Salmon is a very popular fish choice. It contains many vitamins, minerals, proteins, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid contents. It is considered a superfood. Salmon contains minerals such as iron, calcium, selenium, and several B vitamins (including niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin). Salmon also contains high amounts of potassium and magnesium, along with high amounts of phosphorus and sodium, which can help with muscle cramps.
Great for Cardiovascular Health
Salmon is effective in regulating blood pressure and improving heart health. This is why eating oily fish is beneficial for those with heart disease or hypertension. Eating a good amount of oily fish is also a great way of getting enough nutrients from grains, fruits, seeds, nuts, and vegetables. However, overeating these foods may cause more harm than good.
When you eat oily foods, the fats found in them help increase your heart’s efficiency in pumping blood throughout the body. When you do this, your body gets the nutrients it needs in order to function properly. This makes your heart healthier and your arteries less clogged, making you less susceptible to heart attack or stroke.
There are two types of omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon. These are called DHA and EPA. In order for your body to get the right amount of these fatty acids, you need to eat at least two pounds of them per week. Of course, you can find fatty acids in many other foods, including soy products and walnuts. However, fish is the only food that provides you with these two essential fatty acids so easily.
Better Skin
Salmon also contains Vitamin A, which is one of the most important nutrients needed by the body for optimal health. It helps maintain healthy skin, and it reduces wrinkles. This is why it is so good to eat salmon now and then. In fact, eating oily fish like salmon is also recommended for those people who are prone to skin problems, such as psoriasis.
Good for Immune System
Salmon contains vitamin B12. This vitamin is essential in maintaining a healthy nervous system and keeping your immune system strong. If you aren’t getting sufficient amounts of vitamin B12, you could end up with poor eyesight, memory loss or any of a number of other issues.
Because of this, it is good to make sure you get enough of this vitamin from your diet, especially if you are an athlete. You can get vitamin B12 through salmon, but you should eat other sources of vitamin B12 as well, such as dark leafy green vegetables.
Great Source of Calcium
Finally, salmon is an excellent source of calcium. Calcium keeps the bones strong and healthy, so eating plenty of fish is good for your bones. Even so, if you don’t like fish, you can still get plenty of this mineral in other foods.
For instance, some dairy products, such as calcium-fortified yogurt, are a good source of this mineral. As a side note, although calcium may be a mineral your body needs more of than you think, you may want to increase your vitamin D levels as well since this helps ward off osteoporosis.