Sardines Nutrition Facts

Sardines, which are commonly referred to as pilchards are small, oily fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids seem to have the ability to regulate and lower cholesterol levels in the blood, as well as improving the ratio of good and bad cholesterol. It is this ratio between good and bad cholesterol that is thought to play a key role in heart attack risk, and this is one of the most important effects of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet.

Recent research has found that the omega-3 fatty acids found in sardines help to slow the progression of mild Alzheimer’s disease. According to another study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, fatty fish, including sardines could help to reduce your chances of developing kidney cancer.

Sardines are also good sources of iron, which is important, specifically for women as they lose a lot of iron during their menstrual cycle.

One small sardine would contain about 25 calories, 1 gram of fat, 3 grams of protein and zero carbohydrates. It would also contain 17 milligrams of cholesterol and 61 milligrams of sodium.

There are various ways to prepare sardines. Fresh sardines can be either grilled or fried, while canned sardines are generally edible as they are, otherwise may also be grilled or fried.