Anyone who takes a healthy eating plan seriously will know that adding seafood to their diet has numerous benefits. Some people might actually decide to give up red meat completely and focus on the health benefits of different types of seafood. But is this healthy? Can you eat seafood every day?
The Effects of Eating Seafood Every day
Many people opt for pescatarian diets where they abandon eating any form of red meat in an attempt to reduce their carbon footprints. This is largely because seafood has a much lower impact on space and freshwater than the requirements of land-based food products. Let’s take a look at how this affects your health.
Is It Healthy To Eat Seafood Every Day?
There’s no secret that certain types of seafood have numerous health benefits. Health experts agree that eating seafood in moderation every day doesn’t have any negative effects. In fact, eating seafood every day is a wonderful way to keep autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes at bay.
Eating seafood every day is a simple and effective way to get the vital nutrients needed to create a healthy balance in your body. Moreover, seafood is a “one-stop source” meaning you get all these nutrients from a simple piece of seafood. With red meat, you often have to add additional vegetables to get a similar nutrient content.
What Happens If You Eat Seafood Every Day?
When it comes to eating seafood, there’s another fact that experts agree on and it’s that we don’t eat nearly as much seafood as we should. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults should eat at least 8 to 12 oz (or two servings) of seafood every week.
Furthermore, for most people there don’t seem to be any adverse effects for people who opt to eat seafood every day. It’s of course crucial to create a balance with the seafood selections. With the wide diversity of seafood types, it should be amazingly easy to find a healthy variety for daily meals.
The health benefits of eating seafood every day include:
- Boost brain health: The high content of omega-3 works wonders in promoting a healthy brain. A healthy intake of omega-3 has also been associated with reducing cognitive decline associated with age.
- Improves eye health: Consuming oily fish at least once per week is known to halve the odds of developing degenerative eye disorders associated with age.
- Less risk of heart attack: Another plus of omega-3 is that it greatly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
- Aids with improving baby’s health during pregnancy: Cooked low-mercury fish is healthy to eat during pregnancy provided it’s no more than 12 oz (340 grams) per week. Omega-3 and LC-PUFA found in fish are great for visual and cognitive development. It also reduces the risk of premature birth. Lobster meat is also a great source of the nutrients growing fetuses need.
- Reduces the risk of diabetes in children: Current studies show that consuming cod liver oil may lower the risk of contracting type 1 diabetes in children. Fatty fish such as tuna also increase their omega-3 intake.
- Reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases: Recent years have seen a sharp rise in autoimmune diseases around the world. While eating a daily supply of seafood won’t prevent you from getting any of the many autoimmune diseases, it will greatly reduce the risks.
- Aids better sleep: Longer working hours mean the average person spends less time out in the sun and as a result, doesn’t absorb necessary vitamin D. A lack of vitamin D reduces effective sleeping patterns. By eating more seafood that’s rich in vitamin D, you’ll sleep better!
What is Mercury Poisoning and How Dangerous is it?
The primary reason some people consider seafood to be too risky to eat every day is because of the mercury content found in some seafood. Fish and shellfish absorb mercury in their environment and aren’t able to shed this chemical from their bodies.
Eating seafood that has excessively high quantities of mercury can be harmful, and even fatal to babies and children. Always check the mercury content in seafood and ensure that you don’t consecutively eat seafood with a high-mercury content.
A few common seafood types with high mercury content are:
- Swordfish
- Tilefish
- King mackerel
- Marlin
- Orange roughy
- Ahi tuna
- Bigeye tuna
- Shark
What Seafood Options are Healthiest to Eat Every Day
As we’ve already mentioned, the expert tip for eating seafood every day is moderation and variation. To enjoy the full benefits of seafood, use healthy cooking methods like boiling and steaming.
Some of the healthier seafood options to use when creating your weekly meal, consider the following:
- Haddock
- Trout
- Cod
- Mackerel
- Sardines
- Salmon
- Tuna in oil
- Crab
- Mussels
- Shrimp
- Lobster
- Crayfish
- Oysters
- Clams
- Scallops
- Squid
Read More:
Can Children Eat Seafood Every Day?
Children will benefit from the nutritional perks of eating seafood every day. The only real criteria are that the servings are smaller and should be different options everyday. Children ages 6 to 12 should limit their seafood intake to about 3 oz per week. Including seafood in salads, soups and pasta dishes is a fantastic way to get all the nutritional value in a full meal.
Final Thoughts
While it’s true that eating seafood every day won’t solve all your health problems, there’s no doubt that your body will reap the benefits. The real trick to having a successful seafood diet is to research purine and mercury levels in different types of seafood.
Ensure your options are varied and select healthy preparation methods. Be sure to add vegetables and salads to neutralize any extensive purine levels. Creating a healthy balance with your seafood is the best way to enjoy seafood every day!