Dietary and nutritional content reviewed by Jasmin Gorostiza, DT, DM, DSS, CFPP.️
Eating fish is good for us. They’re packed with a lot of important vitamins and nutrients our body needs to stay healthy. They’re also a great source of protein if we’re not much into eating meat.
Unfortunately, some fish can be quite challenging to eat. Some can be smelly, while some can leave that weird taste in our mouth.
Given those reasons, some people don’t enjoy eating fish. There are also some people who don’t really like the taste of fish.
However, there is this one kind of fish that really tastes amazing. It’s salmon. This juicy, pink-fleshed fish is simply delicious.
Salmon is not just delicious; it’s also one of the very few fishes that don’t have a weird smell.
It’s high time that we include salmon in our diet. Here are 11 healthy reasons why we should do just that.
11. Delicious and Versatile
Salmon is undeniably delicious. It has a unique, delicate flavor with a less “fishy” taste than many other fatty fish, such as sardines and mackerel. It is also extremely versatile. It can be steamed, sautéed, smoked, grilled, baked or poached. It can also be served raw in sushi and sashimi.
10. May Protect Brain Health
A growing number of studies suggest that including salmon in our diet might improve brain function.Frequent salmon consumption may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, protect fetal brain health in pregnancy and decrease the risk of age-related memory problems.
9. Can Help Fight Inflammation
Salmon can be a powerful weapon against inflammation. Salmon and other fatty fish can help lower inflammation, which may reduce risk factors for several diseases and improve symptoms in people with inflammatory conditions.
8. May Benefit Weight Control
Consuming salmon may help us control our weight by reducing appetite, boosting metabolic rate, increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing belly fat.
7. May Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease
This is due, in large part, to salmon’s ability to boost omega-3s in the blood. Many people have too many omega-6 fatty acids in their blood, in relation to omega-3s.
6. Contains The Antioxidant Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a compound linked to several powerful health effects. As a member of the carotenoid family of antioxidants, astaxanthin gives salmon its red pigment. What’s more, astaxanthin may even help prevent skin damage and help us look younger.
5. Loaded With Selenium
Selenium is a mineral found in soil and certain foods. It’s considered a trace mineral, meaning our body only needs tiny amounts of it. Nevertheless, getting enough selenium in our diet is important.
4. Good Source of Potassium
Salmon is quite high in potassium. 100 grams of salmon provide 11–18% of the RDI of potassium, which helps control blood pressure and prevent excess fluid retention.
3. High in B Vitamins
Salmon is an excellent source of several B vitamins, which are needed for energy production, controlling inflammation and protecting heart and brain health.
2. Great Source of Protein
Salmon is rich in high-quality protein. Like omega-3 fats, protein is an essential nutrient that must be consumed through our diet.
1. Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Salmon is one of the best sources of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Unlike most other fats, omega-3 fats are considered “essential,” meaning we must get them from our diet since our body can’t create them. As for how much fish to eat, consuming at least two servings of salmon per week can help meet our omega-3 fatty acid needs.
We can enjoy salmon in so many ways. We can eat it raw, steamed, fried, or even baked. No matter how we prepare salmon, it’s going to taste amazing.
The best thing about eating salmon is that it’s good for us. To learn more about it, visit this very informative website that can tell you more about the healthy benefits of salmon.
