Most people understand the advantages of eating a balanced diet with the right amount of proteins, the correct proportion of healthy fats and a good selection of fruits and vegetables. Yet despite concerted efforts by the government to educate the Australian people about healthy diets, many people don't automatically include seafood in their weekly meal plans. It's as if they consider seafood to be a delicacy, but in reality it should be a staple part of their regular intake. Why is this?
Protein Sources
Protein is an essential part of any diet due to its health benefits and its ability to build and sustain muscle growth. The trick in a balanced diet is to get a good spread of protein without too much "unhealthy" fat. A number of animal protein sources should be consumed only in low amounts due to elevated levels of cholesterol and less than healthy fat. However, seafood is different, and it ticks all boxes in terms of healthy eating.
Advantages of Seafood
One of the main advantages of including seafood in your diet is its ability to provide you with essential omega-3 fatty acids. There are a variety of these different dietary benefits, and not many foods in the typical Western diet contain them. Seafood is a significant exception. Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties, which are very important in maintaining a healthy body. Apart from that, omega-3s can also counteract an imbalance of omega-6 fatty acids, which in too large of quantities can be detrimental.
Numbers
While omega-6 fats are also essential nutrients, if you eat too much of them without regulation, they can in turn promote inflammation by themselves. This can lead to the generation of diseases such as arthritis. It's important to get a good source of omega-3 fat on a regular basis to counteract this negative development.
Vegetarians and Seafood
Many people choose a vegetarian diet due to a perceived benefit in the longer term. While there are many studies showing that this can be the case, it's a good idea to consume some seafood every week as well to balance that diet out.
Different Types
Some of the best seafood choices for high levels of omega-3 oils are salmon, sardines and mackerel, but virtually any seafood has significant health benefits by itself. It's a good idea, therefore, to eat several different types of seafood and not just stick to one because it's familiar or because you think that you're doing enough by at least eating "some" type of fish.
Weekend Treats
You don't even need to completely change your diet in order to get the benefits associated with seafood. If you eat out once a week at a seafood restaurant such as Maisie's Seafood & Steakhouse, then you are certainly likely to reap the rewards, to say nothing of satisfying your palate.
Share24 January 2017
Cooking like a pro is an amazing thing. They do more than just heat up food and mix flavours. They create food that is truly soul satisfying art. Hi! My name is Mandy, and I love to cook. I have been cooking since I was old enough to pull a chair over to the stove, and now I want to help others learn about food and cooking. In this blog, I am going to cover tips on everything from buying food, to cooking, to choosing great restaurants. I hope that you like this blog! Thank you for reading and bon appetit!