Is Seafood Healthy? Types, Nutrition, Benefits, and Risks Seafood is an essential part of many people’s diets around the world, and eating it has been associated with a variety of health benefits. Seafood refers to several types of animals, including ( 1 Trusted Source ): fish crustaceans, like lobster and shrimp mollusks, like clams and oysters echinoderms, like sea urchins This article explores the evidence-based health benefits of seafood and also covers some of the potential downsides to eating it.  Evidence-based health benefits of seafood There’s no doubt that seafood can positively influence health. Decades of scientific research have shown that diets high in seafood may help protect you from a variety of health conditions. Plus, seafood is rich in nutrients that tend to be low in many people’s diets. Here are some of the most impressive health benefits related to eating seafood, according to research. Highly nutritious Seafood is a concentrated source of many essential n