How to Love Your Heart with Seafood

February marks American Heart Month, drawing attention to the health choices everyone can make to help prevent heart disease. Did you know? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. (CDC). The good news, though, is that lifestyle choices can make a difference, explains the American Heart Association (AHA). In fact, eating seafood is one of the ways to love your heart.

Seafood recommended

As part of a healthy lifestyle, AHA recommends eating seafood at least twice a week. They point to fatty fish as a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty fish include some of America’s favorites such as salmon, as well as mackerel, herring, sardines, and others.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans also recommend at least two servings of seafood per week. Not everyone regularly eats seafood, though (See Are Americans Eating Enough Seafood?). Foodservice operators can play an important role in helping guests discover the culinary versatility and enjoyment of seafood.

A red meat alternative

Not only do salmon, tuna, and other fish feature omega-3s; they are also low in saturated fat, making them a useful swap for red meats. Researchers publishing in Nutrition Reviews conducted a meta-analysis exploring how replacing red meat with seafood, poultry, dairy, eggs, nuts, and legumes could affect heart disease risk. They concluded that these replacements could support overall heart health.

Harvard Health agrees, saying, “A diet that includes fatty fish (fish with more than 5% fat) has long been touted to support heart health.” Eric Rimm, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition commented, “The science linking fatty fish and heart health continues to evolve, but the evidence still points to omega-3s as a way to further protect against heart attacks and strokes.”

Other researchers evaluating fish consumption in a systematic review of 24 studies concluded that “nonfried fish consumption is probably associated with a reduced risk of overall cardiovascular disease events.” They made the distinction in preparation methods because frying fish (or any food) introduces additional fats.

Lent season: an opportunity

Besides Heart Month, the upcoming Lent season (March 5 – April 17) could be a good time to encourage foodservice guests to try seafood in new forms. This is a common window to introduce seafood Limited Time Offerings (LTOs)—with appeal to all customers, regardless of whether they follow specific dietary practices for Lent.

An easy way to promote salmon is with unique salmon burger offerings. With simple prep based on ready-to-use salmon cans or packets, salmon burgers on your menu let you express your culinary style and entice health-conscious foodservice guests. For inspiration and ideas, check out the new video, Salmon Patties: what’s your style?

Promote heart health

To promote heart health this month, you can access a series of free fact sheets from the American Heart Association. Pairing educational resources with heart-healthy menus is one of the most customer-friendly strategies you can adopt in honor of American Heart Month. Need more ideas? Explore the foodservice recipe collection.