3 Reasons to Add Fish to Your Diet
Make it a goal to EAT MORE FISH! Fish is fantastic when it comes to it's many health and wellness benefits. For me personally, I can tolerate the taste of salmon, tuna, and maybe some well seasoned tilapia- and that’s about it! The truth is that I don’t eat fish as often as I should and so I also supplement with Omega 3, which I explain in detail later in this article. Let me provide you with some additional insights into why it is so important to incorporate fish (or for those of you like me who don’t eat enough fish, fish oil supplements) at least a few times each week.
1. Fish is rich in iron. Iron is a vitamin that can be found in hemoglobin (the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout our entire body). Without enough iron in our body we cannot make enough healthy red blood cells to transfer oxygen.
2. Fish is a very lean source of protein and an excellent source of healthy fat. Most fish contain around 20 grams of lean protein per serving (3 ounces)- which is phenomenal! Now let’s compare the fat content between fish and meat. Fatty fish contain healthy fats, whereas meat typically contains high amount saturated fat (aka the unhealthy fat that clogs up arties and raises cholesterol levels). This is just one of the many reasons why fish trumps when compared to most other protein sources.
Fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to decrease the risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) and various other chronic diseases. Many studies even suggest that omega-3’s can stop the formation of plaque buildup in arteries and may even help to lower blood pressure. Our body needs omega 3’s for common biological processes that occur at the cellular level each and every day!
So what exactly are Omega-3’s?
Omega-3 comes from a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids (aka the healthy fats). Omega-3 is very important because it is an “essential fatty acid”. Our body cannot synthesize these fatty acids (Omega-3's) on its own and thus it is essential that we obtain them through our diet.
The American Heart Association recommends having fish at least twice per week. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, having fish that frequently is not my forte. I personally supplement with Omega-3 fish oil capsules (which I take each morning). You can find fish oil supplements at almost any local grocery store.
3. Lastly, fish contains vitamin B-12. B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin that has a key role in brain and nervous system function. B-12 is also a critical component of metabolism and DNA synthesis. Clearly, running low on B-12 would NOT be a good scenario.
There you have it! Three simple reasons why it’s worth it to have a fishy diet.
If you don’t like fish, don’t opt out! Try sushi, fish oil supplements, or even some fresh fish reeled in from a dock in the Bahamas- whatever it takes to have the wonderful benefits of fish in your diet!
(Just showing how much I love fish...)
