5 Top Reasons To Add Fish To Your Diet

Although many people already love the taste of a good fish dinner, others just aren't convinced about seafood and simply prefer to keep it off their plates. 

Regardless, there are dozens of benefits to eating fish as part of a healthy, nutritious diet.

In fact, fish contains a wide variety of nutrients and essential oils, which are very healthy, and can help improve your overall health and well-being, both physically and mentally. 

According to some fans, fish and seafood are even considered as one of the healthiest foods on the planet. After all, there's a reason that as human beings, we've relied on food from the sea for thousands and thousands of years.

So with that said, in the following article, we'll be taking a look at the main reasons to consider adding fish and seafood to your dietary habits. 

1. The Brain-Boosting Benefits Of Fish

No matter how healthy your body is, it's a natural fact of life that your brain function will slowly deteriorate over time. And while a moderate decline in mental aptitude isn't usually considered as anything to worry about, there are more severe neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer's that exist as well. 

However, many studies show that individuals who eat fish and seafood more often have lower rates of severe mental decline. 

In fact, one study, in particular, showed that those who ate seafood once per week had higher amounts of gray matter in the regions of the brain that control memory and emotion. 

And with this, consuming fish has been linked to lower rates of mental decline in aging adults. 

2. An Abundance Of Nutrients

As I've already mentioned, fish is also loaded with tons of essential vitamins and nutrients that people often lack from their modern diets. This often includes a lack of healthy proteins and minerals like iodine.

Fatty species like trout, salmon, and tuna, are often considered as the healthiest because of their higher fat content providers more fatty nutrients like Omega 3 and vitamin D. 

These are important nutrients that the mind and body use for proper function. And on top of this, they've both been linked to lower disease rates in individuals who regularly consumed these nutrients. 

3. Preventing And Treating Mental Depression

Depression is an extremely common condition that almost everyone is expected to experience at some point or another in their lives. 

Often characterized by sadness, poor moods, low energy, and a decreased interest in activities that you were once passionate about, depression can often be debilitating, and potentially deadly, if not addressed properly. 

Fortunately, some studies have shown a link between people who regularly consume fish and a lower risk of depression. Elsewhere, there have also been studies that point to omega-3 fatty acids being a key factor in fighting depression and other mental conditions such as bipolar disorder. 

On top of this, the effectiveness of using Omega-3s to treat depression has also been proven to increase when combined with traditional antidepressant therapy. 

4. Supplementing Your Vitamin D Intake

Vitamin D is another essential vitamin that many people lack and which can easily be obtained by adding fish products to your diet. This vitamin works as a steroid-like hormone in your body and is essential to proper health. 

Sadly, more than 40% of Americans are vitamin D deficient, especially those who live in northern areas where there is often much less light during the winter months. 

However, many fish products are extremely good sources of dietary vitamin D, namely salmon and herring. In fact, a single serving of salmon has about a day's recommended intake of vitamin D. 

5. Deliciousness And Variety

Finally, one of the biggest benefits of adding fish or seafood to your diet is that it can simply add so much versatility and variety to what you eat. And virtually anyone can find something they're going to like. 

For example, some seafood like lobster or crab might not be for you. But on the other hand, a deep-fried, mild-tasting tilapia filet might be something you can stomach a bit better. 

And on top of having so many options in itself, adding fish and seafood to your diet will also give you more options when it comes to planning meals and eating healthy foods. 

So if you're not already eating this healthy, high-protein meat, I suggest you either get out a rod and a fishing reel and catch some local fish or head to the supermarket today and see how adding this awesome food can benefit you.