Salmon is a fatty fish that contains two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids that reduce the risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Salmon and other fatty fish such as herring, sardines and mackerel contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Eating salmon regularly may provide you with heart-healthy benefits.
Types
Coho salmon and pink salmon are two of the most common types of salmon on the U.S. market. Both of these fish share the same habitat in the waters off of Alaska and are an important part of the commercial fishing industry in the region.
Identification
Pink salmon are steel blue to blue-green and have dark oval spots on their backs. They are silver colored on the side and have white bellies. As the males mature they develop humps on their backs. Pink salmon reach sizes up 15 pounds and 2 1/2 feet long.
Coho salmon are green or dark blue on their backs with light-colored bellies and silver sides. The Coho also have dark spots on their backs but these are smaller than the spots on the pink salmon. Coho salmon reach lengths of 2 1/2 feet.
Geography
Coho salmon are commonly raised in domestic fisheries. In the wild, they are plentiful in the Pacific Northwest. Coho salmon sold fresh or frozen in the United States mostly come from Alaska but some comes from Chile and Canada.
Pink salmon are also abundant in the Pacific Northwest and account for 60 percent of all salmon caught there commercially, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Most of the pink salmon sold in stores in the United States comes from Alaska and is sold canned.
Benefits
Both coho and pink salmon are good sources of protein, vitamin B12, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The American Heart Associate website states that omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglyceride levels in the blood, slow plaque formation in the arteries and lower blood pressure. These fatty acids also reduce the risk of abnormal heart beats and sudden cardiac death. The American Heart Association recommends you eat a serving of 3/4 cup of cooked fatty fish such as salmon twice each week.
Expert Insight
Some species of the coho salmon are threatened, and one species is listed as endangered. Coho found around Alaska that are fished commercially are healthy and abundant. oho are also called medium red salmon and silver salmon.
Pink salmon are an important part of the ecosystem. Being so abundant, they are a major food source for many marine and land animals when they are at sea and spawning in streams. Pink salmon are also called humpback salmon.
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