4 Benefits of Eating Salmon

There are plenty of foods you can eat that are incredibly good for you, from leafy green vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, and of course, fish—especially salmon. If you’re trying to move towards a healthier diet and lifestyle, introducing more of this delicious fish into your meal plans is a great place to start. Even if you aren’t overly keen on fish or seafood, try to give salmon a chance because it has many health benefits that make it worthy of ending up on your plate, and here are just four of them.

1. It Contains Omega-3

Salmon is packed with omega-3 fats, which do a lot for your body. They can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and can aid with inflammation, which is why eating salmon as part of a healthy diet can help those with arthritis. Omega-3 is also thought to help ease feelings of depression as it’s good for your brain. If you’re completely against fish but still want to get plenty of omega-3 goodness, try introducing more foods such as walnuts, flaxseeds, and spinach into your diet instead.

2. It is High in Protein

Another perk of eating more salmon is that it’s very high in protein, which is great for those who are trying to maintain a healthy weight. The reason for this is because protein can make you feel fuller for longer, therefore reducing your cravings to snack between meals, which then lowers your daily calorie intake. Yes, you can still get a lot of protein from red meats, so why swap for salmon? The reason you should do this is that red meats contain a lot more saturated fat than fish, so while they are a good source of protein, they aren’t the healthiest source of it.

3. It is Versatile

Some meats or fish don’t always mix well with certain ingredients, which means you have to think more carefully when it comes to meal planning each week. While salmon might not go well with everything, it certainly is a very versatile fish that can be delicious in pasta dishes, seafood stews, fish pie, poached, roasted, baked, or fried. The better the quality of salmon you can get your hands on, the more delicious the dish, so shop around to find the best you can afford. If you have noticed a slight difference in salmon color when you’re shopping, this is usually an indicator of whether the salmon is wild or has been farmed. Both are good to eat, but wild salmon is best.

4. It Contains B Vitamins

As well as being packed full of omega-3 and a great source of protein, salmon is also full of enriching B vitamins—B1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 12, to be precise. All of these vitamins help your body to function properly, and can also contribute to keeping your heart healthy and aiding your nervous system and brain function. It’s incredibly important to make sure your body is getting plenty of vitamins each day, and salmon can help you cover your daily dose of B vitamins.

Fish might not be your favorite food to eat, but if you want to maintain a healthy diet you need to make sure you’re including it. Salmon is a delicious, meaty fish with so many health benefits that you should give it a chance and see how much better it can make you feel.