Yummy Anchovies! Did you Know?

Did you know anchovies are a small, oily fish prevalent in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans? They can be enjoyed in salads, pasta dishes and on pizza. Aside from boasting a salty flavor, anchovies provide an excellent source of nutrition for your body. Anchovies should be enjoyed in moderation due to their elevated sodium count.

Vitamin A
One serving of anchovies, 100 g, provides the body with approximately 50,000 international units, or IU, of vitamin A. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin A plays an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction and cell division, while helping to regulate the immune system by promoting healthy surface linings of the eyes and the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts.

Calcium
Anchovies provide a rich source of calcium. A 100-g serving of anchovies can provide up to 147 mg of calcium. Calcium is essential for the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth.

Potassium
If you are looking to add more potassium into your diet, anchovies are a suitable option. They provide the body with approximately 383 mg of potassium per serving. Potassium is crucial to heart function and plays a key role in skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, making it important for normal digestive and muscular function.

Selenium
Anchovies are rich in selenium with about 36 mcg per serving. Selenium is used for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including stroke and hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, as well as for helping prevent cancer of the prostate, stomach, lungs and skin..