This is just part of an article I read on Sparkpeople. If you're a fish/seafood lover, you might want to read the rest of this article. It not only covers the omegas but also the contaminants, environmental concerns and gives you a general guideline for fish and your health. This is well worth going to this site to read.
What's the Best Fish for You?
Word
is spreading that fish is good for your health,
but like many matters of health and nutrition, there’s nothing simple about
simply eating fish. Even though many
varieties can be good for your health, contaminants such as mercury and
polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), found in many types of fish, may be detrimental
to your health.
But it gets even more complicated. Beyond choosing fish based on healthfulness (considering things like abundance of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and low concentrations of mercury and contaminants), consuming fish also has an environmental impact. Many environmental advocates have reported that the mismanagement of many large-scale fishing operations has resulted in overfishing (and the plummeting of some wild fish populations). Fish farming, one alternative to wild fish, may help protect these populations, but other groups claim that fish farming has led to other problems, like the overuse of antibiotics to control disease.
Trying to keep track of which types of fish are healthy and safe—not only for you, but also for the environment—can be daunting, to say the least. And here’s why: Making the right choice when it comes to fish means looking for fish that have the highest nutritional content, lowest levels of contaminants, and, for those concerned with the environment, the lightest impact on the planet. Let's explore how to make the best choices to meet all of these tricky requirements.
Nutrition and Omega-3s
Nutrients found in foods are usually straightforward. When choosing fish, people generally want to know which types are highest in omega-3 fatty acids. Concerning omega-3s alone, the following chart ranks the omega-3s in fish from highest content to lowest.
But it gets even more complicated. Beyond choosing fish based on healthfulness (considering things like abundance of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and low concentrations of mercury and contaminants), consuming fish also has an environmental impact. Many environmental advocates have reported that the mismanagement of many large-scale fishing operations has resulted in overfishing (and the plummeting of some wild fish populations). Fish farming, one alternative to wild fish, may help protect these populations, but other groups claim that fish farming has led to other problems, like the overuse of antibiotics to control disease.
Trying to keep track of which types of fish are healthy and safe—not only for you, but also for the environment—can be daunting, to say the least. And here’s why: Making the right choice when it comes to fish means looking for fish that have the highest nutritional content, lowest levels of contaminants, and, for those concerned with the environment, the lightest impact on the planet. Let's explore how to make the best choices to meet all of these tricky requirements.
Nutrition and Omega-3s
Nutrients found in foods are usually straightforward. When choosing fish, people generally want to know which types are highest in omega-3 fatty acids. Concerning omega-3s alone, the following chart ranks the omega-3s in fish from highest content to lowest.
Species
3 oz edible portion |
Grams
Omega-3 |
Mackerel,
Atlantic
|
2.6
|
Chub
|
2.6
|
Herring
|
2.5
|
King
Mackerel
|
2.2
|
Chub
Mackerel
|
2.2
|
Trout,
lean lake
|
2.1
|
Spiny
Dogfish
|
2.0
|
Trout,
lake
|
2.0
|
Salmon,
Atlantic, farmed
|
1.9
|
Herring,
pacific
|
1.8
|
Whitefish
|
1.8
|
Herring,
Atlantic
|
1.7
|
Bluefin
Tuna
|
1.6
|
Chinook
Salmon
|
1.5
|
Sablefish
|
1.5
|
Albacore
Tuna
|
1.5
|
Whitefish,
lake
|
1.5
|
Sturgeon,
Atlantic
|
1.5
|
Canned
Sardines
|
1.4
|
Pink
Salmon
|
1.0
|
Smelt
|
1.0
|
Striped
Bass
|
0.8
|
Pollock
|
0.5
|
Catfish
|
0.5
|
Halibut,
Pacific
|
0.5
|
Catfish
or Cod
|
0.3
|
Flounder
or Perch
|
0.2
|
Snapper
or Grouper
|
0.2
|
Sole
|
0.1
|
No comments:
Post a Comment