The Health Benefits and Drawbacks of Seafood

Seafood is a worldwide known culinary staple that has several health advantages when consumed.

FREMONT, CA: Seafood is a highly nutritious item that has been demonstrated to improve health, with decades of scientific research showing that seafood-rich diets help protect against various health issues. It also contains minerals that many diets lack.

Advantages of Seafood

Highly nutritious

Seafood, especially fish and shellfish, is rich in essential nutrients like vitamin B12, selenium, and zinc. However, many people don't consume enough of these nutrients, leading to health issues like anemia and depression. Consuming seafood can help fill nutritional gaps, especially in those with low-nutrient diets, suboptimal consumption, or low blood levels, especially young women, the elderly, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Primary source of omega-3 fatty acids

Seafood has high omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, which are essential for good health. Consuming a lot of seafood can greatly improve the nervous and cardiovascular systems, lowering heart disease and cognitive loss risks.

It is linked to lower disease risk. 

Seafood, rich in nutrients like protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, can help prevent various health issues. Consuming more fish can lower the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, depression, and liver cancer. Studies suggest that increasing fish consumption can reduce the incidence and death rate from CHD. Adults should consume 60 grams of fish daily to prevent CHD and related deaths.

Drawback of seafood 

Fried fish may endanger health.

Fried foods like chicken, potatoes, and fish can release toxic substances, including PACHs, acrolein, aldehydes, and HCAs, which can cause illnesses like cancer. Regular consumption of fried fish increases the risk of lung and prostate cancer and heart disease by 13 percent and prostate cancer incidence by twofold. Smoked and salted fish can also increase blood pressure and weight. These cooking techniques may also lead to weight gain.

Certain seafood contains a lot of mercury.

Shark, tuna, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel are just a few seafood varieties high in mercury, which can be harmful if the body absorbs too much. Elevated mercury levels have been linked to adverse effects on the immune system, hypertension, heart attacks, and cognitive problems in youngsters. People who frequently consume fish, especially children, expectant mothers, and nursing mothers, are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of consuming seafood high in mercury.

Fish contaminated with microplastics 

Although little research has been done on the subject, human activity has caused microplastics to accumulate in marine habitats, which could harm humans if they consume seafood.

Environmental and moral concerns 

Marine ecosystems are being destroyed by overfishing and careless fishing techniques, which also impact almost 3 billion people globally. A collapse of fisheries and a worldwide food catastrophe can be caused by negligent fishing management and reckless fishing practices. Protecting maritime habitats requires putting a priority on sustainable farming and fishing methods.