There’s no denying the fact that fish is thought to be one of the healthiest foods out there, as noted by Healthline. For many people, fish may not be the most appetizing option, but the merits of eating a diet with a good amount of fish in it tend to outweigh any negatives. Additionally, eating fish is actually better for the environment than eating meat is, so many people have adopted pescatarian diets in order to reduce their carbon footprints, according to Oceana.org. And it turns out that there are some fish most people aren’t eating that they definitely should be.
That said, is fish really that good for you? Are the positive effects of eating fish really worth it? Moreover, what happens to your body when you eat fish every day? Well, the truth is a little more complicated than you might think. While fish is certainly a healthy source of protein and does have a lot of perks, that doesn’t necessarily mean that eating it every day will change your entire life. On the other hand, there could be a lot of changes to your body if you were to incorporate fish into your daily diet.
You may boost your brain’s health if you eat fish every day
There’s no denying the fact that fish is thought to be one of the healthiest foods out there, as noted by Healthline. For many people, fish may not be the most appetizing option, but the merits of eating a diet with a good amount of fish in it tend to outweigh any negatives. Additionally, eating fish is actually better for the environment than eating meat is, so many people have adopted pescatarian diets in order to reduce their carbon footprints, according to Oceana.org. And it turns out that there are some fish most people aren’t eating that they definitely should be.
That said, is fish really that good for you? Are the positive effects of eating fish really worth it? Moreover, what happens to your body when you eat fish every day? Well, the truth is a little more complicated than you might think. While fish is certainly a healthy source of protein and does have a lot of perks, that doesn’t necessarily mean that eating it every day will change your entire life. On the other hand, there could be a lot of changes to your body if you were to incorporate fish into your daily diet.
You may boost your brain’s health if you eat fish every day
Much as your brain and cognitive abilities tend to decline as you get older, so does your vision. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults (usually older adults), and it’s definitely something people want to prevent if they can. That said, one way to decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration is to add fish to your daily diet.
In fact, according to one study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (via National Institutes of Health), “fish intake, the major source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.” Specifically, “eating oily fish at least once per week compared with less than once per week was associated with a halving of the odds of [neovascular age-related macular degeneration],” the study noted. Now, this doesn’t mean that eating fish every day will give you X-ray vision or mean that you don’t need glasses anymore, but all the omega-3s and healthy fats in fish can assist in preventing age-related macular degeneration, according to Healthline, which is a pretty big deal.
If you’re pregnant, eating fish every day could help your baby’s health
If you’re pregnant or have ever been pregnant, then chances are, you’ve heard all about the kinds of foods you can’t eat while growing a human. Not too much caffeine, no deli meat, no alcohol, and so on. However, eating fish while pregnant is great. Well, within reason. Because fish is high in mercury, “pregnant women should only eat low-mercury fish, such as salmon, sardines, and trout, and no more than 12 ounces (340 grams) per week,” according to Healthline. And pregnant women should also only eat cooked fish, per the site.
That said, the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) found in fish are great for growing a healthy baby. According to a study published in the Journal of Perinatal Medicine (via National Institutes of Health), “the fetus and neonate should receive LC-PUFA in amounts sufficient to support optimal visual and cognitive development.” But that’s not all. The study also found that “the consumption of oils rich in n-3 LC-PUFA during pregnancy reduces the risk for early premature birth,” noting, “Pregnant and lactating women should aim to achieve an average daily intake of at least 200 mg DHA.”
Fish is awesome when you’re pregnant — just don’t eat more than 12 ounces each week.
You may be less likely to suffer a heart attack if you eat fish every day
Just about everyone wants to have a healthy heart. According to the World Health Organization, heart disease is a leading cause of premature death across the globe. Naturally, you would want to do everything you can to prevent that from happening to you. Because of all the omega-3s in fish, it’s one of the healthiest foods for your heart, according to Healthline.
Additionally, numerous studies have linked an increase in eating fish with a healthier heart and a decreased risk of heart disease or failure. According to one study published in Public Health Nutrition (via National Institutes of Health), “either low (1 serving/week) or moderate fish consumption (2-4 servings/week) has a significantly beneficial effect on the prevention of [coronary heart disease] mortality.” Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (via NIH) found that “modest fish consumption was associated with a lower risk of total cardiovascular disease, consistent with cardiac mortality.” And finally, yet another study published in Medical Science Monitor (via NIH) discovered that “long-term fish intake is associated with reduced levels of the most common cardiovascular disease risk markers in a cohort of elderly people.”
In short, eating fish every day might just make you less susceptible to heart attacks, and that’s a pretty good reason to eat up.
Source: The List
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