Salmon is the king of fishes and its meat is tasty, flavorful and tender. There are different types of salmon notably the chinook, the sockeye, the silver and the pink amongst others.

The Chinook Salmon

The chinook salmon is also known as the king of salmon in Alaska where it is the official fish of this state. The chinook is the largest of all the pacific salmons and its flesh is firm, it has a rich flavor and its color is a pleasing red.

The Sockeye Salmon

The sockeye is commonly known as the red salmon due to its bright red flesh color and is the second most abundant species in the Alaska state. The sockeye has a high concentration of oil and is a good source of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Considered as one of the most flavorful salmons and its red rich texture is maintained during the cooking phase.

The Silver Salmon

The silver salmon is also known as the coho salmon and has bright silver sides with black spots on the back. The silver salmon has an orange-red flesh which it retains during cooking. Firm texture with high fat content, the coho salmon has a pleasing taste.

The Pink Salmon

The pink salmon as its name says has pink flesh. Also known as the humpback in Alaska, it has a mild and delicate flavor. Most of the pink salmons are canned after harvesting and these are the most commonly found in grocery stores.

Salmons are rich in protein and one of the best body building food protein you can get. Typically in a can of salmon of 213 grams, you get a whopping 33 grams of high quality protein in a single meal. Also the fats in salmon are healthy as compared to fats in chicken and beef for instance. These are the omega-3 fattty acids which are healthy for the heart.

There are many ways you can cook salmon. Salmon can either be grilled, fried, steamed, roasted, smoked, baked, barbecued and made into salmon patties, croquettes, steak, teriyaki and others.

Wild salmons are best as compared to farm raised salmons as they feed by themselves naturally.

If you're not eating salmon, try adding a few salmon dishes per week to your body building meals. Salmon is quite affordable and a high protein food as well and you can't go wrong with the fats. Why not try a canned salmon salad with tomatoes, lettuce, olive oil, vinegar and pepper for a start.

About the author

Jean Lam is the webmaster of Body Building Resource which provides articles on weight training, nutrition and fitness, body building book and DVDs.