Health Benefit of Seafood
The inclusion of Seafood in a healthy diet is highly recommended by many doctors and nutritionists.
Once considered to be a food for the poor, today we find it on the top of the food pyramid.Modern nutritional guidelines recommend the inclusion of one or more seafood meals each week for good health
It is well known that fish is very low in cholesterol, but its fat is very rich in healthy oils (Omega3 Oils) and is recommended for health problems like:
- asthma and pulmonary disease,
- rheumatoid arthritis,
- multiple sclerosis,
- psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease
Fish from cold water is more beneficial for a healthy diet because of it's high content in fat
The American Heart Association recommends that you eat fish rich in omeg3 fatty acids twice a week in order to reap specific health benefits.
The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: Women's Health and Nutrition position paper suggests consuming two to three fish meals per week, along with a low-fat diet, for heart health.
Increase Your Omega3s:
Within the polyunsaturated fat category, there are two important subclasses of fatty acids: omega3 and omega6.
Vegetable oils are rich in omega6 fatty acids, and most Americans unknowingly get plenty of them in the diet.
On the other hand, omega3 fatty acids, which are found in fish and shellfish, tofu, flax, nuts and canola and soybean oils, are generally lacking in our diets.
Omega3s appears to have a positive effect on heart rhythm and according to one recent study, may even reduce the incidence of the most common type of stroke.
In fact, on the basis of the current research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a qualified health claim for dietary supplements of omega3 fatty acids relating them to a reduced risk of heart disease.
Another intriguing area of research on omega3 fatty acids pertains to their role in brain and visual function, as some research suggests they may have a role in preventing macular degeneration, a common form of blindness.
Continuing research involves the role of omega3 fatty acids and the immune system, and suggests a positive influence on rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, lupus, kidney disease and cancer, as well as promising research at the National Institutes of Health on depression.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids have long been recognized for their significant health benefits. Clinical studies have determined that the main benefits are derived from DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and to a lesser extent EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid).
Although you will receive various health benefits from Omega 3's when taken from plant sources such as flax seed, you may miss out on the special benefits from DHA and EPA. This is because your body has to convert the Omega 3's into DHA and EPA. If your health is compromised in any way, or you are elderly this conversion may not take place.
Only fish oils provide DHA and EPA in a natural form that your body can easily assimilate. No conversion is required by the body. - xtend-life.com
Although all fish aren't high in omega3s, they still can contribute important amounts of these fatty acids if they're eaten regularly.
The following link provides a general overview of fish and their omega3 fat content." informs IFIC - International Food Information Council
Seafood is also an excellent source of minerals and vitamins such as:
- Iodine - essential for the thyroid gland functioning,
- iron - for red cell formation,
- zinc - required for wound healing
Seafood is especially rich in:
- niacin - essential for healthy skin and for the release of energy in the body,
- vitamin B complex - needed for metabolic processes
- Oysters, mussels and scallops are excellent sources of iron and zinc.
When it comes to your heart, a few servings of fish go a long, long way. But government warnings about high methyl mercury levels in some fish have people worried about adding more fish to their diet.
Learn what kinds of fish are safest and the heart healthiest to eat. Armed with a little knowledge, most consumers can safely navigate the fish counter--picking the best and avoiding the rest. Read more...
Farmed Fish vs. Wild Fish
Farmed Atlantic salmon also contain higher levels of unhealthy saturated fats than wild coho, sockeye, steelhead pink and chum salmon. In addition, research indicates farmed salmon have up to 10 times more PCBs and dioxins than wild salmon. According to a comprehensive study published in the respected journal Science, in most cases, consuming more than one serving of farmed salmon per month could pose unacceptable cancer risks.
New Study Results Affirm Purity of Alaska Seafood:
JUNEAU, AK (August 31, 2004) - Study results released by the State of Alaska this week show that fish from Alaska are remarkably free of contaminants. The study tested samples for a variety of contaminants, including heavy metals, and PCBs.
" The important thing about these study results is they reaffirm that Alaska seafood is pure and wholesome," explains Randy Rice, Seafood Technical Director for Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. "Alaska's medical authorities also continue to endorse unrestricted consumption of Alaska seafood citing its healthy benefits as a plus.
Seafood lovers around the world can continue to enjoy this delicious and healthy protein knowing they are eating one of nature's finest foods." Read more..
Whether it is wild sockeye salmon in the Pacific Northwest, pompano in the Caribbean, or carp in China, the freshness of the fish you are buying is very important. Fish are delicate creatures, and begin to deteriorate as soon as they are lifted from the water.
Obtaining the freshest fish possible can make all the difference between a family who adores fish in all its varied forms, and one that detests the mere mention of it.
How can you figure out if the fish is fresh?
- The fish's eyes should be clear and bulge a little. Only a few fish, such as walleye, have naturally cloudy eyes
- Whole fish and fillets should have firm and shiny flesh. Dull flesh may mean the fish is old. Fresh whole fish also should have bright red gills free from slime
- If the flesh doesn't spring back when pressed, the fish isn't fresh
- There should be no darkening around the edges of the fish or brown or yellowish discoloration
- The fish should smell fresh and mild, not fishy or ammonia-like
Source: Excerpted from FDA Consumer, February 1999: Critical Steps Toward Safer Seafood
Mercury in fish concern for women and children:
Women and young children in particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits. However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. Read more...
One of the richest sources of a Healthy Diet are sea vegetables:
As a nutrition fact, sea algae are the richest natural source of minerals, trace minerals and rare earth elements. All the minerals found in sea water are also found in sea algae. For example:
Spirulina - a Blue-green micro algae:
Its nutrients are very easy to digest : protein (biliprotein), carbohydrates (mucopolysaccharides, rhamnose and glycogen), 50 different minerals and trace minerals (all your body needs), beta-carotene, chlorophyll, GLA omega3 fatty acid, and many other nutrients.
Very good for people with severe liver damage resulting from malnutrition, internal pollution or drugs.
According to standard nutritional tests, the digestive absorption of the protein in Spirulina and Chlorella is four times greater than that of beef.
Spirulina contain blue pigment phycocyanin, a biliprotein which has been shown to inhibit cancer-colony formation.
Kelp, Dulse, and Other Sea Supplements:
Ninety-two nutritional elements have been found in the plants that grow in the sea and the creatures who live in it.
As our land is increasingly depleted of nutrients, so do our crops supply less sustenance for good health. But the sea around us has become a vital source of food and medicine...
From sea salt to spirulina and wakame, there is much to learn about good health and good living
Dulse is a red seaweed with flat, fan-shaped fronds that grows from
the temperate to frigid zones of the Atlantic and Pacific. Dulse
makes a great addition to salads. This alkaline vegetable is an excellent
source of iron and many trace minerals. It also contains iodine and
manganese which activate enzyme systems. This seaweed is dry and
keeps for many months.
Read more about Seafood nutritional supplements..
