Mackerel is a slim fish, with a delightful taste, which provides important health benefits for the whole family. Specialists believe a mackerel diet is 1500 time more effective in preventing heart attacks than drug treatment.

Mackerel is recommended for diabetics because of its mineral and caloric content which thins the blood, helping the blood flow.  100g of mackerel contains 230 calories, 20g cholesterol, 3000mg omega-3 fatty acids and 250mg omega-6 fatty acids, essential for heart’s health.

Mackerel also contains vitamin A, C, D, E, K, B6 and B12. It’s rich in magnesium and selenium and provides significant benefits in the treatment of certain types of cancer. The content of vitamin K eliminates the risk of blood clots, the deposition of cholesterol and lowers blood pressure.

Studies conducted by American specialists have shown that a mackerel diet regulates the hormone level and favors the capillaries elasticity. Having one for lunch increases the intake of calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc needed for a healthy body.  Also mackerel improves the immune system, regulates metabolism and if consumed regularly can get rid of migraines and improve memory and brain activity.

Selection, preparation and storage of mackerel are very important in order to preserve its nutritional values. Choose only fresh fish with clean gills, moist skin, and shiny scales. If you want to store the mackerel remove it from the packet, wash it well under cold water, put it on a shallow pan filled with crushed ice and store it in the coldest part of the freezer.

Because the mackerel contains methyl mercury it should be avoided by pregnant women and nursing mothers. Also pregnant women should not consume mackerel regularly because it poses a risk to the mother and it harms the child’s developing nervous system.