The food you eat can have a massive impact on your physical and mental health. After all, food is fuel for all the cells in your body, including your brain cells. A poor diet can soon start to have a detrimental impact on your health and well-being. Consuming more seafood is a top recommendation from the US government’s “2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” publication, which is a document packed with diet tips and information surrounding the health benefits of hundreds of different foods.
Here are 5 reasons to eat more seafood:
#1 Rich source of lean protein Adequate protein intake is an essential part of a healthy diet. Protein is needed for muscle growth and repair, hormone production, and the manufacturing of various digestive enzymes in the body. Seafood is a rich source of lean protein and it also tastes great. What’s more, it’s low in calories and unhealthy fats. The micronutrient profile of seafood is also excellent as it contains essential minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, and phosphorous. It’s one of the few sources of naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.
#2 Preserve cognitive functioning You will often hear people referring to seafood as brain food, as it’s is full of omega-3-6-9 fatty acids. Some studies have shown that eating fish dishes two or more times each week can help to reduce cognitive decline linked to aging and reduce the chances of developing brain disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease.
#3 Good for heart health Consuming seafood rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) helps to keep your heart healthy. According to studies, eating seafood containing EPA and DHA at least biweekly can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease development. For those already suffering from cardiovascular disease, the regular consumption of seafood can help to slow down the progression of the disease.
#4 Encourage healthy infant development Pregnant women are encouraged to increase their intake of seafood as omega-3 fatty acids found in the food source can boost infant development of the nervous system and eyes.
#5 Improve mood and bone health Seafood is a rich source of vitamin D which is essential for bone health. The vitamin also plays a big role in physiological health.
Those who live in countries with less sunlight can particularly benefit from increasing their consumption of seafood. What types of seafood have the most health-boosting benefits? Examples of some of the best types of seafood to eat for health benefits are Anchovies, Atlantic mackerel, Pacific mackerel, trout, Pacific oysters, herring, shad, sardines, and salmon. Expectant mothers and small children should opt for smaller varieties of fish that contain less mercury. This is because high mercury consumption can have negative impacts on developing infants and growing children.
How much fish should you consume? US health professionals advise eating two 8 oz servings of seafood a week to see the health benefits. One of the easiest ways to up your seafood intake is to just add fish to some of your favorite dishes. For example, anchovies make a great pizza topping. Meanwhile, you can also check some local seafood restaurants in your area and taste their best dishes. The one with best and scrumptious recipes can be found in Newport Beach.
