Doctors across Kashmir increasingly prescribe fish for hair loss, fertility, heart health, and child development, citing omega-3 benefits over costly supplements, reports Babra Wani
Bisma, 29, from Srinagar’s Baghimehtab area, had battled severe hair fall since 2015. She consulted nearly 20 dermatologists across Kashmir, each prescribing different medicines, none of which offered lasting relief.
“I went to almost 20 doctors, and my hair fall started getting worse,” she recalled. “At one point I thought I was going to go bald; it scared my mother and me,” she recalled. She was losing more than 200 strands a day, so severely that one doctor told her to prioritise her hair over her studies.
Her 21st doctor changed the course of her treatment, advising her to start eating fish regularly. The results were unexpected. “My baby hair started to grow, and my hair fall reduced comparatively,” Bisma said. “Honestly, it changed my life forever; not just my hair but my skin became better too. Fish actually proved to be a game changer for me.”
Dr Faizan Shah, a dermatologist at Skinnic Dermatology Centre, explains the mechanism behind cases like Bisma’s. Omega-3 fatty acids support the skin barrier, reduce inflammation, and supply amino acids essential for collagen, elastin, and keratin, the building blocks of skin repair and hair growth. Fish is also a source of Vitamin D, important for normal skin function and the hair-growth cycle, while selenium and B vitamins contribute to antioxidant protection and healthy hair follicles.
Fertility Boost
For Zaira, 30, from Anantnag, fish played a different role. Married at 26, she tried to conceive for nearly two years without success. On a family member’s suggestion, she began eating fish regularly. “I did the fertility comprehensive panel tests, and my hormones had improved a lot. I have consumed fish regularly since,” she said.
Experts say low-mercury, omega-3-rich fish, eaten two to three times a week, supports women’s reproductive health by regulating hormones, improving blood flow to the uterus, reducing inflammation, and promoting healthy foetal development during pregnancy.
Dr Berkheez Shabir, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Medicare Hospital, calls fish “a blessed food” and recommends it to patients with hormonal irregularities or infertility. “I usually advise my patients, including those who come with hormonal irregularities or infertility, to increase their intake of fish,” she said, adding that its natural omega fatty acids can substitute for expensive supplements.
Dr Shabir also weighed in on preparation, noting that fish need not be avoided when fried, though moderation matters. “You can grill it or fry it; it depends on how you cook it. But do not fry it too much. Grilled fish is also very good for you, not just for your health, but even for your taste buds.”
Heart Health
The cardiovascular case for fish is equally strong. Dr Nisar Ahmad Tramboo, Director of Cardiology at Noorah Hospital, points to Scandinavian countries and Japan, where high fish consumption correlates with better cardiovascular outcomes. Fish oils contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 compound linked to reduced risk of heart attacks, he said.
Dr Mir Ashraf, Senior Consultant at Noorah Hospital, recommends grilling or steaming over deep-frying to preserve nutritional value, using only a small amount of olive oil if needed. He cautioned, however, that patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly stages 3 and 4, or those with diabetic nephropathy, should not increase protein intake, including fish, without medical guidance. Dialysis patients can often eat fish too, but quantities should be tailored to their individual treatment plans.
Dr Shabnum Bashir, Director of Surgical Oncology at Paras Hospital, notes that fish’s omega-3 content carries anti-inflammatory and potentially anti-cancer properties. She cautioned, though, that fish safety depends on water quality, including possible exposure to pollutants or radioactive substances that can accumulate in fish tissue.
Children’s Growth
The benefits extend to Kashmir’s youngest residents. Dr Suhail Naik, Senior Consultant Paediatrician and Assistant Professor at GMC Srinagar, regularly recommends fish to his young patients, citing its high-quality protein alongside omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA), vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, selenium, and zinc.
“Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly important for brain, eye and neurological development during childhood,” Dr Naik said.
Fish is also a valuable source of Vitamin D, notable given how common vitamin D deficiency is in Kashmir. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends children eat fish one to two times a week. Dr Naik suggests locally available freshwater fish such as trout, prepared steamed, baked, or grilled rather than deep-fried, and carefully deboned before serving to young children. “Parents must connect their kids with nature, and nurturing a child with nature is very important for the holistic growth and development,” he added.
The Consensus
Across dermatology, gynaecology, cardiology, oncology, and paediatrics specialities, Kashmir’s doctors are converging on a simple recommendation: eat more fish. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, and selenium, and is considered one of the healthiest sources of animal protein, particularly beneficial for people managing high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.
“Fish is good for the brain, it is good for the heart, and it is good for the bones,” Dr Shabir said. “It also contains some vitamin D. So, if you do not want to spend money on supplements, eat fish. Fish is very good; please increase your intake.”
