Astronauts need to eat a lot of fish

In space, astronauts are prone to osteoporosis. However, just changing a little diet can reduce that risk.

ISS residents are advised to eat a lot of fish - (Photo: NASA)

Nutrition experts have given valuable advice to the residents of the International Space Station (ISS): Eat more fish and remember to remove salt when following this diet.

Many recent studies show a close relationship between the amount of fish that astronauts absorb in space and their bone health, said Scott Smith, a US dietitian and aerospace specialist. (NASA), at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Each astronaut usually takes between 1 and 1.5% of bone mass per month when hovering over Earth's orbit. For comparison, a woman after menopause only lost the same rate but in the coming time . a year. On Earth, this condition often leads to osteoporosis, which makes bones weak and prone to cracking.

The actual effectiveness of a high-fish diet has not been determined for people on the ground, but expert Smith thinks the results are positive.

' When we tried to apply what we learned in space flights to ground-based situations, it was like looking at a photo at different times, at a much higher speed. In the case of an astronaut on ISS about 6 months, it's like 6 years on Earth , 'Smith said.

The expert and colleagues have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids found in some types of fish may help prevent osteoporosis.

A second study aimed at simulating muscular atrophy and other problems encountered by astronauts in a non-gravity condition also produced similar results.

The discovery has made NASA nutrition experts happy. " It's like one of those moments when you jump out of your chair because you're too excited. We already know that the more you eat, the lower the loss of bone mass ," Smith said.

NASA experts are also conducting another study to determine the role of salt in osteoporosis in the universe, which is thought to be particularly relevant because the food container on the ISS is filled. High salt foods.

" It is difficult to make foods low in salt because there is no freezer on it. Salt is a good preservative, and it makes it more delicious ," Smith said.

The study was presented at the American Astronaut Society Conference held in Cape Canaveral, Florida last week. It also appears in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research journals .