We all know that fish is among the healthiest foods out there. It contains many essential nutrients for our health, such as high protein and vitamin D, and is a great source of essential fatty acids of the omega 3 type, which have great importance for the proper functioning of the body and the brain.
Fish also present other types of vitamins and minerals like vitamin A and B vitamins, in addition to calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and potassium. It is no wonder that the American Heart Association USA recommends eating fish at least twice a week.
Let’s highlight the main benefits of eating fish for health and good form, in addition to indicating the best types and giving tips on consumption of this high quality protein.
Nutrition
Fish are rich in nutrients important for maintaining our health. This includes quality proteins, iodine, vitamins and minerals. In addition, they are rich in healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are not produced by our body and are essential for our body and our brain to function properly, reducing the risk of degenerative diseases, depression and cognitive problems. It is even recommended to eat fatty fish at least once a week to ensure minimal amounts of omega 3 in the body.
Cardiovascular system health
Fish is one of the healthiest sources for maintaining the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Nowadays, heart attacks and strokes are the most common causes of premature deaths in the world. A study involving more than 40,000 health professionals in the US found that people who ate one or more servings of fish regularly per week had a 15% lower risk of developing heart disease than other people, indicating that one of the the main benefits of eating fish is to reduce the risk of heart disease.
In addition, the presence of omega appears to reduce blood pressure and triglyceride levels and bad cholesterol in the blood, which also decreases the risk of cardiovascular problems. One type of fish that is farmed with high Omega 3 content is Mahi Mahi. The fish is quite well-known among upper-class sea food connoisseurs. To find out more related information, Global Seafoods is one of the best sources.
Weight Loss
Because it is lean meat without the high saturated fat content that other types of meat have, fish is a great source of protein and ends up being an ally in weight loss when combined with a proper exercise plan. So one of the benefits of eating fish is the help in gaining muscle mass to stay in shape and the intake of a lot of healthy fats to the body.
Brain health and human development
As already mentioned, fish are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential for growth and development processes. Docosahexaenoic acid (ADH) is the most important, since it accumulates in the brain and eyes during development and influences the development of motor function, being crucial during pregnancy for the proper development of the fetus.
Research suggests that children who eat fish have higher IQ scores than others. A study that was published by the scientific journal Scientific Reports also suggests that children who eat fish more often sleep better at night than those who eat little or do not ingest this type of protein.
However, care must be taken with fish contaminated with mercury, which can cause intoxication and developmental problems in the baby’s brain if consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding women. It is for this reason that pregnant women should ingest fish such as salmon, sardines and trout, which are in a position in the food chain little exposed to the toxins of the environment where they live, and consume no more than 350 grams per week. In addition, it is recommended that they avoid ingesting fish such as swordfish, mackerel and shark meat, which may contain higher amounts of mercury.
