Nutritionists and health educators worldwide emphasize time and again the key benefits of eating fish everyday and not depending solely on meats like chicken and beef for a healthy diet. There is a wide range of health benefits from eating fish, mainly because of the high-protein and low-fat content. The white-fleshed type of fish is an important source of protein from animal meat and has fewer calories. It is highly recommended for diets dealing with weight management.
Eating fish can provide a regular supply of omega-3 fatty acids, as compared to eating meat that is rich in bad fats.
Nutritional Value And Health Benefits of Eating Fish
Fish contains many vitamins, minerals and is a rich source of protein. It contains omega3 fatty acid which has unsurpassable health benefits in preventing heart attack, high cholesterol and stroke.
- It regulates the flow of blood and maintains the health of blood vessels. Overall cardiovascular health from omega-3 ensures prevention of blood clotting in coronary arteries and thus reduces the risk of heart attack.
- Pregnant mothers will gain benefits from eating fish as it contributes greatly to the baby’s neurological development.
- Fish oils relieve the symptoms of inflammation in body. Eating fish regularly helps to alleviate symptoms of pain and swelling in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
- Omega-3 keeps a healthy state of mind, reducing risks of depression, Alzheimer’s disease and mental debilitation.
- Fish is best known source of vitamin A and D. Vitamin A is essential for various metabolic activities in the body. It is good for ocular and skin health. One of its functions is to keep retina healthy.
- Consuming fish regularly helps to prevent childhood asthma.
- Fish is a great boon for elderly people. Its regular consumption is known to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Unsaturated fats present in fish helps to prevent damage to brain cells. The compounds present in fish are known to reduce the risk of hypertension, which is known to increase the risk of dementia as age advances.
- If you are depressed and strained eating fish daily eases your depression. This is because of its rich source of B vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, and pyridoxine. Even Omega-3 fatty acid is known to ease depression.
- Since fish is good source of vitamin A and D, patients consuming fish in their diet regularly may have less risk of suffering from skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
- Scientific evidence supports the knowledge that due to the omega-3 content, eating fish is still highly beneficial rather than a cause for concern.
- Fish remains as the single most important source of protein resulting to good health and well-being.
Some of the healthiest samples of fish include sardines, anchovies, wild salmon, Atlantic mackerel, trout, albacore tuna and sablefish.
Consuming fish and other seafood raises the concern of mercury poisoning especially in cases of contaminated habitats.