Healing Food Series: Salmon

We’re kicking off April by continuing with my series on foods that can heal the body. This month we’re focusing on Salmon and all its wonderful goodness. Salmon is a fatty fish loaded with nutrients. It’s incredibly delicious, widely available, and versatile as you will see from the round up of recipes below.

As I’ve discussed in previous post the foods we put into our bodies play a huge part in our overall health, not only physically, but emotionally as well. We all know salmon is good for us but I want to break it down and explain how and why it gets so much attention.

1. Salmon is rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which have been shown to reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and decrease risk factors for disease.

2. It’s a great source of high quality protein for our bodies to heal, protect bone health and prevent muscle loss, among other things.

3. Salmon is an excellent source of several B vitamins, which are needed for energy production, controlling inflammation and protecting heart and brain health.

4. It’s a good source of potassium, especially in wild salmon, which helps control blood pressure and prevent excess fluid retention.

5. Salmon is loaded with selenium, a mineral involved in protecting bone health, improving thyroid function and reducing the risk of cancer.

6. Eating salmon on a regular basis may help protect against heart disease by increasing levels of omega-3 fats, decreasing levels of omega-6 fats and lowering triglycerides.

7. Salmon can help lower inflammation, which may reduce risk factors for several diseases and improve symptoms in people with inflammatory conditions.

8. It may improve brain function by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, protecting fetal brain health in pregnancy and decreasing the risk of age-related memory.

We eat salmon in our house once or twice a week and it’s a food I truly crave. Usually I keep it pretty basic with a little salt and pepper before putting it in the oven to bake. However when time allows and I feel like experimenting in the kitchen I’m always looking for new salmon recipes to try out. Below I’ve included 15 recipes to help you incorporate this nutritious and delicious fish into your diet.

Smoked Salmon Spring Salad with Dill