October is National Seafood Month, which means folks from all over are celebrating the genuine goodness of Alabama Gulf Seafood. And Birmingham Seafood Week, an event sponsored by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, is coming up October 23-27.
Seems like the perfect time to remind y’all about the many health benefits of eating fresh Alabama Gulf Seafood at least twice a week. Read up, then dig in!
It’s widely known among seafood fans—and foodies of every caliber, for that matter—that fresh seafood is healthy for you.
And yet most of America still isn’t eating seafood like they should.
Thankfully, the fine folks at the Seafood Nutrition Partnership are spreading the good news about the health benefits of seafood from coast to coast to coast.
According to the USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans, eating seafood just twice a week is a key component to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, only 1 in 5 Americans abide by this recommendation.
We here at Alabama Gulf Seafood think this is a message worth spreading—after all, the longer you live, the more fresh Gulf seafood you get to eat, right? So we want to pass the message on to our supporters.
Here are a few reasons why eating seafood is an important health choice.
It Reduces Risk of Heart Disease
Accounting for nearly 600,000 deaths, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. More than cancer, even.
Thankfully, there are ways to combat this risk. And eating just 8oz of seafood per week has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent.
It Provides Better Brain and Eye Health for Babies
If you’re expecting a new bundle of joy soon, make sure you’ve got fresh Gulf seafood on the menu.
Studies have shown that moms-to-be who eat between 8oz and 12oz of seafood per week will see a better outcome for brain and eye health in their babies—and an IQ boost of 5.8+ points!
So if you want your babies to be smarter, well, eating Gulf seafood is the smart thing to do.
It’ll Help You Live Longer
You’ve heard the phrase “eat fish, live longer.” Well, that ain’t just a saying.
Older adults whose blood samples contain the highest traces of fatty acids found in fish are more likely to live longer—a whole 2.2 years longer, in fact.
Think of all the extra days of playing with your grandkids that would be. Heck, you could even go back to grad school.
It’s Full of Things Your Body Needs
Plain and simple, seafood is full of all kinds of good stuff for your body.
There’s omega-3 fatty acids, which are a key component in preventing heart disease. And as it turns out, fish and shellfish are the two main dietary sources of omega-3s. Doctors recommend 500 milligrams a day, which adds up to 3oz of mackerel and oysters, or 6oz of red snapper, flounder, and grouper.
Fish and shellfish also happen to be an excellent source of protein. In fact, just a 6oz serving of seafood is more than 100 percent of the protein adults need in their daily diets.
But wait, there’s more. Whatever type of seafood you order up, you can bet it’ll be full of essential vitamins and minerals. All fish are great sources of Vitamin B, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and other minerals. Fattier fish like tuna and seatrout contain lots of Vitamin D and Vitamin D as well, and oysters are great sources of iron, zinc, copper, iodine, and magnesium.
It’s Low in Fat and Calories
Aside from being full of good things for your body, seafood is low on bad things for your body.
Gulf seafood is lower in cholesterol than red meat and poultry, but you’ll be short on calories as well. All seafood is low in calories, but lean fish like flounder (100 calories per 3oz) and even fattier fish like mackerel (200 calories per 3oz) will serve you well.Speaking of fats, you won’t find much of the bad kinds in Gulf seafood. All types of seafood are low in both total fat and saturated fat, and as an added bonus, they’re naturally low in sodium as well.So, let’s put it all into perspective.
All of the above benefits…by eating fresh, delicious Gulf seafood just twice a week? Seems like a no-brainer to us.
And remember, whenever you’re ordering seafood from your neighborhood market or local restaurant, make sure you’re ordering fresh, local product—that way you’ll be getting the best stuff, and you’ll be keeping Alabama’s economy healthy while you’re at it.
If you’re looking for fresh Gulf seafood in your city, we can help you find it.
For more information on the health benefits of eating Alabama Gulf Seafood, visit SeafoodHealthFacts.org, SeafoodSource.com, EatGulfSeafood.com, and NOAA’s FishWatch.
