Whether salmon, trout or tuna – many people eat fish several times a week. And that’s a good thing, because it provides us with many important nutrients. But is it still healthy if we eat the sea creatures every day? We explain what 5 things happen when you eat fish every day.
Fish is a popular food that is regularly on the table in German households. According to statista.com , the average consumption of fish and fish products in 2019 was 13.2 kilograms per person. Word has gotten around that fish is healthy, because the sea creatures provide us with important vitamins and nutrients. For example, salmon and herring are rich in vitamin D, which we mainly absorb from the sun and which many people therefore lack in the cold season. Fish is also a healthy source of high-quality protein, which is essential for our muscles, among other things, and also helps us lose weight .
Table of Contents
5 things happen when you eat fish every day
1. Your risk of cardiovascular disease decreases
The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) recommends eating one or two servings of fish per week. Because regular consumption can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as according to the DGE it has a positive effect on our cholesterol levels, among other things. These health benefits are largely due to the essential omega-3 fatty acids, which also support the brain and, thanks to their anti-inflammatory effect, can provide relief from chronic inflammation such as rheumatism or arthrosis.
2. You ingest pollutants
Although regular fish consumption has a positive effect on your health, daily consumption can also be harmful, since predatory fish in particular are contaminated with mercury and other pollutants. If mercury gets into the blood, it can deposit in organs such as the kidneys or liver and cause damage there. Predatory fish include, for example, tuna, swordfish, cod and hake. However, if you only eat one or two servings of fish a week, the health benefits of the vitamins and trace elements it contains outweigh the negative.
Also interesting: pangasius – that’s why you shouldn’t eat the fish >>
3. Thyroid function is supported
Our thyroid is involved in many important processes in the body: For example, it plays a major role in our metabolism, circulation and psyche. For this reason, thyroid disease can manifest itself through a variety of symptoms, from listlessness to weight gain. Selenium and iodine, which we ingest from eating fish such as mackerel or pollock, are important trace elements that contribute to healthy thyroid function. For example, if the body is not sufficiently supplied with iodine, this can lead to thyroid disorders in the long term.
Also interesting: Iodine deficiency – physical signs >>
4. You lose weight
In addition, eating fish regularly can help you lose weight. The high-quality protein contained in the sea animal is an important nutrient for those who want to lose weight: Proteins stimulate the metabolism and around a third of the calories consumed are already burned during digestion. Apart from that, omega-3 fatty acids are also said to be helpful in weight loss, as they also stimulate the metabolism.
5. Your vitamin D levels increase
Vitamin D is an important nutrient that is essential for our bones and teeth and an intact immune system, among other things. Since vitamin D is involved in the production of the messenger substance serotonin, which we also call the happiness hormone, a vitamin D deficiency can become noticeable through nervousness, anxiety and depressive moods. Our body produces the sun hormone mainly through exposure to the sun, which is why many people temporarily have low vitamin D levels due to the lack of sun in winter. However, we can also get it in small amounts through our diet – a good source is high-fat fish such as salmon or mackerel.
Also interesting: Vitamin D deficiency – 13 symptoms >>
