The Best Seafood for People With Diabetes

Salmon is a great choice of fish for type 2 diabetes because it’s high in omega-3 fatty acids, the “healthy” fats that can help reduce your risk of common diabetes-related complications like heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, according to the AHA. In fact, an analysis of four international studies found that eating at least two servings of fish per week is associated with a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and death among people with heart disease.

As with most fish, you have a number of options for healthy cooking with diabetes, including baking, broiling, stewing, and roasting, per the AHA. Weisenberger suggests coating cooked salmon with this heart-healthy dressing: 1 tablespoon (tbsp) olive oil, 1½ tbsp lemon juice, 2 crushed garlic cloves, and a handful of fresh chopped basil. “Every single ingredient is heart-healthy and perfect for people with type 2 diabetes,” Weisenberger says. Add a salad, roasted vegetables like broccoli or asparagus, and a whole-grain like brown rice for a balanced meal, she adds.

Tilapia is a low-calorie, high-protein fish that has a very mild flavor, Weisenberger says. One small fillet that’s been steamed or poached contains 137 calories and 28.5 grams (g) of protein, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) nutrition database. Tilapia is also fairly easy to find as both a fresh and frozen fillet, and it’s even easier to prepare. Tilapia fillets are often thin, so they cook quickly (be careful not to overcook them, however, because they’ll start to fall apart).

Try this diabetes-friendly tilapia dish from Weisenberger: Sauté onions, peppers, or whatever vegetables you have on hand. Then add canned tomatoes, tomato sauce (look for low-sodium options), and Italian seasonings. Raise the heat to a low boil and place the tilapia on top. Cover and cook for a few minutes, or until the fish is cooked through. “I’d serve it with brown rice, barley, or quinoa,” Weisenberger says.

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Like tilapia, cod is a low-calorie, high-protein white fish (148 calories and 32.6 g protein per small steamed or poached fillet, as the USDA notes). “[Cod] has very little saturated fat and a nice amount of omega-3s,” Weisenberger says. But unlike tilapia, cod makes a slightly firmer fillet that can withstand more aggressive cooking methods, such as grilling, as well as bolder seasoning. Weisenberger loves using cod for fish tacos or even seafood gumbo (tilapia is too thin for this).

Another great way to prepare cod is to cut it in chunks, add your favorite veggies, herbs, spices, and a drizzle of olive oil. Wrap each portion in aluminum foil and bake. “This is a great way to give each family member their own personalized meal,” Weisenberger says. “I might choose onions and broccoli, and you might choose mushrooms and asparagus.”

If you know someone who fishes, hope that you get treated to a fresh trout or bass. “Fattier fish like trout contain higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids,” says Julie Stefanski, RD, CDCES, who is based in York, Pennsylvania. The AHA backs that up, noting trout is one of many types of fish that offer these heart-healthy omega-3s.

Try baking or broiling trout with sodium-free seasoning or a little citrus juice. The challenge for people who are just learning to cook seafood is to not oversalt, especially because you want to aim for less than the AHA-approved 2,300 milligrams (mg) of salt a day, or 1,500 mg for most adults. Every fish variety has unique flavors, so it should be easy to make meals salt-free with just a touch of flavorful herbs.

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Shrimp is very low in calories and high in protein, Weisenberger says. A 4-oz serving contains 120 calories and 23 g of protein, according to the USDA. It does contain relatively high amounts of cholesterol (170 mg) compared with other kinds of seafood, so people with diabetes who are also trying to avoid high cholesterol might want to skip it. While research is ongoing, a review and meta-analysis published in 2015 noted that while elevated total dietary cholesterol can increase the risk for heart disease, shrimp can be a healthy option when paired with lean or plant-based protein sources.

The challenge of having to work to get the meat out of succulent shellfish such as crab and lobster shells makes it hard to overindulge on shellfish in your diabetes diet. Plus, crab and lobster are “naturally low in fat and calories,” Stefanski says. One cup of steamed crab packs only 97 calories and nearly 1 g of fat, per estimates from the USDA. Meanwhile, 1 cup of steamed lobster provides 128 calories and 1.2 g of fat. But if you add melted butter, both fat and calories can skyrocket. “Instead, try incorporating shellfish into plant-based meals such as salads and stir-fries with tons of colorful veggies,” Stefanski says. Try a bay leaf seasoning in the cooking water for extra zest rather than salting the cooking liquid, and don’t let diabetes keep you from getting creative — use cooked seafood in recipes from cold salads to pasta, rice dishes, and soups.

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Fresh or frozen seafood is a delicious addition to a diabetes diet, but it can be pricey for some people. Meanwhile, canned tuna and canned salmon are more affordable shelf-stable staples you can keep in your pantry. And they do count as part of your fish-eating goal for the week. “Most people don’t include enough fish in their diets, but with this easy option, they may reach the goal of two to three servings of fish per week,” Stefanski says. Pick fish canned in water rather than packed in oil to reduce calories and fat. (And keep in mind the FDA’s recommendations on limiting mercury in the fish you eat.) For an easy, filling meal, mix one can of tuna with a bit of avocado, a touch of mayo if desired, and lemon pepper seasoning, Stefanski says. Then, spread the mixture over whole-wheat toast.

“Sardines really do deserve an ‘A’ on their nutritional report card,” Stefanski says. Not only are sardines high in omega-3s, but they contain some calcium and vitamin D, she says. Per the USDA, 1 oz of canned sardines in oil offers 108 mg of calcium and 1.36 mcg of vitamin D. Those attributes make them an excellent food to include as part of your diabetes diet and your bone health program, as long as you read labels to find brands low in salt. Canned sardines are relatively affordable,  and they are flavorful on their own or added to other dishes. If you’re adventurous, try grilling fresh sardines.