A HUDDERSFIELD health store owner has attacked claims that fats found in oily fish do not protect against illness.
For years, eating omega 3 fatty acids has been thought to protect against heart disease, strokes and cancer, as well as other health benefits.
In fact, nutritionists advise people to eat up to four oily fish portions a week.
But a recent study in the British Medical Journal said there was no evidence that the fats offered protection against diseases.
The results of the large-scale study are a contrast to previous medical evidence, which suggested that fats found in oily fish like salmon lessened the risk of illness.
The study looked at the impact the fats had on patients with chronic heart disease. It found the fats did nothing to prevent the condition.
In fact, an experiment on more than 3,000 men with angina found that those given large amounts of oily fish were at a higher risk of having a heart attack.
But Adrian Midgley, who owns Half Moon Healthfoods in Huddersfield town centre,
said: "The new research is based on old studies which are carried out on people in advanced stages of their illness.
"I feel it is not a true reflection of the health benefits of omega 3 to ordinary people.
"There is so much positive evidence about the benefits of balancing up the ratios of omega 3 fats in the diet by taking either fish oils or flax oil.
"Added to that is the fact that people say they actually feel better when their intake of the healthy fats is optimised."
Mr Midgley accused the media of being quick to jump on the scaremongering bandwagon in reporting such claims.
He added: "The media have fallen for another scam story."
