Nutritionists may not know exactly why seafood is so good for us, but they do agree it’s a healthy food. Seafood is high in unsaturated fat, which is much healthier than saturated fat. You see, unsaturated fat (like what’s found in seafood) is softer than saturated fat (like pork fat), which means it doesn’t harden in the arteries. Now you can get fresh seafood delivered to your door overnight, which is great news for everyone who wants a heart healthy diet.

Seafood is high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are important components of a healthy diet. Omega-3 and omega-6 are the fatty acids that play the most important role in maintaining a healthy nervous system. Foods that are rich in omega-3 reduce the risk or heart disease and boost the immune system. Oily fish like fresh salmon, mackerel, and sardines are particularly high in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.

Years ago shrimp got a bad reputation as being high in cholesterol. But today’s research shows that while shrimp itself is high in cholesterol, it does not increase the body’s production of cholesterol, which is what matters. In fact, shrimp is a very healthy food. It’s low in fat and calories, high in iron, zinc, copper, vitamin B-12, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids. Fresh shrimp has firm meat with a sweet, lightly briny aroma that reminds you of the ocean. Avoid shrimp with discolored shells or an ammonia smell. To retain the delicate buttery flavor, cook shrimp quickly.

Even people who don’t like seafood will eat salmon. That’s good because salmon is very nutritious. A four-ounce serving provides all the required vitamin D for one day and half the daily requirement of vitamin B-12, niacin, and selenium. And of course, salmon is high in the good fatty acids. There are so many ways to cook salmon that you could eat it every day and not get bored. Grilled, steamed, baked, or broiled, salmon is a very healthy source of protein.

Abalone is an excellent source of selenium, which means it provides at least 20 percent of the recommended daily amount of this trace element. It’s also a good source of magnesium, vitamin B-12, and Vitamin E. California has the biggest commercial abalone fisheries in the United States, but with overnight seafood delivery you can have fresh abalone for dinner anywhere in the country.