I mean it when I say you need to increase your intake of fish. Those animals with scales and fins aren't only beautiful to behold, but they are loaded with so many nutrients beneficial to your body from the hair of your head to the soles of your feet.
Fish is one of the healthiest foods on the planet and if you have been depriving yourself of this super healthy 'animal', you've got to do better from this day forward!
What's so special about eating fish, you might be asking?
Also Read: The Health Benefits of Panla Fish: A Nutritional Breakdown
WHY SHOULD I EAT FISH?
1. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY NUTRITIVE FOODS ON EARTH.
2. FISH CAN LOWER YOUR RISK OF HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES.
Heart attacks and strokes are wrecking havocs in the world today. As they are affecting the old, they are crumbling the young. To have a healthy heart, you should eat heart-healthy foods and you can never go wrong with fish!
Research has shown that people who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death from heart diseases.
Also Read: 10 Types of Fish in Nigeria
3. FISH CONTAINS NUTRIENTS CRUCIAL FOR FETAL DEVELOPMENTS.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the growth and development of the fetus. It contains a particular fat known as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which is especially important for brain and eye development. Therefore, it’s recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women eat enough omega-3 fatty acids.
Pregnant women are however advised to abstain from fish that are high in mercury as they are linked to brain developmental problems.
4. FISH HELPS BOOST YOUR BRAIN AND MEMORY HEALTH AS YOU AGE.
While it is normal for the brain and memory functions to decline with aging, there are serious neurodegenerative ailments like Alzheimer’s disease that can mess the whole memory up without mercy.
Research has shown that people who eat fish every week have slower rates of mental decline because they have more gray matter — the brain’s major functional tissue — in the parts of the brain that regulate emotion and memory.
READ ALSO: DON'T GIVE UP NOW: STAYING COMMITTED TO YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
5. FISH MAY HELP PREVENT AND TREAT DEPRESSION
Depression is currently one of the world’s biggest health problems. It is characterized by low mood, sadness, decreased energy, and loss of interest in life and activities.
However, studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly are much less likely to become depressed as omega-3 fatty acids may fight depression and significantly increase the effectiveness of antidepressant medications. In short, fish is a good-mood food.
6. FISH IS A VERY GOOD SOURCE OF VITAMIN D.
Vitamin D functions like a steroid hormone in your body but so many people in the world are deficient of this important nutrient. Some of the best sources of Vitamin D are fish and fish products with fatty fish like salmon and herring containing the highest amounts. Some fish oils, such as cod liver oil, are also very high in vitamin D, providing more than 200% of the Daily Value (DV) in a single tablespoon (15 ml).
7. FISH MAY REDUCE YOUR RISK OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.
Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissues and Omega-3 or fish oil intake has been shown to help prevent or combat this. The omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D in fish and fish oils may be responsible for this awesome miracle.
8. MORE FISH, MORE GLOWY SKIN
Yes, fish gives you that special glow your skin needs! Fish provides beneficial omega-3 fatty acids that decrease inflammation. This lessens the chance of your skin looking all puffy. Fish are also an excellent source of protein which helps maintain skin elasticity and structure.
9. FISH MAY IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY
Sleep disorders have become incredibly common worldwide and while an increased exposure to blue light may play a role, it is believed that vitamin D deficiency can also be a factor. In a 6-month study in 95 middle-aged men, a meal with salmon 3 times per week led to improvements in both sleep and daily functioning and researchers have speculated that this was caused by the vitamin D content.
Also Read: How to make Grilled Peppered Croaker Fish Like a Pro Chef
10. FISH HELPS TO FIGHT ACNE
Whether you have hormonal or adult acne, fish can help alleviate your skin. Fish oil has been found to be beneficial to clearing skin for people with moderate to severe acne.
11. 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.
12. IT LOWERS RISK OF CANCER
Fish can even lower risk of certain cancers as a study showed that people who had a high consumption of fish actually had 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.
READ ALSO: 5 TYPES OF NIGERIAN PEPPER SOUP YOU SHOULD TRY
With all this being said, isn't it obvious we all can benefit from eating more fish? A good place to start is by eating it twice a week.
You can make fish stew, grilled peppered fish, fish and veggies stir-fry, fish pepper soup and so on.
At My Sasun African Store, we have varieties of fish that you can choose from. Mackerel fish, Nina Fried Tilapia Fish, Olsen Stock Fish Bits, Sasun Boney Fish, Smoked Panla Fish, Smoked Asa Fish, Smoked Kini Fish, Smoked Mangala Fish, Red Snapper Fish, Smoked Catfish, Olsen Stockfish Steaks, Croaker, Catfish.
What’s your favorite fish or seafood? And what meal do you love to make your fish with? Use the comment box below.
