Did you know that salmon is one of the most nutritious and healthy foods you could be serving on your plate?
Research has shown a whole plethora of benefits of eating salmon. So, we have decided to compile the Top 10 Benefits of eating salmon so that you can see for yourselves why this protein-rich fish should be making an appearance on your dinner table.
1 - Salmon is rich in Omega-3
Unlike most other fats, omega-3 fats are considered "essential," meaning you must get them from your diet since your body can't create them. Omega-3 is credited with several health benefits, such as decreasing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of cancer and improving the function of the cells that line your arteries.
2 - Salmon is high in protein
Like omega-3 fats, protein is an essential nutrient that you must get from your diet. Protein plays a number of important roles in the body, including helping your body heal after injury, protecting bone health and maintaining muscle mass during weight loss and the aging process.
3 - Salmon is high in B Vitamins
High in B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12, these vitamins are involved in several important processes in your body, including turning the food you eat into energy, creating and repairing DNA and reducing the inflammation that can lead to heart disease. It is also highly beneficial for brain function.
4 - Salmon is a great source of potassium
Whilst bananas are very good at providing potassium, providing 10% of your recommended daily intake (RDI), the equivalent amount of salmon provides 18%. Potassium is good for controlling your blood pressure and reducing your risk of stroke, whilst it also helps reduce the body's water retention, thus lowering weight.
5 - Salmon can help fight inflammation
Inflammatory disease can affect multiple parts of your body - your fingers, joints, soft tissue etc. Furthermore, many experts believe that inflammation is the root cause of most chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
6 - Salmon is loaded with selenium
Selenium is a mineral found in soil and certain foods. It's considered a trace mineral, meaning your body only needs tiny amounts of it. Nevertheless, getting enough selenium in your diet is important. Studies have shown that selenium helps protect bone health, decreases thyroid antibodies in people with autoimmune thyroid disease and may reduce the risk of cancer.
7 - Salmon contains a rare anti-oxidant
Astaxanthin is a compound linked to several powerful health effects. As a member of the carotenoid family of antioxidants. It gives salmon it's pink tinge. Astaxanthin can lower the risk of heart disease by reducing oxidation of Low Density Lipids (the "bad" cholesterol) and increasing High Density Lipids (the "good" cholesterol).
8 - Salmon can aid in weight control
Consuming salmon frequently can help stave off weight gain and even help you lose weight plus keep that weight off! Like other high-protein foods, it helps regulate the hormones that control appetite and make you feel full. In addition, your metabolic rate increases more after eating protein-rich foods like salmon, compared to other foods. Furthermore, research suggests that the omega-3 fats in salmon and other fatty fish may promote weight loss and decrease belly fat in overweight individuals.
9 - Salmon can improve & protect brain function
A growing number of studies suggest that including salmon in your diet might improve brain function. Both fatty fish and fish oil have been found to reduce depressive symptoms, protect brain health during pregnancy, decrease anxiety, slow age-related memory loss and lower the risk of dementia.
10 - Salmon can help reduce the risk of heart disease
Due to salmon's high concentration of Omega-3, it off-sets the bad Omega-6 fats. This helps reduce to LDL's in your blood, promote healthy blood pressure and lower triglycerides. Al in all, it helps improve cardiovascular circulation which thus helps reduce the risk of heart disease in later life. So there you have it! 10 amazing benefits of consuming salmon. Our in-hpouse nutritionists oth recommend you incorporate salmon into your diet at least once a week. We highly recommend this versatile dish, and you can find salmon recipes on our Members Zone to make it ever so easy to prep & eat!
Thanks for reading,
The Slim Transformation Team