RSS Feeds: Which is Better for You, Freshwater Fish or Saltwater Fish?
The question of whether freshwater fish or saltwater fish is better for you is not important. What's important is which fish and shellfish contain the lowest amounts of mercury (more specifically, methylmercury). Equally important is which fish contain the most omega-3 fatty acids, which is important to your health.
Fish and Rice Diets
Fish and rice are consumed more in the Asian countries, like Japan and the Philippines, than in the US and other places. Filipinos consider themselves poor if they can only eat fish and rice. They don't know how wrong they are.
Many fish varieties, along with shellfish, contain important omega-3 fatty acids which contribute to overall health more than other types of meat (like beef, pork, etc.). People who incorporate regular servings of fish in their diet tend to live longer than those who don't.
I have been attempting to add fish to my diet and I've managed to eat tuna at least once per week, which is all that is recommended due to the high levels of mercury found in most tuna.
Fish with the Lowest Levels of Mercury
According to the US FDA chart of "Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish", some fish that I see frequently eaten here in the Philippines is on the list as having the lowest amount of mercury.
The fish (and shellfish and whatever) that I've seen eaten are, in no particular order: Clam, shrimp, squid, octopus, mackerel, tilapia, milkfish, sardine and even some tuna (but not very often). The dried fish varieties are also eaten a lot, but I can't remember the names of the fish.
I am not fond of fish. I prefer beef, but I think I need to change my ways. I like clams, mussels and oysters, but they have to be cooked. I don't like anything raw. It has been at least 30 years since I ate sardines (as a teenager) and I need to add them to my diet. I didn't like sardines back then, but our tastes change as we grow older. At one time I couldn't stand corned beef, but now I eat it regularly.
Fish with Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people as well as those at high risk of (or already have) cardiovascular disease. Coincidentally, most of the fish that have the lowest mercury levels have the most omega-3 fatty acids. I wonder if there's a correlation somewhere. Somehow I doubt it because some of the fish with the highest levels of mercury also have a high level of the acids, like tuna.
Speaking of tuna, the chicken of the sea… In the film feature titled Finding Nemo, Nemo was a clownfish. Anyone who remembers "Charlie the Tuna", the mascot for StarKist, would know that Nemo should have been a tuna. Why? Charlie the Tuna was based on actor-songwriter Henry Nemo. How's that for some totally irrelevant information? I just threw that in there to irritate you.
The gist of all this is simple. Eat more fish and less of every other kind of animal. I am an official member of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) and some fish are definitely tasty.
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That's great news for me, I love eating fish, I could eat fish every day, any kind of fish.
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My appetite for fish depends on the way it is cooked. Like take of instance Bangus, it's the country's national fish. But I don't like it that much. Bangus is a fresh water fish, but I prefer bangus grilled. Tilapia is my favorite fresh water fish, I love it when it's fried. But health wise, I don't eat fish everyday, there are times when I crave for fish, but most of the time I eat cow meat or pork and sometimes I prefer to eat chicken meat. :)
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Yo,anybody living in the philippines that doesnt take advantage of the sea food is missing out.There are so many different types and all cheaper than chicken,plus squid,cuttle fish and shell fish.I was a meat and potatoes man for far too long and im eating much better living in the philippines.Fry with coconut oil the best on planet earth.Fish is the dish.