Not only does wild Alaska seafood taste amazing, it makes you feel great too! The average American eats seafood less than twice a week- a shame considering how much it can enhance your overall health. The Omega-3s in wild Alaska seafood leave you feeling alert and satisfied and aid in everything from heart heart to vision. Here are the top benefits of eating Alaska seafood.
HEART HEALTH
The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of seafood per week for for a healthy heart. In fact, eating the recommended amount could lower your chance of dying from heart disease. In Japan, where they eat seafood 2-8 times per week, occurrence of heart disease is much lower than in the U.S. The Omega-3s in seafood reduce inflammation, an underlying cause of heart disease.
PREGNANCY AND INFANCY
The Omega-3 called DHA is almost exclusively found in seafood. Maternal diets are typically low in DHA, so eating seafood during pregnancy is beneficial to you and your baby. During the last three months of pregnancy, the baby takes large amounts of DHA from the mother. Mothers who eat fish during their pregnancy and while they're nursing, ensure their babies get enough DHA for proper eye and brain development.
Salmon can often be hard to handle in the first trimester of pregnancy (I couldn't even look at a picture of it, which made running this business a bit tricky). Give a milder fish like cod or halibut a try during this time. Smart Source Seafood only processes small halibut under 30 lbs. from our fishermen, so you don't have to worry about the high mercury content that can be found is older, large halibut.
By the second trimester, I was able to handle lots of salmon. While breastfeeding , I eat it 3-4 times a week. Here's a helpful chart from Alaska Public Health showing what kind of seafood is best to consume during pregnancy, and how often you should enjoy it.
HEALTHY VISION
Omega-3s are vital for healthy vision and retinal function. Eating Alaska seafood, rich in Omega-3s may lower the chance of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). If AMD develops, eating seafood regular may slow or prevent the development of advanced AMD. DHA is also beneficial for healthy eyes in babies and developing fetuses. Before birth, the developing eye begins the accumulate DHA and after birth, the infants brain and nervous system continue to grow and add DHA. Eventually, the retina in the eye contains a higher concentration of DHA than any other tissue in the body.
BRAIN FUNCTION
Omega-3s are linked to sharper brain function. You may lower your risk of Alzheimer's by consuming Omega-3s and they can also help with depression. Also, a baby's brain needs DHA for proper growth. Without it, there's a greater chance of dyslexia, ADHD, and conditions affecting movement and coordination.
IMMUNE FUNCTION
Omega-3s help decrease inflammation, which may tone down overactive immune response. For example, seafood Omega-3s may promote immune system maturation in infancy and lessen the symptoms of childhood allergies or delay their onset. Research also suggests that increased Omega-3 consumption may ease the symptoms of some inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, certain allergies and digestive disorders. *Note: While seafood Omega-3s can work to relieve the symptoms of these conditions, they will not cure them.
DIABETES
Research suggests that higher consumption of Omega-3s may have a positive effect on glucose and insulin metabolism. These fatty acids also tone down the inflammatory processes that contribute to diabetes.
Information from Alaska Seafood's "Benefits of Eating Alaska Seafood in Plain English."
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