Buying Guide and The Benefits of Wild Salmon
Buying Guide and The Benefits of Wild Salmon
….with some recipe links too!
SOURCING SECRETS
When shopping for it:
- Keep in mind that wild salmon is seasonal and has an “off-season” of November to March
- Wild salmon is also called: Coho, Sockeye, + King
- Color: farmed salmon is lighter and more pink, while wild has a deeper reddish-orange color
- If you cannot find wild salmon, these other seafoods have similar health benefits: mackerel, sardines, herring, + black cod.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS
Fatty fish like salmon is needed in the diet to provide us with the essential fatty acids: the long-chain omega-3s, EPA, + DHA. “Essential” meaning we have to consume these fats to get the needed benefits. Wild salmon, vs farmed salmon, has more of these fats and also has less fat and calories!
While there isn’t a standard requirement for EPA and DHA, many health organizations recommend that healthy adults get a minimum of 250–500 mg of them combined per day.
SALMON HAS EVEN MORE HEALTH BENEFITS
- A healthy protein source, which helps us heal, protect our bones, + builds our muscles.
- An excellent source of several B vitamins, which are needed for energy production, controlling inflammation and protecting heart and brain health.
- Contains a good deal of potassium, which helps control blood pressure and prevent excess fluid retention.
- Has selenium; a mineral involved in protecting bone health, improving thyroid function and reducing the risk of cancer.
- An antioxidant, astaxanthin, is found in salmon and is said to benefit heart, brain, nervous system and skin health.
- Fatty fish like salmon are said to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and may decrease the risk of age-related memory loss.
- Salmon and other fatty fish can help lower inflammation; which reduces the risk for many chronic diseases.