Recipe: Easy Herb-Baked Salmon

You may have heard that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids is good for your heart. It’s true! Not all fats are unhealthy, and in the case of omega-3s, they are actually beneficial. Omega-3 fatty acids discourage the formation of blood clots, help decrease the growth of plaques that can clog arteries and can also lower your blood pressure.

The health benefits of salmon don’t end with the heart; omega-3 fatty acids also serve to protect the brain from declines in memory. Oily fish such as salmon can also help reduce inflammation in the body. In addition, salmon is a good source of protein, which is important for maintaining muscle mass and bone health.

Salmon is helpful in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Salmon contains astaxanthin, a naturally occurring red pigment that also can be found in trout and shrimp. The presence of astaxanthin is what gives salmon its pink hue. Astaxanthin has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant that serves to balance cholesterol in the blood, leading to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Now that we’ve laid out the health benefits of salmon, let’s get to cooking! If you’ve got 20 minutes, you’re in luck—that is plenty of time to prep and cook this delicious easy herb-baked salmon, which serves 8. If you have leftovers, might we suggest using the salmon later as a salad-topper or an addition to scrambled eggs? Yum!