Salmon
Salmon, a Healthy Delight
Farmed salmon is a healthy and nutritive food. In addition to a high protein content, it has large amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, well known for their benefits to cardiovascular health and further benefits to body health.
The world's most demanding markets, such as the American one, confirm these salmon nutritional properties.
Researches from the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association support the consumption of salmon at least twice a week, in order to prevent a series of illnesses. In addition, the consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids by people with heart conditions should be on a daily basis.
The Chilean Association of Nutritionists (Colegio de Nutricionistas de Chile) recommends a frequent salmon consumption, with a marked emphasis on consumption by pregnant women, children and the elderly.
High Content of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
It has been proven that this kind of meat is the most important source of essential fatty acids, or Omega 3, effective in reducing cholesterol levels and regulating blood pressure, thus increasing artery elasticity.
Studies conducted by the University of New England, United States, have established that consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids reduces inflammation and pain, as well as the possibility of suffering from Alzheimer's disease among 50 to 65 year-old people.
Salmon's antithrombotic properties helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases and reduce triglycerides have been also verified, as the presence of another lipidic component that plays a crucial role as cell antioxidant, as beta carotene does. This is the carotenoid "astaxanthin", the characteristic salmon orange pigment.
Astaxanthin is several times more active in deactivating free radicals and molecular oxygen than any other carotenoid, and more powerful than alfa-tocopherol, reason by which it is referred as "super vitamin E". In addition, this compound provides greater protection against UV radiation and against the chemical induction of certain cancers, and improves the immune response.
Low Content of Saturated Fats
Salmon's natural low content of saturated fats makes it a healthy and convenient choice for any menu. As shown in the chart below, salmon content of saturated fats is two thirds lower than beef and chicken.
A Solution for Child Obesity
Nowadays, salmon should be consumed at least two or three times per week, or even more. And the recommendation includes both adults and children, since our body does not produce salmon fatty acids.
Hence the convenience for women to eat adequate amounts of salmon during pregnancy and nursing periods, because this stimulates the development of the newborn's nervous system.
As for school children, it has been established that an unbalanced daily food intake has caused dramatic dietary changes in children, with prevalence of fat-rich foods. This has substantially increased the child obesity rate in our country.
To cope with such a negative situation, some promote fish consumption as an alternative food. In this line, international studies support the major benefits of consuming fish with high content of Omega 3 fatty acids for children's cognitive development.
In addition, some researchers hold that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) may also originate from low consumption of fatty acids or Omega 3.
The content of this document (Salmon, a Healthy Delight ) was kindly provided by the SalmonChile
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E-mail: chilesal@salmonChile.cl
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Web: www.salmonchile.cl
