Seafood is also a natural source of many vitamins and minerals that have important functions within the body.
Oil-rich fish is a great source of fat-soluble vitamins A and D, which are important for childhood development and lifelong growth. Although vitamin D is made by our bodies in response to sunlight, the long, dark winter months and lack of sunshine at other times of the year may put some people at risk of a vitamin D deficiency. Certain groups of people, such as children, the elderly and women from some ethnic groups, are especially at risk from low levels of vitamin D and so would benefit from a regular intake of oil-rich fish.
White fish is a good all-round source of B vitamins and seafood is an excellent source of minerals such as potassium, zinc and iodine. The reputation for being a ‘brain food’ may be, in part, due to the high iodine content of many fish species. Iodine is vital in the development of the brain and nervous system in babies and children.
Oysters, prawns and fish products containing small edible bones, e.g. tinned sardines or salmon, are a good source of calcium, particularly for people who choose not to consume dairy products.