The Health Benefits of Adding Fish to Your Diet

Are you looking for something quick and healthy to prepare for dinner? Tired of the same old thing night after night? Then why not go for a change and try some delicious and healthy fish. Fish is not only healthy for you, it's also quick and easy to prepare and can be bought either fresh or frozen. It's a favorite of both adults and kids alike. If you're choosing fresh fish, you'll want to make sure and purchase the fish from a reputable store that replenishes their stock several times a day. One of the best ways to judge fresh fish is by smell. Fish should have a mild smell, not an overwhelming, offensive fish odor. When buying whole, fresh fish, look for eyes that are clear or almost bulging, and for shiny skin with firmly attached scales. Always avoid whole fish or fish steaks and fillets that are brown around the edges. To keep your fish at its optimum freshness, store on the bottom shelf or meat keeper of your refrigerator until ready to cook, if cooking within 2 days of purchase. If your seafood is frozen it's best to thaw in the refrigerator, allowing one day for the fish to defrost. Or if you are pressed for time it can be thawed by placing it in a zip lock bag and immersing in cold water for one to two hours per pound of fish.

Not sure what type of fish tastes the best or is considered nutritionally better for you? There are many different types of fish and what type you choose will depend upon your personal preference, how it's going to be cooked and the cooking method you're using. Catfish is an excellent choice for frying fish. Although the nutritional value is relatively low when considering the grease and battering that is required for fried fish. If you are grilling or baking, then there are a numerous variety of fish to choose from. Grouper is excellent for grilling, this is a white meat fish that is sold mostly in steak and fillet form. Of course if you can't find grouper you can use sea bass or mahi mahi, which are excellent substitutions for grouper. These types of fish have numerous antioxidants, vitamins and are considered very good for you with numerous health benefits. Salmon is by far the fish of choice for many people who are concerned with their health. Salmon is suitable for grilling, baking, broiling or using in a variety of recipes. Salmon is a high fat fish, which is one reason for its amazing flavor. In fact, a plain salmon fillet contains about 46% fat calories. However, salmon is still a very good choice because it is very high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that wont raise your cholesterol levels. More importantly, it's also high in Omega-3 fats, which is a type of fat that guards against heart disease. In addition to these benefits, salmon is also high in Protein, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B and the minerals iron, zinc and magnesium. To get the optimum health benefits of salmon serve it with low fat sides such as rice, couscous or potatoes and you'll bring the fat percentage to less than 30%. Fish is an excellent, healthy and delicious choice for dinner, lunch or anytime. It's considered much better for you than red meat. physicians recommend that we eat at least 2 to 3 servings of fish per week. For more information on the nutritional benefits of fish and quick and healthy recipes for different types and varieties of fish visit these web sites, www.weightwatchers.com, www.bhg.com, www.nutrition.com and www.webmd.com.