Fish is one of the healthiest meats available to man. We should incorporate fish into diets at least 3 times per week; by doing so we can significantly reduce the risk of heart related diseases, lowers the chances of brain degeneration; lowers the chances of getting kidney cancer, depression, lowers blood pressure . I know many of you are already aware of this but perhaps your biggest challenge is knowing how to buy fish and cook fish to make it interesting and tasty. If that sounds familiar to you, you should get yourself onto a Fish Cookery Class faster than you can say Omega 3 fatty acids.
Why should we eat more fish?
The key component that makes fish so healthy is the fact that fish is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, one of the acids the body cannot make it self. The omega 3 is also essential for fetal brain development and can potential strengthen a baby’s brain connections as early as in the womb if you eat plenty of fish during a pregnancy. If you are unsure about what fish you can eat during a pregnancy check with your local fish mongers. Fish is also a great source of protein, it is easier to digest than chicken or meat, it is low in saturated fat, yet high in vitamins A, B & D as well as other mineral.
Salmon is probably one of the best fish – it has more Omega 3 fatty acids than most other fish. Salmon helps your brain develop tissue to increase your brain power. Furthermore, salmon also plays a key role in fighting Alzheimer’s and other age-related cognitive disorders. There are many different ways of cooking salmon to make the recipes variable and interesting without repeating the same flavours and your fish cookery course will enable you to extend your repertoire.
How to buy fish – what should you look for
When buying fish you need to look out for certain signs of what fresh fish looks like – a comprehensive fish cookery class will also demonstrate what a good piece of fish should both look and smell like and ways to identify healthy skin and texture.
How much fish should we consume
We should consume around 3 x 100g servings of fish per week. By doing so we stand a much improved chance of good health, strong brain and supple joints.
To reduce the risk of mercury contamination, avoid eating swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel altogether.
The healthiest fish to eat
Fish really is an ideal protein, and the benefits of eating fish far outweigh the risks…when you choose the right fish. Your fish cookery course will also provide a list of recommendations and hopefully provide the recipes to go with it.
Here are the Omega 3 rich fish that I recommend :
- Salmon
- Rainbow Trout
- Mackerel
- Halibut
- Tuna
- Cod
- Sardines
- Anchovies
Difference between Farmed or wild
On the grounds of optimising health I would recommend line caught and wild fish. Although farmed fish by and large contain the same amount of Omega 3, when it comes to fat and calories farmed fish has more. Essentially as farmed fish don’t have as much room to swim around they are given anti-biotics to prevent diseases and tend to be dyed to give them a healthy colour. They are also more likely to have toxins than wild fish, and as with outdoor bred meat wild fish has more flavour than farmed.
Kumud Gandhi is a Nutritional Food Scientist bestselling Author, Broadcaster, and Keynote Speaker on the subject of nutritional health for productivity & performance in the workplace. In 2010 Kumud founded ‘The Cooking Academy’ a cookery school that focusses on cooking for nutritional health and wellbeing. Kumud regularly presents to international audiences on a variety of topics such as ‘Eating for Immunity and a Lifetime of Wellness’. She is an expert in the field of Wellness in the Workplace and works with organizations to create transformational change in employee health & well-being through nutrition and health coaching.
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