Seafood Is Good for Your Health

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Many people choose to turn their noses up at seafood, either because of the smell or because they don’t like the taste. Prepared the right way, however, seafood can actually be quite delicious and it’s essential that you start including it in your diet more. It’s filled with vitamins and minerals that are essential for the body and provide many health benefits you may not find in other sources of protein.

Here are ten reasons why you should start including more seafood into your diet.

1. Promotes Good Heart Health

Seafood is known for being quite low in saturated fats but it’s greatest health benefit is the high amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is great for heart health, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as strokes, arrhythmias, and heart attacks. This is great for those who have heart conditions and circulatory problems already, as omega-3 prevents them from getting worse. Omega-3 is available in capsule form, but this form doesn’t do as well as adding seafood to your diet.

2. Greater Variety of Choice

Water covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, which means there are plenty of creatures living below the surface for us to partake of. Oceans, rivers, ponds, there is a greater variety of seafood than animals on land that humans consume. You can choose from freshwater fish, saltwater fish, crab, lobster, shrimp, or whatever your heart’s desire. Even with fish alone, there are thousands of species of fish for you to choose from, and none of them taste the same.

If you’re not fond of seafood, there are different methods of preparation you can use to help get rid of that “sea taste” and make it more palatable. Not sure what kind of fish to try? You can get fresh fish online where the flavors of each fish are explained so that you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

3. Promotes Joint Health

The presence of omega-3 fatty acids in seafood makes it a perfect option for those who suffer from joint pain and joint-related diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Just as these omega-3 fatty acids are great for the heart by reducing inflammation, this healing property is carried over to the joints. It works by blocking leukocytes and cytokines that are responsible for inflammation in the body.

4. Promotes Good Eyesight

Studies have shown that those who increased their intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish were less likely to contract age-related macular degeneration. This is an eye condition that affects the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue found at the back of the eye. Macular degeneration affects vision in a way that results in the loss of detail, which can make it very difficult for people to read, drive, or recognize faces. Because there is no cure for the disease, it’s best to prevent the symptoms from occurring in the first place.

That’s where a seafood-rich diet comes in. These studies revealed that eating oily fish at least once a week reduced the risk of contracting macular degeneration by at least 50%, in comparison to those who ate fish less than once a week.

5. Seafood is Rich in Essential Nutrients

It is a very rich source of the essential vitamins and minerals that you require in everyday life. These include vitamins D and B, B-complex vitamins, and vitamin A. These are responsible for the increased absorption of calcium to help build stronger bones, increased energy levels, and promoting good vision health respectively. It’s hard to ignore all of these health benefits that you can get from one meal of fish.

6. Promote Skin Health

Eating more seafood actually increases moisture in the skin, which means you’ll use lotion much less. No more winter itch and no more dry cracked skin. Your skin will have a much more natural glow to it because of the presence of the omega-3 oils in your body. These same oils have also shown to protect skin against harmful UV rays, thereby decreasing your risk of skin cancer, and reducing the appearance of acne on the skin. Fewer blemishes, more radiant skin, and protection against the rays of the sun? What’s not to love about seafood’s beneficial skin properties?

7. Increases Brain Power

Those who include more seafood in their diet are shown to have fewer risks of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia. So seafood is a great option for those who have a family history of these terrible illnesses so that they can prevent the onset of early symptoms before they start. In addition, the long-term consumption of seafood on a regular basis is proven to boost the cognitive functions of aging women.

8. Improves Function of the Immune System

Selenium, an essential mineral and antioxidant found in seafood, is effective in boosting the immune system. In turn, this also improves individuals’ allergic responses and symptoms related to asthma. The antioxidant powers of selenium can also help to eliminate free radicals in the body, which are responsible for cancer.

9. Helps to Battle Depression

Having depression is not an easy thing to deal with. It can leave a person feeling absolutely helpless to the point that they just can’t deal with matters anymore. However, new studies have shown that the ingestion of seafood not only increases the risk of depression, but it can also actually be used as a treatment for depression. To think that you could improve your mental health just by adding a little seafood to your diet each week.

10. Benefits for Pregnant Women

Pregnant women who ingest more fish on a regular basis have healthier, happier babies overall. This is because of the vitamins and minerals that are present in seafood, which enhance the development and growth of the fetus. In addition, the risk of premature birth is also reduced, allowing the baby to come to full term. There is also a reduced risk of nerve problems in developing babies, as seafood promotes the development of the central nervous system.

Adding a little more seafood to your diet will greatly help to improve your overall health, both physically and mentally. Even if you’re not a fan, it’s difficult to not be impressed with all of the health benefits seafood can provide. Consider adding some to your diet on a regular basis. You’ll feel better for it.

About The Author:

Stacey Smith is a freelance health writer. She is passionate to write about women’s health, dental health, diabetes, endocrinology and nutrition and provide in-depth features on the latest in health news for medical clinics and health magazines.

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