Health and Nutrition

Seafood is a wonderful meal choice, offering a wide array of health benefits. The Canadian Food Guide recommends including at least two servings of seafood per week in your diet. Both finfish and shellfish can provide a delicious meal that is high in vitamins and minerals yet low in saturated fats. Seafood is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids which can help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

Shellfish are healthy meal options because they offer many nutritional benefits. They are not only low in fat and low in cholesterol, they have also been found to help reduce cholesterol levels. In addition to being packed with protein, eating shellfish is a great way to meet your recommended daily intake of iron and zinc. For example, 100g of clams contains nearly the daily intake of iron necessary for both men and women while only one oyster provides enough zinc to fill your daily requirement. Shellfish are also rich sources of vitamins C and B12, not to mention antioxidants.

Finfish, such as salmon and trout, are also healthy sources of high quality protein. They contain fewer calories and fat per serving than most other meats like chicken and beef with less than half the amount of saturated fats. It is also the most significant source of naturally-occurring vitamin D, which plays an important role in the body's use of calcium, a mineral required for sound teeth and bones.

Farmed Atlantic salmon, like many fin fish, has been found to have high omega-3 levels which reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, and helps in brain and eye development. Finfish are also a good source of vitamins A and B and minerals like iodine, iron, phosphorus and zinc.

In Nova Scotia, we’re lucky because it is so easy to get fresh, local seafood. It’s delicious and good for us. Seafood is great for you, so eat more!

All seafood is monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure quality and safety for consumption.

For some tasty seafood recipes, please visit the following sites: