Best EVER Seared & Baked Salmon

There was a time in my life that I didn’t eat fat. I wouldn’t eat fat.

My old motto: Fat makes you fat and there was no way you would put that olive oil on my salad. Never.

And then I grew up, read countless nutrition books, and dived into the world of healthy fats. After one taste of fresh, supple, young, healthy fat-loaded coconut meat, I never looked back.

But it did take me a while before I readily allowed fat to enter my world but once I did, my hair shined, my nails grew stronger, my skin glowed just a bit more, and maybe it’s just in my head but I swear I can think better. 😉

Healthy fats are essential to life, essential to weight loss (yes, it’s true!), and essential to living healthy. Whether you’re living Paleo, vegan, raw, happy, sad, up, down, in Alaska, in Kansas, on a boat, with a goat, with a shoe, in need of a good… um… you get the idea(!), you need fat.

I’m definitely not recommending you drive down to grab a fast foodlookalike as your fat source, but I am recommending you find good ways to incorporate brain-healthy omegas into your diet.

Good fat or omega fatty acid sources are as follows (although there are many, many more):

Avocados

Olives

Olive oil

Coconut oil

Nuts

Seeds

Flax seeds and oil

Fish!

Fish might be one of my favorite sources of fats. One bite into my FAVORITE meal of fresh salmon steak slightly crisped and baked to fatty perfection and you’d know why.

And because it’s my favorite meal, I am sharing it with YOU.

Enjoy.

 

 

Need more proof that fat can be a wonderful thing?

Fish fatty acids have many far reaching health benefits and should be included as a part of your balanced diet. These essential fatty acids, primarily omega-3s, must be consumed through diet, as your body does not produce them on its own.

Sources of omega-3s can be ingested either through fatty fish or supplements. Though natural fish consumption is thought to be the best because of the additional nutrients it provides your body, either method of consumption will produce positive results on your long-term health. Fatty fishes include salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies, and they should be eaten at least twice a week to bring the following benefits to your body:

Advantage #1: Reduces Cancer Risk

Regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of several types of cancer by up to 50%, including breast, ovary, prostate, esophagus, colon and oral cancers.

Advantage #2: Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Research has shown that by eating fatty fishes twice a week, you can reduce your risk of stroke and heart disease. Eating these fish helps to reduce blood clots, improve blood vessel elasticity, lower blood pressure, boost good cholesterol and lower blood fats, all of which contribute to your improved cardiovascular health.

Advantage #3: Decreases Dementia Risk

Studies have proven that elderly people who eat seafood or fish at least once weekly, have a much lower risk of developing both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Advantage #4: Helps Manage Diabetes

Regular eating of fatty fish has been shown to help manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Advantage #5: Helps Relieve Inflammatory Conditions

Eating fatty fish on a regular basis has been proven to assist in relieving some of the symptoms of inflammatory conditions like autoimmune diseases, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Advantage #6: Improves Brain and Eye Health

A diet rich in omega-3s, the vital nutrient supplied in fatty fish, has been shown to contribute to the health of both brain tissue and the retina.

Advantage #7: Decreases Depression Rates

The omega-3s in fatty fish have been linked to producing lower incidences of depression in those people that regularly consume fish.

Advantage #8: Decreases Asthma Risk

Studies have shown that children who eat fatty fish are much less likely to develop asthma throughout their lives.

With so many health benefits, there is no reason to not increase your consumption of fatty fish. Try different fish and recipes, and experiment with baking, steaming, poaching and grilling the fish! EnJOY fat. 🙂