The health benefits of fish and other seafood have long been known, so if they are not on your menu, they need to be. Good things come in foil packages, especially when those packages contain seafood
Fresh fish contains essential nutrients that your body thrives on, and there is no better way to treat your body than with these delicious and nutritious foil packs.
All seafood is nutrient-rich and benefits your health in numerous ways. Salmon, specifically, is one of the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet. And this recipe gives you all these nutrients and great taste too.
Garlic Dijon Shrimp and Salmon Foil Packs
Ingredients:
4 salmon fillets, skin off
1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning herbs
For the Garlic Dijon Sauce:
8 tablespoons butter, melted 1 stick or 1/2 cup
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 teaspoons whole grain dijon mustard
3 teaspoons minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fresh chopped dill
Directions:
1. Prepare four 12x12 inch pieces of foil and set aside. Drizzle salmon with olive oil, rub over the whole surface, then season with salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning dried herbs. Repeat this process with the shrimp. To make the sauce, stir together all ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
2. Assemble foil packs by placing salmon in the middle, topped with 3-4 shrimp. Drizzle half of the sauce over the shrimp and salmon and save the other half for later. Fold foil over the shrimp and salmon and pinch edges to seal closed so no juices leak.
3. Grill foil packs over medium-high heat salmon-side down for ten minutes, then flip and cook another five minutes or so until shrimp is opaque and salmon is cooked through and flaky. Drizzle with the reserved sauce (you may need to microwave it for a few seconds first if the butter has cooled) and top with additional fresh chopped dill if desired and serve.
Benefits of Eating Salmon
Fattier fishes like salmon deliver omega-3 fatty acids that are known to boost brain, heart, liver, and overall health and well-being. As part of your regular diet, eating fish like salmon (and shrimp) will support your overall health and longevity.
Heart Health
Fish is considered one of the best foods for heart health. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish help reduce oxidative stress and help maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The result is a healthier blood flow, reduced risk for clogged arteries, and overall better heart health and function.
Salmon is also high in potassium, which is important to your heart health. Potassium can regulate blood pressure by preventing excess water retention, and salmon contains more potassium than bananas.
Get Your Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is more common than ever and contributes to hormonal imbalance. Most people turn to dairy for their vitamin D, but fish actually contains more than most dairy items. One serving of salmon contains 100% of your daily recommended intake for vitamin D.
Liver Health
Selenium is an additional mineral found in salmon that works to protect your liver, as well as other organs. With liver disease becoming more common, specifically non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, selenium is a valuable asset. As part of a healthy lifestyle, salmon (and selenium) can protect your liver and support your body’s natural detoxification processes.
Brain Support
Natural cognitive decline can be improved with regular consumption of fish, and you can even ward off neurodegenerative disease. People that regularly consume seafood have been found to have a lower risk of neurodegeneration. Specifically, the gray matter of the brain where information is processed and memories are stored improves with fish consumption.
Improved Mood
Depression is the most common mental illness in the world, but you can support your cognitive health and mood with dietary changes. For example, a regular diet that includes fish can help support a healthy mood as the omega-3 content enhances neurotransmitter function and mood.
Better Vision
Getting older can lead to a natural decline in vision. Specifically, the risk of macular degeneration increases as we get older and can lead to blindness if left untreated. Seafood and its omega-3 content help support your eyes and your vision.
Better Sleep
Disrupted sleep and insomnia can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Poor sleep quality can cause cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in the body, as the time needed for rest and recovery is diminished. Our overexposure to blue light screens today contributes to poor sleep patterns, but eating fish gives you the vitamin D you need to help promote sleep.
The Bottom Line
Seafood is versatile and full of nutrition. While salmon is the most nutritious variety of fish, all forms of seafood, like shrimp, provide essential nutrition that your body needs.
The best part about seafood is that there are so many different types, so your meals can benefit from variety, and you never get bored. Start adding seafood to the menu today and watch your health move upstream.
