slippers have been here all along. We can just eat the fish.
So, tap your feet together and make some Chowder for Chow - a simple healthy version that takes 20 minutes to make right here at home.
CHOWDER FOR CHOW (serves 2-3, just double for more!)
200 grams smoked haddock
1/2 onion, diced
1 garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
250 ml low salt vegetable stock (just over 1 cup)
250 ml low or non-fat milk (just over 1 cup)
3-4 small potatoes, diced (just wash: keep skins on for added minerals and flavour)
1 tablespoon chopped chives/parsley
Remove skin from haddock if not already done (See here to read how-to) - and cut into bite size pieces.
Heat olive oil, garlic and onion in a saucepan for a minute. Add potatoes, vegetable stock and milk. Bring to the boil, then turn down to simmer for about 10 minutes. The potatoes should be softer - don't let them get too soft though!) Add the haddock and continue to simmer for 3-4 minutes.
Turn off heat and stir herbs through.
A few notes: smoked fish retains all of its nutritional goodness, but it does add sodium. It's important to use a low-salt stock so you don't add any further. Also, there's no reason to season this soup at the finish with more salt. It gets all the flavour it needs from the smoked fish.
(*You can read the research and conclusions here.*)