- BY ALICE HINDS
If you want to lead a healthy lifestyle, adding some nutrient-rich fish dishes to your diet is a great start.
- Fish is the Dish
Seafood contains omega 3 for a healthy heart
HEALTH fads come and go, but there's one food that experts have been recommending for decades – fish.
The delights of the sea are packed full of health-boosting vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that are important for maintaining some key body functions.
Here, we dive in to find out why seafood is so good for us.
1. There's plenty more vitamins in the sea
Fish and seafoods such as mussels, prawns, haddock and more, are great sources of essential vitamins and minerals, with key nutrients including:
Omega 3 – important for brain development, seafood is the richest natural source of this fatty acid.
Iron – required for the creation of new blood cells.
Protein – not only great for providing energy, protein also helps to maintain healthy cells and build muscles.
B-vitamins – responsible for converting food to energy and for making new blood cells.
Calcium – especially important for women and children, calcium helps to keep teeth and bones strong.
Vitamin D – works in the body to help absorb calcium.
Vitamin A – often also found in carrots, this vitamin is great for giving you healthy eyes and skin.
Iodine – helps to keep the metabolism running at the right level.
2. Eat oily fish for a healthy heart
As we've mentioned above, fish is rich in Omega 3 which is a long-chain polyunsaturated fat – or good fatty acid to you and me! Omega 3 has been linked to a range of health benefits, but it's particularly important for maintaining a healthy heart.
These fats help to maintain blood levels of a type of fat in the blood, called triglycerides. If levels of triglycerides get too high in our body, our risk of heart disease is increased.
Eating oily fish also helps to maintain normal blood pressure, helping to reduce your risk of a stroke.
3. Fish helps you to train
If you love the gym or are training hard for a big goal, such as a marathon, fish could help you reach your personal best. Fish and seafood are lean sources of protein, which is essential for helping to build and maintain muscles. Plus Omega 3 has also been tied to an improved aerobic metabolism.
4. Get beautiful skin and eyes
Let's face it, eating healthy isn't all about boosting your insides – we want our outsides to look good too! And the vitamins and minerals in fish and seafood go a long way to helping you look great.
The nutrients in oil-rich fish, such as mackerel or herring, have been found to help you have clear skin, shiny hair and bright eyes. Plus it could also help your smile too, as scientists have found that eating seafood can lower the risk of depression.
5. Ditch the sat-fats
Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the more difficult things in life. After all, with so many tempting treats, it can be hard to say no!
Fish is not only a delicious option, but it can also actually help you lose weight, thanks to most fish choices being low in fat, high in protein and often low in calories.
Make sure to prepare your fish in a healthy way – avoiding adding unnecessary fat, oils and butter – and you will be on your way to a slimmer waistline.
This article was brought to you in association with Seafish, the authority on seafood.
