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Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Be Eating Fish Daily

Eating fish on a daily basis results in incredible health benefits that anyone can take advantage of.

By BuzzwordPublished 5 years ago 3 min read

Fish is an extremely healthy source of meat. It contains high-protein, and is a low-fat food that brings in plenty of health benefits to the body. For example, white-fleshed fish is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and fatty fish have a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids, or the "healthy" fats. Since the human body cannot produce these essential nutrients in significant quantities, fish is an important addition of our diets. Also, fish have very little omega-6 fatty acids that are commonly found in red meat, which are considered "bad" fats.

1. Essential Nutrients

Fish are loaded with many important nutrients that most people are lacking. These are things such as high-quality protein, iodine, and various vitamins and minerals. Fatty species like salmon, trout, sardines, tuna, and mackerel, are considered the healthiest. This is because they're higher in fat-based nutrients. One nutrient is vitamin D, a fat-soluble nutrient. Fatty fish also have omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for having optimal body and brain function which are strongly associated with a reduced risk of many diseases.

2. Reduces Risk Of Autoimmune Diseases

An autoimmune disease is when your immune system starts attacking healthy body tissues. Studies link omega-3 or fish oil intake to a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes in children and a form of autoimmune diabetes in adults.

3. Helps With Depression

It's been discovered that people who eat fish regularly are much less likely to become depressed. Numerous controlled studies revealed omega-3 fatty acids can fight depression and significantly increase the effectiveness of antidepressants. It's also believed to affect other mental conditions, like bipolar disorder.

4. Improves Quality Of Sleep

Sleep disorders are common in this day and age. Many believe it's due to an increased exposure to blue light, but some believe that vitamin D deficiency may be contributing to the issue. In a 6-month study with 95 middle-aged men who ate a salmon meal 3 times per week, they showed an improvement in their sleep, and also their ability to complete day to day functions. Researchers think this was because of the high vitamin D content within the fish.

5. Helps The Brain Keep Healthy

Our mental health slowly declines naturally as we all age. Many studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly have a slower rate of mental decline. Studies also showed people had more grey matter in their brains, which is the majority of the tissue that regulates emotion and memory.

6. Important Nutrients Used For Growth

The omega-3 fat docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is crucial for brain and eye development. It’s often recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women eat enough omega-3 fatty acids for their babies. Though pregnant women should avoid eating too much, as some fish are high in mercury, which can lead to other development issues. This is why it's recommended they eat low-mercury fish like salmon, sardines, and trout.

7. Helps Maintain Good Vision With Age

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness that mostly affects older adults. Studies have shown women eating fish was linked to a 42% lower risk of having an AMD, while another study showed eating fish once per week lead to a 53% decreased risk of neovascular AMD.

8. Lower Risk Of Heart Related Health Issues

Several large observational studies have shown people who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death from heart disease. A study reviewed over 40,000 men in the United States regularly eat one or more servings of fish per week. These men showed a 15% lower risk of heart disease. The researchers believe that fatty fish are even more beneficial for heart health because of their high omega-3 fatty acid content.

9. High Source Of Vitamin D

Fish are some of the best sources of vitamin D. Fatty fish like salmon and herring have the greatest amounts. Some fish oils, such as cod liver oil, are incredibly high in vitamin D, providing more than 200% of the Daily Value (DV) in a single tablespoon, which on average is 15 ml.

10. Prevents Asthma In Young Children

Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell, and may produce extra mucus. The number of cases has grown significantly over the recent decades. Studies show regular fish consumption is associated with a 24% lower risk of asthma in children. Though eating fish has not shown any results with asthma in adults.

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