The Healthy Benefits of Eating Fish: How Much to Eat & What Kinds of Fish Are Best?
You already know that eating seafood is good for your health, but how much and how often? And what kinds of fish are best?
Like with all things, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
Today, we’ll break down the healthy benefits of eating fish, along with what could be unhealthy about it, how much to eat, and what species to focus on consuming.
What are the benefits of fish?
Seafood, and fish in particular, are a low-fat source of high quality protein. In addition, fish is rich in:
- Calcium
- Minerals, including: iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc
- Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA)
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
That all sounds great, but what does that mean for your body. Here’s what these incredible vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients mean for you:
- Consuming fish helps healthy brain function associated with aging
- Consuming fish helps keep your heart healthy
- Consuming fish has nutrients that are essential for development (specifically for brain and eye development)
- Consuming fish has nutrients that has been shown to help fight depression
What can be unhealthy about fish?
Like you know seafood is healthy, you also know there can be some unhealthy attributes. Contaminants, like mercury, are a good reason for watching how much seafood and fish you consume.
Additionally, pay attention to the species you are eating (more on that in a moment) so that you don’t consume too much mercury and other potential contaminants.
How much should you eat?
In general, most adults can have about 8 ounces of seafood per week (based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet).
However, there are a few specific sets of the population that should be even more careful with seafood intake, consuming less than those 8 ounces and paying special attention to fish with potentially high mercury levels. (As always, please consult your physician if there’s a question of how much seafood you should consume.)
Those who should be even more mindful of seafood intake include:
- Young children
- Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- People with high risk of cardiovascular disease
What fish should you eat?
As we mentioned, there are certain species of fish that give you all the healthy benefits of consuming them with lower levels of contaminants. The majority of your fish intake should focus on species like these:
Now that you have a better sense of the health benefits of fish and all it entails, it’s time to start looking up some delicious seafood recipes for lunch or dinner today.
Ready for a delicious fresh catch? Order today or come into our Scarborough, Maine location to purchase fresh caught seafood.