Sardines are generally lower in mercury than salmon, which is a great reason to swap some of your salmon with this alternative. Compared to all seafood, sardines actually contain some of the lowest mercury levels with about 0.013 parts per million (ppm) of mercury, according to the FDA.
“You can't go wrong with sardines,” says Zumpano. “They're a wonderful source of omega-3 fatty acids, they're caught in the wild and they're cheap.” Sardines provide 2 grams of heart-healthy omega-3s per 3 ounce serving, which is one of the highest levels of omega-3 and the lowest levels of mercury of any fish.
Sardines are an excellent source of vitamin B12, ranking as one of the World's Healthiest Food.
Sardines may be small, but they make a great addition to a balanced diet, as they are low in saturated fat and calories, but high in protein. They also offer a good array of vitamins and minerals.
Sardines are high in protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids (associated with heart health benefits), and filled with certain important vitamins (especially D and B12) and minerals (such as calcium). However, sardines packed in oil are high in sodium and cholesterol, so daily consumption of them is not advisable.
The tiny, inexpensive sardine is making it onto many lists of superfoods and for good reason. It packs more omega-3s (1,950 mg!) per 3-ounce serving than salmon, tuna, or just about any other food; it's also one of the very, very few foods that's naturally high in vitamin D.
Water-packed sardines just won't have the same rich flavor and can taste a bit water-logged. Oil, however, locks in the fish's flavor and keeps each sardine super-moist. Opt for olive oil, rather than other oils, as its savory characteristics really complement the sardines.
Compared to all seafood, sardines actually contain some of the lowest mercury levels with about 0.013 parts per million (ppm) of mercury, according to the FDA. For comparison, salmon has about 0.022 ppm.
Oily fish are fish that contain at least 10% fat, most of which are the healthier omega-3 oils. In Australia, the oiliest fish include: canned salmon and sardines, some varieties of canned tuna, salmon, gemfish, blue-eye trevalla, blue mackerel, oysters and arrow squid.
Canned salmon is a nutritious choice
Canned salmon is rich in protein, vitamin D, calcium (from the bones) and omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats are heart healthy fats and also promote healthy brain development in babies.
Canned salmon and fresh salmon may not taste exactly the same, but they're almost identical from a nutritional standpoint. In fact, canned salmon is actually more nutritious than fresh because it's higher in calcium. That means you don't have to pay a premium price to get all these great health benefits.
The FDA recommends eating 8 ounces of salmon per week. So you *can* eat it every day but in smaller servings. If you're pregnant, the FDA recommends eating 8 to 12 ounces of seafood per week from sources that have lower mercury levels — including salmon!
The fact that a serving of sardines serves up a whopping 136% the RDV certainly helps its case as a superfood. In fact, sardines seem to be a sort of Swiss army knife for preventing common vitamin deficiencies.
The best in terms of lowering cholesterol are tuna, salmon, and swordfish. Sardines and halibut are good options, too.
Drain the oil out of the can.
Sometimes a recipe will tell you to use the oil straight from the sardine can– and I regularly use the canned oil in my cooking. However, keep in mind that the oil from the can will taste fishier than fresh oil.
You can simply eat canned sardines as are. You may want to drain the liquid they come in. You can easily add some oil, mayonnaise, hot sauce, mustard, or other seasonings; put them into a salad, or grill with some onions and garlic to seal in additional flavour.
A Harvard study found that consuming just one to two servings of sardines every week provides enough omega-3 fatty acids to reduce your chances of heart disease by more than one-third. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Sardines are generally lower in mercury than salmon, which is a great reason to swap some of your salmon with this alternative. Compared to all seafood, sardines actually contain some of the lowest mercury levels with about 0.013 parts per million (ppm) of mercury, according to the FDA.
Fish and shellfish in this category, such as salmon, catfish, tilapia, lobster and scallops, are safe to eat two to three times a week, or 8 to 12 ounces per week, according to the FDA.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that to consume those higher amounts, children should only be fed fish from the “Best Choices” list that are even lower in mercury – these fish are anchovies, Atlantic mackerel, catfish, clams, crab, crawfish, flounder, haddock, mullet, oysters, plaice, pollock, salmon, ...
Still, tuna is high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamins B and A. This fish is also a good source of iron, phosphorous, and selenium. Sardines do not have a lot of mercury in them, so they're healthier in that regard. They mostly survive on plankton.
Entrepreneur and VC Craig Cooper swears by eating 5 cans of sardines a day. (And loves a 22-minute power nap.) Being an entrepreneur means doing things differently: Creating new products and services. Finding new ways to solve old problems.