The Benefits To Eating Cod Fish

For those who are very into fish, cod is a likely choice. Not only it is it one of the cleanest sources of protein speaking in terms of being a solid, easily absorbable protein source with little or no carbohydrates or fat, but it also offers you a wide variety of other nutrients that are essential for good health.

Cod is a white fish that is mild flavoured and available throughout the entire year. It belongs to the same family as haddock and monkfish and is a deep sea fish hailing from the Artic waters.

Along with about 29 grams of protein and 119 calories for a four ounce serving, cod provides the following other health benefits.

Cardiovascular Health Improvements

Cod has been shown to be one of the best meat sources in terms of reducing atherosclerosis and heart disease in those who have diabetes. Those consuming cod as a regular part of their diet also have a decreased risk of heart attack than those who don't and also show a greater likelihood of meeting their vitamin B12 needs as cod is high in that nutrient as well. Vitamin B12 along with vitamin B6, also found in cod, are important in helping to keep homocysteine levels low. This is a molecule that is related to the blood vessel walls and when seen in high proportions can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Increase Heart Muscle Function

Because cod is a source of Omega-3 fatty acids it will significantly help to improve the functioning of the human heart muscle therefore helping to protect you from experiencing an ischemic stroke. In one study comparing those who at fish and those who did not, it was seen that the risk of ischemic stroke decreased by 9% in those who ate omega-3 fatty acid rich fish 1-3 times per month, 13% in those who ate the fish at least once per week, 18% in those who ate the fish 2-4 times per week and 31% in those who consumed fish five times per week or more. This demonstrates that the more you choose to consume fish in your daily diet the better off you will be.

Along with decreasing the risk of ischemic stroke, consuming a fish rich diet will also help to lower your triglyceride levels, giving you a better cholesterol profile (high in HDL and low in LDL)

Skin Protection

Finally a third reason why consuming a cod rich diet is a good idea is that the fish can help to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body and help to protect against sunburn and potentially even skin cancer.

Because the ozone is becoming more and more depleted as time goes on, it is becoming increasingly important to take measures to protect our skin from the sun's damaging affects. Because when UV-B radiation strikes the skins surface inflammation occurs, anything that will help reduce this inflammation will work towards solving this issue, cod being the perfect example.

So next time you are trying to choose what to cook for dinner, consider baking up some cod. Not only does it taste great but it's a perfect food for weight loss since it's low calories and also allows you to achieve optimum health.