Why we should be eating more fish

Most of us should be eating more fish – It’s an excellent source of protein and it contains essential vitamins and minerals such as Selenium and Iodine.

White fish such as Cod, Haddock, Plaice and Whiting are all very low in fat. You can make these an even healthier choice by poaching, baking or grilling instead of always frying.

However, it is oily fish like Sardines, Herring, Mackerel, Trout and Salmon that you could say are ‘the food of the heart’. Oily fish are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids which, amongst many other things, help to lower your risk of heart disease.

Oily fish are also rich in vitamins A and D.

The list below shows you just some of the fish/seafood which are classed as oily:

Salmon
Trout
Mackerel
Herring
Sardines
Pilchards
Kipper
Eel
Whitebait
Fresh Tuna
Anchovies
Swordfish
Bloater
Cacha
Carp
Hilsa
Jack Fish
Sprats
Shrimp
Crab

You may be surprised to learn that Canned Tuna is not classed as oily but Fresh Tuna is. This is because the canning process of the tuna reduces the Omega 3 fatty acid content. The Omega 3 fatty acid content of other canned fish is not affected.

So, how much fish should we be having?
Well, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that we should be eating at least 2 portions of fish a week including 1 portion of oily fish. (One portion = 140g)
However, for more specific up to date guidance see the FSA and BDA websites:

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/fishandshellfish

http://www.bda.com.uk

Remember,
Eating fish regularly can help to keep us healthy, so why not give it a try!!

CHERYL TAYLOR
REGISTERED DIETITIAN
FEBRUARY 2006