SALMON: The Good Kind of Fat

Like fish? Choose SALMON! It’s packed with the GOOD FAT!

 

Fat has gotten such a bad rap over the years, but there IS such a thing as good fat….mono- and polyunsaturated fats found in nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, and of course salmon. Unlike most other fats, omega-3 fats found in salmon are considered “essential,” which means you must get them from your diet since your body can’t create them.

 

Some other benefits?

• Salmon is an excellent source of several B vitamins, which are needed for energy production, controlling inflammation, and protecting heart and brain health.
• Consuming salmon may help protect against heart disease by increasing levels of omega-3 fats, decreasing levels of omega-6 fats, and lowering triglycerides.
• It can boost your brain: omega-3 fatty acids,  vitamin B12, selenium, and choline—all found in salmon—have all been linked to improving brain function, cognition, and neurological health.
• Salmon and other fatty fish may help lower inflammation, which can reduce risk factors for many diseases and improve symptoms for those with inflammatory conditions.

 

Please don’t be afraid to incorporate these into your daily diet. It will raise your HDL levels (the good stuff) and improve your LDL:HDL ratio, a big factor in heart disease. Ask your doctor what your levels are at your next checkup!