Health Benefits of Seafood

Seafood includes fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms. It is highly nutritious as it is a source of healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Also, research shows that eating seafood lowers the risk of many health conditions, including coronary heart disease, depression, and liver cancer.

It also contains omega fatty acids, which are not in any other food group. Hence we see many vegetarians opting to buy tablets or supplements of Omega-3 fatty acids to meet their eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) needs.

Now that pescatarians are also vegetarians, this delicious food group has marked yet another historical value.

One of the reasons for this change is, in Hindu mythology, the lord Vishnu took avatars explaining the evolution of humankind. His first avatar was ‘Macha avatar,’ which is the form of fish. Hence some vegetarians eat fish called ‘Jala pushpam,’ meaning ‘flowers of water.’

Anyway, adding to the fact that the benefits of seafood are available to all, let us see other facts showing evidence of its benefits.

Nutritional value

Fish like salmon, clams, and shrimp, are high in protein plus vitamins and minerals, like vitamin B12, selenium, and zinc. For example, approximately 100 grams of cooked clams contain over 3,500% of vitamin B12, 99% selenium, 21% zinc, and 13% iron daily. Similarly, approximately 105 grams of half fillet of wild-caught salmon has 196% of vitamin B12, 131% of selenium, 85% of vitamin B6, and 21% of potassium of daily expectations.

Without seafood, a person lacks vitamins B12 and B6, selenium, iron, and zinc. This deficiency can cause physical and mental health issues, including certain health conditions, anemia, depression, and more.

Seafood is a must to bridge common nutritional gaps between young women, older adults, and pregnant and breastfeeding women. They are susceptible to diets low in nutrients and might have low blood levels of nutrients only found in seafood.

Benefits of omega-3 fatty acids

EPA and DHA are responsible for nerve cell function and inflammation regulation. They also benefit the health of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Reduced disease risk

A 2020 study concludes higher people’s fish consumption is associated with the lowering risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), heart attack, heart failure, stroke, depression, and liver cancer. For this purpose, a person must consume 60 grams of fish daily.

Joint health

Eating seafood every day eases the symptoms of arthritis. For example, it reduces morning stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Maintains eyesight

The omega-3 fatty acids in seafood reduce age-related macular degeneration. The disease is the loss of vision. In addition, eating fish and shellfish can increase night vision.

Good skin health

Regular seafood intake helps preserve moisture in the skin. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids protect the skin against UV rays from the sun and reduce acne.

Brain Health

Seafood reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. It is also essential for proper brain growth in infants and children. Aging women can also benefit from eating fish as it helps with their brain health.