There are a lot of very good reasons to eat fish and seafood. Fish is a source of high quality protein, and is low in fat and cholesterol.

Fish and seafood are an excellent source of Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Omega 3 fatty acids. There is now a lot of evidence that people who regularly include fish in their diet have a lower risk of unwanted weight gain.

The Omega 3 fatty acids that Fish is rich off are a very important factor in the health benefits of a fish and seafood rich diet. Together with high quality vegetable oils health gains are impressive. So you better hit the tuna steak and reduce your intake of beef steak? Well not really as always its a matter of balance.

Omega 3 fatty acids are linked to a substantial decrease in the symptoms of inflammatory diseases like arthritis and colitis. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), they significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer. Better yet, rich Omega 3 foods like fish have been tightly linked to positive mood changes. So, fish can even be of therapeutic value in the treatment of a mild depression or the "winter blues"!

More good news, there is evidence of a lower risk of developing Alzheimer disease as well as a reduction in the probability of developing type 2 diabetic diseases. Of course there are still a lot of unanswered questions in this area, but Fish and Seafood are a major part of the Mediterranean Diet. People in the countries that are eating fish and using olive oil are known to have less cancer and heart problems than we have in America.

And the list goes on. It seems that Fish and seafood are very beneficial for pregnant women as well. The Omega 3 fatty acids seem to have a positive effect on fetal brain development and may reduce the risk of premature birth. There are positive effects on the growth and health of the fetus.

All of these very positive effects seem to be linked to the Omega 3 fatty acids, but there is now more and more information coming in about the importance of other nutrients in fish and other seafood. Proteins, vitamins and amino acids may all play a part in the health benefits of eating fish. It's a case of the sum is more than the total of the parts.

The benefits of eating fish and seafood are so obvious that the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommends that adults eat fish at least twice a week and if you have heart disease, the AHA recommends a diet that contains as many Omega 3 fatty acids as one "fatty fish" meal a day. So Fish is beneficial for the health of people with heart problems as well as it prevents getting those problems in the first place.

When you read all this it seems obvious. Eat more fish and seafood. We have a great selection of seafood recipes available on our website. Talking about great news for seafood lovers! And did you know that there are really zillions of ways to prepare a great seafood meal?

With so much positive news about fish, one doesn't get around the idea that there might be a catch. Well in a way there is. There are dangers in the form of heavy metals found in fish. An article about the dangers and some FDA guidelines on gaining and not losing your health can be found on our web.

Hans is author of Seafood Recipes at Steaks-Guide.com