Sea
bass belongs to oily fish with moderate fat content (5-15%). Generally, fish,
according to the Messinian Diet pyramid, are to be consumed 2 to 3 times on a
weekly basis. In particular, fish, like red meat and poultry, constitute a key
source of protein and are high in B vitamins and iron. Regarding their content
of fat, it should be mentioned that this varies from species to species. There
are low-fat fish, such as cod and sole and high-fat fish such as trout, salmon
and mackerel. The fat of fish has been classified as ‘good’ fat and has been
found to have overall positive effects on human health. Fish that contain less
fat and seafood, like crabs and octopus, are an important source of omega-3
fats. Apart from fat and proteins, fish also provide the body with a number of
vitamins and trace elements, such as the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and the
water-soluble B complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, and B12). Finally, the main
minerals and trace elements that fish and seafood contain are calcium (especially
small fish consumed with bones), phosphorus, zinc and iodine. Specifically, fish
flesh has a high content of protein (at a rate of 18 to 25%), beneficial fat
(mainly polyunsaturated omega-3), vitamins (fat-soluble A, D, E, K, B complex vitamins)
and a significant amount of minerals (calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus,
copper, iron, magnesium and iodine).