Why Eat Salmon? It's Good For You!

With the advent of superfoods, researchers are finding that these foods are powerful enough to help reduce the risk of heart disease, lower our cholesterol levels and help prevent cancer. Nutritionists now promote superfoods, as something that can indeed have a profound effect on our overall health. Even healthy people can improve their lives with the addition of these foods. As food is shown to have a profound effect, both positive and negative, on our bodies, people are now much more aware of what they are eating. Eating the right foods can totally change our lives for the better.

One superfood that is very popular with nutritionists is salmon. Wild salmon is very high in proteins, while at the same time is very low in calories. What it is best known for is its high concentration of omega 3 fatty acids. The only way our bodies can get the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids is through eating foods that are rich in them. These fats are known to be very helpful in the prevention of cancer, as well as helping to improve our cardiovascular functions. Recent studies also show that these fatty acids can help improve our brain function and studies are currently being done to test the value of omega 3 fatty acids in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

The American Heart Association also promotes salmon as a heart healthy food. Clinical trials have shown that salmon helps to lower cholesterol, and thereby helps in the reduction of heart disease. As well, it shows that it significantly helps to lower our triglyceride levels. The AHA recommends eating two servings a week. With salmon salad, canned salmon for lunches as well as salmon for dinner once a week, this is an easily attainable goal. Most canned salmon is wild and includes an added benefit of soft bones. Don't remove these, but mash them up as they also have health benefits.

Another important nutrient we get from eating wild salmon is Vitamin D. Studies have shown that many people in North America are actually vitamin D deficient. This is a cause for great concern as vitamin D is essential in the building of strong healthy bones. During the winter time, many people do not get enough sun, and therefore must supplement their diet with vitamin D. Even young babies that are breast fed are not receiving enough vitamin D from their mother's milk, and doctors are worried about the return of rickets and soft bone disease. Nursing mothers are encouraged to eat wild salmon, due its high content of Vitamin D.

Salmon eggs are also an excellent superfood. Indigenous people worldwide have for centuries used salmon eggs as a part of a healthy diet. These eggs are rich in vitamin A, D, Zinc, as well as high in omega 3 fatty acids. They also contain a fat soluble substance that helps our bodies to absorb, as well as utilize minerals, and at the same time has an important role for our nervous system as well as our brains. It's important in the rebuilding of our body tissues as well as repairing our bone and teeth.

It is recommended that one make sure that the salmon you are eating is wild salmon, and not farm salmon. A debate rages around the value of farmed salmon, and both sides have their own arguments, as to its value as opposed to harmful aspects of farm fish. Until the debate is settled one way or the other, it's best to err on the side of caution and choose only wild salmon.

Salmon recipes abound and using it in salads or just serving it for dinner, you'll find a wide variety of different dishes that you can prepare for your family. Best of all, besides being good for you, it's actually delicious to eat.

source : articlesnatch