Does Seafood Make You Gain Weight?

Last updated on October 6th, 2022 at 09:39 am

Shrimp cocktails, crab legs, and fish filets are delicious seafood dishes enjoyed by many all over the world. Now, if you are on a diet, but don’t want to cut out seafood from your diet you may be wondering, does seafood make you gain weight?

Seafood does not make you gain weight however eating deep fried seafood could. The nutrients found in seafood make you feel full so you don’t consume too much food. This is why seafood can be an effective food to help you lose weight rather than gain it and is included in many weight loss menus as well.

So the good news is that you don’t have to cut seafood out of your diet. Seafood won’t make you gain weight and can even help you lose weight. But, if the seafood is cooked in unhealthy ways, then this can increase your chance of gaining weight. 

Fried foods are infamous for being unhealthy. All the fats and calories it contains can make you gain weight which is why it is recommended to eat fried food in moderation. Well, the same thing goes for fried seafood. Just because it is fish doesn’t mean that it is good for you when it is fried. 

Fried fish and seafood is still unhealthy and if you eat a lot of it can certainly result in weight gain.

Gaining weight doesn’t happen by just eating a certain food but by how much of it you are eating. If you eat more calories than you burn, then you are going to be storing the rest as fat resulting in weight gain. 

Fish and seafood are healthy foods because of all the nutrients and protein they contain. They are rich in protein, calcium, omega-3s, iron, and vitamins as well as a low saturated fat content. The nutrients found in seafood can make you feel full so that you eat less of it. 

So, seafood is good for you to eat on diets since it actually helps aid you in losing weight instead of gaining it. The less food you consume, the less chance you have of gaining weight.

Now, depending on how the food is cooked, you may have a greater chance of gaining weight from eating it.  For instance, fried food contains a lot of calories while grilled or baked foods don’t. So, choosing to eat seafood that isn’t fried is healthier. As you can see, seafood will only make you gain weight if it contains those things that cause your body to gain weight like fats and calories. 

But, for the most part, seafood is healthy to eat.

Is Seafood Good For Losing Weight?

Seafood is a popular dish not only for its taste but also for its health benefits. As with all other foods, it can be cooked in unhealthy ways that could make you gain weight regardless of its nutrition. 

But, if seafood is cooked properly, is it good to eat if you are wanting to lose weight?

Seafood can help you lose weight. As long as it isn’t cooked in an unhealthy way, seafood is healthy for you to eat. It contains many nutrients and proteins which are good to eat when you are trying to lose weight.

When it is fried or served with unhealthy foods, seafood isn’t good for you to eat. This is because they contain a lot of fat and calories. Seafood that is breaded and fried takes the once healthy fish and turns it into an unhealthy meal. 

And this doesn’t just go for breaded and fried seafood. Seafood served with other fattening foods makes the whole dish unhealthy. Just because some fish is thrown in there doesn’t mean that a bowl of pasta or some nachos and cheese are now healthy for you to eat. 

Some examples of unhealthy seafood meals are:

1. Breaded Fish Nachos – The breaded fish, nachos and cheese in this dish all contain a lot of fat sodium and calories making it unhealthy.

2. Battered Fish & Chips – Although it contains fish, fat is the main nutrient in this dish from the breading on the fish to the fries served with it. 

3. Tuna Salad Sandwiches – Mixed with mayo, tuna becomes more unhealthy. So, because of the fat content, this dish should be eaten in moderation.

4. Fish Pasta – We all know that some pasta mixed with butter, cream, and cheese isn’t healthy to eat. Even with some fish added in, this dish is still an unhealthy one.

5. Salmon Filet – Salmon contains a high amount of fat and along with the sauces served with it, this dish is not a healthy choice.

When you eat seafood cooked in a healthy way without all the added fats, sodium, and calories it can be a great way to lose weight. By choosing healthier options, you don’t have to worry about weight gain from seafood. 

Fish is known to be very good for weight loss which is due to several factors. Fish is a light food and in fact it is one of the lightest foods. As we mentioned earlier, eating fish and seafood can make you feel full faster so that you naturally eat less of it.

By eating less, it can help you lose weight. Fish also contains many proteins and very little fats meaning that by eating fish, your cholesterol will be controlled and heart problems avoided. When you eat fatty foods, your body stores the fats but with seafood and fish, you are getting a lot of protein. 

Now, if your body isn’t getting enough calories or fat from foods, then it can start to break down the protein and use it for energy instead. This is a proven and helpful way to lose weight.

Fish don’t contain many calories which means that it is good for weight loss. You can get a lot of nutrients from the fish and its nutrients can keep you healthy as well as help you lose weight.

Final Thoughts

Fish and seafood are popular foods eaten for their health benefits. But, when cooked in an unhealthy way, it could cause you to gain weight. Choosing to eat nutrient and protein packed seafood in ways that doesn’t contain a lot of fat and calories can even help you to lose weight.