Improve your blood sugar levels, DNA function, and ability to use macronutrients by enjoying seafood

Posted on :  October 27, 2020
Extensive health benefits of seafood

by Ashleigh Feltham
Accredited Practising Dietitian and Accredited Nutritionist

If you have been following the Safcol Seafood blog, you are probably aware of the extensive health benefits of seafood. This blog highlights how enjoying Safcol Seafood two to three times a week can help your blood sugar levels, assist in DNA function, and allow your body to make energy from the food you eat.

The specific nutrient that plays these two roles is chromium. This is an essential nutrient which your body needs to obtain from your diet to function well. Chromium plays three crucial roles to help your body work at its best. Firstly, it helps the hormone insulin to work. Insulin is needed to take the sugar from your blood into the cells. Secondly, chromium helps your body to use three macronutrients fat, carbohydrate, and protein which you eat. Thirdly, it may assist how your DNA functions in your cells.

How much chromium do you need each day?

Men aged 19-50 years need 35mcg/day and men 51 years and over and pregnant women over 19 years old need 30mcg/day. Women aged 19-50 years require less at 25mcg/day and for women aged 51 years and over this further decreases to 20mcg/day.

This mineral is found in small amounts in a wide range of foods, but the best sources are:

  • Oysters (available for your enjoyment from Safcol).
  • Brewer’s yeast
  • Broccoli
  • Liver
  • Potatoes

If you are not a fan of oysters the good news is all types of seafood are classified as a good source of this essential mineral. Other good sources are whole grains, cheeses, chicken, meat, and bran. The good news for seafood lovers gets even better as B3 or niacin which is present in seafood enhances your body’s ability to take in and use chromium.

Vitamin C also enhances the absorption of chromium so check out the extensive list of recipes available on the Seafood Experts website. There are many recipes which include foods which are a source of vitamin C.

Take home message

While a single nutrient cannot make an overall healthy body, this blog is an example of one of the many health benefits of including seafood in your diet. By selecting whole food your body will receive a matrix of health benefits versus a single source supplement.

Not only is Safcol the Seafood Experts tuna lunchbox friendly, but it also tastes delicious, and boasts some amazing health benefits! Tuna contains Omega-3 fats that are an unsaturated form of fat called polyunsaturated. These types of fats cannot be made by the body, so we need to include them as part of our diet to stay healthy. For good health, you need omega-3 fats in our diet, particularly the type which comes from fish and seafood because it contains two acids known as docosahexaenoic acid or DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA. These two acids are linked to better health for your body particularly for your brain and heart.