This initiative is part of Seafood for Life, which helps support the industry’s reputation. Use these insights to inspire and inform your customers and clients as they strive to achieve their wellness goals by 2025.
Many people see the New Year as a chance to start over and make positive changes, so they often set ambitious New Year’s Resolutions.
The new year will be no different. Recent YouGov survey 1 revealed that 29% of British adults intend to make resolutions by 2025. The top priority is well-being. Of those who set New Year’s goals:
- 50% of people want to eat healthier
- 45% of people want to be fitter
- 42% of people want to lose weight
- 32% of respondents plan to prioritize their mental health
Maintaining resolutions can be difficult. Only one-fifth of respondents to the survey believe that they will stick to their goals after January. And only 16% think they’ll stay on track in two to three months. Fewer than one out of ten (9%) people say that they usually keep their resolutions for the entire year.
The survey shows that maintaining food and diet goals is the most difficult part of achieving them. This may be because these goals often involve cutting out or avoiding specific foods.
Here, seafood is a great solution. This nutrient-dense food makes healthy eating more fun, tasty and enjoyable.
White fish grilled with rosemary is served on roasted potatoes with cherry tomatoes, olives, and herbs. Gold utensils are on a table with a blue napkin, accompanied by roasted potatoes.
Why serve fish at your table?
The UK’s healthy eating advice recommends that you eat two portions of fish per week from sustainably sourced sources and one portion of oily salmon 2. Most adults, however, fall short of this recommendation, eating only one portion per week and one portion of oily fish every three weeks 3.
Fish has a lower environmental impact than red meat, making it a good choice for those who want to reduce their intake without switching to a vegetarian diet. Fish has a smaller environmental impact than meat and is a great choice for people who wish to reduce the amount of red meat they consume without having to switch to a vegetarian lifestyle 4.
Seafood is rich in nutrients, including protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to health.
Share these 10 health benefits with your customers and clients as they set wellness goals for the New Year.
Seafood has many health benefits.
10 Health Benefits of Seafood
- Weight management
Low-fat white fish and shellfish can be a good choice for reducing energy intake (calories) in meals without resorting to small portions. This can make it easier to control your weight.
The average amount of calories in seafood such as pollocks, lemon soles, mussels and cods, haddocks, plaices, and king prawns is 75kcal/100g. (As a general guideline, men and women should consume around 2,500kcal/day to maintain a healthy weight 5).
Calories can be reduced by using cooking methods that use little or no oil or butter, such as grilling, steaming, poaching, air-frying, or grilling.
- Building strong muscles
Fish is a great source of protein that’s essential for muscle maintenance and growth.
Most people consume enough protein, but sometimes more is needed, for example, during pregnancy or nursing. Protein requirements also increase in mid- and late-life as muscles lose bulk and strength with age.
Protein is also important for the body’s response to exercise. Many activities, such as strength and power workouts at the gym, can increase your protein requirement 6.
- Heart healthy
All fish contain omega-3 fats. Oily fish like sardines and mackerel, as well as pilchards, herring, and pilchards, have the highest levels. Omega-3 fatty acids help to maintain normal blood triglyceride and heart function – which is good news, as high triglycerides can increase your risk of heart disease.
The majority of seafood is also low in saturated fat. Reducing saturated intake is good for your heart, as it helps maintain normal cholesterol levels.
It is important to note that around half of UK adults have high cholesterol, a major factor in heart disease 8.
- Controls blood pressure
Many white and oily seafood contains potassium and omega-3 fats that can help maintain normal blood pressure.
Around 30% of UK adults have high blood pressure, which is linked to poor heart health 8.. Around 50% of heart attacks, strokes and hypertension are related.
- Benefits of the brain
DHA, one of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish, supports normal brain functions and is particularly important for brain development during pregnancy and in breastfed infants.
Seafood is also a good source of B vitamins, which are essential for mental health. Iodine is also found in many types of seafood. This nutrient is important for cognitive function, which includes our ability to learn, think, remember, solve problems, and make decisions.
Nearly 24% of 11-18-year-olds and 1 in 10 adults aged 65 or older have low iodine intakes. They may, therefore, be at risk for a deficiency 3.
- Supports Vision
DHA omega-3 fat, found in large amounts in oily seafood, plays a vital role in maintaining vision. It also contributes to the normal development of eyes in babies growing during pregnancy and in breastfed infants.
- Reduces fatigue
Seafood contains many B vitamins, including B3, B6, and B12, which can help reduce fatigue and tiredness.
- Increases Immunity
Seafood is rich in Zinc, iron and copper, as well as vitamins B6, D and B12.
Oily fish is a great source of vitamin D, and shellfish contains iron, copper and Zinc.
By consuming a variety of fish, you can provide your immune system with a wide range of nutrients.
- Promotes bone health
Seafood is rich in phosphorus and protein, two important nutrients for bone health. Oily fish is also one of the few foods naturally rich in vitamin D. It is also essential for bones because it helps the body absorb and use calcium and phosphorus (another bone-friendly nutrient). Strong, healthy bones are important. According to studies, half of all women over 50 and one-fifth of men will suffer a broken bone as a result of osteoporosis. This condition causes the bones to become weaker and more likely to break or fracture 9.
- Nourishes skin
Some shellfish and iodine are found in seafood, while others contain Zinc and copper. These nutrients help maintain the skin from within.
You can help your customers and clients by helping you.
This information can be used to encourage your customers and clients to include seafood in a balanced, healthy diet for the New Year.
Download the document below to share with colleagues, customers and clients. All nutritional and health claims for seafood sold in the United States are compliant. Consumers can share them.
About Juliette Kellow
Juliette is an experienced registered dietitian who is passionate about seafood. She has been providing nutrition support at Seafish for more than ten years.
Juliette is a member of the British Dietetic Association, has worked in the NHS and food industry, and was the former editor of Top Sante Magazine.
Her work as a nutrition consultant includes providing nutrition support to food brands, marketing and PR agencies, media outlets, health organizations, trade bodies, catering companies, and restaurants.
She writes regularly for magazines and newspapers, including Closer and Daily Mirror.
Juliette is the co-author and editor of two anti-ageing books: Eat Better, Live Longer and Simply Nutrition for Complete Beginners. DK publishes both.
