Experts the world over agree that benefits of eating fish far outweigh red meats. Now I’m certainly not saying that we should eat only fish. That’d just be silly. But here at The Kingfisher our family were brought up on a healthy diet of fish on a regular basis and it certainly hasn’t done us any harm.
There are a lot of reasons why eating fish is better for you than other sources of animal protein, such as different types of meat. Seafood is generally lower in fat and the types of fat in fish are less saturated. They also contain essential fatty acids like Omega-3 fats.  It’s so simple, really, but this is probably the most powerful change that you can make in your diet. Much of the research on the benefits of fish stem from early studies on Inuit natives and their high consumption of salmon and low rates of heart disease. Over time we’ve come to understand that this is because they are eating fish that are high in monounsaturated fats, especially Omega-3 fats. 
There’s lots of research on the power of fish to prevent heart disease also. This means fatty fish or “dark fish” like tuna, salmon, sardines, swordfish, mackerel or bluefish, which are all high in Omega-3 fatty acids. There is now evidence that the salmon you’ll have for dinner in The Kingfisher can actually treat heart disease.
There is evidence for fish being beneficial for many health problems, including osteoporosis and infections. There are even studies that show that fish has a major role in the prevention of cancers, including kidney, skin and colon cancers.
The old adage “fish is brain food” is true, and many studies support this conclusion. One reported that a single meal of fish per week reduced the normal age-related decline in intelligence by 10% to 13%. This is the equivalent of being mentally three or four years younger. No wonder so many of our regulars have such sharp wit!

In another study, scientists looked at fish consumption as it relates to mental decline. Those who did not eat fish had a decline 4 times the rate of those eating fish twice a week or more.
Recently, Professor John Stein of Oxford University and The Institute of Food, Brain and Behaviour stated his absolute belief that low fish consumption is to blame for people’s woes and general decline in overall happiness. Stein said that the average teenager eats only a tenth of their recommended weekly amount of fish which means that teenagers are deficient in not only omega 3 but also iron, zinc, and iodine. The rise in ADHD, anxiety, obesity, obsessive compulsive eating disorder and anti-social personality disorder have all seen huge increases in the last century and a contributory factor, he believes, is the lack of fish in our diets.
So, in order to keep your brain and your body healthy and happy why not make fish a staple part of your diet?!
There’s a great fish restaurant on Parnell Street in Dublin city centre by the way…
Gillian x