You want to age gracefully, full of vim and vigour.

You get regular check-ups (or at least, you know you should). You pay attention to what you are putting in your body. You specifically seek out meat that isn’t loaded with added hormones and antibiotics. You might even exercise regularly.

But if you aren’t eating seafood twice per week, you’re seriously missing out on some of the most crucial nutrients for healthy aging. There is nothing fishy about the data: in a 22-year observational study, 89% of the participants experienced unhealthy ageing, while 11% experienced healthy ageing.
The difference? Fish.
Those healthier participants had higher levels of omega-3s from fish – reducing the risk of chronic disease or serious mental or physical issues by 24%.

What are omega-3 fatty acids and why you should care

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in every single cell membrane in your body.
These critical compounds can:

• reduce blood clots
• reduce blood pressure and inflammation
• prevent muscle and bone loss
• reduce symptoms of arthritis
• protect skin against UV rays
• boost cognitive function
• boost resting and exercise metabolic rate

…and a whole host of other ridiculously important health benefits.

What does eating fish have to do with omega-3s?

Our bodies do not produce enough mega-3s naturally, so we have to get our fix through food. And guess what is naturally high in omega-3s? Seafood.
Sure, there are omega-3 supplements. But research shows that there is no real benefit to taking these pills – simply eating seafood is your best bet to get your omega-3 intake.

The best seafood to eat

Salmon

Salmon has some of the highest levels of omega-3s. It also happens to have almost as much potassium as a banana and is loaded with B vitamins and protein. Overall, salmon is basically a superfood. Make sure to look for true wild-caught salmon to maximize both nutritional benefit and taste.

Halibut

Suffering from fatigue (who isn’t!)? You need more halibut in your diet. The high levels of phosphorus it contains helps regulate metabolism and heart function – in fact, one serving of halibut has 45% of your dietary phosphorous needs. Wild-caught is best.

Shrimp

Shrimp doesn’t skimp on nutrients. The high levels of phosphorous and vitamin D (which 41.6% of the US population is deficient in!) make it great for bone strength. It is also full of valuable antioxidants. Look for organic, chemical-free shrimp to avoid consuming sodium bisulfate and sodium tripolyphosphate along with those healthy nutrients.

Adding more delicious, sustainably sourced seafood to your diet really isn’t a hardship. Enjoying the full flavours of fish AND reaping the anti-aging health benefits? That’s a no-brainer.

Need more seafood in your diet?

Try one of these seafood powerhouses in your weekly meal rotation:

Certified Organic Chem-Free Black Tiger Shrimp

Canadian Seafood Variety Pack