Seafood refers to several species of animals, including:
- Fish;
- crustaceans, such as lobsters and shrimp;
- mollusks, such as the same oysters;
- echinoderms, like sea urchins.
Fish, shrimp, mussels, and all these marine companions have their perks. There’s a reason they’re included in the Mediterranean diet. Here are just a few good reasons to take a closer look at them on the supermarket shelf.
Seafood is rich in nutrients
If you have to single out just one plus point about seafood, perhaps it would be this one. Seafood is rich in nutrients, including B-complex vitamins and vitamin A.
Some fish, such as tuna, even contains vitamin D, which is good for bones and the immune system.
So, when you add some seafood to your plate, you are covering your body’s nutrient needs. This is especially true for those people who have a meager diet for various reasons. As well as those who have low levels of nutrients in their blood.
Seafood improves brain function
Let’s be honest, we all want to have clear and active brain function, stay energetic longer and not get tired before we should. The good news is that the omega-3 acids in seafood can help us do just that.
It is the omega-3 fatty acids that we need to keep our cognitive functions in check. In infants, it’s for brain growth and development; in the elderly, it’s for protection against Alzheimer’s disease. All in all, seafood from this perspective, is a pretty powerful product.
Seafood is good for the heart
A healthy heart is important to everyone and at any age. Naturally, diet alone is not enough, and the issue of cardiovascular health should be approached in a holistic manner. But! Seafood is rich in protein and low in saturated fat, not to mention the fact that it contains, again, omega-3’s, which can really help heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Seafood can help you maintain your eyesight
It’s those fatty acids again! What can you do, but when it comes to seafood and vision, it’s all about those omega-3s again. Eating seafood on a regular basis can really help your vision stay intact.
Seafood improves the condition of your skin
Who doesn’t love a nourished, moisturized and youthful looking skin? The composition of seafood is exactly what saturates the body with everything that is good for the skin. And as a result, you get healthy, clear skin on your face and body.
Seafood may help fight depression
A new study on omega-3 fatty acids (found in seafood) and depression has found that eating seafood may not only lower your risk of depression, but may also help treat it and give you a more positive outlook on life.