We have always been advised to implement seafood in our daily meals, whether for a low carb diet, a weight loss program, or to be physically and mentally wholesome.
However, have you ever wondered why is seafood good for you? How does it affect your body? And does seafood consumption has any risks on your health?
Why is Seafood Good For You?
Fish are undoubtedly one of the world’s healthiest foods, and eating seafood twice a week has been proven to be great for a healthy and balanced diet.
Fresh seafood is filled with nutrients that are very beneficial to the human body. It is a high-protein low carb food that contains minerals like iron, zinc, iodine, potassium and magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins D and B12.
The minerals in seafood play an essential role in our development; they work on making our brain function properly, stabilize our heartbeats, make hormones, and build strong bones.
Many kinds of seafood contain unsaturated fats called omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and herring are very rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These acids are the best food for our heart health. They prevent heart diseases and lower blood pressure. The proteins they contain prevent hair follicle inflammation and stimulate hair growth.
-Fatty fish are biotin-rich foods, an excellent vitamin for hair growth and skin brightness.
– Seaweed is the best food for people with thyroid problems because it is packed with Iodine and tyrosine.
– Seafood is an anti-depression food; it helps create happy hormones in the body and heal mental disorders.
– Seafood is fantastic for pregnant women; it gives the body many nutrients that help develop the baby’s brain and central nervous system.
– Eating a 150g of sardines is more nutritious than eating a steak of the same weight. Sardines have more protein that contributes to bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood building.
Most Nutritious Seafood to Eat / Best Seafood to Eat
If you are having dinner at a nearby seafood buffet or Reb Lobster, planning to hit a seafood marker or just ordering seafood online, make sure to include the following foods:
1- Cod.
This white fish is high in protein and multiple vital minerals, as well as it’s low in calories and has healthy carbs. Cod carries a lot of vitamin B12; this vitamin helps form red cells, prevent brain atrophy, boost body energy, and keep the nervous system in great shape.
Cod is also an excellent healthy food for weight loss because it’s rich in nutrients and low fat.
2– Salmon.
Salmon is a superfood, rich with fatty acids, loaded with selenium, potassium, and other vitamins. This delicious fish lowers blood pressure, which protects the heart, helps make DNA.
And like cod, salmon is weight loss-friendly.
3- Shrimp.
Shrimps are cute, yummy, and very beneficial. These little low-mercury crustaceans promote heart and brain health. It aids reduce inflammation and increase good cholesterol levels.
Additionally, shrimps are available at any seafood market and can be considered a healthy fast food option. Eating two meals of fresh shrimps per week can prevent you from having several chronic diseases.
4-Tuna.
Tuna is incredibly delicious; whether canned or fresh, tuna is packed with amino acids that we require to develop and maintain our health. It provides energy and strengthens the immune system. Not only that, but there are so many ways on how to eat it and make delicious easy healthy recipes with it.
Can Seafood Be Bad For You?
Despite the healthy pros of eating seafood, cons are always present as well.
Researches have shown that reaching a high level of mercury can be very harmful to our brain; it damages nerves and interrupts the nervous system and the brain’s development. It might also augment the risks of cardiovascular diseases.
Moreover, due to the frequent consumption of raw seafood, seafood contamination can be dangerous to our health. These contaminations can be absorbed by the fish or transmitted during the processing or preparation of the seafood.
If you eat contaminated fish or shellfish, it will give you food poisoning, and you will be very sick. You might experience dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Seafood Allergy
There is a variety of seafood that can cause allergic reactions, often fish or shellfish. These allergies are a reaction of our immune system to the protein fish or shellfish contain. It can result in swelling of the lips, hives, itchiness, tingling of the mouth, vomiting, wheezing, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and stomach cramps.
These reactions might potentially be life-threatening, so if you get a severe reaction after a few minutes or an hour or two of consuming seafood, immediately call for an ambulance to go to the hospital for an injection.
The most common kinds of seafood to cause allergic reactions are: shellfish like calamari, lobster, oyster, squid, crayfish, and cuttlefish. And fish like snapper, trout, salmon, tuna, and cod.