New FDA Dietary Guidelines Recommends Increasing Seafood Consumption; Check out Health Benefits & Risks Here!

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending a twofold increase in the consumption of seafood among Americans as part of new dietary guidelines. In line with this, both the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Department of Agriculture (DA) are leading the way in the campaign for the increase in the sales and intake of healthy, lean proteins like seafood.

"We are excited by the release of the new USDA HHS Dietary Guidelines. It highlights the importance of lean proteins, including seafood," said Bridget Owen, Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) executive director. "Consumers have more information to utilize when they make choices for their families. Fish and shellfish are delicious and healthy options to add to a family's weekly meals.

In the new USDA and HHS dietary guidelines, Americans were advised to include seafood, such as fish and shellfish, in their daily diet at least twice a week. Seafood is known to be a good source of high-quality protein, while containing less fats and cholesterol. The guideline also cited the importance of eating seafood among pregnant and breastfeeding moms, wrote the National Daily Press. 

While, there are some people who lauded the health officials for the new public health measures, there are also some people who are not a fan of the new guidelines. So, let us look into some of the health benefits and risks involving the seafood diet.

"Globally, seafood provides more protein than cattle, sheep, or poultry. Fish also contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals including vitamins A and D, phosphorus, magnesium, and selenium," according to Harvard T.H. Chan's Center for Health and the Global Environment. "Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids, found abundantly in seafood, have health benefits, such as improved infant brain development and protection against heart disease and stroke."

According to AlaskaSeafood.org, some of the health benefits of eating seafood include lower chance of dying from coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death, reduced inflammation, sharper brain functioning, healthy cognition and memory, immune function that could help lower the chance of childhood allergies and reduced risk and severity of several mental disorders like depression and bipolar disorder.

On the other hand, seafood might contain environmental pollutants, such as methylmercury released by coal-fired power plants into the ocean and is detrimental to the nervous system. These toxic chemicals are especially harmful in the development of the nervous system among unborn children in the mothers' wombs, and newborns.