Food and nutrition ... Sardines are commonly consumed by humans as a source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and micronutrients. [68] Sardines may be grilled, pickled, smoked, or preserved in cans.

Understanding the Context

Canned sardines are 67% water, 21% protein, 10% fat, and contain negligible carbohydrates (table). If you like smoked sardines with a side of sustainability: Big and meaty with beautifully burnished skins and sitting in bronze-tinged oil, Nice Cans sardines have a prominent campfire-like... It's possible to enjoy eating sardines. Learn from experts how to find the tastiest sardines for snacks or how to put them in pasta, tacos, and more.

Key Insights

This article examines sardines' key health benefits, nutritional profile, mercury content, and recent scientific findings. Are sardines healthy? Sardines are small, oily fish that swim closer to the surface of the ocean, which means they may be less likely to carry harmful contaminants like mercury—a common concern... Sardines can come with lots of health benefits, especially if you eat them in place of other meats. But they also can have lots of salt as well as heavy metal contaminants.

Final Thoughts

Sardines are small, silvery, elongated fishes with a single short dorsal fin, no lateral line, and no scales on the head. They range in length from about 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 inches) and live in dense schools, migrating along the coast and feeding on plankton, of which they consume vast quantities. Sardines are small, silvery, schooling pelagic fishes best represented by the herring family (Clupeidae). They are plankton-feeders and are ecologically important forage fish, as well as a major global fishery and canned-food product.