Many Health Benefits of Seafood

There are many health benefits of seafood, and it plays an important role in a balanced diet.  Seafood is often rich in omega-3 fatty acids.  This is especially true for wild caught salmon, which we call a super-food.  Omega-3s are beneficial for both children and adults because they help boost immunity and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and other ailments. Omega-3s have also been shown to help memory and boost learning in children.

However, it is important to note that not all seafood is created equal.  Some types of fish carry high-levels of mercury and PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls*), and now more than ever we are being offered farm-raised versus wild caught fish.  Farm-raised fish can be less healthy and carry risks of its own from added antibiotics, more exposure to pesticides, and added dyes for better coloring.   In the case of salmon, red dyes are often added to the fish food to give the farm-raised fish the rich pink color of its cousin in the wild.  Whenever possible, choose wild-caught seafood.

Below are some pocket guides that may be  helpful when considering the health benefits of seafood; and are broken down into the different regions of the country.  These guides are made available through Seafood Watch, a project of the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.  These guides are a great resource to help you and your family enjoy the full health benefits of seafood.

Available Pocket Guide downloads – click on title

• National Seafood Guide
• West Coast Seafood Guide
• Central Seafood Guide
• Northeast Seafood Guide
• Southeast Seafood Guide
• Sushi Guide

*PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are highly toxic industrial compounds. They pose serious health risks to fetuses, babies and children, who may suffer developmental and neurological problems from prolonged or repeated exposure to small amounts of PCBs. These chemicals are harmful to adults as well. Although they were banned from manufacture in the United States in 1977, PCBs are slow to break down and can persist in the environment at dangerous levels.  PCBs accumulate in the sediments at the bottoms of streams, rivers, lakes and coastal areas. These chemicals can build up in the fatty tissues of fish and other animals, and in high concentrations pose serious health risks to people who frequently eat contaminated fish.