Health

Greenseas® seafood is fabulous fast food. Naturally high in hunger satisfying protein and with minimal fat, fish won’t weigh you down. Enjoy a tasty, quick AND healthy lunch and feel the difference!

Greenseas® seafood is a perfect snack or inclusion in a main meal – great for those watching their weight. Seafood contains valuable vitamins and minerals (such as iodine) and also contains long chain Omega-3 fatty acids. Oily fish in particular are good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids..

What exactly are Omega 3s?

The natural goodness of fish comes from their “good fats” – Omega-3s. Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids which are essential for health throughout all stages of our lives. There are two main types of omega-3 fatty acids that we need. These are decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Seafood, including canned fish, is the richest natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

How much should we eat?

50% of Australians do not get the recommended amount of fish and Omega-3. Two fish meals a week is the recommendation for heart health, but there is no harm in having fish more often. To prevent deficiency, health authorities recommend an Omega-3 intake of 90mg per day for women and 160mg per day for men. To reach one recommended serving of fish and Omega-3, just enjoy two small cans of plain or flavoured salmon or tuna.

Will kids eat fish?

Children learn to eat and enjoy what is familiar to them. Children learn by example, so if you eat fish, they are most likely to eat fish as well. From an early age, offer salmon, tuna or sardines as a light lunch, main meal or basis for dip, and your children will learn to love it. See our delicious recipes for inspiration.

Who needs Omega 3?

We all need Omega-3s in our daily diet to maintain good health – fish like salmon, sardines and tuna are the best source. Children, adults and the elderly need Omega-3 fatty acids for optimal health including to help maintain an active brain and a healthy heart. To optimise diets for lowering chronic disease risk, health authorities recommend a higher Omega-3 intake of 430mg per day for women and 610mg per day for men

Pregnancy and Young Children

Fish is particularly important during pregnancy and early childhood. Omega 3 fatty acids are vital for healthy brain development and optimal visual development and function in infants and young children.

baby's brain development is rapid during pregnancy, but continues into a child’s second year. Australia’s Omega-3 Centre's report on children and Omega-3 intake, recommends that children eat up to 5 times the amount of fish they currently eat2. Research has shown that children of mothers who ate higher amounts of seafood during pregnancy, had an increased IQ at age 81.

Ageing well

Many Australians suffer from the pain of aching joints as they age - increasing your intake of fish may help. Also consuming enough Omega-3 DHA can help maintain an active brain. Salmon, sardines and tuna are good sources of Omega-3 DHA and Omega-3 EPA, which help keep blood vessels and joints flexible. Our recipes make it easy to enjoy canned salmon/sardines or tuna more often.

Should I be concerned about mercury levels in fish?

Fish can accumulate mercury from the environment and some types of fish contain more mercury than others. Greenseas seafoods contain types of fish which are less likely to contain high levels of mercury such as skipjack tuna, Canadian and Alaskan pink salmon and red salmon.

Australian authorities (e.g. FSANZ) provide detailed recommendations on safe fish consumption. The evidence indicates that the benefits of eating 2-3 serves of oily fish per week in pregnant women, outweigh the risks, providing large fish are not consumed2.

More information about mercury and fish is available from Food Standards Australia New Zealand.


References

  1. Hibbeln JR et al
    Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopment outcomes in childhood (ALSPAC study):an observational cohort study Lancet 2007:369;578-585
  2. Scientific Consensus Workshop Omega-3 fatty acids essential nutrients for children