Fatty fish and other sources of seafood are a hearty source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is a nutrient that provides a number of health benefits such as reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Now, a new study has shown that salmon may be the optimal source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Scientists recently identified that the Yup'ik people of Alaska consume 20 times more complex fish oils than other Americans every year. Although this group of people show the same rate of obesity as the rest of the country, their risk of developing diabetes is far below the national average. Researchers believe that this may be in part due to their consumption of seafood.

“While genetic, lifestyle and dietary factors may account for this difference, it is reasonable to ask, based on our findings, whether the lower prevalence of diabetes in this population might be attributed, at least in part, to their high consumption of omega-3-rich fish,” said the Zeina Makhoul, a researcher in the Cancer Prevention Program of the Public Health Sciences Division at the Hutchinson Center.

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to reducing the risk of developing. If you’d like to lose weight and improve your overall health, consider a medically supervised weight loss program. A medical professional can assist you in creating a custom diet and setting weight loss goals that suit you.