Health benefits of sardines were in the ancient years overlooked, not until Napoleon Bonaparte praised hailed that they became a well known delicacy in the world. Since that time, sardines have been canned and shipped to all destinations. Sardines are small fish but highly nutritious. The origin of the word sardines is borrowed from an island In Italy called Sardinia.
Benefit 1: Rich in Vitamin B12 and Tryptophan
They are a source of vitamin B12 and contain a lot of tryptophan. Named after the Italian island of Sardinia, Napoleon popularized sardines by making them the first fish ever to be canned. Sardines are also rich in selenium, a rare trace element useful in the body. Selenium is used in fighting the formation of free radicals in the body.
Benefit 2: Rich in Vitamin D for Healthy Bones
This small fish is a rich source of vitamin D which is useful for healthy skin and bones. For healthy bones and joints, the calcium and vitamin D found in sardines is sufficient to cushion the body against the premature loss of bone density, brittle bones as well as inflamed joints in the limbs. The phosphorus strengthens the bones matrix. The oils in the omega 3 fats provide support to joint cartilage by boosting collagen levels which is useful for well functioning bone tissues.
Benefit 3: Omega 3 Fatty Acids Source
Sardines belong to the same group with Salmon and mackerel as some of the richest sources of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. The omega 3 fatty acids contain mono unsaturated fat which acts as antioxidants hence preventing radicals from causing cancer in the body. They form the so called High Density Lipoprotein or HDLs which also fight bad fats that form in the body. Low Density Lipoproteins or LDLs are the bad fats that clog your arteries and cause heart complications. The omega 3 fats help get rid of these bad fats by depositing them on your thighs and other parts of your body.
Benefit 4: Protein, Calcium and Phosphorous Source
Sardines contain amounts of protein, calcium and phosphorous. Proteins are useful in repairing body tissues while calcium and phosphorous are useful for forming strong bones, teeth and gums in that order. Fish sometimes consume lead and other harmful metal compound deposited as industrial effluents. However sardines have been found to contain little amounts of Mercury and PCBs which could be toxic to your body if you consume them.
Benefit 5: Lowering Cholesterol
They are healthy food for your cardiovascular wellbeing, having been found to contain omega 3 fats as earlier mentioned. This is important in combating high cholesterol in the blood. The EPA and DHA found in omega 3 fatty acids lower the cholesterol levels. Over and above that, they lower the level of homostycine which is a compound responsible for damage to the arterial wall hence increasing the risk of diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Benefit 6: Fighting Cancer
Sardines help to combat cancerous cells through the vitamin D which checks on the cellular activities which may sometimes go out of hand and form cancerous cells. The vitamin D is useful in keeping the cellular activities at an optimum level. This will be helpful in combating conditions such as colon prostate cancer. The omega 3 fats are also useful in fighting other blood cancers such as leukemia, multiple myeloma among others. They also help cushion blood cells from attack by conditions such as cell bcarcinoma in kidneys.
Recommended Resources :
- Wikipedia : Sardines
