Barcelona has many markets with extremely fresh produce and with the extensive range of self-catering accommodation in the city, such as tourist apartments, it0s great fun to pick up some local produce and make a meal in, or prepare a barbeque on your terrace. Gone are the days of worrying about properly cooked fish, or seafood which might disagree with you – Barcelona’s fishmongers are the happiest in recommending different ways to prepare your catch of the day, and personally, I have learned many techniques of different ways to prepare fish and seafood from many friendly fishmongers. The famous Boqueria market on the central Las Ramblas street is a great stop to view different types of seafood and fish, but the Barceloneta and Sant Antoni markets are equally central, stocking the same produce and are often less crowded. Whether it’s ingredients for Paella, a Peruvian cebiche or fresh sardines for the barbeque – head down to the markets early and stock up on the catch of the day.

If you prefer to be waited upon, then you’re spoilt for choice in Barcelona. With so many seafood restaurants to choose from, and every city guide book often choosing different ones, I’ll try and recommend a few of my own experiences and some of the un-missable spots, too.

The old fisherman’s quarters of La Barceloneta lie right next to the beach and those narrow streets have some of the oldest and most established restaurants serving the freshest fish and seafood to this day. So when the new red-brick building which now houses the Catalan History Museum was commissioned, there was to be space underneath for the select few restaurants from Barceloneta to choose their spot. In a nutshell, the best places in the old fisherman’s neighbourhood were given their choice of restaurant space. Now, since then, in my opinion, some of those restaurants have let their standards slide a little, given the fact that they will easily fill tables on their terraces on a summer’s day due to the prime location. This is all apart from one – El Merendero de la Mari – which has maintained the best standards since “Mari” used to make the broth for the Paella and those Mariner’s mussels. For me, they just have got everything right, from the waiters and the crockery and cutlery (sounds stupid, I know, and I’m no restaurant critic, but things like that stick in your mind!) to the wine and the speed of service.

Just along the way from El Merendero, and of a completely different ilk, is El Rey de la Gamba. Here it’s a much more modest place, with paper napkins, waiters who shout the orders back to the kitchen, and the like, but it’s always busy, and they have a great turnover of the fish, so it’s always fresh. The biggest reason for me including this place as well, is that the portions are huge! Often we have gone in a group of four and ordered a seafood platter and Paella for two – and had plenty of leftovers for a doggy bag, too!

Our body only produces small amounts of these important fatty acids; therefore we need to rely on other sources for this essential nourishment. Seafood is one of the best sources of these nutrients. It has been known for many years that eating fresh seafood provides health benefits. However, no one has been sure of the exact reasons for this effect. Yes, fish and other seafood is high in protein and low in fat, but these basic properties do not explain all the benefits enjoyed by people whose diet is high in these foods.

The discovery of higher Mercury levels in farm raised fish has led scientist to believe that one should stick with wild caught fish whenever possible. Long term studies have not been conducted yet to determine the effects of eating farm raised fish but it is assumed that the exposure to Mercury will have negative effects.One thing is for sure, in a world where everything grown by man is injected with hormones, biologically engineered and juiced up to decrease growth times, increase yields and make products easier to ship and handle, eating fish is good choice.With the advent of new technologies, however, and the discovery of omega-3 fatty acids and their key role to various aspects of human health, the benefits of enjoying a diet rich in, for instance, lobster meat or other kinds of fresh seafood suddenly became far more tangible.

The omega-3s start a wonderful activity as early as on fetal stage of human development. Docosahexaenoic acid, commonly found in fish, crab and lobster meat, is an essential component for building brain and nerve fetal tissue as well as the retina. Consequently, research suggests that for infant cognition higher consumptions of fresh seafood low in mercury are beneficial by a pregnant woman. Research has shown that a diet high in omega-3 will confer health advantages prenatally which persist after birth. Children eating such a diet develop less asthma and fewer cases of airway inflammation. Since live lobster and king crab are excellent sources of omega-3, adults will enjoy getting their regular dose.

Eating fresh seafood was shown to lower the rates of depression in post-partum women as well as lower their risk of breast cancer. Consuming Omega 3s also protected against a number of heart diseases, prevented strokes, and improved eye and neurological functioning. Lastly, they were shown to stop mental deterioration in later years, therefore saving the contented fresh seafood afficionados manifold the expenses of their hobby. Furthermore, fish contains more than just one advisable substance. Vitamin D they are also rich in offers potent anti-cancer and bone-building properties, while Astaxanthin, a powerful anti-oxidant found in salmon and giving it the characteristic orange color, confers a host of documented health advantages.

It is well known that to use natural ingredients easily found in food items agrees with the most innovative trends in medicine and with the idea that it is easier to prevent diseases than to cure them. Seafood oils are known to have properties that lower blood pressure, benefiting especially those suffering from hypertension. Eating seafood just once or twice a week can provide good health benefits. Moreover, eating fresh seafood is a great way to obtain your required dose of these essential oils. Oils extracted from seafood are also available as nutritional supplements.