CHOLESTEROL DIET SECRETS

The Seafood Myth

Most of us have heard that seafood is high in cholesterol and is bad for health. Well, this may be true of a diet rich in crustaceans (crabs and lobsters), but in general, most seafood do not post any cholesterol problem. In fact, trained nutritionists would advise that from a nutritional viewpoint, seafood might be one of the most important components of a healthy diet.

Seafood is a source of high-quality protein. Proteins are made up on amino acids, which are the building blocks of life. Amino acids are like Lego blocks. A child can build anything if he has access to all the different Lego blocks. Likewise, if our body has access to all the amino acids, it can build and repair itself.

Our body is able to produce most of the amino acids it needs, except for nine of them, which need to come from food. So is there one source of food that contains all nine essential amino acids? The answer is yes, and seafood is that one source.

Amino acid is but one of the many wholesome benefits of seafood consumption. Seafood (especially the fishes salmon, trout and herring) contains plenty of polyunsaturated fats that help to lower our body’s cholesterol.  Seafood is a good source of minerals such as zinc (from shell fish and oysters), iron (found in oysters and shrimps), potassium (available in mussels, scallops and clams). Zinc and potassium are necessary for healthy immune and muscle functions, while iron is required for red blood cell production. Meanwhile, seafood could also be a rich source of calcium if you do consume the soft bones of sardines or the soft shells of crabs and prawns.

Finally, for the weight conscious folks, consider cutting down on poultry meat and eating more fish. This way, you will reduce the amount of calories in your diet, avoid the bad saturated fats in the meat, and be on your way to lowering your cholesterol because of the increased intake of unsaturated fats found in fish.

To your health,

(Courtesy of Cholesterol Diet Secrets)