Reasons You Should Be Eating More Fish

Fish packs a nutritional punch that can help your mind, your body, and even your skin. Here are some reasons to load up on this Superfood from the sea.

 

Fish is one of the most beneficial protein sources for your diet. It's filled with essential nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, and is a great source of protein to keep your body lean and your muscles strong. Fish doesn't only impact your waistline, but also other functions of your body including your liver, brain, and even your sleep. So make sure you're incorporating fish into your diet to reap these health benefits of fish.

 

1. It Lowers Risk of Heart Disease

According to research, fish consumption is associated with a lower risk of fatal and total coronary heart disease. Fish is high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids which can reduce inflammation, help protect your heart, and stave off chronic disease.

 

2.It Reduces Risk of Alzheimer's disease

Essential for your brain, moderate seafood consumption was linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. A study found that those who consume fish regularly had more grey brain matter, which reduces brain shrinkage and deterioration that can lead to brain function complications.

 

3.It's a Great Source of Vitamin D

Fish are high in vitamin D, and are considered one of the best dietary sources for this essential nutrient. Vitamin D is beneficial for calcium absorption for bone health and growth. Because nearly 70% of the population does not meet RDA of vitamin D every year, it will certainly be helpful if you add more of this nutrient-dense food to your diet.

4.It Helps Improve Vision and Eye Health

Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial to improving vision and eye health. This is because the brain and eyes are heavily concentrated in omega-3 fatty acids and need them to maintain their health and function. Fish is one of the best sources of these good fats.

 

5.It Can Help You Sleep Better

If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, eating more fish may do the trick. According to a study, increased consumption of fish improved quality of sleep for most subjects. Researchers suspect that this is due to fish's high concentration of vitamin D, which aids in sleep

 

6.It Helps Fight Acne

Whether you have hormonal or adult acne, fish can help alleviate your skin. A study noted that fish oil is beneficial to clearing skin for people with moderate to severe acne.

 

7.It's Helpful in Alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, which is chronic inflammation of your joints, eating more fish can help alleviate the swelling and pain. It’s been found that higher consumption of fish actually lowers disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

 

8.It's a Lean Meat

Fish is a great source of protein without the high saturated fat content that many other types of meat have. It is recommended that you eat two servings of fish per week, preferably fatty fish, which have higher omega-3 fatty acid content.

 

9.It Helps Lower Cholesterol

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil assist in lowering LDL levels (also known as "bad" cholesterol levels) in the body. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish are known to help lower cholesterol-building lipids in the blood.

 

10.It Decreases Risk of Heart Failure

Fish has a very heart-healthy reputation, and for good reason. A moderate consumption of fish will help lower risk of heart failure, due to its high concentration of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

 

11.It Lowers Risk of Strokes

Another way that fish helps your brain health is by decreasing the risk of strokes. The high omega-3 fatty acid content in fish helps lower risk of strokes

 

12.It Decreases the Risk of Autoimmune Disease

Eating fatty fish can actually help prevent autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Fish's high vitamin D content assists in your body's immunity and glucose metabolism.

 

13.It Lowers Risk of Cancer

Fish can even lower risk of certain cancers, A study has shown that people who had a high consumption of fish actually have a lowered risk of digestive cancers, such as oral cavity, pharynx, colon and pancreas cancers, in comparison to those who ate lower amounts of fish.

 

14.It Speeds Up Your Metabolism

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are abundant in fish, have a positive effect on your metabolism. The study noted that this healthy fat boosted resting and exercise metabolic rates, as well as fat oxidation, in older women.

 

15.It Lowers Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure, incorporating more fish into your diet may help lower it. A study found that fish oil is helpful in lowering blood pressure due to its high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids.

 

16.It Helps Treat Liver Disease

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish have also been shown to help treat liver disease. Omega-3 helps break down triglycerides and fatty acids in the liver, lowering the risk of fatty liver disease.

 

17.It Helps Athletes Recover Faster

Fish contains nutrients that are extremely beneficial in helping athletes recover from fatigue and help in muscle regeneration. Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, which are heavily prominent in most fatty fish, play a big role in post-exercise muscle regeneration and fatigue recovery.

Claire Edwards