AGING GRACEFULLY SERIES

LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE AND MEDICINE BE YOUR FOOD...Hippocrates, father of Medicine

About Fish

Fish, once a very healthy protein source: low in fat, rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, carbs and high in protein, minerals and vitamins. However, with the increase in polluted waters,  increased mercury in fish and less than healthy farm-raised fish, we need to be more cognizant of which fish are safe and which are not. Most nutritionists suggest eating fish no more than 2x/week and eating more plant-based foods.

The Department of Health and Human Services in North Carolina

has published information about SAFE AND UNSAFE 

Choose Wild Caught over Farmed-Raised

LOW in mercury:

Ocean Fish:

Black drum
Canned light tuna
Cod
Crab
Croaker
Flounder
Haddock
Halibut
Herring
Jacksmelt
Lobster
Mahi-mahi
Ocean perch
Oysters
Pollock
Pompano
Red drum
Salmon (Wild only, canned, fresh or frozen)
Scallops
Sheepshead
Shrimp
Skate
Southern kingfish (sea mullet)
Spot
Speckled trout (spotted sea trout)
Tripletail
Whitefish
Whitegrunt

Freshwater Fish:

Bluegill sunfish
Wild caught trout
Wild caught crayfish
Wild caught Tilapia
Wild caught Trout
_______________________________________

There's another great site that will keep you up to date with what's going on in the oceans and fresh water regarding healthy and unsafe fish.

It's called SEAFOOD WATCH. (just click here) and visit their site as well as their site on Facebook.


  • A better alternative to tuna is canned salmon (mostly sockeye or pink from Alaska), which is low in contaminants and high in heart-healthy omega-3s. It's also sustainably caught in Alaska and similarly priced, making it a great choice all-around.
_______________________________

What is the Difference Between Farm Raised Fish and Wild Caught Fish?

  • Farm Raised-   fish are raised in tanks, enclosures and controlled pens in lakes, ponds, rivers and oceans.  They swim in extremely close conditions and are often fed fish that may contain diseases, toxins, artificial dyes and antibiotics. 

  • Wild Caught - These fish tend are higher in Omega 3 fatty acids, protein.  They are free from antibiotics, pesticides & artificial dyes. Wild caught fish swim the ocean seeking their own food.  Mercury is always an issue with all fish, including wild caught and  farm raised fish. Wild caught fish is more expensive than farm raised fish.
  • The above information and much, much more is available at:
    That organic girl  
THESE 4 VIDEOS ARE MY FAVORITES.
I INCLUDE (1) OR MORE OF THESE AT MY WORKSHOP.
THE MESSAGES ARE LOUD AND CLEAR.
  HIGH in mercury:

Ocean Fish:

Albacore (white) tuna** fresh or canned
Almaco jack
Banded rudderfish
Cobia
Crevalle jack
Greater amberjack
South Atlantic grouper (gag, scamp, red and snowy)
King mackerel
Ladyfish
Little tunny
Marlin
Orange roughy
Shark
Spanish mackerel
Swordfish
Tilefish
Tuna, fresh or frozen**
Freshwater Fish:
Blackfish (bowfin)*
Black crappie***
Catfish (caught wild)*
Jack fish (chain pickerel)*
Largemouth bass (statewide)
Walleye from Lake Fontana and Lake Santeetlah (Graham and Swain counties)
Warmouth*
Yellow perch*

*High mercury levels have been found in blackfish (bowfin), catfish, jack fish (chain pickerel), warmouth, and yellow perch caught south and east of Interstate

If  you are concerned about your favorite TUNA FISH sandwiches, read this great article about which tuna fish is safest.


How much canned tuna is safe to eat? There are two main kinds of canned tuna: chunk light and solid or chunk white (albacore). Albacore is a larger species of tuna, with mercury levels almost three times higher than those of the smaller skipjack, which is used in most canned light tuna.

For this reason, parents should be especially mindful of their kids' tuna consumption. The recommendations below are based on EPA's guidance and current estimates of average mercury content in the two most popular types of canned tuna:

  • Canned white- or albacore (0.32 parts per million of mercury). Children up to age six can eat up to one 3-ounce portion a month; children ages 6–12, two 4.5-ounce portions a month. Adults, including pregnant women, can safely eat it up to three times a month (women, 6-ounce portions; men, 8-ounce portions). Luckily, some brands of canned or pouch albacore contain significantly less mercury than well-known national brands, since they use smaller, lower-mercury fish (see box).
  • Canned light — the safer choice (0.12 parts per million of mercury). Children up to age six can eat it up to three 3-ounce portions per month. Older children and adults can safely eat it once a week. But products labeled “gourmet” or “tonno” may contain mercury levels comparable to canned white, since they are made with bigger yellowfin tuna. Therefore, watch out for this label and eat it less often.
  • THE VIDEOS BELOW ARE 'MUST SEE' VIDEOS. 
  • SHOW THEM TO YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.
  • EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO OWN. 
  • LEARN HOW OUR FOOD IS HANDLED, WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.