The Health Benefits of Eating Seafood

Eating seafood can be a healthy habit, but it’s not a substitute for other heart-healthy diets. If you want to eat fish and shellfish without worrying about mercury or other contaminants, choose lean species like salmon and shrimp.

Also, aim to buy wild-caught seafood whenever possible because they tend to have less mercury than farmed fish.

Seafood is a Protein-rich, Low-fat Food

Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet and seafood is a great source of protein. It helps you build and maintain muscle mass.

• Protein can help you feel full longer, which may make it easier to lose weight and keep it off.
• Protein helps your body build and repair tissues, including bones, skin and muscles.
• Eating foods high in protein can also reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes), and arthritis conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Seafood contains Heart-healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that may help to improve your heart health. They reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. They also may help prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

In addition, omega-3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation in your body and therefore lower your risk for some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Fish is also a good source of vitamin B12 found only in animal foods, especially seafood like salmon and tuna. Vitamin B12 helps prevent anemia by producing red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout our bodies

Some Types of Seafood are also Rich in Vitamin B12, Iron, Potassium and Magnesium

Seafood is a great source of several different nutrients. Some types of seafood are also rich in vitamin B12, iron, potassium and magnesium.

• Vitamin B12 is important for the brain and nervous system, as well as DNA synthesis. Iron helps the body produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.
• Potassium helps regulate blood pressure; too little can cause high blood pressure, while too much can cause low blood pressure.
• Magnesium helps regulate muscle function and nerve responses by keeping calcium levels within a normal range in your bloodstream.

Omega-3s have been shown to Reduce Inflammation in the Body

Omega-3s have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, which is a major cause of heart disease and other health conditions. Omega-3s can help reduce inflammation by preventing the overproduction of inflammatory chemicals called eicosanoids.

Eicosanoids are made from arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6 fatty acid found in red meat and eggs. The body needs AA to work properly, but too much of it can lead to chronic inflammation and increased risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties because they compete with AA for enzymes that create eicosanoids—meaning fewer inflammatory compounds are produced when you consume more omega 3s (1).

The bottom line is that seafood has lots of health benefits and it’s a great way to add more protein to your diet. We recommend trying new types of seafood every week so you can try new flavors and get all the nutrients mentioned above.